I created a safe zone in the nightmare world.

Chapter 131 Strategy Call to Arms (Two-in-One 5K)

Fa Gui was also afraid that Xia Yuxiu and Lu Qing didn't know what a perfect-level potion was.

After all, he himself didn't understand it and had never heard of it before.

As the shopkeeper just said, a perfect-grade potion is enough to save a life.

However, Xia Yuxiu and Lu Qing, as expected of captains, were knowledgeable and fully understood what a perfect-grade potion was.

"They actually have a perfect-grade potion?"

Xia Yuxiu was first surprised, then recognized the potion in Fa Gui's hand, "It is indeed a perfect potion, there is not a trace of cold aura left on the potion."

This medicine is no longer simple; it can be measured in terms of the amount of Dream Crystals.

However, the shop manager had given him a clear indication of what was going on.

Saving lives is the priority; as for the costs, the Countermeasures Bureau certainly won't owe us any money.

Xia Yuxiu took the life-saving potion and gave it to Ranmo, the vice-captain who was already seriously injured and on the verge of death.

The two life-saving potions that Lu Qing just took out had very limited effect on the injured.

But at this point, it's just one potion, a potion of the same type.

As soon as Xia Yuxiu administered the medicine to his deputy captain, the captain's breathing became steady. His multiple wounds, including the most fatal ruptured kidney, began to heal at a visible speed.

He is still far from fully recovered, but Ranmo is out of danger.

Upon returning to reality, the Countermeasures Bureau headquarters also possesses highly effective treatment methods, such as treatment pods. Injured individuals can recover to their optimal condition after lying inside for several hours.

These treatment pods are extremely expensive to build, very few in number, and consume a huge amount of medicinal materials for each use.

Ordinary dreamers are not qualified to use it.

However, vice-captains and captains can use the healing pods whenever they are injured, without any limit on the number of times. This is what attracts the Dreamers to the Countermeasures Bureau.

Even the most advanced treatment pods are still technological creations in reality.

Even setting aside the fact that it cannot be brought into the Nightmare World, even if it could, it would take at least several hours for the healing pod to heal a severely injured soldier.

What about the life-saving medicine?

One dose of the medicine will heal the wound in just a few minutes.

If a seriously injured person drinks three doses of life-saving medicine, their injuries can be restored to about 80% or 90%.

Xia Yuxiu also bought a regular-grade life potion.

He drank it down, and the bleeding from his wounds stopped, with granulation tissue beginning to grow. Some smaller wounds even scabbed over quickly.

His injuries have all healed.

"Compared to the treatment chamber, this life potion is the real life-saving medicine. I never expected that life potions would be sold here in the safe zone."

He was amazed.

He hadn't even had a chance to observe or experience the safe zone, but he already felt the changes it brought to the dreamers.

It should be noted that even the Bureau of Policy doesn't have many life-saving potions. The reason they can casually produce two or three is because they are all high-ranking officers at the captain level.

Within the bureau, mid-to-high-level personnel such as team leaders, logistics warehouse managers, supervisors, and new recruit managers do not have fixed quotas for life potions; they only have the right to exchange them.

Lu Qing said, "I'm not surprised that there are life potions in the safe zone. There were already curse potions for sale in the safe zone before."

While potions of magical power are less expensive than potions of life, they are about as difficult to refine.

"I just didn't expect to find even perfect-grade life potions here in the safe zone. Could it be that the shopkeeper is a master alchemist?"

These types of potions are difficult to mass-produce because they require the incantation to be incorporated into the refining process.

In other words, only those who have reached the Refinement stage or above are qualified to refine potions.

Their policy bureau has tried every means to address this, creating various auxiliary devices. However, in refining potions, they can only achieve semi-automation at best. Once the human element is missing, the potions refined by the machines are all defective products.

The higher the quality of the potion, the more it relies on the alchemist's skill.

The Countermeasures Bureau cannot produce perfect-grade potions; they can only occasionally produce two or three bottles of excellent-grade potions. Most of them are still potions for magical power or physical strength.

"In our White River City, there is only one, the second-in-command of the Wizarding Family, the Grey Robe," who has concocted a perfect-grade life potion. But I suspect that even the Grey Robe has only concocted a handful of perfect-grade potions.

"This time, we owe the store manager a huge favor."

It wasn't just that the perfect-grade potion was too precious; it also involved the life of a vice-captain.

After learning about the situation, Shi An booked a hotel suite for Captain Xia of the Countermeasures Bureau.

Inside the room, the vice-captain, Ranmo, was still unconscious.

In the living room, Shi An, Xia Yuxiu, Lu Qing, Lao Yao from the liaison office, and Yang Linna from the front desk were all gathered together.

Old Yao came to understand the situation and promptly relay the information back to the real world. Xia Yuxiu's expenses for purchasing life-saving drugs also needed to be reimbursed through Old Yao's communication.

Lina, acting as the spokesperson for the Shida store manager, discussed the specifics of her compensation.

She can freely negotiate prices, while Shi An is less suitable.

Shi An's purpose in coming here was similar to Lu Qing's—why would a captain and a vice-captain suddenly suffer severe injuries?

Lu Qing asked, "Did you encounter something strange involving a transcendent being?"

Xia Yuxiu shook his head.

"No, we are just hunting down cultists from the Nightmare Cult."

"Cult members? They could have injured you like this?"

Lu Qing's eyes widened.

Shi An was also secretly pondering this.

He had heard about this cult from Lao Song and Li Hao, but it seemed to be just a group of antisocial elements who were not respectable.

Cult members are like cockroaches—you can't get rid of them completely, but cockroaches don't have the ability to kill people.

To a captain-level figure, mere cult members are indeed as insignificant as ants.

Xia Yuxiu smiled wryly: "But what if these cultists are being supported by the Ghost Clan?"

He continued, "Some time ago, based on the clues we found during that disaster, I led a team to raid several cult hideouts and also uncovered the bishop of this Dream Demon Cult. The other party has become quite powerful; I don't know how, but he actually refined three cursed artifacts and reached the peak of the Third Refinement Realm."

"Initially, it was because I misjudged the strength of this Nightmare Bishop that he was able to escape."

"However, the second time, I laid a tight net around the enemy."

Half a day ago.

Baijiang appeared in a factory in a remote area on the outskirts of a certain county.

Xia Yuxiu, leading more than ten elites from the Ninth Detachment, blocked the bishop of the Dream Demon Cult.

The bishop had messy hair and bloodshot eyes.

Seeing that a group of Dream Fallers in black trench coats had surrounded him, he showed no fear whatsoever, instead laughing arrogantly: "A mere dozen or so Dream Fallers think they can stop this leader? This leader is far more powerful than that!"

Of the entire Ninth Detachment, only Captain Xia Yuxiu could make him wary; Vice Captain Ran Mo was merely a minor obstacle.

In his eyes, the other elites of the Countermeasures Bureau were no different from ants.

"Die, you ants!"

He drank a black potion, and instantly, magical power surged forth.

The pitch-black curse power seeped out of his body, forming clouds and mist that swirled and spread out waves of suffocating curse pressure.

In this state, the surging magical power within the Nightmare Bishop's body had far exceeded the level of the Third Refinement Realm, making him a near-transcendent being.

Xia Yuxiu realized that in a one-on-one fight, he was no match for the bishop.

Even with the entire Ninth Squadron, he would have a hard time defeating them.

No wonder this bishop is so arrogant.

but----

"This is reality."

He waved his hand.

Behind them, the elites all pulled out specially made firearms.

Further out, elite snipers had also locked onto the area, their infrared beams illuminating the surroundings.

A deluge of comments!

Firepower coverage!

The crackling sound echoed throughout the factory.

The bishop, whose body was shrouded in viscous magical energy, suddenly trembled like a leaf.

In just one exchange, the bishop was severely injured.

"That bishop had clearly gone mad from practicing his magic and had completely forgotten the destructive power of modern weapons."

"He later escaped into the Nightmare World. We also pursued him to the Nightmare World and eventually killed this Nightmare Bishop."

Once we arrived here, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Shi An nodded slightly, acknowledging the competence of the Countermeasures Bureau.

Unseen by them, the Countermeasures Bureau is indeed protecting Baijiang City.

Captain Xia's explanation was simple, but how to track down and locate the Nightmare Bishop, and how to quietly set up an encirclement, was enough to fill tens of thousands of words.

Xia Yuxiu continued, "But just as I was killing the Nightmare Bishop, something unexpected happened. Old Luo, who had fallen into the nightmare with me and Old Mo, suddenly stabbed Old Mo through the kidney and also injured me."

Lu Qing's eyes widened. "Is Lao Luo a cult member?"

Xia Yuxiu: "No, Lao Luo's parents both died at the hands of the supernatural, and I personally brought him into the team. How could Lao Luo be a traitor!"

"I retaliated on the spot, holding nothing back, but when I slashed through Lao Luo's body, his skin peeled off, and his face lost its features. He—it was a monster!"

"Old Luo has long been replaced by a strange being!"

Shi An felt a chill run down his spine.

Not far away, Lao Yao and Lina, the two little Camillas, got goosebumps.

Yang Linna already felt that the Nightmare World was too dangerous and murky, and this further strengthened her belief that she should not take any risks and should stay in the safe zone forever.

If it weren't for the ties she still had in reality, she would have liked to become a lost soul and join the safe zone, just like Fa Gui.

After hearing Xia's description, it seems that the real world is not so safe after all.

She asked, "What kind of strange thing is that? That—that old Luo, was he replaced in the nightmare world, or—was he replaced in reality?"

If it's the former, then that's fine.

But what if it's the latter?

Xia Yuxiu said, "That strange thing is only comparable to the second level of the Refinement Realm. It's impossible for it to replace an elite under my nose. So, Lao Luo was probably killed in reality, no, he might have been killed during the last time he fell into a dream."

Even though Lao Luo suffered in the nightmare world, after the strange entity replaced him, it returned to reality and entered the safe zone using Lao Luo's identity.

This strangeness, coupled with its intelligence, lurks within human society.

Thinking about it this way, it's absolutely chilling!

"This world is still too dangerous!"

The countermeasures bureau still has no conclusion as to what this strange object is.

Some experts have named it the "Faceless Man," which possesses the ability to disguise itself.

But Xia Yuxiu felt that the strange entity wasn't disguised as Lao Luo. Before it made its move and truly revealed itself, it was Lao Luo.

It replaced everything Lao Luo had.

Body, strength, and life.

Does this kind of strange phenomenon really exist?

'

Xia Yuxiu and his companion did not carry the Dream-Falling Pearl.

They only stayed in the safe zone for a dozen hours before returning to the real world.

Taking this opportunity, Shi An also asked the Countermeasures Bureau to share some information with him, which was then relayed by the Liaison Office.

The liaison office, which Lao Yao was in charge of, has taken on even more responsibilities.

This is a good thing for Yao Ming.

His strength is not bad now; he has entered the Refinement stage and mastered two spells.

Among the previous batches of members, Lao Yao was a relatively mediocre one.

The novice K from back then is now a formidable expert, whose skill in crafting curses surpasses even that of Lao Yao.

More senior members than Little K, such as Li Wei, Lao Wang, Duckbill Cap, Li Wang, and Huai Mu Ren, have also been refining their second natal curse artifacts in the past few days.

Entering the realm of advanced refining.

Furthermore, they successively entered the deeper layers of the nightmare world.

Within the safe zone, there are quite a few qualified members and Dream Fallers who have entered the Refinement Realm.

A group of elderly people ventured into the depths of the nightmare to explore;

A new generation of strong individuals has taken over the burden from the elderly, continuously conquering the shallow nightmares.

Meanwhile, a three-person team, after traveling through the nightmare world for several days, is finally nearing their destination.

"Almost there! The shopkeeper's quest hints say the Firestone mine is just ahead."

The team that secured this mission was Xi Xue's team.

The team consists of three people.

The silver-haired witch Xi Xue, the rich girl Tao Zi, and the drifting catkins Xu Qian.

Xu Qian is a powerful figure from the common people that Xi Xue brought in.

Xi Xue can manipulate her hair to traverse various complex terrains.

Peach carries more than a dozen magical items that can be used in all sorts of situations.

Piaoxu Xuqian herself is also a support and reconnaissance type of Dream Faller.

While their combined combat strength might not be the most formidable, Xi Xue and her companions have an advantage in exploration and traversal compared to Dreamers like Xuanjian and Luoshajian, whose skills are entirely focused on combat.

This is also the key to her being able to get the mission.

The entire mission was indeed not easy.

They had maps in their hands.

Even with a map and a compass, it was difficult for them to follow the planned route. They took the wrong turn several times, but fortunately, they had the magical eye to see from the air and identify several landmarks.

Having traveled this far, they have come to deeply understand just how arduous and formidable those teams that journey through the nightmare world truly are.

For example, the first team of the Countermeasures Bureau often takes half a month or a month to travel on a long trip.

If they hadn't been able to occasionally return to the safe zone to rest, they probably wouldn't have lasted even a few days.

This is a difference in strength, experience, and methods.

All three of them looked travel-worn.

Finally, after climbing over a high wall, a mining area that looked like a construction site appeared in front of the three of them.

Rows of bungalows and prefabricated houses can be seen around the mining area.

This appears to be someone mining a vein, but in reality, it's simply a natural evolution of the nightmare world. Just like mountains and forests...

Just as rivers are part of nature on Earth, the dilapidated, weathered buildings in this region are also part of nature.

"However, one thing is certain: the firestone vein does exist! Once we conduct a reconnaissance of the mining area and submit a report, our mission will be complete."

Xi Xue has already picked up several pieces of firestone.

Firestone was exposed in the mining area, but they still dared not be careless—firestone could ward off evil spirits, that was a law.

However, in the nightmare world, opportunities and treasures are also accompanied by great dangers; this is a law.

"There was indeed danger."

The three hid in an abandoned prefab house, using their magical flying eyes to penetrate deeper into the mining area.

A huge, fiery red beetle came into view.

"This seems to be a special kind of strangeness, a mutation! They are not afraid of the Fire Stone, but instead feed on it?"

""

Xi Xue muttered, "It looks like it's just an ordinary weirdo. Why don't I give it a try? Killing one will tell me how powerful this weirdo really is."

Xu Qian looked at Taozi: Has your senior sister always been this fierce?

Peach pulled Xi Xue back.

"Let's investigate further before making a decision."

Soon, they made another discovery.

These fiery red beetles are eerie; a single one might not be strong enough.

However, their clustering is strange.

The sorcerer's glimpse alone revealed a dozen or twenty beetles scattered throughout the mining area.

At this time.

"what?"

Peach spotted three figures in the distance.

He was sneaking around, picking up bits of firestone in the mining area.

The three people—one woman and two men—did not look very old.

However, their clothing was exceptionally simple. They wore battle suits made of animal hides, with many patches and seams on them.

However, although these three people looked young, probably just high school students or college freshmen, their faces were very resolute and their eyes were sharp, as if they had been tempered by countless blood and fire.

"They are probably—the Lost Ones? Humans living in a nightmare world!"

As soon as Peach turned her gaze over, she was immediately noticed by the three men.

The three people seemed to be talking about something.

The next moment, he quickly ran towards them.

"Hello, I am Luo Susu, the captain of the Elk Camp, and these two are my teammates, Xiao Li and Xiao Qiang."

She came with good intentions.

Because their deer camp had already received help from the Dreamers of Baijiang.

Upon encountering the dreamers in the mortal world again, Luo Susu thought that perhaps she could convey a message for help. Although the village chief said that people in the mortal world were too far away to help them, they couldn't save the deer camp.

She spoke first: "The firestone in this mine is mostly buried deep inside, making mining very difficult because there are a large and strange number of red beetles here, and there is even a red beetle king deep inside. However, if you just want to collect some firestone, there are some exposed raw ore that you can obtain here, in this area, and in several other areas around here."

Xi Xue and the other two also introduced themselves.

Then, Xi Xue caught the key information, and the tuft of hair on her forehead stood up.

"So, as long as we kill the Red Beetle King, we can conquer this area?"

Xi Xuedao.

Captain Luo Susu, the elk: "???"

But the number of strange things here is terrifying!

Xi Xue probably felt that in order to obtain the Firestone, the danger must be eliminated first.

But Shi An really wanted to conquer this area.

As long as there is a way to navigate this place, the sheer number of strange creatures is not a problem at all.

He has more members in his safe zone.

At worst, he can just issue a strategy guide call for submissions.