Chapter 241: The Spreading Gaze

*Guh…*

It sounded like a taut electrical wire snapping in the air, slicing through the wind.

Ethereal, yet carrying a sense of mystery.

Another wave of mental power radiation expanded outwards, extending in all directions into the city.

This mental radiation spread throughout the entire city, passing through walls, steel and human bodies. Only some glass objects could barely resist it. Each time the sound of the radiation fluctuated, it relentlessly spread further, radiating from the Donghai Grand Hotel outwards until its power gradually weakened and vanished at the edge of the Main City.

Everyone affected by this radiation subconsciously looked up towards the red-cloaked monster.

At first it was just a feeling of curiosity mixed with fear, wanting to see what it was.

But after looking for a while they would find the red-cloaked monster becoming clearer and clearer in their vision.

For many people including some members of the Special Task Force and Ability Users this was the first time they had clearly seen a mental monster.

Many people perceived mental monsters as just distorted chaotic masses of mental power.

Their presence could only be confirmed by the distortion in the air.

This mental monster that could be seen directly naturally drew people to subconsciously keep looking at it.

The pull wasn’t strong but that made it even harder to notice.

Under this terrifying gaze many didn’t realize they were growing tired, feeling increasingly drowsy. However the adrenaline rush from the astonishment and fear of seeing the mental monster masked this subtle sensation of their mental power being devoured. They didn’t even know what they were losing.

In different parts of the city some people collapsed in their rooms staring blankly at the mental monster as if in worship.

Some stood呆呆frozen in place as if turned into statues.

Some people’s bodies had even begun to wither like wilting flowers.

…

…

“The pollution characteristics of the ‘Red Cloaked Apostle’ are intensifying…”

“Based on the Information Analysis Department’s recommendation quickly warn the public not to look directly at the red-cloaked monster…”

…

Chen Jing had reached Lu Xin’s side by now. She too heard the shockwaves emanating periodically from the red-cloaked mental monster. The sound held a certain attraction even for her making her want to turn and look. But she controlled herself with her willpower and had already issued warnings and reminders to all personnel currently engaged in the cleanup mission.

As long as one used willpower to control themselves not to look at it or not to gaze for too long they could avoid being polluted.

But Chen Jing understood that even though warnings were issued almost immediately after the mental monster appeared—even before its ability to devour mental power through being gazed upon was known—based on a general caution towards Pollution Sources many people must have already started staring. This kind of pollution was almost impossible to prevent completely.

Not everyone possessed enough willpower to stop themselves from looking at the giant red-cloaked monster.

The most important thing now was to clean it up.

Before it devoured the mental power of most people in this city.

…

“This seems to be the first time Single Soldier has expressed uncertainty about handling a specific mental monster…”

A strange heaviness settled in Chen Jing’s heart.

Just moments ago on the channel the Information Analysis Team had advised against letting Doll deal with the red-cloaked monster.

Therefore she could only pin her hopes elsewhere now.

As the direct leader who first recruited Single Soldier and watched his increasingly astonishing performance step by step Chen Jing always had high expectations for his strength. That’s why she couldn’t help but ask that question when she felt helpless.

But if even Single Soldier himself felt it was “dangerous” she couldn’t force Lu Xin to go clean it up.

After all the Special Cleaning Department wasn’t the military.

…

Lu Xin didn’t explain carefully to Chen Jing that the “danger” he mentioned wasn’t referring to danger to himself.

It was easy to determine that the red-cloaked mental monster possessed a very high psychic power level.

But what bothered him the most was that the monster seemed to have more than just a high psychic power level; it had many strange aspects. Lu Xin intuitively felt that if he confronted the mental monster directly the outcome would be very bad.

He himself felt very conflicted at this moment.

On one hand there was an impulse a desire to rush over and have a big fight with that mental monster.

But on the other hand his reason told him that if he really did that he would destroy everything.

This complex psychological state made Lu Xin remain silent for the time being.

He just stood there quietly frowning deeply as if trying to figure out his own thoughts.

Doll watched him quietly from the side.

She didn’t know what Lu Xin was troubled about she just sensed his distress and thus felt troubled herself.

Just at this critical moment when everyone was trapped in a strange oppressive and silent atmosphere headlights suddenly flared in the distance. Three Jeeps sped towards their location and screeched to a halt.

…

…

*Rustle rustle…*

From the front and rear vehicles descended two teams of armed soldiers clad in black protective suits holding standard plasma weapons. They quickly established a perimeter securing all surrounding angles. Both their rank and demeanor showed they were extraordinary.

After these armed soldiers secured their positions three people exited the middle car.

The first was an old man in a white suit whose beard and hair were impeccably styled.

Another was a middle-aged man with a round face that always seemed to wear a friendly smile.

The last was a soldier in military uniform with a square face as hard as rock.

Even Chen Jing looked surprised when she saw these three people.

She hadn’t expected these three to appear here at this time so close to the Donghai Grand Hotel.

She quickly stood at attention and saluted them.

*Shua* *Shua* *Shua*

As Chen Jing saluted many members of the Special Task Force who were inspecting the Isolation Zone nearby also stood straight and saluted.

The appearance of these three seemed to dilute the panicked atmosphere in the air considerably.

…

…

“Hello Single Soldier. My surname is Bai. I’m the director of the Special Cleaning Department’s Research Institute.”

Amidst the salutes the old man in the white suit carrying a silver case walked up to Lu Xin. With a kind expression he extended his hand. He seemed like an ordinary person but his eyes held great wisdom.

“The one who likes to quote famous sayings?”

Lu Xin was slightly bewildered but still reached out and shook his hand.

“That mental monster… are you confident you can handle it?”

The old man in the white suit surprisingly got straight to the point.

Lu Xin glanced at the old man shook his head his expression unreadable.

Beside them Chen Jing was also slightly surprised. She hadn’t expected Professor Bai to ask the same question upon arrival.

Were they trying to pressure Single Soldier into giving it a try?

“Hehe I understand.”

The old man in the white suit didn’t seem surprised by Lu Xin’s answer. Instead he asked from a different angle:

“Then what if you cast aside all reservations and went all out? Would you be confident then?”

Lu Xin paused slightly his gaze falling on the old man’s face.

He didn’t answer. The old man’s question was actually a bit strange.

However he had to admit that upon hearing his words Lu Xin’s heart skipped a beat.

…

“First let me give my recommendation.”

The old man in the white suit said: “That mental monster was transformed from a Sea Country S-level Ability User leveraging their own death. It possesses the trait of devouring others’ mental power so its psychic power level grows rapidly. It has already reached thirty thousand.”

As he spoke he glanced at his wristwatch and said:

“Additionally I plan to use ten minutes to tell you some things and discuss a decision.”

“Calculating based on this mental monster’s accelerating growth rate in ten minutes we might face a mental monster with a psychic power level exceeding sixty thousand. Given that we cannot eliminate it through conventional means a mental monster of this magnitude already possesses the ability to inflict immeasurable losses on our Qinggang Main City. It can be said we’ve reached a point of existential crisis.”

“That’s why I came specifically to find you.”

“I hope you can accept this S-level cleanup mission and eliminate it.”

…

Even Chen Jing felt somewhat bewildered listening to the professor’s words.

Beside them Minister Shen and Mr. Su exchanged glances seemingly also feeling uneasy.

Lu Xin was similarly confused.

He himself didn’t know if he could handle this mental monster. At least on the surface it was very troubling.

“Of course I know you have your concerns.”

At this point Professor Bai continued speaking: “Therefore my suggestion is…”

His gaze fell on Lu Xin’s face and his voice became solemn:

“I will perform the Second Stage enhancement on you right now. After helping you stabilize your state you can then proceed with the cleanup.”

…

*Shua!*

Lu Xin was greatly startled jerking his head up to look at the professor’s face.

“Second Stage?”

Nearby Chen Jing also turned pale with shock suspecting she had misheard.

“Yes you previously submitted the application for the Second Stage. After research we have approved it.”

Professor Bai looked calmly at Lu Xin saying:

“In fact we started preparations for your Second Stage enhancement half a month ago.”

“Although making a spur-of-the-moment decision to perform the Second Stage enhancement on you here and now based on the current situation is indeed rushed and leaves you no time for mental preparation circumstances require flexibility. So are you willing to accept this proposal now?”

Listening to his words Lu Xin found it difficult to answer immediately.

The Second Stage was something he had been anticipating all along. Of course he was willing to accept but how could it come so quickly?

Right here? The Second Stage?

There wasn’t even a bed here…