Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 171 On the eve of the war
Xu Yan looked at the almost overflowing joy shining in her eyes, the light so pure that it made him momentarily dazed.

The frozen ground in my heart, once sealed by slaughter and conspiracy, quietly cracked open under this warm gaze, and a warm current slowly seeped out.

"Okay, I'll go with you!"

He heard himself say this, his voice carrying a tenderness he himself was unaware of.

Without much hesitation, how could he refuse her?
Especially after she went through such a life-or-death ordeal.

She really needed to leave that room filled with the smell of medicine; she needed real sunlight, and the warmth of everyday life to soothe her wounded body and soul.

After a short preparation, Xu Yan drove Chen Zhiwei to Jiangcheng New World, the most bustling commercial center in Jiangcheng.

The world outside the car window suddenly changed.

Towering skyscrapers are draped in flowing holographic neon lights, and suspended traffic flows silently across three-dimensional tracks like ribbons woven from light.

Well-dressed people strolled among the brightly lit shops, the air filled with the unique blend of food, fragrance, and psionic materials.

This is a completely different world from the subsidence zone and the dilapidated chaos of Liuquan Village, a paradise that seems to have forgotten all danger and darkness, a place of extravagance and debauchery.

"Wow--"

Chen Zhiwei let out a soft gasp, her eyes widening like a small animal seeing snow for the first time.

The neon lights danced across her slightly pale cheeks, creating a thin, healthy blush.

Her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if filled with shattered stars, sparkling with pure curiosity and excitement.

She practically jumped out of the car, her steps still a little unsteady, but she couldn't wait to grab Xu Yan's sleeve.

"Senior brother, look over there!" She pointed to a shop with a flashing sign not far away. "It's 'Liuyunfang'! I've always wanted to see their cinnabar!"

As soon as she entered, she was immediately captivated by the cinnabar samples in the display case, which shimmered with a delicate luster under special lighting effects.

No longer just looking at pictures on a cold screen, she can bend down and carefully feel the unique warm texture with her fingers, listening to the shop assistant's professional introduction, and occasionally letting out a soft "oh" of sudden realization.

Finally, holding a box of top-grade cinnabar that she had only dared to admire from afar before, she turned to Xu Yan, her eyes curving into crescents: "Senior brother, how about this?"

"I'm glad you like it." Xu Yan looked at her little face, which seemed to be asking for praise, and smiled. He then paid the bill without hesitation.

Spending money to get that carefree smile from her now is totally worth it.

Then they visited the "Tiangong Pavilion".

Chen Zhiwei was captivated by a set of talisman paper mixed with a trace amount of star sand, which was said to increase the success rate of talisman making. She picked up one and put down another, wrinkling her nose to compare the subtle differences in weight and pattern, while muttering incantations.

Xu Yan patiently stayed by her side, and only when she looked at him for help, unable to make up her mind, did he offer a few sincere suggestions.

When she finally made her choice and happily picked up the stack of talismans, he felt that watching her struggle and be happy over these "small things" gave him a more fulfilling sense of satisfaction than training alone to break through his own limitations.

He paid again quickly and promptly, then took the packaged goods from the shop assistant and carried them naturally in his hand.

"Senior brother, come and try this!"

In a high-end equipment store, Chen Zhiwei seemed to have discovered a new continent. She picked up a black combat suit that felt cool and smooth to the touch and had a dark luster. Excitedly, she ran to Xu Yan and stood on tiptoe to measure it against him.

“It’s woven from mutated spider silk, so it’s very defensive, and…” She paused, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice softened, “You’ll look really good in it.”

Xu Yan was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.

He obediently accepted the well-tailored combat uniform and went into the fitting room.

When he changed his clothes and stood in front of the mirror, the tailored and neat design perfectly outlined his tall and straight figure, and the cold and hard material added a touch of sharpness.

Chen Zhiwei stood behind him, looking at him through the mirror, her eyes bright. Her shyness turned into undisguised admiration, and she muttered softly, "I knew it suited you..."

“Okay,” Xu Yan looked back at her in the mirror, his gaze gentle, “I’ll listen to you.”

He didn't even ask the price, and directly gestured to the clerk to pack it up.

When they got tired of shopping, they sat down to rest in an elegant dessert shop in the mall.

Chen Zhiwei scooped up a spoonful of starry sky cake, squinted her eyes happily, and had a little bit of sparkling light on her lips.

Xu Yan gently lifted his knuckles and wiped it away for her.

In that instant, the meaning of all his fighting struck him with unparalleled clarity.

Protect that smile, protect that ordinary yet almost luxurious moment.

On the terminal screen, the date "July 14th" looked like a quietly cracked seam in the ice.

The joyful moments seemed to fly by faster, and even the neon lights outside the window appeared to dim a bit.

Watching her beam with joy at the sight of a sweet treat, watching her chatter excitedly sharing her recent experiences, watching her occasionally furrow her brow slightly because she hadn't fully recovered, only to be quickly drawn in by new discoveries...

The desolate battlefield in Xu Yan's heart seemed to be gradually covered and repaired by these small, warm daily moments.

He carried all the increasingly heavy shopping bags, following behind her.

Watching her hum a tuneless little tune as she bought something she liked, watching her stand in front of a shop window, trying on a jade hairpin with a calming effect, examining it repeatedly, her profile incredibly soft in the warm light.

This kind of simple, everyday happiness, like a silent warm current, nourished his parched heart.

He suddenly realized that all his struggles, all his bloody battles, all his careful planning, were ultimately for the purpose of protecting this moment.

Protect the carefree smile on her face, protect her small right to enjoy this ordinary happiness.

This concrete, tangible warmth is far more powerful than any vague and ethereal inheritance of power, igniting his deepest desire to become stronger.

He knew that the sword hanging over his head had not disappeared; the secrets of the subsidence zone and Jiang Yu's killing intent were still like distant dark clouds, ready to sweep in at any moment.

This brief moment of warmth is nothing more than a precious calm before the storm.

But, enough is enough.

He silently felt the steady and powerful flow of Silver Level I spiritual energy within his body, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling yet illusory neon lights outside the mall.

He carefully treasured this moment of rest and sweetness, making it the armor of his soul.

In order to relive this warmth countless times, he is ready to embark on his journey once again and face all the darkness.

The atmosphere in the hovercar on the return trip was quiet and relaxed.

Chen Zhiwei was probably really tired. Not long after getting on the bus, she leaned back in her seat and fell asleep. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyelids, and she was holding a delicate little box containing a jade hairpin in her arms.

Xu Yan adjusted the car's interior temperature to a comfortable level and slowed down the car, allowing the hovercar to glide smoothly along the brightly lit track.

He watched the bustling street scene rushing past the window, then glanced at the peaceful sleeping face of the person beside him through the rearview mirror. The battlefield in his heart seemed to be quietly soothed by this tranquil moment.

This is a specific and small kind of happiness, which you don't realize when you have it, but it's enough to support a person through the longest night.

Back at the Forgotten Photo Studio, Xu Yan carefully woke Chen Zhiwei up.

She was still sleepy-eyed, and her voice was slightly nasal from being woken up, which added to her charming innocence.

It took the two of them working together to move a large pile of "spoils" into the house.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the old window frames of the "Forgotten Photo Studio" in a warm gold, creating a charming contrast with the mountains of shopping bags piled up inside.

The air still carried the lingering scents of the mall's fragrance and the sweet aroma of dessert cream, which mingled strangely with the inherent smell of the photo studio's developing solution.

"Whew—I'm exhausted!"

Chen Zhiwei collapsed onto the old sofa in the living room without any regard for her image, her cheeks still flushed from exercise, and sighed contentedly:

"But I'm so happy! Senior brother, look at this jade hairpin I picked out, doesn't it match my new talisman robe perfectly?"

She raised her wrist, dangling the bracelet she had just put on, her eyes sparkling, still immersed in the afterglow of shopping.

Xu Yan carefully sorted and put away the various shopping bags in his hands, placing the box containing the spider silk combat suit in the most conspicuous position.

He looked up and saw Chen Zhiwei kneeling on the sofa, enthusiastically unpacking a brocade box containing talismans. The golden rays of the setting sun outlined her focused profile, and even her slightly trembling eyelashes were tinged with a warm light.

“Senior brother, look,” she noticed his gaze and proudly held up a talisman paper that shimmered with stardust, “I didn’t notice it under the shop lights, but now look how beautiful the patterns are.”

Xu Yan walked over, sat down next to her, and took the talisman to examine it closely in the light.

“It’s really good, the psionic conductivity is very even.” He paused, his voice softening unconsciously. “If you get tired, just rest for a while. These things aren’t going to grow legs and run away.”

Chen Zhiwei shook her head, her eyes shining: "Not tired! I can tidy up a little longer..."

Even so, she couldn't help but yawn slightly and then laughed sheepishly at herself.

Xu Yan chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"Tough talk."

He got up and, as usual, walked to the window to check the energy flow of the external protective runes.

His gaze swept across the deepening twilight outside the window, finally settling on the terminal screen on his wrist—

July 14th.

That date was like a cold needle, suddenly piercing my eyes.

Tomorrow is the night of the blood moon, the day I will meet my father again.

But when he thought about Jiang Yu's cleanup plan before that, the gentleness on his face froze instantly.

Memories of my past life surged forth like a black tide, the phone call that changed everything, the moment that was destined to come... it was today.

The brand-new silver terminal on his wrist now seemed like a cold shackle.

at this time.

"Ding-a-ling-ding-a-ling--"

A crisp, melodious, and even somewhat classically elegant bell sound rang out simultaneously from his and Chen Zhiwei's wrists without warning, breaking the cozy atmosphere in the room.

Startled by the ringing bell, Chen Zhiwei looked up from among a pile of shopping bags, blinking somewhat blankly:

"Hmm? Whose call is this? I don't recognize this notification tone..."

Is this the system default sound?

No.

This melody...

It is Beethoven's "Für Elise".

That familiar, melodious tune, when it entered Xu Yan's ears, felt like countless fine ice needles, instantly piercing through his limbs and bones!
A bone-chilling cold surged wildly from the cracks in his spine, and every elegant note transformed into a poisoned curse, striking his taut nerves relentlessly.

coming!

The nightmare from his past life, the murderous intent beneath Jiang Yu's cold, ghostly face, ultimately pierced through the barrier of time and precisely locked onto him.

Moreover, this time, it's not just targeting him alone!
Chen Zhiwei subconsciously looked at Xu Yan, only to see his expression suddenly change, which made her heart tighten for no reason.

"Don't answer—" Xu Yan's warning came out.

But her fingertips had already instinctively pressed the answer button.

Almost simultaneously, Xu Yan also connected to the communication, his movements so fast that they were almost blurry.

The cold, synthesized electronic voice cuts through the air with surgical precision, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
[To Ms. Chen Zhiwei, Silver III: A meticulously choreographed collective symphony is about to begin, and we cordially invite you to attend. Coordinates have been transmitted. Tomorrow at 10:00 AM. Those who are absent will have their accounts permanently deleted. Repeated offenses will also result in permanent deletion.]

That's all the information Chen Zhiwei received.

In Xu Yan's receiver, the mechanical voice deliberately paused for half a beat after the standard announcement before slowly adding: "...We look forward to your wonderful performance tomorrow, Mr. Xu Yan."

Hidden within that plain and straightforward tone was an unspeakable malice.

Communications ceased abruptly.

The lingering notes of "Für Elise" seemed to still vibrate in the room, shattering the warm aftertaste of returning from shopping.

As the last rays of the setting sun sank below the horizon, the room suddenly darkened, with only the cold light from the terminal screen illuminating the solemn faces of the two men.

Chen Zhiwei remained in the position of answering a call, her fingers frozen in mid-air.

She slowly raised her head to look at Xu Yan, her eyes filled with confusion and unease. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

The living room fell into a deathly silence, with only the jarring ticking of the old-fashioned wall clock.

Chen Zhiwei blinked, tilting her head in confusion. The excitement from her shopping hadn't completely faded, which made her naively biased judgment of this strange information.

Chen Zhiwei frowned instinctively as he looked at the unfamiliar encrypted identifier: "Senior brother, could this be some kind of... special group mission from the center?"

Before she could finish speaking, she already knew the answer from Xu Yan's sudden change in expression.

That sliver of hope was instantly crushed, and the memory of the ghostly face in the ancient tomb suddenly resurfaced, making her fingertips instantly turn icy cold.

Xu Yan's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, suddenly tightening.

Looking into Chen Zhiwei's eyes, which were still clear and even sparkling with curiosity because of this "special invitation," a surge of emotion mixed with anger, self-blame, and a sense of urgency welled up in his heart.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead walked a few steps to her, knelt down on one knee, and made himself level with her as she sat on the sofa.

This subtle gesture carries a sense of solemn equality.

He raised his hand and gently placed it on her shoulder, forcing her gaze to focus entirely on his face. His eyes were more somber than ever before, as if frozen in ice, and his voice was low and slow, each word carrying immense weight:

“Zhiwei, look at me. This is not an invitation, nor is it a perk. This is a trap that Jiang Yu has tailored for us, one that we cannot refuse. A… death trap.”

"Jiang...Jiang Yu?!"

That name was like a cold key, instantly unlocking the box of deepest fears in my memory.

The color drained from Chen Zhiwei's face in an instant, and her pupils contracted slightly in shock.

Inside the ancient tomb altar, there was that expressionless ghostly face, those icy eyes that seemed to look down upon all living beings, and the oppressive aura that made her soul tremble with just its presence…

All the terrifying images rushed through her mind in an instant, causing her slender body to tremble uncontrollably.

The ease and curiosity I felt just moments before were instantly shattered, replaced by a wave of chilling fear.

"How could he... be because we know his secret?" Her voice trembled uncontrollably, like a frightened little animal.

"Because of me." Xu Yan's voice was filled with suppressed anger and deep-seated self-reproach. "His target has always been me. And you are my weakness. He wants to eliminate us completely."

He tightened his grip on her shoulder slightly, trying to convey some reassuring strength. “'Permanently canceling contractor status'... He took advantage of the center's rules. This appears to be a mandatory mission, but it's actually a purge operation to kill with a borrowed knife. If we don't keep the appointment, we'll immediately become defectors of the center and face endless pursuit; if we do go, we'll inevitably be caught in Jiang Yu's inescapable net.”

He gripped her cold, trembling hand tightly, his gaze burning into her eyes: "Listen, Zhiwei, we have no way out. This is a tough battle we must fight even though we know it's a dead end!"

Chen Zhiwei's breathing quickened, her chest heaving violently, and her eyes reddened slightly with extreme anger and fear. She grabbed Xu Yan's hand tightly, her nails turning slightly white from the force, digging deeply into his skin.

But after a brief moment of panic, her gaze quickly settled, and a do-or-die determination replaced her initial fear.

She met Xu Yan's gaze, her voice still trembling slightly, yet exceptionally clear and resolute: "I understand, Senior Brother. I'm not afraid! We'll go together!"

Xu Yan gazed at the flame burning in her eyes, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly. He nodded heavily.

Fortunately, fate gave them one night to prepare.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Yan immediately raised his wrist and activated the encrypted communication channel with A Zhe.

Almost instantly after the call connected, A-Zhe's slightly tired but still focused figure appeared in the miniature holographic projection, with his signature laboratory filled with instruments and fiber optic cables in the background.

"Brother Yan?"

Ah Zhe keenly noticed the unusual seriousness between Xu Yan's brows, as well as Chen Zhiwei's pale yet tense face beside him, and his heart immediately jumped.

"Ah Zhe, there's no time for details." Xu Yan spoke rapidly, each word like a bullet fired from a gun, carrying an undeniable decisiveness. "'Erosion Spirit Talisman' and 'Chaos Stone,' from now on, regardless of cost or loss, go full steam ahead and produce them at full capacity! Tell me, what will be the maximum production capacity before dawn?"

Ah Zhe paused for half a second on the other end of the projection screen, but their long-standing tacit understanding allowed him to instantly get into the zone. He adjusted his glasses, and the calmness and efficiency characteristic of a technical expert prevailed: "If we disregard costs and have an unlimited supply of energy and basic materials... theoretically, the production capacity could be close to unlimited!"

He explained at breakneck speed, his fingers seemingly moving rapidly across an invisible virtual keyboard:

"The core of the 'data bomb' is information and algorithms; the data itself can be copied infinitely! The real bottleneck lies in the physical manufacturing of the carrier and the final energy injection step."

I have three automated rune engraving production lines here. As long as the raw materials are sufficient, they can replicate the psionic circuits of the 'Erosion Rune' 24/7! The 'Chaos Pebbles' are even simpler; the core receiver is a standard module. I can mobilize all the standby engineering drones to simultaneously perform batch infusion and activation of encrypted psionic signals!"

As Chen Zhiwei listened to A Zhe's explanation, her hands, which had been cold with fear, gradually clenched.

She took a deep breath and suddenly interrupted, her voice still slightly tense but exceptionally clear: "Ah Zhe, prioritize ensuring the production of 'Spirit-Eroding Talismans'! Jiang Yu has many ghosts under his command, and this is the most effective area-of-effect suppression weapon!"

She looked at Xu Yan with a questioning gaze, as well as her own calmed judgment.

A hint of approval and pity flashed in Xu Yan's eyes, and she immediately added to A Zhe:
"Listen to Zhiwei, prioritize the 'Spirit Erosion Talisman'! Activate all production lines and all available resources! I'll immediately grant you unlimited access to resources within the Han Group! Ah Zhe, this isn't a drill; this is our crucial bargaining chip for surviving tomorrow's hell!"

"Understood!" A-Zhe's voice was resolute, carrying a sense of do-or-die determination. "Even if we have to squeeze every last drop out of the production lines, I'll make sure you have enough ammunition!"

Before the words were even finished, the holographic projection went out instantly, and they had clearly already plunged into a frantic production race against time.

After the call ended, the room fell into an extreme silence, with only the faint background noise of the city coming from outside the window.

Xu Yan turned to Chen Zhiwei, noticing that although her complexion was still poor, her eyes had regained focus and strength, and said in a deep voice:
"Take a good rest and try to recover your strength and energy. After dawn..."

His gaze was sharp as a knife.

"Let's go and witness Jiang Yu's meticulously prepared 'deadly symphony'!"

Chen Zhiwei nodded emphatically, said no more, and immediately sat cross-legged on the sofa. He began to adjust his breathing, guide the flow of spiritual energy in his body, and try to repair the energy he had lost while shopping today, and prepare for tomorrow's fierce battle.

The neon lights outside the window went out.

The gloom, like a living thing, engulfed the old town, isolating the Forgotten Photo Studio into an island.

Inside the hall, the newly purchased jade hairpin emitted a faint, calming glow in the darkness, reflecting Chen Zhiwei's serene yet tense sleeping face.

That light was the only beacon in this sea of ​​despair.

Xu Yan stood in absolute darkness, his Silver Rank I spiritual energy roaring silently within him, like a caged beast yearning to tear apart everything that was about to come.

at this time--

The terminal on his wrist vibrated again.

This time, it wasn't the deadly "Für Elise," but a regular communication request.

The name flashing on the screen made Xu Yan's pupils shrink slightly—Lin Lan.

Why would she contact him at this time?

Is it a coincidence, or... is she also caught in this vortex?

Xu Yan answered the call immediately without hesitation, but did not turn on the video; only the audio channel was available.

"Xu Yan".

Lin Lan's voice came through, still carrying her characteristic coldness, but this time, beneath that coldness lay an undisguised urgency, and even... a sense of powerlessness.

"To make a long story short, I can't stop Jiang Yu."

The straightforward statement was like a boulder thrown into Xu Yan's already turbulent heart.

She knew all along! She even tried to stop her!

“He used his lineage’s ancient authority at the ‘center’ to bypass the regular adjudication process.” Lin Lan spoke quickly, each word carrying heavy weight. “Tomorrow’s ‘Collective Symphony’ is aimed at you, Xu Yan. It’s a meticulously disguised ‘compliance cleanup procedure,’ with the coordinates located inside a nursing home with an extremely unstable spatial structure. Jiang Yu has mobilized at least three of his Silver-level contractors, who will be mixed in with the contractors participating in the mission… with only one purpose: to ensure that you cannot leave there alive.”

Xu Yan listened in silence, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.

Multiple silver-level contractors, plus Jiang Yu who might personally oversee things, and that eerie environment... it truly is a deadly trap with no chance of survival.

“I know.” Xu Yan’s voice was low and calm, revealing little emotion. “Zhiwei and I have already received the ‘invitation’.”

On the other end of the communication, Lin Lan seemed to take a slight breath and remained silent for two seconds.

This brief pause seemed to contain extremely complex emotions.

When she spoke again, the coolness in her voice seemed to have faded slightly, replaced by an indescribable, almost sigh-like solemnity.

“Xu Yan…be careful of that matrix core. It…it has some strange similarities to the residual fluctuations of the energy burst your father Xu Haoyu went out of control back then.”

boom--!
These words struck Xu Yan like a thunderbolt.

Father! Xu Haoyu!

She found out! She actually knew about his past!
Moreover, she directly connected tomorrow's trap with the mystery of her father's case from back then.

The overwhelming amount of information made Xu Yan's breath catch in her throat.

He glanced sharply at Chen Zhiwei, who was still meditating beside him, making sure she hadn't noticed the conversation before lowering his voice and asking with an incredulous sharpness, "How did you know? My father's matter... what does it have to do with Jiang Yu's trap?!"

"Now is not the time to explain. Knowing too much will not do either of us any good." Lin Lan's voice regained its previous calmness, even carrying a hint of warning. "You just need to remember that Jiang Yu's goals have never been simple. What he wants may not be just your life."

Her choice of words was extremely dangerous, full of ominous implications.

"There's only so much I can do. I've done my best within the rules." Lin Lan's voice gradually faded, carrying a contradiction of being detached yet unable to completely detach herself. "Xu Yan, come back alive. Your father... he shouldn't have been unable to leave even his last bloodline."

The communication ended abruptly there.

Only a busy tone remained on the receiver, but Lin Lan's last few words, especially the hints about her father, echoed repeatedly in Xu Yan's mind like a ghost.

Just as Xu Yan was about to close his eyes and regulate his breathing, the terminal gave another slight jolt.

The encrypted message from Lin Lan contained only one line:

[The residual fluctuations in the psionic matrix at the coordinate point have a 91.7% similarity to the outbreak data of the "Xu Haoyu Out of Control Incident" in the archives. Be careful, this is not only a killing trap, but may also be a "sacrifice" targeting your bloodline.]

The moment Xu Yan saw that name, his pupils shrank to the most dangerous pinpoints.

He stood there, motionless for a long time.

The darkness outside the window seemed to come alive, pressing down on the small photo studio with a heavy, dual malice from both the past and the present.

It turned out that Jiang Yu's murderous intent was far deeper and more complex than he had imagined.

This is not only because of his offense in the ancient tomb, but may also be related to the secret left by his father Xu Haoyu, which even he himself has not fully figured out.

He slowly walked to Chen Zhiwei's side, looking at her serene yet resolute profile, and the desire to protect her in his heart became even stronger, like steel being tempered.

No matter what lies ahead, whether it be a mountain of knives or a sea of ​​fire, or a curse targeting his bloodline, he must overcome it.

Not only for himself and Zhiwei, but also to unveil the mystery surrounding his father's fate.

I spent a sleepless night, and with an hour to go until dawn, time seemed to stand still inside the Forgotten Photo Studio.

Xu Yan placed the last self-drawn "evil-repelling talisman" into a specially made tactical bag, while Chen Zhiwei also completed the inventory and classification of her commonly used talismans.

The two did not speak, but occasionally their eyes met, conveying an unspoken understanding and resolute determination.

Just before the first rays of dawn were about to pierce the night, a series of three short and one long, very rhythmic knocks came from the back door of the photo studio.

Xu Yan quickly opened the door, and A Zhe slipped inside.

His eyes were sunken and his face was pale, but he was unusually excited. Surprisingly, his hands were empty and there was no means of transportation behind him.

"Where are the things?" Chen Zhiwei couldn't help but ask softly, her eyes filled with concern and doubt.

Ah Zhe gave a mysterious and weary smile and slowly raised his right hand.

On his index finger was a simple-looking metal ring with a dark blue crystal set in the face, its surface shimmering with subtle psionic patterns.

"A dimensional storage ring?" Xu Yan's pupils contracted slightly, his tone tinged with surprise. "Where did you get it?"

This is not a common item.

In the black market of Liuquan Village, even the smallest capacity dimensional storage equipment is a priceless treasure, requiring not only astronomical wealth but also special channels to obtain.

"After you granted me access to the Han Group, I found it on the black market. I poured all my money into acquiring it." A-Zhe wryly shook his finger. "But it was worth it."

He took a deep breath, focused his mind, and the blue crystal on the ring face shimmered slightly.

hum-

In the center of the living room, the space subtly distorted, and two piles of items appeared out of thin air as if by magic, neatly stacked on the floor.

On the left are densely packed, layered pale yellow talismans, almost half a person's height, and at a rough glance, there are at least four or five thousand of them.

Each "Spirit Erosion Talisman" had dark red runes that emanated a dangerous, eerie light, and the cold spiritual energy fluctuations made the room temperature seem to drop several degrees.

On the right are more than three thousand grayish "chaotic pebbles" piled up into a small mountain.

They may seem ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one can discover that each pebble contains a hidden and chaotic psychic signal, like a sleeping venomous bee waiting to be awakened.

Chen Zhiwei gasped, stunned by the sheer number.

She crouched down, carefully picked up a Spirit-Eroding Talisman, and felt its stable energy structure. Then she picked up a Chaos Stone, her eyes filled with amazement: "Ah Zhe, you actually did it all in one night... This is incredible!"

"The talisman's psionic circuit has undergone three redundant checks, improving stability by thirty percent compared to the prototype." A-Zhe's tone carried the pride of a tech enthusiast, but then turned serious. "All the stones are pre-charged, and the activation key has been synchronized to your combat terminals. Also, regarding that coordinate point..."

He looked at Xu Yan and lowered his voice: "I reconstructed information from fragments of the edge logs from ten years ago—that matrix, three months before Senior Xu's accident, underwent 'maintenance' with the highest authority under his leadership. After he lost control, the matrix was sealed away, and it was only recently restarted by Jiang Yu under the guise of exploration."

Xu Yan listened in silence, his fingers unconsciously stroking the straps of his tactical pack.

The father's figure and Jiang Yu's trap overlapped more clearly through this bizarre matrix.

He solemnly accepted the dimensional storage ring from A Zhe: "I will remember this favor."

He then handed it to Chen Zhiwei, saying, "Zhiwei, take this. Your inner pocket of your talisman has limited space, so it's best if you keep and distribute these supplies."

Chen Zhiwei was slightly taken aback, but then he understood Xu Yan's intention.

This was not only to allocate the load reasonably, but also to entrust her with the heavy responsibility of logistics, which was a sign of trust in her abilities.

She solemnly accepted the ring, feeling the cool touch of the metal, and nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, senior brother."

The three of them immediately began the final preparations.

Under Chen Zhiwei's precise control, a large number of spirit-corroding talismans and chaotic pebbles were systematically collected into the confined space of the dimensional ring.

Xu Yan only kept some readily available talismans and pebbles in his tactical pack.

As the last Chaos Stone disappeared into the eerie blue light of the ring face, the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, and faint light filtered through the gaps in the blinds, cutting out several hazy streaks of light in the messy living room.

Ah Zhe slumped to the ground, his back against the cold wall. The excessive mental and physical exhaustion caused him to fall into a deep sleep almost instantly, his breathing heavy.

Xu Yan looked at him silently for a moment, then stepped forward. Instead of waking him up immediately, he first completed an operation through the terminal before gently patting his shoulder.

A Zhe jolted awake, his eyes still bloodshot and filled with confusion.

“Ah Zhe,” Xu Yan’s voice was deep and clear, “You can’t stay here any longer. You need to return to the lab immediately.”

He rubbed his dry eyes, trying to concentrate: "Brother Yan, is there anything else I can do?"

Xu Yan helped him up, his gaze serious: "Two things. First, concentrate all your efforts on researching the data bomb theory that can threaten Gold-level powerhouses, even if it's just a prototype or a direction! We need a higher ceiling." He paused, then turned the terminal screen towards A Zhe, which displayed a huge transfer record that had just been completed. "This money should be enough to support your next stage of research. Don't be stingy with resources."

Ah Zhe stared at the dizzying string of numbers, his pupils contracting sharply, all sleepiness vanishing instantly: "Brother Yan, this..."

“Second,” Xu Yan interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument, “the efficiency of the psionic infusion technology must be further improved. This success was a fluke, but we may not be so lucky next time. We need safer and more efficient methods to utilize energy.” He pressed heavily on A Zhe’s slightly thin shoulder. “We don’t have much time left, A Zhe. The road ahead requires your wisdom.”

Ah Zhe took a deep breath, transforming all his shock and pressure into unwavering resolve, and nodded emphatically: "I understand! Leave it to me!"

He said no more, gave Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei a deep look, turned around and left silently through the back door, his figure quickly disappearing into the thin mist before dawn.

After seeing A Zhe off, Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei exchanged a glance and began the final equipment check.

Chen Zhiwei meticulously adjusted the shoulder straps and joint fit of Xu Yan's spider silk combat suit, while Xu Yan knelt down, her fingertips radiating faint spiritual energy, checking the integrity of each key protective rune on her suit and whether the energy flow was smooth.

“Remember,” Xu Yan stood up and said in a deep voice, his gaze as firm as a rock, “if the situation gets out of control, prioritize self-preservation without hesitation.”

Chen Zhiwei raised her head, the morning light reflecting in her clear eyes. There was no fear there, only a resolute determination to stand with him through thick and thin: "We will come back together." Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable strength.

At 9:30 a.m., everything was ready and the photo studio returned to silence.

The two pushed open the slightly heavy wooden door of the photo studio, but the street scene outside was not the familiar one.

A sleek, matte black hovercar without any markings sat silently at the alley entrance, as if it had been waiting there from the very beginning.

As if sensing their arrival, the car door slid open silently, revealing a pure white space lacking any detail and feeling somewhat oppressive.

Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

Without hesitation, the two of them bent down and stepped into the car one after the other.

The car door closed silently, completely isolating the outside light and sound.

The hovercar started and accelerated smoothly, without any vibration or engine noise, as if it were traveling in nothingness.

The sense of time and space inside the car became blurred; I didn't know how long we had been driving—ten minutes? Or half an hour?
Suddenly, the previously pure white "wall" in front of me silently lit up, transforming into a huge, flawless screen.

Instead of the expected map or instructions, the screen displayed a constantly flowing, changing, and extremely complex psionic spectrum.

Countless lines representing different energy attributes rise, fall, collide, intertwine, and annihilate at various frequencies, forming a silent yet violent and ominous visual symphony.

This eerie "overture" silently proclaims that the death voyage to the "collective symphony" has already begun.

(End of this chapter)