I, Lord of Prayer

Due to the presence of the source of contamination, the entire shopping mall has been temporarily quarantined pending testing to prevent unknowingly contracting the contamination and causing it to spread.

As ascendants, Zhou Chen and Eileen didn't need to be checked, and they treated the incident as a minor episode, not paying much attention to it.

After leaving the mall, they went to a milk tea shop on the street.

Eileen looked at the dazzling array of milk tea options and hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Chen asked.

"My mother forbids me from eating desserts, saying that they will make me fat and are bad for my health."

"Would you like some?" Zhou Chen asked again.

Eileen nodded: "I want to."

She had wanted to drink milk tea for a long, long time. She even tried to get the family chef to make a cup according to an online tutorial, but her mother scolded her and strictly forbade her from drinking such an unhealthy thing as milk tea. But she really wanted to try it.

"Then let's drink." Zhou Chen was like a devil bewitching an innocent and obedient girl: "Forget about family education and etiquette. You're here on vacation, not to go to jail. Eat and drink as you please. Don't worry too much. This is about experiencing life... Give us two cups of bubble tea, warm."

Oh dear, Mr. Zhou Chen ordered so quickly. If I don't drink it, it will definitely be a waste. Wasting is shameful, so I have no choice but to drink it... Eileen couldn't help but curl her lips slightly upward, but she quickly restrained herself and found a reasonable excuse in her heart, but she couldn't hide her expectant look at all.

  

A few minutes later, Eileen received the milk tea she had been dreaming of. She took a small sip, and her eyes lit up with delight, revealing a surprised smile: "It's delicious!"

Zhou Chen smiled as he sipped his milk tea, and two-thirds of the stars in the wishing bottle appeared as he made his wish.

Drinking a cup of milk tea can earn so many wish points... If I took Eileen and helped her do all the things she wanted to do, the number of stars would probably be close to twenty, right?

Zhou Chen was happily sipping his milk tea when suddenly his phone vibrated in his pocket. .•°¤*(¯`★´¯)*¤° 6❾ⓈнⓊⓧ.Čо𝐌 °¤*(¯´★`¯)*¤°•.

It's a weird spam text message.

[Many unknown darknesses lurk in the bustling city. If you receive this text message, you have already been targeted by a ghostly killer.]

Its eyes are bloodshot, it wears a wide cloak, exudes a nauseating stench, and holds a blood-soaked watermelon knife. It is a brutal butcher who enjoys torturing people to death. It roams the dreams of the night, and those it targets will die in nightmares that very night.

Forward this message to another person before midnight tonight to escape the Ghost Killer; otherwise, the Ghost Killer will come after you and kill you.

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow. What kind of ancient, garbage SMS format is this?

At the same time, a series of text message notifications rang out, and Eileen, the milk tea shop employee, passersby... everyone took out their phones to check the messages.

"Mr. Zhou Chen, should we forward this?" Eileen showed the identical text message on her phone.

"Don't worry about it yet, it's probably just a prank." Zhou Chen pondered as he looked at the text message. It was very likely a prank, just like those ghost stories where you were cursed if you didn't forward them.

However, the fact that so many people in the vicinity received the text message at the same time is very suspicious. Could it be that a prankster hacked into the mobile network?

After a moment's hesitation, he took a screenshot of the text message and sent it to Jiang Che, wanting her to check the sender's number to see who was behind it. As an Ascended Being, he needed to be vigilant, just in case it was true.

Hmm... Even if it's true, I've already forwarded the message to Jiang Che... Zhou Chen doesn't think the so-called ghost killer can invade Jiang Che's dream. If it dares to come, it will be instantly wiped out by the defense mechanism in Jiang Che's dream—the dreams of important staff members of the Star Society are strictly protected.

Then, he typed a reply to the text message: "What is your purpose in sending these messages? Who instructed you? What is your motive? Did you obtain permission from the relevant authorities? What are you trying to subvert or destroy? Don't think the internet is a lawless zone. We'll find you very soon."

"I was the CEO of a listed company, but I was betrayed by cunning and treacherous people! My subordinates abandoned me! My shareholders ousted me! They even wiped out my shares! Given a second chance at life, all I want is to take back my company! Join me on Crazy Thursday (V50) to hear my revenge plan!"

"Uncle, I'm really getting angry. «-(¯`v´¯)-« 6➈丂𝕙Ǘ乂.ςⓄⓜ »-(¯`v´¯)-»"

No response.

"TD"

"You have successfully unsubscribed."

Zhou Chen: "..."

That's incredible, he really is a piece of trash.

At this point, Jiang Che had already found the sender's number and sent the detailed information.

The number belonged to a butcher who mysteriously disappeared two days ago; his family has reported him missing. According to the investigation, the butcher's disappearance involves supernatural forces.

Jiang Che called and said, "This butcher is secretly connected to the Eternal Flame and is considered an outer member. Based on the information in the text message, the Ghost Killer should not be a fake."

Two days ago, the birdman detonated the forbidden substance C-071, the Corruption Gu, before his death. Anyone who ingested its eggs would be corrupted into a Corruptor. Four corruption incidents have occurred in the past two days, which could very well be a new, severe contamination event.

Zhou Chen was taken aback: "But after I replied with TD, it showed that I successfully unsubscribed. It looks like a spam message no matter how you look at it."

"It must be the murder mechanism of the corrupt."

Jiang Che calmly said, "It is the nature of the corrupt to kill, but some special corruptors and extraordinary items will only start killing after the killing mechanism is triggered, such as Yingzhou Strange Tales: The Slit-Mouthed Woman, Forbidden Item C-155: Miss Mary... You must have found a way to avoid the killing mechanism by accident."

Gather those who received the text message at the scene as soon as possible; they need to be isolated and protected.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Chen first had Eileen reply with a "TD" unsubscribe message. Then, he got up, walked to an open space, took out his Stars Club operator ID from his pocket, cleared his throat, and shouted loudly:

"...Everyone, look at me! Look at me, I have an announcement to make—the text messages you all received are genuine, but don't panic, I will ensure everyone's safety... Come on, everyone who received the text message, line up here, keep order, someone will take you to the Star Club for a free medical check-up in a bit..."

Zhou Chen was instantly surrounded by layers of people. Many suspected that the text message was a prank, but after seeing the Star Society operator's ID in his hand, they put away that idea—the Star Society's Ascendants wouldn't joke about such things.

After waiting for five or six minutes, two familiar figures hurried over from a distance.

"Oh my god, it's you again?" The two operators looked at Zhou Chen with an indescribable look of annoyance.

"It was just a coincidence, nothing more..." Zhou Chen waved his hand with a smile and got to the point: "A total of forty-one people received the text message. The area where the message was sent was only within a fifty-meter radius. This is the first time the source of the pollution has committed this crime."

"SMS messages are a curse; the source of the contamination is likely mass texting that occurs after hacking into cell towers."

The experienced operator glanced at the message: "This particular source of contamination is deeply hidden, lurking in the cracks between reality and dreams, making it difficult to find through normal means. They spread curses in various ways; being tainted by the curse is equivalent to being marked."

"At night, the cursed will encounter the source of contamination in their dreams... I'll contact the logistics team to bring these people back for examination."

"Thank you for your hard work."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Chen tactfully slipped away with Eileen. He was currently on his day off and didn't want to get involved in work.

I've had really bad luck today, encountering two pollution incidents in a row. Even taking a day off can't bring me peace...

Before his death, Birdman detonated the Corruption Gu, causing many people who had eaten the eggs to become corrupted and turned into mobile sources of pollution. It's easy to imagine that the Special Operations Team will be busy for a long time to come.

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In the sunny villa garden, an elderly man with gray hair lay leisurely in a rocking chair, squinting his eyes to enjoy the fragrance of flowers in the breeze.

Wearing a hood, Li Xiaoxiao walked out of the back door of the villa: "Before the birdman died, he detonated the Corruption Gu. In a few days, those corruptors will grow up and create enough trouble to keep the Star Society busy."

The old man said calmly, "But that's not enough. Never underestimate the power of the Star Society."

"I plan to bury several pollution sources in the downtown area. Once they explode, the Stars Society will definitely have to organize a large number of people to deal with them," Li Xiaoxiao said expressionlessly.

"Hmm, I have two more forbidden items here. Using them together will be enough to tie down most of the Star Society's manpower." The old man's eyes were half-closed. "What about the ritual?"

"It's reached the final stage. Fortunately, you had the foresight to secretly assemble a clandestine order. With their help, the ritual is proceeding very smoothly."

"Always keep something in mind when doing things." The old man smiled, said no more, and closed his eyes as if he were asleep.

Li Xiaoxiao retreated silently.

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In a residential building.

The young woman, carrying a large bag of household items, opened the door and saw a gentleman sitting on the living room sofa drinking, with bottles of liquor scattered all over the table. She couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Can't you drink less?"

The gentleman glanced at her: "Have you gathered any information?"

The young woman's face changed rapidly, like melting mud, eventually transforming into a lover with a neutral face.

"There have been quite a few pollution incidents lately, all caused by Eternal Flame. I suspect they're up to something."

The couple sat on the sofa, opened a bottle of beer, drank it all in one go, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"A sycophant told me that he saw a group of people sneaking in and out of an abandoned factory in the early hours of the morning. I secretly went to check it out today and found that an abyss ritual and altar had been set up inside."

After a pause, the lover added, "—Summoning ritual."

"Summoning ritual..." The gentleman's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

"The Eternal Flame will be making its move soon, and we should prepare ourselves." The lovers put down their wine bottles, beaming with joy.

"After so many years, it's time to let the world witness the power of our lost paradise once again!"

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