Almost at the same instant.
Deep beneath Linghui Academy in Jiu'an City, in that secret chamber filled with blood cocoons and strange energy.
A similarly complex, but already etched, reception array plate suddenly lit up!
Space was quietly torn open like a curtain, and Ling Chen's figure stepped out from it!
He staggered slightly, the intense tearing sensation from the spatial teleportation causing him some discomfort, even with his physique.
But he immediately stabilized himself, and the Soul Jade Physique's cold will instantly swept across the entire academy ruins.
Madness! Bloodlust! Chaos! Expansion!
These were the keywords he perceived. The number of mutated creatures within the academy grounds had nearly doubled since he left!
However, most were still low-tier ghouls with muddled consciousness.
Zhuang Han's aura had grown considerably, now firmly in the mid-Bone Eater Realm, but the brutality and madness within the core of his consciousness also grew more intense, like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
“It seems he's had a rather 'fulfilling' time.”
A cold arc curved on Ling Chen's lips. Without any delay, his figure, like a ghost, left the secret chamber and directly glided towards the center of the academy, where the most violent aura was located.
No mutated creatures detected his arrival.
His aura was of the same origin as this nest, even higher-tier, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
He appeared directly on the rooftop of the former main building.
There, Zhuang Han, who had transformed into a terrifying bone mastiff, was sprawled out, seemingly digesting the flesh and blood energy he had consumed during the day, his bone armor reflecting a eerie glow under the pale moonlight.
He suddenly raised his head, his crimson pupils instantly locking onto the uninvited guest, fangs bared, letting out a threatening low growl!
But the next second, upon seeing who the newcomer was, Zhuang Han's violent aura abruptly stalled, a hint of disbelief flashing in his crimson pupils, which then swiftly transformed into a deeper level of awe and fear—a primal instinct!
“Ma... Master?!”
Zhuang Han's massive body instinctively cowered, a muffled, trembling whimper escaping his throat.
The will imprint left by Ling Chen, and the life-level suppression far superior to his own, prevented him from even contemplating resistance.
Ling Chen glanced at him and chuckled, “It seems you haven't managed to kill yourself off yet; you still have some use.”
Zhuang Han dared not reply, only lowering his head further.
“Listen, I don't have time for idle chatter with you.”
Ling Chen's voice was direct.
“The Panshi Military Region won't bother you for now, but their internal troubles have just begun. This is your chance.”
Zhuang Han's ears instantly perked up, and a bloodthirsty gleam flashed in his crimson pupils.
“I want you to continue 'expanding your army.'”
Ling Chen commanded.
“But the target needs to change. Don't just focus on scattered military units and survivors anymore.”
He paused, then uttered a few words:
“Go attack the 'Torch' base and the 'Dawn' outpost.”
Zhuang Han suddenly raised his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Both were small to medium-sized human survivor bases not far from Jiu'an City, not large in scale, and their defenses were far inferior to the Panshi Military Region. But… what was the point of attacking them? The flesh and blood resources gained would be far less abundant than attacking military transport convoys.
“Why?”
Zhuang Han asked subconsciously.
“You don't need to know why.”
Ling Chen interrupted him coldly.
“You just need to do as you're told. And do it 'nicely,' make a big commotion, try to leave some survivors, and let them spread the news of 'Linghui Academy's mutated creatures expanding wildly and attacking all human strongholds' as far as possible. Ideally, it should reach the ears of those so-called 'Central' authorities.”
Although Zhuang Han was mad, he wasn't entirely foolish; he seemed to understand something: “Master… you want to…”
“Attract greater attention.”
A calculating glint flashed in Ling Chen's eyes.
“The Panshi Military Region wants to keep it under wraps and handle it internally? I insist on exposing it! The murkier the waters, the better.”
Only by stirring up the situation and drawing the attention of the central powers could he truly contain the Panshi Military Region and Lin Mo, creating more opportunities and space for his own actions in Shengjing.
At the same time, it would also provide more targets for Zhuang Han, this mad dog, to vent his aggression, preventing him from challenging an unmanageable opponent too early and being annihilated.
Zhuang Han's breathing immediately grew heavy, his crimson pupils filled with excitement and brutality!
Creating chaos, spreading fear—these were precisely the things he enjoyed most!
“Yes! Master! I will make an enormous commotion! I'll let everyone know how formidable we are!”
Zhuang Han roared, his bone armor subtly grinding with excitement.
Ling Chen casually tossed him a small storage bag containing some low-tier energy crystals and rare metals he had acquired from the Shengjing black market.
“Use these resources to strengthen a few promising subordinates; don't always rush to the front yourself. What I want is sustained chaos, not a one-time suicide attack.”
Zhuang Han took the storage bag, sensed the energy inside, and became even more excited: “Thank you, Master!”
“Remember,”
Ling Chen warned coldly one last time.
“If I find out you've messed up my plans because of your madness, I will make you experience a taste more painful than death.”
Zhuang Han trembled all over and quickly bowed his head:
“I wouldn't dare! Zhuang Han will absolutely obey Master's commands!”
Ling Chen said no more, turned, and once again activated the already prepared teleportation array plate.
Amidst the flashing light, his figure vanished from the Linghui Academy rooftop, leaving only Zhuang Han, and his even more intense desire for destruction, ignited by the new command.
...
Shengjing Underground City, B3-07 residence.
The space within the quiet room subtly fluctuated again, and Ling Chen's figure quietly emerged. His face was paler than when he left, and his aura was slightly disordered.
The consumption of long-distance two-way teleportation far exceeded his expectations.
He immediately sat cross-legged, consumed several high-purity energy crystals he had prepared, and quickly recovered his losses.
Outside the window, the simulated sky began to turn a fish-belly white, and a new day was about to begin.
No one knew what kind of secret and dangerous journey between Shengjing and Jiu'an City had been completed during the past night.
And even fewer knew what kind of bloody storm a mad dog, with more of its chains loosened, was about to stir up in the distance.
Ling Chen slowly opened his eyes, all fatigue gone, replaced only by a cold profundity.
New pieces had been placed on the chessboard.
Now, he only needed to observe the changes.
Let chaos arrive as scheduled.
