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A pungent, burnt smell emanated from the hotel ruins.

Li Haotian lifted the half of the marble pillar that was pressing down on him.

The red Ferrari was now a complete scrap metal, with half of its body stuck in the ground.

Su Wan was climbing out of the deformed driver's seat, her mechanical legs sending up a string of sparks.

"Don't move, I'll pull you up."

Li Haotian reached out and gripped the edge of the car door, then exerted force.

With a "rip," the alloy car door was torn open like a piece of paper.

Su Wan's face was covered in ash. She wiped her face, still clutching the micro-terminal tightly in her hand.

"Boss, communications have been restored to 20%."

She pointed to the randomly jumping purple waveform on the screen.

"There's movement underground at the Donghai Grand Theater, and the frequency is exactly the same as that big eyeball from before."

Lin Yuyan hid in the remaining half of the back seat of the Ferrari, her hair a mess like a bird's nest.

"Aren't we going to the hospital? I feel like my bones are going to fall apart."

Li Haotian glanced at her sideways, then pulled her out with his other hand.

"Going to the hospital is for treatment, going to the grand theater is for saving your life."

He looked at a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was still running on the side of the road; it was left behind by the pursuers.

"Get in the car, I'll take you to see a play."

Lin Mo stood blankly in the middle of the ruins, his dark eyes fixed on the direction of the Grand Theater.

She didn't say anything, and lightly straddled the back of the motorcycle, like a weightless cloud.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles left a trail of fire on the empty streets.

The signboard of the Donghai Grand Theatre flickered in the night, exuding an eerie aura.

There wasn't even a gatekeeper at the entrance, and the automatic sensor door was half-open.

"Isn't there a premiere here tonight? Where are all the people?"

Lin Yuyan huddled behind Li Haotian, surveying the empty hall.

Su Wan leaned on the mechanical leg that was crackling with electricity and looked down at the terminal.

"They're all inside. The frequency indicates that there's a huge cavity underneath this building."

Li Haotian strode into the screening room and pushed open the heavy soundproof door.

A rich, creamy aroma wafted over.

The screening room was packed, and an old, black-and-white silent film was playing on the screen.

The hundreds of audience members sat upright, staring at the screen, without even a cough.

"Are these people... possessed?"

Lin Yuyan muttered to herself, her palms sweaty.

Li Haotian ignored her, walked straight to the last row, and randomly found an empty seat to sit down.

He swiped a large box of popcorn from a spectator next to him.

"Sit down and watch, since you're already here."

He popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth and chewed it with a crunching sound.

The silent film on the screen suddenly froze, and the picture turned into static.

A crack appeared in the floor beneath the stage, and a thick, dark shadow emerged.

The shadowy figure rapidly expanded under the light, transforming into dozens of tentacled shadowy assassins.

"Oh my god! A monster...!"

Lin Yuyan screamed and tried to crawl under the chair.

The surrounding audience remained seated, their eyes fixed on the screen, showing no reaction whatsoever.

A shadowy assassin suddenly leaped up the steps, his claws aimed straight for Lin Yuyan's neck.

Li Haotian didn't even lift his eyelids as he picked up a popcorn kernel with his index finger and thumb.

"call out--"

The popcorn flew out of my hand, accompanied by a faint golden flash.

The assassin's head seemed to have been struck by a heavy hammer, instantly shattering into black smoke.

"Uncle, this...this actually works?"

Lin Yuyan stared wide-eyed at the remaining box of popcorn.

Li Haotian picked up another one and flicked it with his backhand.

The three shadows that lunged from the side were pierced through one by one by the popcorn.

"This thing wasn't cooked enough; it's too brittle, but the firmness is still okay."

As he spoke, his hand shadows stretched across the hall.

Those dark figures that had just emerged from the floor were riddled with holes by a shower of golden popcorn before they could even get a clear look at the audience's faces.

"Uncle, what brand is this popcorn? I want to get some too."

Lin Yuyan clapped her hands and cheered, her eyes shining with excitement.

"This is called the Li Family Special Supply; it is not sold to outsiders."

Li Haotian brushed the crumbs off his hands, stood up, and looked towards the center of the stage.

A familiar figure, holding that iconic black umbrella, slowly emerged from the shadows.

"Your play is terribly staged."

The man with the black umbrella snorted coldly and flicked his wrist.

Dozens of huge crystal chandeliers on the ceiling of the hall shook simultaneously, and their ropes snapped.

The heavy light fixtures, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, crashed down on the crowd.

"Help!"

Lin Yuyan covered her head and squatted on the ground.

Li Haotian snorted coldly, and two dazzling balls of real gold flames suddenly exploded deep within his pupils.

"rise."

He stretched out his right palm and clenched it tightly in the air.

A visible golden-red shockwave exploded outwards from him.

The chandeliers that had crashed into the air were held aloft by this force, remaining suspended in mid-air.

The shockwave swept through the hall, and the dozens of surviving shadowy figures vanished into nothingness before they could even scream.

The central air conditioning unit, which had been broken for a long time, suddenly made a "click" sound.

A cool breeze blew by, carrying away the foul smell of lilies from the room.

"The air conditioner is fixed, it's cool now."

Li Haotian withdrew his hand, and the chandelier landed steadily back in the empty space on the ground.

The smile on the man with the black umbrella froze, and the umbrella itself trembled.

"You...you can actually control your power to this extent?"

"I told you, you know nothing about power."

Li Haotian took a step forward, and the floor tiles beneath his feet instantly became scorching hot.

Lin Mo suddenly moved, she flashed through the corridor like lightning.

Her pale hand pressed directly against the edge of the black umbrella.

"Haotian... I can smell it, it's down there."

Lin Mo's voice remained cold, but a hint of anxiety flashed in his dark eyes.

The stage floor suddenly shook violently, and a huge crater appeared in the center of the hall.

Deep within that pit, countless purple roots intertwined to form a giant net.

"The things that the Zhao and Han families created have all taken root here."

Su Wan pointed to the bottom of the pit, her face turning deathly pale.

"That is the seed of the 'mother', which is sucking the lifeblood of the entire East China Sea."

The figure with the black umbrella vanished into the darkness of the pit in a flash.

"Come down here if you dare, that's your graveyard."

Li Haotian looked down at the empty popcorn box and tossed it aside.

"Let's go, let's see who's seeing whom off in their final moments."

He grabbed Lin Yuyan and jumped directly into the abyss shrouded in purple light.

The wind howled in my ears, and the purple roots seemed to sense the threat, twisting and turning wildly.

Lin Mo followed closely behind, his black hair flying in the darkness.

The moment I landed, a strong sense of gravity pressed down on me.

This is an underground space the size of a football field, surrounded by pulsating purple blood vessels.

Hanging in the very center was a huge cocoon of flesh, inside which a human figure was vaguely struggling.

"That's... Liu Hu?"

Su Wan gasped in surprise, and tears streamed down her face.

Li Haotian stared at the fleshy cocoon, the bronze dagger in his hand emitting a piercing buzz.

"Don't cry, the person isn't dead yet, we can bring them back."

He strode toward the fleshy cocoon, the purple slime beneath his feet sizzling and burning.

Suddenly, a crack appeared on the fleshy cocoon, and Han Dehai's old face emerged from it.

"Li Haotian, you've finally arrived. This batch of medicine is only missing your blood."

Han Dehai's face was covered with calluses, making him look extremely disgusting.

Dozens of experimental subjects dressed in white lab coats emerged from the surrounding walls, each holding a laser knife.

"Are these guys in white coats also extras you hired?"

Li Haotian tilted his neck, and his joints made a crisp sound.

"Get the hell out of my way."

He took a sudden step forward, his dagger drawing a golden full moon.

The three leading test subjects were instantly cut in half at the waist, and purple paste spurted from their wounds.

"Haotian, save me... It's so hot..."

Liu Hu's faint groans emanated from within the fleshy cocoon, sending chills down one's spine.

Li Haotian's pupils contracted, and the golden light emanating from his body instantly shrank to the tip of the dagger.

"Han Dehai, how do you want to die?"

Without waiting for a reply, he transformed into a golden arrow.

The purple outer shell of the cocoon appeared as fragile as a thin film in the face of the golden light.

"Bang!"

The dagger pierced directly into the center of the fleshy cocoon, and Han Dehai let out a piercing scream.

But just then, a muffled roar suddenly came from deep underground.

The blood vessels throughout the entire space began to expand wildly, and a world-destroying power was awakening.

"Oh no, the 'key' has been activated!"

Su Wan shouted from behind, her voice filled with despair.

Li Haotian didn't turn around; he gripped Liu Hu's arm tightly in the fleshy callus with one hand.

"Hold on tight, I'm taking you home."

He pulled hard, and half of Liu Hu's body was ripped out, covered with broken tubes.

The surrounding blood vessel walls began to close, as if to crush everyone alive.

Lin Mo stood at the bottom of the pit, his eyes as black as ink, and let out a sharp scream.

When those purple veins touched her skin, they recoiled as if they had encountered a natural enemy.

"Run! This place is going to explode!"

Li Haotian carried the unconscious Liu Hu on his back, while holding Lin Yuyan in his other hand.

Behind them, the enormous cocoon of flesh exploded completely, and purple liquid surged outwards in a deluge.

The ground is collapsing, and building debris is falling continuously.

They desperately climbed up a huge ventilation duct.

The purple light behind them illuminated half the sky, and the entire grand theater was sinking.

The moment they burst out of the ground, the ground behind them completely caved in.

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the dark clouds, illuminating the dusty ruins.

Li Haotian put Liu Huping down on the ground, panting heavily.

"At least... I didn't leave that bastard there."

Lin Yuyan slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the destroyed grand theater.

Su Wan was busy checking Liu Hu's pulse, and finally some color returned to her face.

Lin Mo stood at the edge of the ruins, his black hair gradually turning back to its original color in the sunlight.

I'm hungry.

She turned her head and looked at Li Haotian, her eyes becoming clearer.

Li Haotian felt his pocket; there were still two pieces of popcorn left over from earlier.

"Have something to eat first, then I'll treat you to a big meal later."

Just then, a series of footsteps came from the end of the street.

Dozens of black SUVs sped around them.

The car door opened, and a group of people dressed in special operations uniforms ran out, with two barricades hanging from the shoulders of the leader.

Li Haotian frowned and gripped the dagger tighter.

"Isn't this over yet?"

Just as he was about to get up, the leader stopped ten meters away and suddenly saluted.

"Dragon Shield Mobile Team Two, ordered to provide backup!"

The man's voice was loud and clear, and his eyes were full of respect.

Li Haotian paused for a moment, then pursed his lips and put the dagger back at his waist.

"You've arrived just in time! Where were you all this time?"

He pointed to Liu Hu and Su Wan on the ground.

"Take them back to get treatment, get them the best doctors."

Lin Yuyan stood up, patted the dirt off her bottom, and looked somewhat complicated.

"So... are you still going to pay my five million in bodyguard fees?"

Li Haotian glanced at her and gave her an infuriating smile.

"I've saved your life twice, I'm already being generous by not charging you extra. Give me the check, I need to go buy some meat for this girl."

He pulled Lin Mo along, and under the watchful eyes of a large group of Dragon Shield members, they slowly walked away into the distance.

Behind them, the ruins of the Donghai Grand Theater looked particularly desolate in the morning light.

This farce seems to have only just begun.

Hook: Was the appearance of the Dragon Shield a coincidence or preordained? What secrets are hidden in the purple tubes Liu Hu brought back? What did Lin Mo see at the bottom of that abyss, and why did her eyes make the Mother Retreat? Are the giant black shadows behind those off-road vehicles really reinforcements?