Across the street from Peak City High School No. 2, a black Mercedes car was parked.
Nie, the Deacon, sat in the front passenger seat, holding a tablet computer. The screen displayed a map being monitored by the Horus Eye Satellite, showing a total of fourteen blue markers—all of them his assigned operatives for this mission.
Although they were all rookies, they were well-trained, and without exception, every single one of them was Second Rank.
The Magician's danger foreknowledge works by sensing hostility from enemies stronger than oneself.
Thus, overwhelming numbers can completely neutralize this type of sensory ability.
The screen also displayed a red dot, wandering aimlessly around the school throughout the day. Its erratic behavior was so strange that, to an outsider, it might appear as if the person was just trying to accumulate steps for their fitness app.
"What is he strolling around for?"
Nie, the Deacon, frowned in displeasure: "If he catches the Joker's attention, we're doomed."
From the car roof came a lazy, sultry voice belonging to an older sister figure: "What if he's searching for the Joker? After all, that kid is pretty clever. With the information shared by Taixu, it's not hard to deduce that the Joker's group has been keeping a close watch on him."
Lu Zijin was sitting atop the car roof, clutching a strawberry ice cream cone, licking it leisurely.
She looked just like an innocent, carefree little girl.
Nie, the Deacon, looked displeased, snorting coldly: "Who does he think he is? We've dispatched so many specialized expert teams and still failed to locate the Joker. Does he think he can just find him? What a pipe dream."
At the same time, the red dot on the screen had already entered the cafeteria.
Thirteen green dots hovered and roved around the cafeteria's perimeter.
"Regardless, by the end of today, the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident will be concluded."
Nie, the Deacon, revealed a triumphant smile: "Not a single one of these damned Fallen will escape."
Lu Zijin remarked indifferently, "Using a rookie as bait—how disgraceful."
Nie, the Deacon's, smile froze, his gaze turning icy: "Gu Jianlin's identity is special. If he wants to join the Ether Association, he must prove his innocence. He has talent, enough to shoulder significant responsibilities, but that means he must undergo trials. This is also a form of cultivation. If he truly can kill the Joker by his own hand, then he's a once-in-a-lifetime genius. What harm is it in gifting him those two pieces of Mythical Weaponry?"
"If he can't, but manages to prove his innocence, he can still join the association regardless."
He paused briefly, adding: "I think I'm being exceptionally lenient with him."
Lu Zijin sneered silently.
Such noble rhetoric—but it completely disregarded the safety of that young man.
Nonetheless, it didn't matter. As long as Lu Zicheng was around, the kid wouldn't be in any real danger.
Just then, the map on the tablet was suddenly swept by an intense red glow.
The radio snapped to life with urgent voices.
"Detected spiritual fluctuation!"
"Severe spiritual contamination, deep deformation!"
"Source of the fluctuation… First Floor, East Cafeteria of Peak City High School No. 2!"
On the roof of the car, Lu Zijin narrowed her beautiful eyes, gazing in the direction of Peak City High School No. 2. Suddenly, she smiled.
Nie, the Deacon's, face stiffened, and after a second of silence, he issued orders coldly.
"Activate Fengdu Luo Realm!"
He commanded: "Mission start!"
The school cafeteria in the distance lit up with an eerie glow.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
From the four cardinal directions surrounding the cafeteria—north, south, east, and west—black Vajra Pestles violently penetrated the earth with thunderous cracks. A towering dark light veil emerged, the beams stitching together seamlessly.
The barrier-type Mythical Weapon—Fengdu Luo Realm!
Using four Vajra Devil Subduing Pestles as the domain markers, the enveloped reality would temporarily transform into an Exotic Realm. Only Ascenders radiating spirituality could perceive what lay within and were qualified to penetrate the barrier.
Ordinary people, on the other hand, would feel trapped as if facing a supernatural illusion, unable to break through the confines of the Barrier.
This particular Mythical Weapon has been passed down through generations, totaling thirteen sets in existence, with each jurisdiction equipped with one.
It's also standard issue for Ether Association missions carried out in urban areas.
A specialist dressed as a teacher walked forward indifferently, carrying a briefcase. Gripping a walkie-talkie, he spoke:
"As team captain, I order… operation start. Execute Plan A. All departments, be advised!"
He commanded: "Prepare for breach!"
Leading the charge, the thirteen operatives darted forward like arrows unleashed from a bowstring.
The last among them—a chubby kid in a school uniform—emerged from the bushes.
"Wow, two pieces of Mythical Weaponry?"
Cheng Youyu rubbed his hands together excitedly: "Guess I'm taking them for myself today."
As the team's final member, he charged like a porcupine in full sprint, the earth faintly trembling beneath his feet.
The night seemed to boil over.
Gu Jianlin calmly gazed at the individual sitting across the table, then shifted his attention to the wall clock hanging in the cafeteria.
Six o'clock five minutes—fifty-five minutes until the cafeteria chefs and lunch ladies started work.
Though the school cafeteria was shady, blatantly exploiting students, he still preferred to minimize collateral damage to them.
Fifty-five minutes to finish the battle.
That would be enough.
"How did you find me?"
After a long moment of stiffness, the Joker slowly raised his head. His face was a completely average, nondescript one, with a noodle still hanging from the corner of his mouth. He asked, bewildered: "And how did you dare to find me?"
Gu Jianlin replied with an expressionless face: "As long as something exists, it leaves a trace. No matter if you use Mythical Weaponry or Extraordinary Abilities, you might evade detection by extraordinary methods, but they can't erase the evidence of your existence in this world. At least the thing you're using doesn't yet possess such capability."