Panting, he returned with the telescope and respectfully handed it to Wang Duli, "Elder Wang, here."
Taking the telescope, Wang Duli nodded at Tang Mo as a way to express his gratitude.
Outside the Yangming Mall was a main thoroughfare, with transportation routes extending in all directions, cementing Yangming Mall’s position in Lingchuan City.
Surrounding the Yangming Mall, various merchants had set up shop, and when the flowers were in full bloom, they formed several bustling business streets.
Next to the Yangming Mall was a large square.
This was the place Wang Duli was looking at.
In the very center of the square stood a soaring black stele, engraved with the history of Lingchuan City.
Around the stele, the statues of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals were arranged in the order of a clock, and at noon, the sun hung in the sky.
From above, one could see that the stele transformed into the hour hand, pointing to the position of the statues.
Logically, this should be the last place to have any problems.
But after looking for a while, Wang Duli’s brow furrowed more deeply, sensing that something was very wrong.
At this moment, Lu Zixun, who was squatting in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, looking down, also felt something was amiss.
The Yangming Mall was located right in the center of Lingchuan City, and there were plenty of entertainment venues around. Now it was the afternoon, yet the place was strangely quiet.
Even the dancing aunties hadn’t shown up, which was unscientific.
Just as Lu Zixun was about to ask Xiong Kang what was going on, Wang Duli put down the telescope, "Xiao Kang, go investigate what happened at the Yangming Mall."
With a quick response, Xiong Kang began to look into the matter, and after a while, he put down his phone, "The Yangming Mall is currently undergoing maintenance, so it’s temporarily closed for business."
Hearing this reason, Lu Zixun paused, then said, "That doesn’t make sense, if the Yangming Mall is closed, why would the surrounding entertainment venues also shut down? It’s illogical."
"When we were clearing out the Fertility Worms at Lin Ye Pier, I took the opportunity to have the STO members use this as a pretext to check the entertainment venues in Lingchuan City Center, so they are also temporarily closed."
After explaining briefly, Xiong Kang’s gaze fell on Wang Duli, "Elder Wang, did you discover any problems?"
Shaking his head, Wang Duli returned the telescope to Tang Mo, "I just have a vague feeling that something is off, but I haven’t found the problem yet. The fact that the Yangming Mall is undergoing maintenance at this time is definitely an issue that needs investigation."
Xiong Kang had also thought of that and nodded slightly, "I’m aware. I’ll take some people over now to ask about the reasons for the maintenance."
After informing Wang Duli about the personnel guarding the Yangming Mall, he left with Tang Mo from the 19th floor.
Handing over the 16th-floor elevator card that Tang Mo had given him to Lu Zixun,
Wang Duli began to set up a Two-way Transfer Talisman. It was then that Lu Zixun found the time to ask, "Elder Wang, what are you preparing this thing for?"
As he was drawing the talisman, Wang Duli replied without turning back, "To prevent the infiltration of the Fungus Blanket."
"The Fungus Blanket?"
Thinking of that purple, fleshy Fungus Blanket, Lu Zixun shivered with discomfort, yet still felt that something wasn’t right, "If it’s just to prevent infiltration, wouldn’t a Defensive Talisman work better?"
Having completed the last stroke of the small talisman, Wang Duli dusted off his hands and looked at Lu Zixun, "The Fungus Blanket isn’t made of Blood Energy. It might sound a bit abstract, but you could roughly understand it as... a kind of natural ecological environment."
Indeed, it was quite abstract, as Lu Zixun didn’t quite grasp the meaning.
Seeing the confused look on Lu Zixun’s face, Wang Duli continued, "Humans need oxygen to survive, whereas the growth of Insect Clan’s young requires the Fungus Blanket. Perhaps that’s an easier way to understand it."
With this explanation, Lu Zixun started to get it.
Since it was only for the growth of the young, why did Wang Duli still look as if he were facing a great enemy?
After asking this question, Wang Duli tapped a Wolf Brush on Lu Zixun’s forehead, "The Fungus Blanket’s role is not limited to that; it can enhance the capabilities of the Insect Clan while allowing the young to grow."
Hearing this, Lu Zixun’s brows furrowed.
Since the Fungus Blanket was so important, the Insect Clan should not be able to do without it. If they found the location of the Fungus Blanket, couldn’t they use it to find the Insect Clan?
Just as Lu Zixun was about to ask this question, Wang Duli lightly tapped the Blood Sand, speaking calmly, "The reason the Insect Clan has not been eradicated within the Crimson Land for a long time is not only because of their terrifying breeding capabilities but also because of this Fungus Blanket."
Tracing a crescent moon and multitasking, Wang Duli went on, "Humans die without oxygen, but Insect Clan only become weaker without the Fungus Blanket, yet are still much stronger than Genetic Optimization Soldiers of the same level."
Muttering to himself, Wang Duli sighed, "Insect Clan are already terrifying without the Fungus Blanket; let alone those on it. Thankfully, we found a way to counter it, otherwise humanity’s front line in the Crimson Land would eventually fall."
Considering ways to combat the invasive species, Lu Zixun tilted his head uncertainly and asked, "Eat it?"
Hearing Lu Zixun’s words, Wang Duli’s mouth twitched slightly and his hand shook, nearly ruining a talisman.
Setting aside the Wolf Brush, Wang Duli looked at Lu Zixun with a mix of laughter and helplessness, "What’s with your little brain, always thinking about eating."
After teasing Lu Zixun a bit, Wang Duli continued, "The Fungus Blanket is created by Insect Eggs burrowing into the ground and spreading outward. To deal with it, there are two methods."
At this point, Lu Zixun immediately understood, his eyes lighting up with realization, "Find this Insect Egg, or move it?"
With an expression suggesting Lu Zixun was an unteachable child, Wang Duli shook his head, "The Insect Egg can’t be found; it could be anywhere within the Fungus Blanket, moving elsewhere when sensing danger. If we simply move it, it’s only a temporary measure, not a true solution."
"To solve the problem, one method is to burn the Fungus Blanket off completely; the other is to use gravitational compression to crush the Insect Egg."
Hearing these methods, Lu Zixun brightened up, "Elder Wang, I can do this."
As he continued to draw the talisman, Wang Duli said, "But you can’t even use A-level strength right now, so how can you kill an Insect Egg with Queen-level power?"
An Insect Egg with Queen-level power?
With his mouth slightly open and feeling a bit shocked, Lu Zixun looked Moody as he watched Wang Duli drawing the talisman.
Wang Duli finished the final stroke and a pattern of a starry sky appeared on the ground, looking like a 3D image, exceptionally beautiful.