Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1314: Chapter 1312 Transformation

Cooperation for mutual benefit is certainly a good thing, but it’s best to have an idea of the partner’s budget in advance.

Although the Sect’s current plan is almost entirely the result of deliberate guidance, and the level of intensity is sufficient in Fu Qian’s opinion.

Still, he didn’t mind performing another pressure test to confirm his own reasonable objectives under this collaboration.

The facts proved that the partners do indeed value the cooperation.

Judging by their resistance to the Brilliant Tyrant, the intensity of the Nightmare in front of them was undoubtedly high.

The Sect was still earnest, worthy of spending some effort to understand what they really intended to achieve.

Satisfied, Fu Qian’s deliberately unhurried figure still maintained its inflated form, with no intention of retracting the Brilliant Tyrant.

Sincerity is one thing, but as a collaborating party, he also bore supervisory and regulatory responsibilities.

For instance, using this manner to set a perceivable final deadline for them and apply enough pressure.

Let’s hope they won’t disappoint his painstaking efforts!

As he pondered, the path ahead suddenly cleared, and Fu Qian once again emerged from the edge of the mist.

As someone who handled professional assignments, a strong sense of direction was essential.

Though by his estimation, even if he got lost and wandered aimlessly, it wouldn’t take him long to end up back here.

The edge of the Nightmare likely existed for the purpose of guiding you back into the Nightmare itself.

…

At the end of the road, behind the door, the young officer’s scrutinizing gaze met Fu Qian, who didn’t rush to knock but instead waited quietly in place.

With the same demeanor as in the real world, even standing in the same position.

With this abstract display, he added yet another layer of psychological pressure to the Nightmare hosts outside. A few minutes later, the dense fog nearby parted, revealing two figures approaching, one ahead and one behind.

Of course!

Seeing his deduction proven correct, Fu Qian smiled and greeted the duo, Amila and Anke.

“Anke… why didn’t you head into the town?”

Unfortunately, the latter’s demeanor was far less composed.

Seeing Fu Qian standing there in a posture that seemed as if he had been waiting for them all along, as if he was convinced they would follow, an uncontrollable sense of helplessness swept over Amila’s heart once again.

It truly felt like a lost lamb gazing up at the Herder, and indeed, that was literally the case.

Emerging from the mist under the golden morning rays, that imposing, inhuman figure became even more unbearable to look at directly.

Even the tattered clothes, torn from head to tail, carried an unusual Momentum when glimpsed.

“Waiting for you.”

In response to her question, Fu Qian naturally pointed to the door up ahead.

“If I were to negotiate alone, it’d probably waste more time.”

That was true. Anyone seeing a figure inflated several times its original size come and go wouldn’t open the door—it would be considered a normal reaction.

Amila couldn’t help but gripe inwardly, but she couldn’t conceal her lingering unease either.

Indeed… not only had Fu Qian confidently anticipated that the two of them would follow, he had even planned their roles in advance.

“You already know it’s a Nightmare, so this restraint doesn’t seem to fit your usual style, does it?”

Reginald was clearly displeased about being manipulated, but he didn’t leave in a huff; he merely coldly sneered.

“Isn’t it possible that I choose not to restrain myself even outside of a Nightmare?”

Unfortunately, the youth was just too young. Fu Qian’s offhand remark easily dredged up unpleasant memories for this particular individual.

Indeed, this guy’s behavior outside wasn’t remotely normal either; that world, for him, wasn’t genuine either.

“You and they share no essential difference.”

Fu Qian threw in another inflammatory statement, without even giving them a chance to retort, and strode directly toward the door.

“Now you can go and exchange thoughts with your kind.”

…

Being led around by the nose was undoubtedly frustrating; being classified as the same as Nightmare characters was even worse.

But the two Sect members hesitated for only a moment before actually following, not even needing to exchange words.

“What’s happening?”

It was evident that the return of the three-person squad had exerted tremendous psychological pressure on the young officer.

Half of his face hidden behind the door, his voice had a slightly parched quality, as if confronted by a formidable enemy.

Among them, Fu Qian was naturally the focal point of attention, though the latter made no effort to speak.

More than that, an indescribable, ominous Intuition forced the officer to break eye contact after just one glance, his neck inexplicably stiff with rusted movement, unable to look again.

“…We encountered something special in the mist. Open the door and let us in.”

Seeing Fu Qian refuse to utter a single word, Amila forced herself to pull her gaze away from the flickering, phantasmal fractures constantly radiating around him and sighed before addressing the officer.

“Something special… So that’s why he ended up like this?”

Amila’s reasoning was vague, but after momentary hesitation, the officer decided to accept it.

For one, town residents had already encountered creatures in the mist before, making it not entirely implausible.

Secondly, Amila represented the Sect’s authority, which was beyond what one police officer alone could refuse.

“Open the door, and by the way, it’s best if you find a place to hide afterward.”

Unfortunately, this Sect woman seemed short-tempered and lacked even the patience to talk politely, coldly issuing the instruction with an added reminder.

Hide…

When words like these come from a Sect member, especially when faced with an eerie example right before their eyes, the psychological impact on the two guards at the door was no small matter.

Without further hesitation, the officer directly grabbed the key and unlocked the door himself.

“Impressive.”

Fu Qian seemed very pleased with Amila’s efficient communication and did not hesitate to compliment her before rudely stepping into the town first.

Amila and Reginald’s cooperation came as no surprise to him.

Having established that they were trapped in this bizarre Nightmare with both known escape options proving futile, the only actions they could take now were either “explore the Nightmare” or monitor Fu Qian’s every step.

And with Fu Qian’s earlier suggestion, whether they denied it verbally or not, the possibility that this entire scenario had been orchestrated by the Sect had already planted itself in their minds.

With that premise in place, just a bit of deliberation would lead to the conclusion that keeping an eye on Fu Qian was far more constructive than aimlessly wandering about investigating, naturally resulting in them quickly catching up to him.

The Herder must always intimately understand the habits of his flock.

…

The moment the team entered the town, the two gatekeepers swiftly locked the door behind them and abandoned their posts.

Amila, true to her word, didn’t let their advice go to waste. Shortly after being led by Fu Qian, they suddenly encountered an all-too-familiar figure.

The Hunter Simon, Broad Sword in hand, was striding toward them alone.

“Sir Simon!”

Confused by Simon’s faintly combative stance, Amila instinctively called out a greeting.

Unfortunately, Simon stopped in his tracks without replying, instead turning to look behind him.

With a thunderous crash, a nearby house suddenly crumbled, scattering stones and splintered wood like blood spilling everywhere.

In the next moment, an oddly shiny, not-so-perfectly-rounded spherical entity emerged from the debris, its surface shifting with patterns that twisted and churned as it rolled toward Simon.

“…A Transformation?”

It wasn’t only Amila who stared, slack-jawed; even Fu Qian stopped in his tracks, an expression of admiration on his face as he took in the scene.