Chapter 439: Teammates and Enemies
While Lin Ye was dealing with the crimson humanoid creature, the major factions dispatched a second action squad. This time, they planned to use long-range sniping to destroy the crystal.
This squad wore identical sealed armor suits. However, this time they weren't going up to die; instead, they were setting up some kind of long-range, high-energy weapon on the ground.
Another squad arrived at the edge of the pit, preparing to drop a spatial rule disruption bomb inside.
Both squads acted simultaneously. Just as the high-energy attack was about to hit the crystal, a spatial rift suddenly appeared below it. The high-energy attack shot into the rift, and another spatial rift appeared near the clubhouse base.
The high-energy attack shot out from the spatial rift, while simultaneously, the spatial rule disruption bomb was moved directly above the Free City.
"Holy shit! What kind of pig teammates are these!"
The flow of time slowed to near stillness, then began accelerating again. Lin Ye seized control of the clubhouse base and pulled both the entire base and the spatial rule disruption bomb into the World of Ashes.
Inside the World of Ashes, Lin Ye turned the casing of the spatial rule disruption bomb to ash, then opened it up to access the spatial rule crystal and the disruption bomb inside.
This thing had two triggering methods: one was remote-controlled detonation, the other was violent triggering. The enemy clearly possessed anomalous phenomena related to space, making it easy for them to trigger this bomb.
If this space-related bomb exploded above the Free City, no one knew what would happen. Therefore, Lin Ye had to take this thing away and also dodge the high-energy attack.
He only held on for three seconds before the spiritual energy within his body was nearly depleted. Although the clubhouse base still had spiritual energy reserves, it wasn't yet time to consume those.
After deactivating the World of Ashes, Lin Ye controlled the clubhouse base to jump into the air. He then violently detonated the disruption bomb beneath the base. Using the explosive force and by jetting compressed spiritual energy downward, the clubhouse base accelerated upward once more. A blood-colored longsword extended upward from the top of the base, its tip quickly approaching the area below the crystal.
A spatial rift appeared below the crystal, precisely blocking the sword's tip. If the tip continued upward, it would be swallowed by the spatial rift.
Lin Ye not only didn't stop, he instead thrust the sword tip into the spatial rift. Along with the tip, the flowers that had grown on it also entered the rift.
Only the flowers and the metal part of the blood-colored longsword could get this close to the crystal.
The anomalous phenomenon inside the spatial rift wanted to close the rift and expel the flowers outside this space. However, the flowers emitted crimson rays and took root inside the spatial rift, beginning to absorb the matter and energy of that space.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Ye pulled out the blood-colored longsword, bypassed the spatial rift, and thrust the sword tip into the interior of the crystal.
After being stabbed by the blood-colored longsword, the crystal suddenly liquefied into a massive amount of crimson liquid, pouring down from the sky.
Unlike the crimson liquid produced by living creatures, this liquid appeared extremely pure.
"Huh?"
Just as Lin Ye was about to take the clubhouse base and run, he sensed that he could use the Flesh and Blood Rule Fragment to exert a certain degree of influence over this crimson liquid.
He couldn't control the liquid, but he could guide its landing point.
Lin Ye directly guided the crimson liquid to fall above the Abyss Products Company. The liquid flowed very smoothly into that deep pit.
Besides the crimson liquid, after the giant crystal liquefied, it also left behind a small piece of transparent crystal. Before the other factions could notice it, Lin Ye stored it away in his item space.
After dealing with anomalous phenomena for so long, he deserved to keep some loot.
After the giant crystal liquefied, that spatial rift also disappeared. Lin Ye controlled the clubhouse base to land and then ran it back to the original location of the clubhouse.
"Apologies. We originally intended to deal with both locations simultaneously to distract the enemy. We didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Raymond apologized to Lin Ye over the communication device.
"Which faction first proposed this plan?"
Lin Ye didn't think these major factions could be this incompetent. That left only one possibility.
"You think there's a mole? It was Liam. The spatial rule disruption bomb was also provided by him."
After Lin Ye's reminder, Raymond also felt that Liam was acting somewhat suspicious.
"Where is the Joint Merchant Guilds' base? I need information on the Joint Merchant Guilds."
If it were another faction, Lin Ye might plan carefully, but the Joint Merchant Guilds were different—they were a very wealthy organization.
"Don't do anything reckless. The Joint Merchant Guilds aren't easy to deal with. Liam is just the chief manager; there are more troublesome powerhouses behind him."
Raymond offered a warning.
"I know... Remember to send me the information later."
Lin Ye had no intention of giving up.
"Alright, I need to organize the information."
Raymond cut the communication.
Not long after, Lin Ye received the information Raymond sent over.
After being irradiated by the crimson rays from the crystal, many residents of the Free City died, and part of the city's structures were destroyed.
However, once the crystal disappeared, the Free City quickly regained its former prosperity. Numerous action squads were dispatched inside the pit, and many adventurers took the opportunity to purchase admission tickets to enter the Bottomless Pit and deal with anomalous phenomena.
Lin Ye continued selling various cards while also purchasing materials to strengthen the clubhouse base.
Some high-level spiritual energy users appeared outside the clubhouse base, checking out the situation.
Lin Ye paid them no mind, only secretly integrating some parasites into their bodies.
Relying on the power of the Port, these people remained unaware that something extra was now inside them.
If Lin Ye didn't want to know these people's origins, he could have simply eliminated them directly.
Soon, it was night again. After finishing dinner, Lin Ye borrowed a sports car from Raymond and drove around the city. He quickly located the positions of those parasites.
Just as Lin Ye was pondering how to proceed next, a group of high-level spiritual energy users wearing black cloaks and masks blocked the middle of the road.
Lin Ye pulled the car over to the side of the road. This sports car was borrowed; he didn't want to damage it.
"How do you want to die?"
Lin Ye asked very directly.
"We merely wish to request that you remain here for a period of time. If you can stay with us for a while, we won't need to resort to force."
The lead masked man spoke up.
"Did you send people to the base?"
Lin Ye immediately understood their goal. As long as he controlled the admission tickets, those factions couldn't kill him. Once someone else obtained the printing method for the tickets, he would no longer be necessary.
"Correct. By now, things over there should be finished. We are awaiting notification."
The masked man took out his communication device and glanced at it.
"I think you probably won't receive that notification."
Lin Ye walked back towards the sports car. He felt somewhat disappointed in these people.
"You don't think we'd fail to consider this parasite, do you?"
The masked man pulled out the flower from within his body and said with a smile.