Chapter 876: Whispers of Chaos and Hope

Strolling and snacking…

Wah…

The Ghost Train, gathering all its might, gradually accelerated, its joyful whistle slicing through the air as it barreled straight west.

High above, the Red Moon shone pure and clear.

From its lofty vantage, the Red Moon surveyed a vast world glowing brilliantly under the night.

That was the mental power of Doll, weaving a field centered around her.

Strands of spirit, as delicate as white silk and studded with starlight, began to traverse an area centered on Qinggang, stretching across most of the Alliance, the entire Chaos Zone, and even parts of the maritime microstates—each person’s heart interlaced with, and influencing, this collective essence.

Within this realm, joy, exhilaration, and passion surged in everyone’s hearts.

Originally, fear, chaos, and despair painted the backdrop of this world.

Especially after the Third Descent, every moment teetered on the edge, as deep despair and emptiness threatened to overwhelm all.

Even though Qinggang had aided them in resisting the bizarre and salvaging countless survivors, true light had never dawned on this world. The dead and the tainted had merged into the contamination, while those who survived lived each second in constant dread of what might come next.

Not only were they unable to help themselves, but they also piled enormous pressure on Qinggang.

This meant that Qinggang’s own rescue efforts nearly collapsed, birthing an outcome steeped in utter hopelessness.

Yet now, Doll’s mental field enveloped the land, awakening every trace of beauty within each heart.

Thus, the problems were no longer problems.

Given the vast region and the fact that Doll was not one to actively impose her will, her influence over others manifested as a shared resonance—a gentle echo of inner beauty that many failed to notice until it took root.

People simply found their moods lifting unexpectedly and resolved that things could no longer stay as they were.

Someone had to step up.

Now, with too many High-Wall Cities and settlements laid to ruin, too many displaced souls bereft of family, living in constant peril and hunger,

Qinggang alone could never care for so many in such a short span.

The radiation from the High-Wall City simply couldn’t reach every corner of this vast region in time.

Fortunately, spirit, beauty, and a sense of duty still prevailed.

Amid the desperate survivors, a few daring souls rose up, taking on leadership and solving problems for those as helpless as they were. As one person stood up, many more followed, lending their trust and aid. Gradually, the original order began to form, and those once stranded in the wasteland now had a semblance of home.

Some ventured to the settlements or High-Wall Cities—places where, despite the ravages of mental contamination, food warehouses still stood—to scavenge for food and share it among the hungry, finally easing the long-held cold of starvation.

Others explored the damaged settlements or abandoned towns to check for safety and tidy up the houses.

In this way, many were finally relieved from trembling in the bitter cold.

Some began coordinating, forming militias to protect ordinary people from other perils in the wasteland.

In Qinggang City, people emerged from their underground shelters, gazing at the sunrise and sighing with relief that the long night was over.

Soon, at the rallying cry of community matriarchs on the streets, people began cleaning up the chaos left by yesterday’s riots.

A female officer took to a megaphone, urging everyone to join the rescue team and head outside the city to help those in need.

Meanwhile, a girl with a broken leg, accompanied by a few slightly older children and some hired help, drove a specially modified big truck to transport food out of the city. Originally, that oversized truck was far too extravagant for the orphanage, but now it found a purpose: ferrying supplies out and bringing back unattended children.

…

…

Such beauty was, of course, fleeting—but it was enough to dispel fear and chaos and help people through tough times.

Everyone found that in the pursuit of happiness, they could endure endless loneliness and fatigue.

And the world too.

Maybe beauty is hard to see in everyday life, but it’s always there, isn’t it?

…

…

While Doll helped Qinggang stabilize the region, Lu Xin was departing from this newfound haven.

The Ghost Train pushed its speed to the extreme as it set course for the Western Darklands.

As a Tyrant, he had dutifully executed his cleanup mission since the Third Descent. Any formidable spirit creature or bizarre threat that dared oppose Doll was swiftly intercepted and eliminated by the Ghost Train. On more than one occasion, it almost ‘accidentally’ cleared out the Dracula Doomsday Legion—its rival in business.

Every line and serial number was meticulously recorded in his small notebook—each entry, a testament to…

…money!

The sheer amounts made Lu Xin’s heart race with anxiety.

He even seriously considered whether to offer Qinggang a layaway plan when claiming expenses later.

Alas, parts of the business had been snatched away by the Dracula Doomsday Legion and the rocket-wielding young lady.

Otherwise, his notebook might have already been overflowing with entries.

But for now, he remained calm.

Thanks to Qinggang’s Heaven’s Kingdom Plan and Doll’s ever-expanding mental field, vast numbers of bizarre creatures and mental monsters were being forced outward. Many were eliminated, but numerous others, dissuaded, fled back into the Abyss or, unwilling to return, continually scurried farther away.

Most of them escaped to the territories of the Western Nomads or the domains of the Technology Church in the south.

This, naturally, only made the strange spiritual forces in those areas even more concentrated, deepening the darkness of their mental realms.

Furthermore, due to the rampant increase of mental contamination—and the fact that those with the ability to counter it, owing to their stubborn mindset, did nothing to restrain it—the inhabitants of the Western Nomads had sunk deep into contamination. They still lived, as few contaminations were designed to directly kill.

Yet, living under such influences could sometimes be more of a curse than a blessing.

Warped thoughts, bizarre ideologies, paranoia, fanaticism, or a split, gloomy mental state—all compounded by countless mental creatures that, having just arrived in reality, were banished to the remote, sparsely populated fringes by lingering malice—affected everything here.

Thus, innumerable phenomena beyond human understanding began to manifest.

For instance, a small town at the foot of a mountain vanished overnight, only for bright red trees to sprout from its crumbling ruins.

These trees were laden with human heads, each about the size of a watermelon.

They dangled merrily atop the branches, as if eagerly awaiting someone to arrive in the town.

Or consider a once-bustling town where the residents now moved with a wooden, lifeless gait.

Or a village overrun by a fierce band of knights.

Or a decrepit laboratory that appeared on the landscape without warning…

They were scattered haphazardly across the lands of the Nomads, turning the surroundings into a living hell.

Their gnashing teeth and blood-sucking hunger gave them a menacing, unnerving gaze at every foreign intruder.

Until the Ghost Train, chugging along playfully from the east, arrived…

…

…

“The Tyrant has arrived…”

In a secluded building adorned with playing card-like stripes, the top-floor meeting room featured a long table made of black reinforced glass. On every side sat figures cloaked in black—some with spade symbols, others with hearts, diamonds, or clubs—with a playing card laid out before each like a calling card.

It was one of the rare collective meetings in recent years.

Just the number of people gathered around the table was astonishing.

Those who couldn’t be there in person had projected their images into the room.

Due to disruptions caused by the Third Descent, many signals faltered—the projections flickering in and out with pale images.

“What’s going on?”

The four simple words spoken by the meeting’s host sparked a wave of panic throughout the room.

Some could barely mask the terror in their voices: “Didn’t the Bishop and Teacher already set up a plan?”

“Could the plan have failed?”

“No, even if it had, the Tyrant shouldn’t be reacting this early…”

“Is there any guidance from Gaoshan Laboratory?”

“…”

“There’s no need to panic.”

Facing the barrage of questions, a man seated at the center next to the door—with a card marked ‘Black Spade A’ at his side—spoke in a calm voice. His eyes from under a hood radiated a chilling light:

“Ladies and gentlemen, we must admit one fact: the Tyrant is immensely powerful.”

“But we at the Black Spade Office wield the greatest power in this world.”

“Especially since we hold the tickets to the higher-dimensional world.”

“…”

He paused briefly before lifting half his face, a cold sneer conspicuous under the lighting: “The Bishop and Teacher already briefed us. The gateway to the higher-dimensional world is set to open in just a little while. The Genesis Hard Drive is ready, and the tickets have been distributed.”

“Furthermore, with our careful adjustments, most of the spirit creatures that can support us have now gathered here, becoming our weapons—powerful enough to take on any life form in this world…”

“Not to mention the armed forces, wealth, and military that you all brought in using the guidance of those tickets before the Third Descent.”

“And our unwavering faith in Teacher and Bishop, in the higher-dimensional world…”

“So…”

His voice suddenly deepened: “This time, I have only one request—now that the Tyrant has arrived, do not let him leave.”

“…”

A heavy silence fell over the room, punctuated by a few hearts quietly stirred with fervor.

Yet, some harbored a tinge of uncertainty.

“Get ready!”

Taking a deep breath, Black Spade A scanned the room with his hooded eyes: “If my calculations are correct, the Tyrant should have already penetrated our domain. Perhaps some Mental Overlords have even warned you. As far as I know, he’s been lurking outside, hidden when Teacher and the others launched their assault on Qinggang—thus evading a doomed fate.”

“But now that he’s willingly stepped through the door, this is our chance.”

I’ve confirmed with Teacher and the others that if anyone can eliminate the Tyrant, a full thirty tickets to the higher-dimensional world will be granted to that person, free to distribute as they see fit.

“…”

“Clatter…”

Suddenly, the meeting room ignited with enthusiasm, with every eye gleaming.

Tickets to the higher-dimensional world!

A full thirty of them…

Remember, before this, even the head of a High-Wall City couldn’t just obtain such tickets on a whim.

Now, thirty were being promised all at once?

Doesn’t that mean the whole family could enter?

“Rally all armed forces and immediately set an ambush for the Tyrant…”

“Heh, we won’t even need to lift a finger. The area is rife with mental contamination—just lure him into a dead end…”

“If Qinggang’s army shows up, we might get scared.”

“But the Tyrant… no matter how powerful an ability user he is, he’s still just one man, isn’t he?”

“I’ve always said that to kill an ability user like the Tyrant, a weapon of mass destruction is the only answer—a final, decisive strike…”

“…”

As the fervor in the room mounted and discussions about strategies began, Black Spade A, draped in his black cloak, silently stood up and exited the meeting room. His secretary followed closely. When they reached a glass door outside, he suddenly removed his hood to reveal a pale face drenched in cold sweat, urgently asking:

“Have my family been sent off?”

“…”

“They’re already on their way.”

His secretary whispered in confusion, “Sir, do you mean…”

“I need to leave immediately as well.”

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, Black Spade A said gravely, “We must depart before the Tyrant arrives.”

His secretary gasped, “But you just…”

Black Spade A replied in a low tone, “If no one stops the Tyrant’s advance, none of us will have time to escape.”

As he spoke, he headed into the adjacent room where his prepared clothes were laid out.

His secretary understood his words, but more questions sprang to mind: “But Gaoshan Laboratory…”

“Gaoshan Laboratory…”

Black Spade A stopped and offered a wan smile, shaking his head gently:

“Ten minutes ago, the laboratory was disbanded.”

“Of Qinggang’s Four Ultimates, only one has just confirmed her return to her Mind Palace and locked herself away.”

“Gaoshan City was immediately sealed off as well.”

“All our expectations, all our hopes, had vanished ten minutes ago…”

“…”

“This…”

The young secretary’s voice trembled, “How is this possible?”

“Sir, are you joking? This isn’t even funny…”

“We follow the founder of the Red Moon Research Institute—the one who first uncovered the secret of God and chose to exploit it. He’s someone even the Ultimates tremble before. With countless grand plans and research achievements, how could they possibly…”

“…”

He faltered, unable to continue, though his intent was unmistakable.

In truth, not only him but everyone in that meeting room shared the same thought.

No one here was a fool—especially not those capable of being absorbed by the Black Spade Office.

Black Spade A’s words had stirred them so easily and rallied them with surprising vigor.

It was all because they believed.

They believed in the might of the First Researcher, in that grand plan, and that the gateway to the higher-dimensional world would surely open.

But now, before anything had even begun, it was all being called off?

“Sigh…”

As if sensing his secretary’s doubt, he recalled the many years of friendship with his own mother and sighed softly before explaining:

“Child, of all I said, only one thing was true.”

“The Tyrant is immensely powerful…”

“The Bishop and Teacher might still have a chance to negotiate with him, but we…”

“…”

He sighed quietly, resting his palm on the young man’s shoulder and patted him, saying:

“Child, we are followers of the plan—not its sacrificial pawns. So leave early!”

“Good luck.”

“…”

“…”

“This place is truly terrifying…”

As the train raced across the western land, now overrun by monsters, Lu Xin couldn’t help but murmur in awe.

Gazing out the window, he sensed an overwhelming strangeness.

The landscape was teeming—dense and endless.

It was as if a living nightmare had descended upon hell, a bizarre tapestry of surreal, grotesque, and eerie sights.

He wasn’t sure if the First Researcher—or perhaps agents of the Black Spade Club working behind the scenes—had orchestrated this; in the domain of the Western Nomads, he could clearly feel layers of darkness that masked greed and a blood-tinged, ravenous sound.

It was a world straight out of a nightmare…

With that thought, he decided and gently tapped on the train window, “Slow down a bit.”

The little train, previously buzzing with excitement, immediately eased its pace. In the back, card players lifted their heads to look.

Meeting their puzzled stares, Lu Xin smiled and explained, “At an amusement park, you’ve got to take a good look, right?”

The others paused, then his Sister, Little Nineteen, and Number Two quickly grew excited, rushing to the window and leaning over to see. When they took in the scene outside, their faces lit up with the joy only children can express.

Especially his Sister—her little hands trembling with excitement while her eyes bulged with wonder.

Meanwhile, a few adults merely glanced outside, scoffing before urging everyone to resume their card game.

Notably, Gecko sat atop a box, brandishing his golden and large knives like a true emperor.

Lu Xin couldn’t help but feel exasperated with them.

As one grows older, it becomes harder to be captivated by new sights…

This wasn’t the time for card games.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t beat them—in fact, who at the table could outplay Gecko? He had flustered Number Five on several occasions, and even when Lu Xin himself sat opposite him, he lost ten hands in a row.

Lu Xin had more pressing matters to attend to.

Firstly, he needed to keep the accounts in order… though that was just part of the job.

And secondly, now that he was here, he couldn’t possibly let the guests who had waited so long leave.

Lost in thought, as his reflection in the train’s glass grew increasingly exaggerated into a broad smile,

distinct from the calm reflection seen before.

Now, as Lu Xin’s expression remained placid inside the train, the reflection outside seemed to smile ever more widely.

To finally have a chance to openly vent his anger…

Wasn’t that just wonderful…

…

As Lu Xin pondered, the red moon in the sky slowly disappeared into the clouds.

Wherever the Ghost Train had passed, massive, crimson tentacles began to sprout along the tracks on either side,

swaying and writhing in a grotesque, fearsome display.