Chapter 1230: The Dangerous City

Not long after.

Lu Caiwei's body was discovered, causing a wave of shock and heated discussion, but it was nothing more than a topic for after-dinner drinks, fading away with the passing of time.

Such is the nature of the world.

Whether it's a dazzling prodigy or a renowned figure from a distant land, their brilliance is but a fleeting moment, destined to be forgotten in the long river of time.

Seasons change, winds rise and fall.

Only the vast sea of stars remains as radiant as ever.

Compared to the infinite universe, the life and death, honor and disgrace of a single person, or even an entire race, are too insignificant, not even worth a speck of dust. No one pays much attention, nor does the eternal spirit take notice.

Even as civilizations intertwine, each world vastly different, time never stops, and the struggles of similar beings never cease.

Such is the case with Yunxing.

And so it is with Lanxing.

Even in another parallel galaxy, on the blue planet that nurtures modern civilization, it is the same...

Blue Star.

Pingjiang City.

Night falls.

The summer heat finally subsides, but the dazzling neon lights of the streets bring even more fervor. In this vibrant, pleasure-seeking city, the long streets are lined with tall, scantily clad beauties, cheerfully calling out to passing young men.

"Handsome, come and have some fun..."

"Little brother, our bar has a promotion, buy one case of drinks and get half a case free!"

"Beauty, beauty, interested in a part-time job?"

As a street full of bars, such scenes are commonplace.

Any establishment without a few attractive servers to draw in customers is doomed to fail. This is the best of times, and also the most competitive.

The youthful figures add charm to the summer, making the nightlife even more lively.

Most passersby can't help but be drawn to the sights. Even if their wallets are too thin to indulge, it's understandable to enjoy the view. Who doesn't appreciate beauty?

Only the young man approaching from afar remains unfazed.

If anyone were to look closely, they'd notice he never glances at these young ladies, not even turning his head. His composure is almost too steady for his age, making him immune to even the most cunning traps.

He's just too steady.

If it weren't for his hair and beard, one might think there was something wrong with him.

Unfortunately.

This young man, wearing sneakers and shorts, with a toothpick in his mouth, looks like the epitome of an ordinary, unremarkable guy.

His appearance makes it hard for him to stand out.

And so, the legend of the Steady Brother is missed by the world.

The young man, however, pays no mind to others' opinions, walking calmly and leisurely. Aside from carefully avoiding pedestrians, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about him.

After a while of leisurely strolling.

He suddenly spots a red piece of paper on the ground. Cautiously glancing around and seeing no suspicious figures, he quickly steps on it, pretending to tie his shoelaces as he picks it up.

A crumpled hundred-yuan bill, filled with the nostalgic scent of money...

Holding it in his hand and examining it closely, he can't help but mutter with a sigh.

"Starting off lucky, my luck's not bad."

"Haven't seen this in a long time..."

Just as he's feeling pleased.

Suddenly!

The streets around him erupt into chaos, people scrambling in panic!

Cries and shouts fill the air, and the bustling street turns eerily quiet in an instant. Pedestrians hide in their homes, doors tightly shut, and even the gates of the nearby residential area are locked!

In less than half a minute.

The bright city night sky begins to fill with a hazy mist, even the streetlights blurring into indistinct halos. The silent street exudes an ominous aura.

In an incredibly short time, the street is completely deserted.

It seems as though countless ghostly figures are leaping and darting between the high-rise buildings!

He shows no reaction, as if he hasn't noticed anything unusual, hands in his pockets, strolling along, calmly tucking away the hundred-yuan bill, walking down the empty street as if nothing's wrong.

His pace remains steady, not a single change.

The ground-level street is eerily quiet, every sound amplified.

The entire city feels like a ghost town.

But the rooftops of the high-rises are unusually lively.

Several black-clad figures leap down with agility, their expressions grave as they gaze at the distant ghostly figures.

"Captain, the number of wraiths has been increasing lately. With just our team in this old district, it's getting tough."

"Should we call for backup?"

"Captain, we'll follow your lead!"

As soon as the men and women finish speaking, they all look respectfully at the person in front.

The leader, a tall woman, is clad in tight black attire, fully equipped, her figure perfectly outlined yet appropriately protected. Just the craftsmanship of her outfit speaks of its high value.

But this beauty, with her mature demeanor, pays no attention to her appearance, her cold eyes fixed on the distant wraiths, her expression serious.

"As celestial cultivators, and members of the Supernatural Investigation Bureau, it is our duty to protect the citizens and eliminate the wraiths!"

Her stern voice echoes, and the black-clad figures immediately respond with determination.

"We will complete the mission!"

As the beautiful captain leaps swiftly, the others follow closely, quickly engaging the wraiths on the rooftops, the sounds of shattering and impacts resonating far and wide.

"Boom! Boom!"

The vibrations reach far, startling even the cats and dogs.

The young man in shorts continues his steady walk, focused on the road ahead, as if afraid of tripping. No matter the commotion, nothing is more important than walking this path safely.

After passing several intersections.

Finally.

He stops in front of a narrow alley, looking at the shabby wooden door at the entrance, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Not easy."

"Finally found a place to buy talisman paper. It's really hard to find this stuff these days."

Muttering to himself.

The young man steps forward steadily, tentatively knocking on the wooden door.

"Knock! Knock!"

"Anyone there?"

After a few knocks and calls, a trembling, aged voice finally responds from inside.

"You... you better leave! Tonight, my shop won't open. You can come back another day!"

As soon as the words are spoken.

The young man's face turns pale with panic, as if his lifeline has been cut!

"What? Not open?"

Anxiously looking around, the young man grits his teeth.

"Not open? That won't do!"

"Every night is dangerous. I never go unprepared. If you don't open, how am I supposed to get through tonight?"

"Today, whether you like it or not, this door is opening!"

With a fierce glare.

The young man's hand trembles slightly, and the lock inside the wooden door clicks open on its own!

"Click!"

A crisp sound, and the door visibly shifts back a bit.

The young man pushes hard, and with a loud clang, the aged wooden door swings open, exposed to the moonlight!

After waiting a few seconds and seeing no one emerge from inside, only hearing faint, trembling sounds.

He decides not to wait any longer and starts rummaging through the shop himself. Before long, he finds the rolls of hemp paper he's been longing for, his face lighting up with joy!

"Ah, looks like I can make about a hundred thousand talismans. Not bad!"

After bundling the rolls and wrapping them in coarse paper.

The young man nods in satisfaction.

"Good, this way it won't get ruined if it rains. No problems on the way back!"

With everything packed up.

He rummages through his pockets, pulling out colorful bills and assorted coins, counting them several times before finally gathering enough to pay for the paper. Satisfied, he closes the door and heads back.

Walking leisurely home, his steps noticeably lighter.

He continues to mutter cheerfully to himself.

"A hundred thousand talismans are a bit few, far from the billion mark, but it's still something. After all, this world is different. If a billion people suddenly appeared, the whole planet would be in chaos."

Reluctantly accepting the situation, Wu Tao's steps grow even steadier as he heads towards his secluded residence, humming a tune, feeling an indescribable sense of ease.

Meanwhile, on the high-rise rooftops, the atmosphere is heavy.

On the ground, one team member has already stopped breathing, another lies unconscious.