Another World: When a Necromancer Possesses the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls

Immediately following was a notification in the team's communication group. Lei Lie's emotions could almost be conveyed through the text: "Damn it! This is really weird! Someone actually came to me today! Asking me for details of our mission, and even trying to indirectly check my adventure log!"

"If that guy hadn't been brought by my aunt, I would have cracked his head open with an axe and seen what weird stuff was inside." His words were filled with his anger at being offended.

Li Xingyao's heart sank slightly.

Almost simultaneously, Wu Feng's message popped up a little later: "Xingyao, something's strange. The Bureau's people formally spoke with me today, ostensibly to 'assist in understanding the situation,' but they asked about the details of our last exploration. The focus didn't seem to be on the battles and attacks, but rather on our route and the circumstances of our encounter with the enemy."

"I refused to provide the log records on the grounds of personal privacy, but the investigator... had a strange look in his eyes, as if he was very unwilling to leave empty-handed."

Scrolling down, it became clear that Mu Chenbin, even while recuperating in other cities, encountered similar gentle yet persistent "inquiries." Su Muyao, Ying Suo, and others were also contacted to varying degrees by people from different channels.

Li Xingyao's fingers paused on the screen as messages scrolled by, and his heart sank little by little.

This is no accident!

Almost all the surviving team members who participated in that operation were contacted by different forces in different ways within a short period of time, with the target pointing directly to the details of the previous mission, especially the "discoveries" made during the exploration process!

Their mission objective was to retrieve designated items; this was a registered operation, and it had been completed. The attack and subsequent counterattack were actually due to cutthroat competition. All of this is clearly stated in the report.

However, at this moment, it is clear that some people are not satisfied with the contents of the report; what they really want to know is the experience outside the report.

What did they want to know? The Flame Warrior's purpose? Or to find the cave? Or perhaps the fallen super-strong Ling Fengxing, and... that transcendent star core!

In Li Xingyao's view, the other party's intentions were almost blatantly obvious. They had little interest in the mission items or the process of killing in self-defense; what they were truly concerned about was Ling Fengxing's whereabouts, or rather, the star core he was carrying!

Li Xingyao's gaze unconsciously fell on the long equipment bag in the back seat, which contained the high-level longbow left behind by Ling Fengxing.

My heart skipped a beat.

I can't carry it with me anymore! It's too conspicuous!

Li Xingyao immediately got out of the car, grabbed the equipment bag from the back seat with swift yet composed movements, and walked into the outpost's supply storage area. He rented a basic alloy storage box, placed the longbow and its bag inside, and set a complex password known only to himself. Only after doing all this did he breathe a slight sigh of relief, but the sense of crisis had not subsided.

He quickly opened the ticketing interface, operated the terminal, and purchased a train ticket to the city where Stargate was located, as well as a sightseeing ticket for the "Stargate Battlefield Relics Park". At the same time, he contacted the outpost's courier service point without hesitation.

Standing at the counter of the courier point, he accessed the permissions for the other six Shadow Moon Wolf Star Cores stored in the bank vault. Looking at the six high-level star cores gleaming with a dark light on the screen, he almost didn't hesitate and set the program: if he didn't retrieve the star cores within three months, they would be mailed to his sister Li Xingyue and brother Li Xingyang at a ratio of 4:2.

"Raise sons frugally, raise daughters lavishly..." This common joke from his past life inexplicably surfaced in his mind, and the corners of his tightly pressed lips involuntarily lifted, revealing a bittersweet smile.

Hopefully, if he encounters an accident, these star cores can help them, and also hope that... all their preparations will ultimately be nothing more than unnecessary, unfounded worries.

Boarding the train bound for Xingmen City, Li Xingyao chose a window seat. The train sped along, warning lights flashing past the window. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind, but the chaotic information and the intuitive sense of crisis lingered like a persistent thorn in his side. He could only hope that he was outmaneuvering the air, or wait for the next possible signal—or, hope that no signal would appear.

The midday sun shone gently on him. Li Xingyao followed the crowd and queued to enter the Xingmen Battlefield Relics Park, which is hailed as a "monument to human resilience".

This was a place he had long heard of but never set foot in. A hundred years ago, in the first year of the alien invasion, the first and most devastating battle erupted here. Countless ancestors used their lives and souls to build the initial defensive line, which eventually evolved into the passageway region now controlled by China.

The park is vast and has preserved the brutal traces of the war. The broken walls and towering modern memorial sculptures complement each other, silently telling the story of the past tragedy and glory.

The city where the Stargate is located is the second largest metropolis in the Huaxia Federation after the capital, and a super-giant that rose to prominence due to its proximity to the Stargate. It boasts an extremely high level of urban planning, a robust defense system, and serves as a core hub for stellar energy technology research and interdimensional resource trading, making it a prosperous and energy-rich city.

Four days have passed since he fused with the star core. During these four days, the focus of discussion within the team group has remained almost entirely on the sudden inquiry regarding the last mission. Everyone exchanged information, speculating about the reasons behind it, and the atmosphere gradually shifted from confusion to unease. Even Lin Wei privately revealed that she had been subtly questioned about the details of the operation by her family elders.

However, the "message" that Li Xingyao was waiting for never arrived.

This is somewhat unusual.

Everyone has been contacted in various ways, so why was he the only one missed? His whereabouts are not top secret; if someone wanted to investigate, they could definitely find out. He didn't rest and left Tianjing City the next day, returning to that outpost. After returning to the outpost, he suddenly went to this Stargate City... The Administration or the forces behind them couldn't possibly not suspect him.

This unusual "calm" was like a heavy shadow, pressing down on Li Xingyao's heart and making it hard for him to breathe. It was like the calm before the storm, yet it was the most suffocating.

Just as he was queuing up and about to pass through the security gate to enter the ruins park, his personal terminal vibrated with a specific setting, different from the group messages.

coming!

Li Xingyao's heart clenched suddenly, as if gripped by an invisible hand. He stopped and opened the message.

Sender: Director Zhao Zhenguo

Message: "Xingyao, where have you been lately? How's your cultivation progress? Have you encountered any difficulties? Please reply to your teacher when it's convenient."

The message seemed like a typical expression of concern from a teacher, but at this delicate time, it came from the head of teaching, with whom he had a special relationship and who usually didn't inquire about his personal situation privately, which seemed particularly abrupt.

More importantly, upon closer examination, this tone... seems to be slightly more gentle and tentative than Director Zhao's usual speaking style.

Li Xingyao's pupils contracted slightly. All his lingering hope vanished in that instant.

This was no ordinary greeting, and it might not even have been a message from Director Zhao. It was more likely a reassuring gesture, a carefully disguised and cautious probe, or even a confirmation before taking action.

The investigation into him was not inactive; it was completed long ago without his knowledge! The other party likely already had his whereabouts known, and may even have deduced that he might be planning to flee. The current calm is simply because he is in this crowded, heavily guarded public area, or perhaps the other party is waiting for some instruction? Or waiting for an opportunity.

Can't wait any longer!

Li Xingyao turned around instantly without the slightest hesitation, leaving the crowd and walking briskly away. His face was calm as still water, but his pace quickened subtly, eventually becoming almost a jog.

He had to leave Earth before the other side could take any further action!

Target—Zhongzhou Star Gate!

Passing through the bustling yet orderly urban area, the magnificent outline of the Stargate Passage area gradually came into view. It was a colossal structure that defied description, like a majestic bridge connecting two completely different worlds, teeming with people and goods.

Although Li Xingyao was extremely nervous, the process went surprisingly smoothly. He held his breath and swiped his personal terminal at the identity verification gate at the entrance of the passage.

"Beep! Authentication successful. Citizen Li Xingyao, Level 4, Permission granted. We wish you a smooth exploration of this other world." A soft electronic voice sounded, the green light on the gate lit up, and it slowly opened.

There were no alarms, no obstructions.

Li Xingyao dared not relax for a moment, quickly passing through the turnstile and blending into the flow of people heading to the star gate platform. He could feel his heart pounding wildly in his chest, each beat seeming to urgently urge him: Faster, faster!

The stargate itself is not a "gate" in the traditional sense, but an enormous, stable, dark blue energy curtain, like a profound eye of the universe, radiating gentle yet powerful energy fluctuations. Several channels are divided in front of the vortex: a large cargo channel, a team channel, and a single-person fast channel chosen by Li Xingyao.

After a final, simple security scan, primarily targeting dangerous items and unusual energy fluctuations, he stepped onto the ground elevator leading to the energy vortex.

Looking back at the familiar light and shadow of Blue Star behind him, Li Xingyao took a deep breath and stepped into that deep blue expanse.

There was no expected bumps or discomfort, only a moment of extreme tranquility and slight weightlessness, as if passing through a layer of cool water. The surrounding scenery instantly blurred, stretched, and changed, transforming into countless shimmering lines.

The next second, I felt my feet firmly on the ground.

A cool breeze, carrying the fresh scent of exotic plants, filled my nostrils. The sky above was a pale violet, and in the distance lay a magnificent complex of buildings, their style strikingly different from anything on Earth, imbued with a fantastical quality. Suddenly, my ears were filled with a cacophony of accents and unfamiliar languages.