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Chapter 261 A Feast for the Gluttons!? (35 out of 3 words, please vote with monthly tickets!)

"chat?!"

Jiang Chengyue, like a wounded lone wolf, forced out a hoarse, cold laugh from deep in his throat.

The knife tip remained pointed at Fang Qingyu without moving. "I have nothing to talk to you about. Get out!"

Fang Qingyu's expression remained unchanged upon seeing this.

"Om-"

A deep, viscous darkness, seemingly capable of swallowing all light, once again spread silently from him, as if it were a living thing.

Endless!

In an instant, it completely engulfed the entire safe house, which was less than ten square meters in size, along with the five people inside and Jiang Chengyue.

Absolute darkness.

Absolute silence.

The sounds of everyone's heartbeats and breathing were completely absorbed by the thick darkness.

Jiang Chengyue felt as if his five senses had been stripped away, leaving only the cold hilt of the knife in his hand to bring a faint sense of reality.

I have never experienced such complete darkness and isolation, as if I had fallen into the abyss of the universe.

In the suffocating darkness, faint footsteps could be heard.

Calm and clear, step by step, it was as if he was stepping on Jiang Chengyue's taut heartstrings.

Fang Qingyu's figure seemed to emerge from the source of darkness, ignoring the blade pointed at his heart, and walked straight to Jiang Chengyue.

The distance between the two was so close that Jiang Chengyue could feel the oppressive aura emanating from the other, as solid as a mountain yet carrying the aura of world-burning thunder and flames.

The moment Jiang Chengyue's muscles tensed subconsciously due to the oppressive feeling.

Fang Qingyu held up one finger.

The movements are slow.

Gently, it touched the cold, gleaming side of the blade.

"Don't worry."

Fang Qingyu's voice rang out in the absolute darkness, as if whispering directly into Jiang Chengyue's mind, eerily calm.

"We're not here to cause you trouble."

Apply slight pressure with your fingers.

An overwhelming, yet steel-like power was transmitted through the blade.

Jiang Chengyue felt an irresistible shockwave, his tiger's mouth trembled violently, and his long sword was uncontrollably pushed away by a seemingly casual finger by about a foot.

The blade left Fang Qingyu's body range.

"I wanted to ask you some questions."

Fang Qingyu withdrew his finger and remained standing in front of Jiang Chengyue. His molten gold vertical pupils, like two faint golden lamps in the darkness, calmly gazed at him.

Jiang Chengyue's hand holding the knife trembled slightly, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

The brief clash of forces just now made him clearly realize how terrifying the young man before him was.

That was definitely not the power that an ordinary second-stage initial realm cultivator should possess.

He stared intently at Fang Qingyu's golden eyes, burning in the darkness, his voice dry and hoarse from extreme vigilance and immense pressure:
"Who...who are you?!"

Fang Qingyu remained silent upon hearing this.

He simply and naturally pulled a dark blue-covered ID card from the inner pocket of his tactical waist pack.

Then, it was calmly handed to Jiang Chengyue.

At the same time, Fang Qingyu stepped aside to make way for the people behind him.

"So do they."

Jiang Chengyue's breathing suddenly became more rapid.

A special team!?
He recognized the emblem!
However, this did not immediately lower his guard.

Within the Jiang family, there are also those who hold high positions.

His eyes remained sharp as knives, fixed on Fang Qingyu's face. One hand still gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, while the other hand, extremely slowly and with utmost caution, reached for the document.

I took the document, my fingertips touching the cold, tough cover.

His gaze swept over the information on the document inch by inch, like a scanner.

The moment the name "Fang Qingyu" pierced his eyes like a red-hot nail.

Jiang Chengyue's body trembled.

His head jerked up.

His gaze was fixed on Fang Qingyu's cold and stern face.

"You're Fang Qingyu?! The Fang Qingyu from Heisong'ao, Anjiang Province?!"

"Replacement guaranteed."

Fang Qingyu's answer was concise and affirmative.

There wasn't even any further explanation; it was just a slight movement of the wrist.

"choke--!"

A clear, soul-crushing slash suddenly rang out in the absolute darkness.

The Dragon Sparrow Blade was unsheathed with fierce force.

On the blade, ancient dragon and phoenix totem patterns faintly emerge, outlining a majestic silhouette in the darkness.

Its unique and inimitable design, its terrifying aura, and its unparalleled sharpness.

It was the very same Dragon Sparrow Slaying Calamity that had been photographed by countless people on the forum.

I saw this knife.

The last trace of doubt in Jiang Chengyue's eyes melted away like ice and snow.

The hand that was holding the long sword finally slowly fell to its lowering.

The tip of the knife rested weakly on the ground, making a soft "ding" sound.

My body felt as if all my strength had been drained away. I swayed slightly and barely managed to stand up by leaning against the cold metal door.

But the wariness in his eyes had not completely disappeared.

His body still instinctively moved closer to the door, which was his only way out.

Jiang Chengyue took a deep breath, his voice still hoarse, but with a complex and indescribable meaning:
"Fang Qingyu, the special team leader of Project Hidden Dragon, I've heard of you and seen your combat footage. Heisong'ao, you're remarkable."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four people behind Fang Qingyu, before finally focusing on Fang Qingyu's face, filled with deep confusion:
"But you, weren't you the elite troops sent by the Federation to support the Arctic front?! Why are you here?! Why are you looking for me?!"

Fang Qingyu listened to Jiang Chengyue's words, which were full of incomprehension and implicit questioning.

For the first time, an extremely strange expression appeared on his face.

As if he had heard an extremely absurd joke, the corners of his mouth twitched upwards very slightly, with a hint of cold mockery.

He shrugged, his tone carrying a sense of absurdity:

"this problem."

"I want to ask you that, too."

Fang Qingyu looked directly into Jiang Chengyue's eyes:
"Why did Director Chen Ming of your Jiang family's Internal Affairs Department assign us the mission of 'hunting down the traitor Jiang Chengyue' on the very first day we arrived in Liuli Guang City?"

"Why did your Jiang family arrange for us to be stationed directly in the 'Star Gazing Platform' in the core area of ​​the City Lord's Mansion, instead of at the front-line garrison?"

"of course."

Fang Qingyu's voice lowered.

"I'm also very curious, what heinous thing did you do that would make the entire Jiang family mobilize more than a dozen elite second-tier Grandmasters, even secretly in the dead of night, to put you to death?"

boom--!
Fang Qingyu's words were like a bombshell dropped into Jiang Chengyue's heart, which was already filled with pain and despair.

His body began to tremble violently again!
It wasn't out of fear, but because of the immense shock and an indescribable grief and indignation.

"Hunting me? A mission?"

He muttered Fang Qingyu's words to himself.

On that resolute yet haggard face, the expression shifted dramatically in a very short time.

From initial shock and bewilderment, to disbelief, to a profound sense of humiliation and overwhelming rage at being utterly betrayed and manipulated!

Finally, all the emotions condensed into a suppressed, bitter laugh that was so intense it made one's heart tremble.

"Hehehehe."

Jiang Chengyue leaned against the door and slowly slid down, as if the last bit of strength supporting his body had been drained away.

He lowered his head and painfully dug his hands into his hair, which was covered in dust and blood.

His shoulders were heaving silently and violently.

After a good ten seconds, he suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with an overwhelming sorrow and a lucidity bordering on despair.

He looked at Fang Qingyu, his voice hoarse.

"Feel sorry."

"It all seems to be because of me."

Fang Qingyu didn't urge him, but just looked at him calmly.

Wei Banmeng and the others held their breath and looked at the figure shrouded in despair.

Fang Qingyu walked to the wall, pulled over two old metal folding chairs, sat down in one, and gestured for Jiang Chengyue to sit in the other.

"Sit down and talk."

He then pointed to the surrounding area, which was as thick as ink and seemed to isolate everything from the eternal night.

“You can rest assured here. No one can hear you, and no one can spy on you.”

Fang Qingyu's voice carried a convincing certainty.

Jiang Chengyue looked at the darkness, then at Fang Qingyu's calm yet profound gaze.

Struggling, he stood up, holding onto the door panel. Instead of sitting in the chair, he leaned against the cold metal door, as if only in this way could he draw a sense of security.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

Only then did he look at Fang Qingyu, and the corners of his mouth once again tugged into that extremely bitter smile.

"You really want to know?"

His gaze swept over Fang Qingyu, then over Wei Banmeng and the other two, finally lingering on Jiang Wei for a moment.

"Once you know, there's no turning back."

Jiang Chengyue's voice lowered.

“You might even be hunted down, to the point of no return.”

Fang Qingyu leaned back in his chair, his molten gold vertical pupils calm and unwavering.

He waved his hand casually, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather:

"It doesn't matter."

"At worst, we can go back to the capital."

"Going to Beijing?!"

The moment the words "going to the capital" were uttered by Fang Qingyu.

Jiang Chengyue, whose face was originally filled with grief and despair, suddenly froze.

Then he suddenly raised his head!
Those bloodshot eyes stared intently at Fang Qingyu, their pupils suddenly contracting.

immediately
An unbelievable surge of ecstasy, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly washed away all the despair and gloom on his face.

"It's Old Master Hong Qitian?! Was it him who sent you to Liuli Guangcheng?!"

Jiang Chengyue seemed to have grasped at the last straw. He leaned forward slightly due to excitement, his eyes fixed on Fang Qingyu, desperately needing confirmation.

Fang Qingyu frowned almost imperceptibly as he looked at Jiang Chengyue's sudden, almost manic reaction of surprise.

Wei Banmeng and the other two looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

How could Hong Qitian's name elicit such a violent reaction on this remote Arctic front, from the mouth of this desperate traitor?
"Yes."

Fang Qingyu nodded, giving an affirmative answer, "Grandpa Hong suggested that we come to Liuli Guangcheng."

"Great! Great! Great!!"

Upon receiving confirmation, Jiang Chengyue slammed his fist into his thigh, making a dull thud!
His face was overflowing with joy, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance, as if he had been saved from a desperate situation!
"Good timing! Perfect timing!! Hahahaha!!"

He couldn't help but chuckle softly, his laughter filled with the ecstasy and relief of surviving a catastrophe.

This stark contrast left Fang Qingyu and his group of five completely dumbfounded.

One second he was a traitor being hunted down by his entire family, waiting for death in despair, and the next second he was overjoyed because of the words "Hong Qitian" and "Shangjing".

What exactly is going on? !
Jiang Chengyue also saw the astonishment and deep confusion in their eyes.

He forcibly suppressed the overwhelming joy that was about to burst from his chest, vigorously wiped his face, and tried to calm himself down, but the excited light in his eyes was still hard to suppress.

He took several deep breaths, his chest heaving violently.

When he looked at Fang Qingyu again, his eyes had become extremely serious and solemn, even carrying a kind of earnestness as if entrusting him with a heavy responsibility.

"Captain Fang, everyone."

His voice was still hoarse, but full of power. "Since you were sent by Elder Hong, then I have nothing to hide!" Jiang Chengyue straightened his back, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and his eyes became sharp and firm.

"The source of everything, all evil, and all the persecution comes from our Jiang family's ancestor."

Jiang Chengyue's voice was like a blade tempered with ice, each word deliberate and resolute:

"Jiang Taixuan!"

Jiang Taixuan?
The name sent a chill down the spines of Wei Banmeng and the others.

That pillar of strength?

A legendary martial saint who burned his source of power to protect the City of Glazed Light a hundred years ago?
A hero from fifty years ago?
Jiang Chengyue didn't pause. He stared intently into Fang Qingyu's eyes and posed a startling question:

"Do you know how old our 'pillar of strength,' 'legendary hero,' is now?"

Fang Qingyu frowned slightly, based on the information provided by Chen Ming and Wei Banmeng: "One hundred and fifty years old? Or... a little over one hundred and fifty?"

"One hundred and fifty-seven years old!!"

Jiang Chengyue's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap in the small safe room.

"Fifty years ago, at the most critical moment of the Arctic Great Wall defense line, in order to defend the 'Ice Ridge Fortress,' he burned his life essence, severely damaged the army of the Fate Demons, and held out for seven days and seven nights until reinforcements arrived, thus saving the City of Glazed Light! This should have been a heroic feat that exhausted his life and left him exhausted!"

Jiang Chengyue's voice trembled with excitement, his eyes filled with grief and indignation, as well as a sense of humiliation at being deceived.

"He was already a Martial Saint at that time, but his origin was severely damaged and his lifespan was greatly shortened. Normally, he could only live for ten more years at most, or even five more years would be a miracle!"

"But do you know what?!"

His gaze swept over the shocked Fang Qingyu and the others, his voice like a tearful accusation:
"He survived! Not only did he survive, but he survived that near-fatal injury!"

"He lived for another fifty-seven years!!!"

"One hundred and fifty-seven years old!! A hero who should have shed his last drop of blood for the City of Glazed Light fifty years ago has stubbornly lived to this day!"

Fang Qingyu and the others didn't think much of it when they heard this.

Instead, his expression was strange.

"This"

Chu Kuanglan couldn't help but speak in a muffled voice, filled with disbelief, "Isn't this a good thing? If our ancestor lives for a few more decades, it will be a pillar of strength for Liuli Guangcheng, the Jiang family, and the entire defense line! Is there anyone who doesn't want their ancestor to live a few more years?"

His words represented the most direct doubts of Fang Qingyu and the others at this moment.

"Good news?!"

Jiang Chengyue felt as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

His face was almost overwhelmed with grief and bitterness.

He suddenly looked at Chu Kuanglan, then glanced at Fang Qingyu, Wei Banmeng, and Lu Jiuyuan, who were also looking confused.

His expression became extremely complicated.

He took a step forward, his voice low and hoarse with intense emotion, like the whimper of a wounded beast:
"Do you think this is a good thing?"

Jiang Chengyue stared intently into Fang Qingyu's eyes.

"Do you know how he survived?!"

Inside the safe house, there was a deathly silence.

Only Jiang Chengyue's heavy breathing sounded exceptionally clear in the thick darkness.

Deep within Fang Qingyu's molten gold vertical pupils, light flashed rapidly.

For the first time, Wei Banmeng's usually composed face lost its composure, and her delicate brows furrowed.

Chu Kuanglan's puzzled expression froze.

Lu Jiuyuan's knuckles turned white as he gripped the knife.

An extremely ominous premonition, like a cold, venomous snake, quietly crept into everyone's heart.

How did you survive?

Fang Qingyu's voice lowered.

Jiang Chengyue gave a bitter smile, a smile that was even more unsightly than crying.

Instead of answering directly, he stared intently at Fang Qingyu with his bloodshot, pain-filled eyes and offered an answer that was enough to overturn any preconceived notion:

"By sucking!"

"By devouring!"

"By forcibly extracting the life force and vitality of other martial artists!!!"

"impossible!"

Wei Banmeng cried out in surprise.

For the first time, the usually cold voice fluctuated violently, filled with an unequivocal denial.

"Neither current technology nor any known abilities of the Chosen Ones can possibly achieve this. Forcibly extracting someone else's life force and transferring it to oneself violates the fundamental laws of life!"

"If such a method truly existed, wouldn't it grant immortality?! The Federation's high command and various powerful factions have long ago..."

Her words came to an abrupt halt as Jiang Chengyue suddenly raised his head.

Those eyes, burning red with despair and anger, were like two blazing flames, fixed intently on Wei Banmeng's face.

He mustered all his strength and let out a roar.

"What if it is..."

"Where are the divine weapons?"

These four words were like four heavy hammers, striking hard into the hearts of Fang Qingyu and his companions.

It shattered all doubts and the notion that it was "impossible" in an instant!
Inside the safe house, an even more suffocating silence fell.

Chu Kuanglan's mouth was agape enough to fit a fist, and his eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets.

Lu Jiuyuan's sharp eyes were filled with an unprecedented solemnity.

The color drained from Wei Banmeng's usually cold face, and her eyes flickered violently as she frantically considered this possibility.

Deep within Fang Qingyu's molten gold vertical pupils, it seemed as if molten lava was violently churning.

Divine Armament!

These four characters themselves represent infinite possibilities.

They are incredibly diverse, with unpredictable abilities, and many of their effects are beyond human comprehension.

Immortality may be a distant dream, but slowing down aging and shifting life force are possible.
Who can guarantee that among the vast array of divine relics, there isn't one possessing such an eerie power?!
Jiang Chengyue watched as the expressions on the faces of the others changed drastically in an instant.

Seeing the turbulent emotions surging in their eyes, I knew they were finally beginning to believe this unbelievable, yet bloody truth.

He let out a bitter laugh, his voice like a broken bellows, filled with endless weariness and pain:
"That divine weapon is called 'The Stomach of the Glutton'!"

"Every so often, it needs fresh, powerful martial arts master vitality to nourish it!"

"In recent years, the number of martial arts masters who have gone missing, 'died in battle,' or 'died from serious injuries' in our Glazed Light City far exceeds the normal battle casualty ratio!!"

"Those people, those comrades-in-arms who fought valiantly for the City of Glazed Light and made great contributions, they did not die at the hands of the demons."

"Instead, they were used by their ancestor, whom they swore to protect with their lives, as food to prolong their decaying existence!!!"

……

Liuliguang City, City Lord's Mansion.

It was noon the day after the secret raid the previous night.

Inside the luxurious "Observatory" suite.

Fang Qingyu and his four companions returned with calm expressions, their faces bearing just the right amount of weariness from their fruitless search.

The heavy crystal door slid open silently.

Director Chen Ming, dressed in a crisp uniform and with a habitually warm smile on his face, seemed to have been waiting for a long time and immediately came forward in a fawning manner.

"Captain Fang! You've all worked so hard! You've all worked so hard!"

His gaze swept quickly across the five people's faces, and his smile became even more ardent.

"How was it? Did you find anything when you went out to investigate today? Did you find any trace of that traitor Jiang Chengyue?" His tone was full of concern and expectation.

Fang Qingyu stopped, a perfectly measured look of helplessness and apology on his face, and shook his head:

"I'm sorry, Director Chen."

His voice carried a hint of regret.

“We have thoroughly investigated several locations. The terrain is too complex and the flow of people is too large, so we have not yet found Jiang Chengyue’s exact whereabouts.”

He paused, then added, "However, I haven't had a chance to go to that 'Grey Rat' underground black market in the west of the city yet. I plan to go check it out this afternoon."

"Oh! I see."

Chen Ming's smile remained unchanged, even becoming more "reassuring" as he quickly waved his hand, saying, "It's alright, Captain Fang! Don't blame yourself! That traitor is as cunning as a fox, with first-rate hiding skills. How could he be found so easily? Take your time, take your time! With your and everyone's abilities, we'll find him sooner or later! I have absolute confidence in you all!"

He patted his chest, his tone full of trust and encouragement.

Fang Qingyu listened to this empty words of comfort, his expression remaining unchanged; he simply nodded calmly.

"Yes, thank you for your kind words, Director Chen. Let's go back and rest for a while, and then go to the west of the city this afternoon."

His tone was natural, as if it were just a routine report.

"Good! Good!"

Chen Ming nodded repeatedly, stepped aside to make way, and said with a beaming smile, "Captain Fang, you've worked hard! Everyone has worked hard! Go back and get some rest and recharge! If you need anything, just call me anytime!"

Fang Qingyu and his group of five said no more, nodded slightly, and went straight into the suite.

The heavy door closed silently behind us, separating us from the outside.

Outside the door, the smile on Chen Ming's face vanished as quickly as the tide receded.

Standing there, looking at the tightly closed crystal door, a hint of barely perceptible mockery and ease flashed deep in his eyes.

He murmured to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear it:

"Tsk, he's young after all. He's strong enough and straightforward, but it's a pity he's a bit slow-witted..."

He shook his head.

As if regretting that a useful tool had been used in the wrong place, it turned and left with light steps.

Inside the suite.

The weariness on Fang Qingyu and the other four people's faces vanished instantly.

Everyone's eyes immediately focused on Fang Qingyu.

Fang Qingyu neither went to the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the living room nor returned to his room.

He simply nodded very slightly to Wei Banmeng and the others.

Without exchanging a word, the five turned around in unison. Instead of heading towards the corridor leading to their respective suites, they quietly slipped into the inconspicuous safety door next to the suite entrance, which led to the fire escape staircase.

The safety door closed gently behind me.

The stairwell was dimly lit, with only the emergency light source on the wall emitting a pale glow.

Without pausing, Fang Qingyu silently unfurled the Eternal Night Domain, and the thick darkness instantly swallowed the five of them, isolating them from all aura, sound, and light.

Like five shadows blending into the wall.

A very faint voice came from the shadow that enveloped Lu Jiuyuan:
"Go down 15 floors and you'll see that corridor. Turn left at the end, and behind the most heavily guarded alloy door is the outer area of ​​the 'Mystic Ice Chamber'."

It's Jiang Chengyue's voice!
He was currently perfectly concealed in Lu Jiuyuan's shadow by the Eternal Night Territory.

Last night, after hearing the chilling truth, Fang Qingyu did not hesitate.

Bring Jiang Chengyue to the city lord's mansion.

To verify whether what he said is true or false.

Like true ghosts, the five people drifted silently down the cold, empty fire escape staircase, enveloped by the eternal night.

One floor, two floors, three floors
The 15th floor was reached in an instant.

The door to the emergency staircase is right in front of you.

The Eternal Night Domain enveloped the five people, flowing silently from the crack in the door like ink, merging into the shadows of the corridor walls outside.

The scene before me was a stark contrast to the luxurious brightness of the observatory area.

This is a narrow and oppressive corridor.

The walls are no longer made of shimmering, iridescent crystal, but of cold, grayish-white special concrete, exuding a rigid and lifeless aura.

The end of the corridor.

It was a heavy, windowless, silver-gray alloy door.

On the wall next to the door, an inconspicuous miniature surveillance camera flickered with a faint red light.

Fang Qingyu and his four companions clung to the cold wall like geckos, hiding in the absolute darkness created by the Eternal Night Territory.

Jiang Chengyue no longer has the authority to enter the gate at the end.

So everyone could only wait.

Time passes minute by minute.

The corridor was deathly silent, with only the faint hum of the ventilation ducts.

The oppressive atmosphere is almost suffocating.

I do not know how long it has been
Da da da.
The sound of footsteps rolling along the corridor finally broke the silence.

(End of this chapter)