As midnight approached, the sounds of construction in Black Cloud City began to fade. Dormitory apartments lit up one by one, and the glow of distant lighthouses swept across the pitch-black sea as the sound of the tides echoed through the sea breeze.

The living area designated for the Omega Sequence resembled a high-end residential complex, with one apartment building nestled next to a lush, verdant park. The surroundings were eerily silent, not a soul in sight, and the streetlights emitted a dim yellow light.

This was the apartment for the leader of Team A in the second echelon.

Meanwhile, faint footsteps echoed inside the apartment, as though someone was about to open the door.

"You all wouldn't want another leader bossing us around, would you?"

Ji Xiaoyu crouched in the bushes, looking defiantly at her underlings. Her immature voice carried a tone of smug arrogance: "Remember this, in the second echelon, nobody gets to be our leader. Not even Thunder! Those idiots in the association are just jealous of my talent, that's why they won't let me lead. Once the true apocalypse hits, they'll finally realize who the real leader is—who the real Savior is."

She let out a cold laugh: "When that time comes, they'll kneel before me, worship me as I ascend the throne."

She was a young girl, her platinum blonde hair disheveled in a short bob, with delicate and adorable features.

But her expression seemed slightly cracked, bordering on borderline insanity.

She was wearing a protective suit, complete with goggles perched on her head.

Her underlings inwardly groaned at her absurdly dramatic attitude, feeling so uncomfortable they could metaphorically dig a three-bedroom apartment with their toes.

"But boss, that guy's the chair-killer psycho."

One of them hesitantly voiced their concern: "What if we piss him off and he blows our heads off?"

Ji Xiaoyu scoffed with disdain: "Chair-killer psycho? What kind of stupid nickname is that? Everyone else gets two-word epithets, but he has to be special? Not even as good as my Absolute Poison Master! People who like to show off like that are usually all talk and no action. Just a Second Rank—how strong could he possibly be? You think he could jump to Third Rank overnight or something?"

Her underlings nodded at the logic: "But he's said to be one of the King of Qing's favored ones. Supposedly his combat strength is insane!"

Ji Xiaoyu let out a sharp laugh of disbelief: "How much time has even passed? You think he's learned Breathing Technique already?"

She declared confidently: "If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility. I'm the Fourth Rank Mad King—I could beat ten chair-killer psychos no problem. You won't have to engage in direct combat and risk getting chewed out by Director Chen. Now go, teach him a lesson!"

Team A wasn't a place just anyone could waltz into!

Her underlings immediately grabbed their equipment boxes and got to work.

Someone spread thumbtacks covered in nerve-paralyzing toxins all over the apartment entrance.

Another set up a trap by the door that would dump a drenching spray of an extremely foul-smelling liquid on anyone who opened it—something so horrifyingly noxious it'd stink for half a month.

Yet another person rigged a trip rope in the yard, ready to yank tight and send someone crashing face-first into the ground.

The final group hid in the bushes, positioning themselves for an ambush.

Their firearms were custom-modified to fire alchemy bullets designed to target the nervous system.

Being hit by these bullets wouldn't cause physical damage, but the toxins would infect the nerves, leaving the victim with a crooked mouth, slanted eyes, uncontrollable spasms, and reduced intelligence.

Even the peak of an Extraordinary Level practitioner would suffer for three days.

"Prepare for combat!"

Ji Xiaoyu donned her goggles, whipped out a modified rocket launcher, and fired with a booming blast!

A flash of green poison-laced fire shattered the apartment's window, exploding violently!

The deafening noise heralded the spread of a sickly green toxic fog, saturating the air with an intensely foul stench.

"Hahahaha!"

Ji Xiaoyu unleashed a crazed, maniacal laugh.

She could practically hear the wails of agony that would surely follow within the apartment.

But after waiting a full ten seconds, there was no sound.

Something didn't feel quite right.

This couldn't be. Even holding one's breath wouldn't prevent the stench from forcing its way into the nostrils.

Not to mention the nerve toxins.

"Fire!"

The Little Princess ordered again.

BANG BANG BANG!

As flashes erupted from the muzzles of their guns, countless smell bombs and toxin bombs poured into the apartment.

The once-pristine, elegantly designed apartment was now in total disarray.

At this very moment, Gu Jianlin stood in the backyard, watching the toxic mist billow out from the apartment, twitching the corner of his eye.

The tide of spirituality surged within him, brimming on the verge of a breakthrough.

But his breakthrough had been interrupted just then.

It wasn't a big issue; he could successfully break through anytime. The real problem was, if he'd reacted even a second slower, he'd have been hit directly by the toxic fog.

When the stench exploded into the air, it was so revolting he'd nearly puked his guts out.

It was impossible to imagine what would happen if he got directly hit.

Had it not been for his extensive Life Perception range, he might very well have been caught.

These little brats—they were infuriating!

Gu Jianlin hadn't even sought them out, yet they had rudely come banging on his door first.

"These kids have no honor, launching sneak attacks like this!"

The parrot perched on his shoulder squawked, "Show them what's up!"

Gu Jianlin gripped a foldable chair in his hand, hesitated for a moment, then put it down.

He figured, since even Thunder couldn't tame the Little Princess, violence probably wasn't the answer.

He opted for a gentler approach—being kind, and touching her deeply to change her heart.

Yep, always remember: be kind to others.

But just then, another poisoned gas rocket hurtled toward his face, causing his expression to sour!

BOOM!

A pale Ghost Fire ignited on Gu Jianlin's forehead as he leapt into the bushes.

The spot where he had been standing erupted in poison gas, sending waves of vile stench billowing out.

"Hahaha, didn't expect you to sneak around the back—pretty cautious, huh?"

Through the dense mist, a petite figure emerged, clad in protective gear and goggles, laughing triumphantly with arms akimbo: "So you're a little clever. Big deal. In the end, you still won't escape my grasp!"

She had a modified rocket launcher at her feet.

Under the Ghost Transformation state, Gu Jianlin's mind was a storm of exploding negative emotions. His usually calm and clear eyes had turned dark and hollow, reminiscent of evil spirits from Hell, eerie and terrifying.

"You must be Ji Xiaoyu?"

He pointed at the toxic fumes wafting from the window, rasping: "This apartment's ruined now—it's unlivable."

Ji Xiaoyu arrogantly replied: "This apartment is meant for Team A's leader. It wasn't meant for you in the first place. Director Chen may have sent you here, but unless you get my approval, you can get lost, every last one of you!"

Gu Jianlin stared at the brat and rasped, "Apologize."

"What did you just say?"

Ji Xiaoyu paused, thinking this guy must be a complete idiot.

Gu Jianlin repeated himself: "I said, apologize."

"Apologize? Oh, what a joke. Do you know who my grandmother is?"

Ji Xiaoyu continued her bravado: "My grandmother is the President!"

Gu Jianlin took a deep breath.

"Apologize."

"My grandmother is the President!"

"Apologize."

"My grandmother is the President!"

"Apologize."

"My grandmother is the President!"

Ji Xiaoyu once again hoisted that damn rocket launcher, aiming it at him, ready to fire!

Even from ten meters away, the stench seemed unbearable!

Gu Jianlin finally lost his patience, and the spirituality storm inside his mind forcefully broke through!

THUNDEROUS BOOM!

In that instant, he heard the sound of metaphysical chains shattering, as spirituality surged free, nourishing his soul.

It felt as if he had ascended beyond the heavens!

At that moment, he officially advanced to Third Rank—Great Fate Master!

"To hell with being kind to others!"

The parrot squawked aggressively: "Put that naughty monkey in her place!"

Meanwhile, on the Deep Space Network's forum, a post was immediately pinned to the top.

"——Battle of the Day: Chair-Killer Psycho VS Absolute Poison King. It's ON! IT'S ON!"

[ps: This book first published on Qidian Reading App, next chapter tonight at 11:30.]