Chapter 1 Countdown Begins

["Countdown begins 1"]

["100, 99, 98..."]

The frozen lake's mist swirled, and the moment that slender figure approached Gu Shen, his vision rapidly changed.

Without a second thought, Gu Shen immediately began counting down!

All of his mental links to the outside world had been severed, including the link with Chu Ling.

He knew this was a sign of entering a mystical realm isolated from the outside world.

However, there was no mystical realm beneath the frozen lake.

Clearly, a sealed title's domain had enveloped him, using its domain laws to block external mental perception.

So, at this moment, the countdown outside the frozen lake should have started simultaneously.

"Chi!"

The Blazing Fire sensed the danger and spontaneously emerged.

A massive cloud of mist enveloped Gu Shen, and because he offered no resistance... there was nothing unusual about the process. He could feel himself sinking under the mist's embrace.

Ten meters, twenty meters, one hundred meters.

The descent was rapid but also stable. After a few seconds, Gu Shen arrived at his destination.

The domain enveloped by the [Bi Wang Quan Jie] (Azure King's Authority Realm) was like a giant, swaying bubble, except that this bubble was fish-shaped and nearly a thousand meters long.

Dozens of nutrient pods were linked to the inner side of the fish's abdomen, emitting a faint light.

Gu Shen's gaze swept over these devices.

At first glance, the nutrient pods were full of people. The "missing" tundra fugitives could now be accounted for one by one.

He even saw some familiar faces among them.

For example, Gluttony.

Almost all of the top-ranked criminals on those lists had gathered beneath the frozen lake, united within the [Bi Wang Quan Jie]'s domain, but at this moment, they seemed to have lost their "consciousness," as if immersed in a dream?

Back in the Hollow Cage Snow Mountain, Gu Shen, Bai Xiugong, Zi Mu, and Qing Yang had failed to capture Gluttony.

But now, this dried-up fellow posed no threat.

If Gu Shen were to attack Gluttony now, killing him would be as easy as killing an infant in swaddling clothes.

But Gu Shen didn't move.

The slender figure who had "sent" him into the lake stood not far from him.

This guy was shrouded in shadows, and his identity could only be vaguely discerned from his figure.

This should be Zhu Wang!

But Gu Shen wasn't sure, because this guy hadn't said a single word from beginning to end, and his reaction was rather strange, appearing very numb, like a controlled puppet?

After a quick scan, he felt a sense of unease.

He didn't see any enforcers!

Where were Mu Wanqiu and Mu Qingyang?

"They've already been sent out by me."

A faint voice sounded behind Gu Shen.

Gu Shen turned around.

The [Bi Wang Quan Jie]'s domain was unusually quiet, with only the faint hum of the nutrient pods. After he turned around, the scene before him perfectly overlapped with the "divination" provided by the Disaster Bracelet.

In the darkness, Han Dang sat with a numb expression, and a bloody head was placed on the handle of his throne.

Jing Shanyan!

The [Bi Wang Quan Jie]'s domain swayed slowly, moving its body like a large fish.

Behind Han Dang's throne, there were also many nutrient pods, but those pods were already closed, flashing with a strange luster like scales.

Gu Shen scanned again.

His mental strength was suppressed in the domain... but this time, the result was the same as last time. Although it was only a quick glance, he still didn't see the fourteen enforcers in those closed pods.

"You're being this kind?"

Gu Shen smiled, subtly taking two steps back to keep his distance.

"I've always been an honest and trustworthy 'law-abiding citizen'."

Han Dang told a joke that wasn't funny, then said softly, "If you don't believe me, you can contact the people above... oh, I forgot, there's no signal here, so you have no choice but to believe me."

Silently counting down the time, Gu Shen's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but he felt slightly relieved inside.

["Countdown, 80, 79..."]

This seemed to be the best-case scenario he had anticipated!

The Sky Sheath strike was about to arrive... if Mu Wanqiu and the others were still here, he might not be able to complete the rescue "in time," and the atmosphere inside this [Bi Wang Quan Jie] was very strange.

Leaving aside that tall, thin, strange shadow.

Gu Shen's gaze fell on the head on the throne's handle.

"Jing Shanyan is dead... why hasn't the [Bi Wang Quan Jie] collapsed?" He frowned, puzzled.

"Tsk."

Han Dang smiled leisurely. "Your question is very strange. Shouldn't you be more concerned about why Jing Shanyan died?"

He was right.

A normal person wouldn't ask the question like Gu Shen did.

Han Dang was only at the fourth level!

And Jing Shanyan was a sealed title!

How could a fourth-level kill a sealed title? Even if the sealed title had suffered torture in the [Snow Cage], even if the source matter remaining in the sealed title's body was limited, even if... no matter how many "even ifs" there were, it was still a sealed title.

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes.

He stared directly into Han Dang's eyes, then said, word by word, "Jing Shanyan is not dead."

This conversation had not been on a normal channel from the start.

Han Dang was an abnormal madman.

On the other hand.

Gu Shen was also not a normal person. He had already seen the scene of the [Bi Wang Quan Jie] with the Disaster Bracelet.

"Oh?"

Han Dang smiled.

"The iron laws of this world cannot be broken."

Gu Shen said calmly, "When a person dies, the domain will definitely shatter. If Jing Shanyan is dead, the [Bi Wang Quan Jie] cannot continue to be maintained... so, you comprehended the second law of the fourth-level domain. This is actually a false image you created."

This was not a question or a rhetorical question.

This was a statement, the truth that Gu Shen had exposed.

"Oh, is that so?"

Han Dang didn't get angry when he heard these words. He didn't show any killing intent at this moment, instead, he was like an audience member listening attentively. As long as Gu Shen spoke, he would listen quietly.

After Gu Shen finished speaking, he murmured in a daze.

It was as if he himself didn't know what was going on, and Gu Shen had awakened him.

This scene made Gu Shen frown even more deeply.

"Han Dang is mad... really mad..."

The news from the [Snow Cage] was correct.

When they had been talking on the communicator earlier, he hadn't felt it so strongly, but now, after saying three or five sentences face-to-face, Gu Shen could clearly feel that this guy's mind really had problems!

"Countdown, 50, 49, 48..."

However, none of this mattered anymore.

He took a light breath. The conversation within the [Bi Wang Quan Jie] was destined not to last too long.

Soon, the Sky Sheath strike would arrive.

"None of this matters."

Han Dang tilted his head slightly, asking with a smile, "The important thing about wanting to meet you is this."

He stretched out a hand, holding the bloody head on the throne, and slowly extended it.

"Glug."

The head's lips trembled.

Judging from this vital sign, "Jing Shanyan" had indeed not died yet.

At this moment, blood was still flowing from those empty eye sockets.

"What do you want to say?"

The ominous premonition in Gu Shen's heart resurfaced.

"He refuses to say a single word, refuses to say a single word."

Han Dang murmured softly, as if in a dream, "But I still 'saw' it. These devices are what the Ancient Script Society wants to build, and you are the [Key] to the Ancient Script Society..."

Gu Shen's pupils instantly contracted.

Han Dang's words contained too much information.

In that instant, countless thoughts intertwined and surged in his mind.

First of all, the appearance of the words "Ancient Script Society" directly confirmed "Jing Shanyan's" identity!

This first-generation Chief Adjudicator was the mole left behind by the Ancient Script Society. The "Constellation Project" that Mr. Gu Qilin had spoken of was not so simple. There must be a deeper purpose in "Jing Shanyan's" scheme.

Then there was the extreme confusion!

How could Han Dang know that he was the Key?!

Even if he forcibly plundered some of "Jing Shanyan's" spirit, how could Jing Shanyan, who was imprisoned in the [Snow Cage] and isolated from the world, know this secret?

Currently, there were only a handful of people who knew this information: Mr. Bai Shu, Lu Nanzhi, Lin Lin, Yekaterina, and Ian, who was already dead.

"I really didn't expect it. You've been hiding so deeply."

"No wonder I fell into your hands in Qinghe."

Han Dang looked at Gu Shen. At this moment, the resentment in his eyes had been transformed into mockery and sarcasm. "If those people above knew your identity, what would happen? The Federal Government's extermination of the Ancient Script Society has never stopped... [Deep Sea] believes this is a crime of betraying humanity. As the [Key], your crime is even deeper. Once discovered, being locked up in the [Snow Cage] would probably be considered light punishment, right?"

"Have you forgotten who's behind me?"

Gu Shen said calmly, "The current Chief Executive of East Continent is Mr. Bai Shu."

"Your luck has always been good. There are always strong people around you providing protection."

Han Dang laughed. "But think about it again. Once [Deep Sea] issues a wanted order, will East Continent be the only one taking action? Will Bai Shu... will he really be able to protect you?"

Gu Shen fell silent.

The extermination of the "Ancient Script Society" was issued within the scope of the Five Continents.

Over the past few years, he had gradually grown stronger, and he indeed possessed considerable influence in East Continent and North Continent.

But this was far from being comparable to Alan Turing back then.

Back then, Turing could only flee far beyond the borders, let alone himself!

If his identity as the Ancient Script Society's [Key] were exposed, the Source Tower would probably be the first to take action. If Bai Shu stood up to provide protection at that time, the Chief Executive Council, which had already developed cracks, would directly erupt into "war"!

Once the Seven Gods War broke out, even if Mr. Bai Shu was powerful, he would be unable to take care of him.

His thoughts were somewhat chaotic, and he quickly came back to his senses, circulating his breathing technique to strengthen his spirit.

Had Han Dang's words actually affected him?

"Have you ever thought that we are actually the same kind of people?" The sarcasm on Han Dang's face gradually disappeared, and he said softly, "Haven't you ever thought about 'living' in another way?"

The young man sitting on the throne leaned forward slightly.

"Since you are the [Key], then you should know about the [Source Code]."

Source Code!?

Gu Shen was stunned.

["Countdown, 20, 19, 18..."]

Han Dang observed Gu Shen's expression and said slowly, "The [Source Code] built an extremely strong 'barrier' in the deep sea of the spiritual network. By uploading consciousness through specific channels, you can obtain access to the 'barrier'. As long as you enter the other side of the 'barrier', the owners of these spirits can obtain another degree of 'eternal life' in the deep sea... Hmm? You don't seem to know about this?"

Gu Shen indeed didn't know about this.

The [Source Code] was Chu Ling.

But Chu Ling had never told him about this... This should be the truth of Jing Shanyan's Constellation Project. Over the years, [Deep Sea] had been absorbing computing power, expanding the deep-sea area, and claiming that this was to better build the spiritual network.

[Deep Sea] could provide every transcendent with assistance in upgrading their abilities.

Currently, there were only twelve levels in the deep-sea area.

But in the future, there might be thirteen or fourteen levels, and the upgrades after being sealed may also become clear.

But the ultimate purpose of this computing power.

Was to help "humans" achieve eternal life in the spiritual sea?!

["Countdown, 10, 9, 8..."]

While realizing that there was little time left before the arrival of the Sky Sheath weapon, Gu Shen also realized something else, namely, those tundra criminals he had seen losing consciousness when he entered the [Bi Wang Quan Jie].

Han Dang had just said that consciousness was uploaded through "specific channels"? Did [specific channels] refer to these devices?

["Countdown, 5, 4..."]

Han Dang said softly, "To be honest, I have never seen a stubborn donkey like Jing Shanyan who would rather die than say a word. So, the information I have about the 'Constellation Project' is limited, but it doesn't matter. It's enough for me to know that you are the [Key]. Since you are the [Key], then you must have the authority to complete the final step of this project and open the 'barrier'."

He leaned back.

Spreading his arms.

"So... the consciousness of everyone who sat in the nutrient pod has been 'uploaded' by me."

Gu Shen's heart skipped a beat.

Everyone's consciousness has been uploaded?

["3."]

Han Dang said with a smile.

"Including Mu Wanqiu and Mu Qingyang."

As he said this, he narrowed his eyes, noticing that Gu Shen's expression was a little off.

["2."]

The spiritual sense from the Spirit lineage caused Han Dang to slowly raise his head. He stared at the sky above the [Bi Wang Quan Jie]. The current depth was five hundred meters underground. Although this depth could escape the Tribunal's three-hundred-meter instrument detection, it was not safe enough.

There was no way around it. The speed at which the enforcers of the two continents were advancing was too fast. This was the limit that the [Bi Wang Quan Jie] could reach.

["1."]

Zero.

When the countdown reached its end, Gu Shen was already prepared to welcome the arrival of the "Sky Sheath Weapon".

But the Blazing Fire between his eyebrows only flickered slightly.

Nothing happened.

The [Bi Wang Quan Jie] was like a cradle slumbering in the deep sea, silent and still.

The Sky Sheath Strike did not arrive.

Ten seconds later.

Still nothing.