The Eldritch Files

As the Ciphertext Arrays activated one by one, a powerful resonance formed between Song Chushi’s Spiritual Power and the city. His figure grew hazy and mysterious. The world seemed to twist around him, unfolding layer by layer like a kaleidoscope following some arcane principle.

’The ponytail girl’s brother... Just what level has he reached...?’

Han Su couldn’t help but marvel.

After recently Stealing the power of Crimson, he had actually started to get a sense of the Four Heavenly Kings’ strength.

But Song Chushi still seemed incredibly mysterious to him, a testament to the vast gulf in their power.

’Perhaps only Spiritual Power this frighteningly strong could bridge space in a way that defies reality.’

He subconsciously looked up toward the intersecting lights of the countless Ciphertext Arrays. He could already see a bizarre building shimmering into view, and standing before it, a tall, thin woman.

She was quietly observing reality. In theory, she should have intervened to disrupt Song Chushi’s attempt to pull the laboratory over, patiently waiting for the four City Slaughter Priests to establish a more advantageous anchor.

But whether out of exhaustion or simple indifference, she did nothing.

She just stood there quietly, allowing the city-wide Ciphertext Arrays to work their magic, allowing herself and the laboratory to descend into the real world.

And so, to Han Su’s eyes, it was like watching something being 3D printed into the night sky.

Bit by bit, the huge and bizarrely shaped laboratory was sketched into existence, then crashed to the ground with immense weight.

The earth boomed. The ground cracked. A line of cars on the street jumped into the air before landing heavily.

When the endless dust and smoke dissipated, the abandoned research base before them had completely transformed. The original buildings seemed to have been wiped away, replaced by a towering, sprawling black structure.

The sheer abruptness of it was enough to make one subconsciously doubt their own mind, wondering if their perception had been wrong and the laboratory had been here all along.

...

...

”It’s here...”

Han Su had been part of the Mysterious Circle for some time now, but the sight of a non-existent building being pulled into reality was still incredibly striking.

He glanced at Song Chushi, who, despite having performed such a massive feat of reality-warping, remained perfectly composed, not even breathing heavily.

’I have a feeling that someday, those people will regret dragging his sister into this vortex.’

As this thought crossed his mind, he walked forward in silence.

The mist around him, like a living creature, slowly spread in all directions, thinning out as it retreated into the surrounding shadows.

The Copper Armor Statue and the Ghost Truck vanished along with the dissipating mist, lying in wait within the shadows.

The gun, stun baton, and dagger at his waist were all in place. There was nothing left to prepare.

”Forcibly bridging a displaced dimension, borrowing the foundations of Qinggang’s reality with your power alone to pull us through...”

A soft sigh rang out as the main doors of the Abyssal Laboratory slid open.

Han Su recognized the tall, thin woman’s voice. She was flanked by four or five women with cold expressions, all wearing white lab coats.

Her gaze fell on Song Chushi with a hint of appreciation. ”Quite an impressive young man. I’ve heard of you. I even personally arranged two attempts to corner you, but you managed to escape both times, unfortunately.”

”But I must admit, you’ve shown great aptitude, both for unauthorized exploration of ruins and for stirring up trouble.”

”By my standards, I’d give you an A Level rating.”

”So, what do you say? Any interest in becoming my assistant?”

”After all, you must know it won’t be easy to find a good job with your current record.”

...

Song Chushi exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. ”Let my sister go, and I’ll consider it.”

”Hah...”

A mocking sneer appeared on the tall, thin woman’s face. ”This is precisely why I can only give you an A Level rating. You’re diligent and bold, certainly, but after all these years, you still haven’t found her on your own. You actually had to wait until we met to ask me?”

”That’s not entirely true.”

Song Chushi smiled. ”Isn’t bringing you here part of my investigation into my sister’s whereabouts?”

”Fair enough.”

The tall, thin woman smiled. ”So how do you plan to conduct your investigation?”

”Well, I did have a simpler method in mind.”

Song Chushi suddenly raised his gun and pointed it at Han Su’s face as he approached. ”Using him as a hostage!”

”If you don’t tell me, I’ll blow his head off.”

Han Su was completely dumbfounded. ”?”

Even the tall, thin woman was visibly taken aback.

But then Song Chushi lowered the gun and sighed. ”Unfortunately, I owe him a huge favor, so I can’t do that. Which means I’ll have to rely on my own abilities and... amicably... ask you to consider how much trouble I’ve gone through these past few years and just hand over the list of Heirs.”

”And if I don’t? What then?”

The tall, thin woman’s brow furrowed. She descended the steps from the laboratory entrance, one step at a time.

The four or five assistants in white lab coats followed close behind her, matching her every step.

The Abyssal Laboratory’s armed forces were now scattered around the outskirts of Qinggang.

She, however, had been pulled here alone. The massive Abyssal Laboratory was just an empty shell, leaving her at her most vulnerable. And yet, she had brought only a few seemingly delicate assistants, her posture as arrogant as ever, exuding an intangible pressure.

”That’s fine. I’ll just search for it myself...”