In the eyes of the children in Class Seven, everything in the Shrine Memory World can be sacrificed. Instead of trying to stop the Hatred Blood Sacrifice at all costs, why not use them to assist in Kuangxiao’s resurrection?
Number Five did not hide anything from Han Fei. Since he dared to tell Han Fei, it meant their plan was already underway.
"There are 600,000 people living in Hope New City! Among them, many have innocent souls!" Han Fei’s Personality breakthrough took three days and three nights. He never expected the students to take action while he was in a coma.
"When you fell into a coma during your first Personality breakthrough, it was us who helped you build the foundation for your Personality growth, Teacher. You owe us a life." Number Five sat in a chair: "You and Zero are very similar, but after all, you’re not him. There is a significant difference between you two."
"What’s the difference?"
"He has already become the very form of hatred he despises most, while you have not." Number Five stretched lazily: "That’s why we took action behind your back, so as not to make it difficult for you, you just need to keep your original intention."
Number Five looked up at Han Fei: "Don’t think about trying to stop us, it’s pointless. You wouldn’t want to become mortal enemies with us, would you?"
"Is there no other path to take?"
"Resurrecting Zero is the choice with the highest chance of success. Of course, you can try other paths, but remember, there’s not much time left until Gao Xing’s main consciousness returns. If he comes back early, we all will die." Number Five smiled faintly: "Let bad people be us, since we were made as Monsters, you... are different from us."
"The Blood Sacrifice is held on the Divine Spirit’s birthday; if I go to the Forbidden Building and find the Shrine ahead of time to complete God Stealing, will you change your mind?" Han Fei didn’t want the children of Class Seven to become real Monsters. Through this period of contact, Han Fei learned everyone’s story; he didn’t want the tragedy to repeat.
"If you can succeed in God Stealing, then naturally we will have no need for a Blood Sacrifice. But can you do it?" Number Five turned and entered the room: "Stop acting like a child, all the children died on the Blood-colored Night."
Number Five was unwilling to provide more information to Han Fei. Han Fei indeed underestimated them.
On the Investigation Bureau’s side, they cooperated with Han Fei to break through the Mental Hospital and Deep Sea Aquarium; everyone was actively preparing for battle, giving the students a lot of room to maneuver.
"Investigation Group Thirteen, gather in the canteen to prepare for the next phase of the mission!" After Han Fei spoke to the Black Ring, he immediately went to the canteen. He occupied the largest table and spread a map of the city cherished by the Investigation Bureau across the table. Unlike a regular map, this map was marked with the locations of all Black Buildings and Deceit Buildings and provided basic information and abilities of Black Buildings’ Hatred, earned by countless members of the Investigation Bureau at the cost of their lives.
While waiting for other members to arrive, Han Fei started frantically eating. After eight Personality breakthroughs, he became able to eat more. His stomach was like a bottomless pit, and any meat swallowed was immediately digested.
"Leader, are you preparing for new actions?" Dong Quan was the first to arrive, standing by the table as if he were Han Fei’s personal bodyguard.
"In the upcoming time, we might be staying in a city taken over by Ghosts and Monsters. You’re in charge of logistics, so prepare enough materials." After eight Personality awakenings, Han Fei no longer needed to fear Hatred; the next period would be his hunting time.
"Got it!" After taking the order, Dong Quan immediately started preparing. Since following Han Fei, his life had been incredibly passionate and fulfilling every day.
Dong Quan had just left when Yan Lan and Director Crow arrived. They brought along other teachers from the school.
"There are still many Survivor Bases in the depths of the city. Our people still live in suffering and slavery. I will go and rescue them. As for the task of comforting disaster victims and helping them rebuild their homes, I leave it to you temporarily." Han Fei looked at Yan Lan: "You are a born leader; the Daring Personality is the one that creates miracles the easiest."
"Most of the survivors from the school went to Hope New City before, but they were placed in the Buffer Zone, suffering from Ghosts and Monsters’ threats daily. Through a Messenger recently, they conveyed their hope to return." Yan Lan could roughly guess Han Fei’s intentions: "After consolidating the Survivor Bases in the depths of the city, could you take them as well? After all, they were initially the ones who supported us."
"You handle these matters; you are the disaster’s leader." Han Fei himself also possessed a Shrine; he knew that besides Sacrificial Offerings, Divine Spirits required devoted faith as well. For example, some Hatred was a materialization of people’s fears, and when no one fears it anymore, its Power constantly diminishes. The same applies to Divine Spirits.
The Ghosts and Souls served as a Sacrificial Offering for Kuangxiao, and the survivors provided belief in Kuangxiao, allowing him to revive faster.
After eight Personality breakthroughs, Han Fei truly grasped the meaning of the words "life like an ant"; two Ghosts and Gods competing for belief, and everything in the city can be a sacrifice. The more you are exposed to that stage, the more direct the feeling becomes.
After deploying all tasks, Han Fei looked toward the map; his Greed Abyss could now imprison thirty-one Ghosts and Monsters.
Unlike before when he only pursued quantity, Han Fei now could selectively take in Hatred.
He planned to choose the most unique and powerful abilities among all Black Buildings, attempting to devour them to continue strengthening his Greed Personality.
"To awaken the Greed Personality again, I’ll probably have to directly devour unspeakable portions of the body; top-tier Hatred can’t help me break through anymore."
Drawing one red X after another on the map, Han Fei marked off an area with a red pen in the Monster-occupied parts of the city. If everything went smoothly, it would become the fourth Survivor Base and the only special base where humans and ghosts coexist.
"The Forbidden Building I want to go to is in Area A, completely occupied by Ghosts and Monsters. If I can establish a safe base in Area A, it would benefit everyone."
Actually, Han Fei had another reason for choosing Area A: the Mother Ghost was there.
Previously, he lacked the Ability to rescue the Mother Ghost, but now it was different.
"When Gao Cheng entrusted everything to me back then, it was probably for this moment. Now he occupies the eyes of the Divine Spirit, becoming the top Hatred in the Greed Abyss, and he finally has the power to protect his Mother."
Han Fei sincerely believed this; he hadn’t forgotten his promise to Gao Cheng.
Just as this thought appeared in his Brain Sea, the system prompt sounded.
"Player number 0000, please note! You have triggered the Shrine Core Task—’Love That Cannot Reunite.’"
"Task Requirement: Help the Mother Ghost remove the Unspeakable Curse and allow her to choose which child to Love herself."
"Player number 0000, please note! You have triggered the Shrine Random Task—’The Strongest Ghost!’"
"Do you still remember your promise to Impermanence? You must nurture him to become the most terrifying and dreadful Ghost in this city; then you will understand what Impermanence, who grew up with Gao Cheng, truly represents!"
"Task Requirement: Help Impermanence become Hatred!"
As Han Fei pondered the task, other members of the investigation teams approached. Seeing the red Xs Han Fei marked on the map, they kindly reminded him: "Teacher Gao, this map is precious, it’s better not to scribble on it."
"It’s okay; anywhere I’ve marked with an X will eventually be free of Ghosts and Monsters."
After a full meal, Han Fei packed up the map and headed to the Central Square of the Investigation Bureau base, where two modified cars and two black heavy trucks were parked.
"Leader, the materials are ready." Dong Quan handed Han Fei a list: "Considering our extended outing this time, the Investigation Team and Logistics Team leaders authorized some Ghost Blood and rare medications for you."
"Gao Cheng, I’ve brought the people, when do we set off?" Yan Lan also brought school teachers and some elite members from the school base to the center of the Square: "Among them, there are doctors who can treat Mental Pollution, base architects, and New Disaster biologists; everyone trusts you and is willing to follow you."
"Get in the car, we’re heading to Area A."
Members of Investigation Group Thirteen and school teachers spread across the four vehicles. They passed through three checkpoints of the Investigation Bureau, heading towards the most dangerous Area A of Xinhu.
"He’s leaving, aren’t you going to say goodbye?" The Top Student, with a rice bowl, approached beside Touqi.
"He’s not leaving forever."
"That’s not certain. He’s heading to the Forbidden Building, and no one has ever returned alive from that building." The Top Student admired Han Fei’s courage and envied the way Han Fei lived: "In the disaster apocalypse, we’re all trapped in a huge cage, but he’s like a bird flying inside, determined to break through the bars and escape..."
The Investigation Group Thirteen convoy left Zone C. Director Crow, sitting in the passenger seat, felt a little uneasy. He glanced at the map, constantly licking his chapped lips: "Where will we stay overnight tonight? How about we find a White Building to make do for the night?"
"Tonight, we’ll stay at Baokang Children’s Hospital in Area A." Han Fei replied casually while driving.
"Baokang Children’s Hospital?" Director Crow felt the name sounded familiar. He opened the map, and sweat ran down his forehead: "A Black Building? We’re staying in a Black Building overnight?"