**Chapter 56: Luxianbei’s PLAN B**
When Luxianbei returned to Chunfeng Residence to meet Jiang Li, the personnel sent by Jumeng had already arrived.
Four young men skilled in the spirit patterns of Demons and Monsters, a female spiritual ability user adept in spirit writing, and two urban legends of unknown origin were all selected based on the characteristics proposed by Jumeng after analyzing Jiang Li’s input, posing as Hu Yue’s trusted associates.
The spirit patterns of Demons and Monsters and the plague ghost spirit patterns of the Hu brothers belong to the evil spirit category, both stemming from ancient evil spirit legends about little ghosts.
The female spiritual ability user, although proficient in spirit writing, has spirit patterns unrelated to Zigu, making her trustworthy.
Indeed, the origin of spirit writing is linked to the urban legend Zigu.
However, after this esoteric skill traveled beyond Z Country to R Country and even further to the Americas, blending with local cultures and changing methods of divination, many related urban legends emerged.
This change aligns with the conclusions drawn by Siye Society that urban legends alter with their believers; in fact, the previously flourishing powers of Zigu may very well relate to this dilution of power accompanying these changes.
The one posing as the painted skin urban legend was a urban legend with YEENAALDLOOSHII powers, a type of urban legend born from Navajo myths, also known as the Skin Walker, possessing abilities similar to those of the painted skin ghost.
As for the last urban legend, Jiang Li still hadn’t figured out how the troublemaker would impersonate a Shattered Skull Beast.
After Luxianbei distributed the tokens scavenged from Hu Yue’s group to the four and two urban legends, Jiang Li pulled her aside and whispered, “It seems like there’s one more? Will that cause any problems later?”
While speaking, her gaze subtly scanned the four young, thin men with dark, slightly red skin.
“No, there’s not an extra,” Luxianbei replied nonchalantly, “The Hu brothers have four, just like the common knowledge that the Four Heavenly Kings have five.”
“……” Jiang Li was momentarily rendered speechless, staring at Luxianbei before asking, “What about the troublemaker? What does it have to do with the Shattered Skull Beast? One is an evil spirit type and the other is a mutant type.”
“There is a connection, don’t worry, I asked just now,” Luxianbei said, sneaking a glance at the nearby Green Skin urban legend holding a small brass hammer, “Their troublemaking is a bit different from your understanding of troublemaking.”
“Different?” Jiang Li tilted her head.
“Their troublemaking means to smash, not to be mischievous,” Luxianbei explained, “Eggs, ducks, fish, human…”
“Human eggs?” Jiang Li froze for a moment.
“Yeah, human eggs refer to parts of the human body…”
Before Luxianbei could finish, Jiang Li expressionlessly raised a hand between them, interrupting her.
“You don’t need to say more, I understand.”
“Just as long as you get it.” Luxianbei shrugged. “So, using an urban legend with powers effective for attacking humanoid beings to impersonate the Shattered Skull Beast should be no problem.”
“Otherwise, it might be hard to find an urban legend that is more similar in ability at short notice, what do you think?”
Face? I thought it was… Jiang Li felt a slight blush on her cheeks, then nodded seriously, “Yes, no problem.”
“If it’s all good, shall we hit the road? It’ll take some time to reach the vicinity of Peach Source.” Luxianbei said, taking out her phone to check the time, then seemed to remember something and asked, “By the way, can you drive a large truck?”
“Sure, I used to learn to drive armored vehicles and tanks, the principles should be similar,” Jiang Li glanced at Luxianbei and replied coolly, “But why do you need me to drive?”
Someone like Jiang Li, who had undergone training at the Siye Society Headquarters before being dispatched to various cities as a key operative, would often need to lead Special Action Teams; military vehicle operation is nearly a necessary skill.
As if guessing Jiang Li’s thoughts, Luxianbei rolled her eyes at her, “You don’t think I want to slack off, do you?”
Jiang Li didn’t respond, but her gaze towards Luxianbei clearly reflected her skepticism.
【That’s right, you will. [Heart emoji]】
A flurry of messages, as if comments were flooding the screen.
“I’m telling you, I’m not that kind of person. I just want to take the opportunity on the way to Peach Source to familiarize myself with the materials from the Urban Legends Chat Group to prepare for PLAN B.” Luxianbei said seriously.
“Materials from the Urban Legends Chat Group? PLAN B?” Jiang Li tilted her head curiously, her expression darkening.
These were things Luxianbei hadn’t mentioned to her before.
“This…” Luxianbei scratched her head awkwardly and explained, “You have to prepare for any situation! I just thought of this plan on the way to meet that inspector, haven’t thought it through, and it may not even be used; if it is, I’ll explain it in more detail then.”
“……”
What new antics is she planning?
Jiang Li fell silent for a moment, not pressing further, and turned towards the large truck.
————
Five minutes later, a large truck sped along the road from the center of Tangcheng toward Peach Source.
In the back of the truck, five spiritual ability users and one urban legend were crammed into a very uncomfortable space, comparable to the crowded conditions of the 9 Line metro during rush hour in Hu City.
In fact, they didn’t want to be squished together like this, but when the four brothers of Demons and Monsters climbed into the cargo box and saw over a thousand Zhipianxian inside, coupled with Luxianbei’s calm explanation of “Don’t worry, it’s just an alchemical dirty bomb,” they were all thrown off and almost decided to get off and run alongside the truck.
If not for Jumeng’s sake, and the fact that Luxianbei’s spirit energy fluctuations were indeed stronger than theirs, the already hot-tempered troublemaker would have jumped up to smash Luxianbei’s face.
Jiang Li was gripping the steering wheel, expressionless as she retracted her gaze from the rearview mirror, turning to Luxianbei with a frown.
What is she researching?
Ever since getting in, her gaze hadn’t shifted from her phone screen.
Jiang Li thought to herself, stealing a glance at Luxianbei’s phone screen, and was slightly taken aback upon seeing the displayed contents.
【What are the forbidden taboos of the Solar Eclipse Society?
From the current intel, the Solar Eclipse Society was not a truly evil organization when it was first established; they hold resources, love to invest, look forward to technological progress, and operate rather discreetly in the shadows.
They worship a deity suspected of being fictional, possessing primal powers, yet do not pray for its arrival, merely seeking its existence and hoping for its acknowledgment.
To deny its divinity and existence is the greatest taboo of the Solar Eclipse Society.
Example: “Hey, what you all are talking about is fake! How could such things exist in real life? Why do you all like this sort of thing? I just Baidu’d, and based on your description, it could just be a natural phenomenon like a total solar eclipse.”
Recommended emotions to use while speaking: [Voice]】
When Luxianbei lightly touched a voice file, the phone’s speaker immediately emitted a voice reminiscent of an old internet user, part pitiful and part mocking, just the mere sound made one feel irritatingly compelled to act.
“Ha ha ha, Ultraman doesn’t exist in this world at all!”
After listening, Luxianbei nodded contemplatively.
She was quite familiar with this, and could empathize with the feelings of the members of the Solar Eclipse Society.
If someone were to tell her that Bai Xiaohua did not exist in this world, she too would be furious.
Muttering to herself, Luxianbei continued scrolling down.
【How to provoke members of the Miracle Cult in one sentence?
Answer: “Isn’t it just a cult?”
“When you were being hunted by the Siye Society, where was your miracle?”】
【Unspeakable dirty secrets of the leaders of independent spiritual ability user groups…】
Jiang Li, “……”
What kind of things is she looking at?
Isn’t she afraid those illegal spiritual organizations will team up and k*ll her?
Wait! Could it be that she intends to…
After a brief contemplation, Jiang Li seemed to arrive at a near-definitive guess regarding Luxianbei’s unspoken PLAN B, casting a meaningful glance at her before silently sighing.
If it came to that, they’d have to escape together.
In terms of speed, I’m fairly confident. Jiang Li thought.
————
Meanwhile, over three hundred kilometers away from Tangcheng, on a deserted road.
“Cough cough cough——!”
Amidst the thick smoke, Bai Kai coughed violently, pulling over the new G-Class bought by Li Xuan, then jumped out and kicked a tire hard.
“What a broken car, only went 180 for over eight hours, and now it has problems? Did I just forget to add antifreeze before leaving? Tsk, just like Li Xuan, useless!”
After venting his irritation for a while, Bai Kai took out his phone to contact the nearest car repair shop, made a partial prepayment for the repairs, then looked in the direction of Tangcheng, his expression slightly tightening.
Then……
He stretched his slightly fatigued muscles, took a deep breath, and started heading towards Tangcheng at a brisk pace.
Although Bai Kai wanted to sprint from Huacheng to Tangcheng, he couldn’t rely solely on spirit pattern powers to achieve it, but now with just over three hundred kilometers to go, it should only take around twenty minutes, which was still manageable for him.
Thus, an excited shout echoed through the mountain night, where no one was around.
“Don’t be afraid, Xiaobei! I’m here to protect you! Yay——!”
————
Peach Source was about to meet its end.
Watching the terrifying scene within Peach Source, Miss Rabbit had such thoughts arise in her mind.
Fortunately, the judgment of the Elders’ Council of the Solar Eclipse Society was usually accurate, and long before any changes occurred in Peach Source, she and Shuo E had already evacuated to a safe distance.
In the distance, the mountaintop concealing the Fushang Sacred Tree was glowing brilliantly, as if something was about to break ground, the soil, stones, and vegetation at the peak melting away.
Suddenly, a tremendous noise reverberated through the canyon where Peach Source was located.
In that instant, the mountains cracked, and the golden light shone like the blazing sun, reflecting on the dazed faces.
Along with the mountains breaking apart, a giant tree made of flesh and bl**d shot up from the ground, its stout branches bursting forth with bright light, and a tremendous heat poured down like a torrent, quickly revealing dozens and hundreds of dazzling spots on the snow-covered earth, igniting a roaring fire.
At the top of the giant tree, a decaying, swollen, grotesquely grown egg pulsated like a heart, producing thunderous sounds.
“That thing is about to wake up soon,” Shuo E said calmly, “Just as the Elders’ Council anticipated.”
What exactly is that? Miss Rabbit wanted to ask, but someone spoke and interrupted her before she could voice her question.
“Hahaha! Truly beautiful, really too beautiful, just as expected from my creation!”
Following the laughter, her gaze fell upon the man accompanying her, and Miss Rabbit didn’t hide her disgust.
The man named Beres appeared to be in his thirties, with black hair and red eyes, wearing a grotesque bronze mask that covered only half his face, ruining his slightly delicate and handsome features.
Attached to his back was a silver spine entirely made of alchemical material, propping up his figure while contorting and twisting his shape.
Before encountering Beres, Miss Rabbit had never imagined that the other group from the Solar Eclipse Society mentioned by Shuo E would actually be led by him.
Miss Rabbit had long heard of Beres’s infamous name; he and the old man responsible for her experiments originally belonged to the same subordinate organization under the Solar Eclipse Society. About six or seven years ago, that organization was almost single-handedly annihilated by a certain outrageously powerful operative from the Siye Society, with very few able to escape.
The old man responsible for her experiments was severely injured during that attack, while Beres had nearly all his bones crushed, barely surviving but relegated to a glass incubator indefinitely.
Miss Rabbit had thought this pitiful creature who was only known by his name would remain in that incubator until his last breath, but unexpectedly, he miraculously appeared here.
Earlier, Miss Rabbit had heard that he managed to return to life by mastering a mysterious substance with a very strong life force that could replicate urban legend powers.
Now, combined with the strangely revived powers of Qunyang and Beres’s appearance here, that rumor seemed almost confirmed.
Noticing the unusual gaze in Miss Rabbit’s eyes, Beres turned to face her, an unsettling smile spreading across his face.
“Oh, you must be my old friend’s proud experimental subject, right? I’ve heard of you and am quite interested; if you don’t mind, you can come see my laboratory when we return. I can guarantee you will have a delightful experience…”
Before Beres could finish speaking, Shuo E suddenly stepped forward, blocking him from Miss Rabbit, interrupting his words.
Miss Rabbit, “……”
Though this action touched her, she figured he was about to say something that would infuriate her.
Tsk, I had already lost hope. Miss Rabbit thought.
However……
Shuo E stood there quietly, gazing into the distance at the valley, without saying a word, his tall figure resembling a monument guarding her safety.
