Chapter 00081: Peak Season
# Peak Season
Chapter 81
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 81: Peak Season
Without any warning, a sound like shattered porcelain echoed throughout the underground space, crisp and clear, reverberating in the air.
One by one, ethereal circuits hidden in the dome above trembled into existence, shattering and scattering into radiant light, as if countless stars appeared in an instant, only to fall towards the earth.
Under the brilliance of the rainbow light, the scene was truly breathtaking.
Even as a novice in alchemy, Ji Jue could tell what this moment represented.
The inner defense sequence had collapsed completely!
Then came the sounds of a thunderous collapse.
A loud crash.
In the distance, the walls of another pathway fell apart with a loud rumble.
Amid the flying dust, the crashing sounds continued unabated.
A group of dusty figures crawled from the ruins, the leader gripping a broken sword—an alchemical weapon that had just shattered after the inner defense sequence was dismantled, a master’s masterpiece, now left defenseless with a single strike!
“I found it! I found it!!!”
Lou Feng shouted in excitement, oblivious to the hardships endured on the way here.
Covered in dirt, with a fresh scar on his face, many had been injured under the workshop’s defensive measures after losing substantial numbers.
Now that he had laid eyes on the dazzling sea of ethereal light, he couldn't help but dance in joy, laughing heartily.
Until…
Across the deep sea of ethereal energy, he finally spotted figures on the distant path.
Two people, a cart, and a creature, riding along, carefree, as if they were on an outing.
It looked like they were going to take a photo to post online.
Lou Feng's grin froze on his face.
And when he recognized the scar on the leader’s face, a familiar one that turned his skin cold, he couldn't help but feel his anger surge!!!
“Ji Jue!!!!”
He shouted in rage.
Why the hell is it you again?!
“Ah, Lou Young Master,” Ji Jue said, rubbing his eyes, his reappearance was so sudden that he didn’t know what expression to wear besides a smile. “What a coincidence, huh?”
In the back seat, Little An sniffed the air, wrinkling her nose and whispering, “Ji Jue, they smell terrible.”
Silence, an eerie silence, only the whisper of words echoed like distant thunder.
Before she could finish, Ji Jue covered her mouth, “You can’t say that! You can’t say that!”
If they kept talking, this guy would really lose it…
Though Lou Feng’s breakdowns were often amusing, they couldn't take a joke every day.
“Ji Jue—”
Lou Feng squeezed the words through gritted teeth, his expression darkening, his murderous intent barely contained.
Behind him, a dozen returning knights raised their weapons, waiting for his orders.
Yet the thunderous noise continued above them.
Again, a massive crash!
The ceiling shattered.
Crimson blood spewed forth, engulfing everything, and beneath the legion of mindless defenders, ethereal energy converged, transforming into an unseen face, its eyes surveying the grand hall below with unrestrained excitement:
“Ha ha, just as I thought, it’s here!”
Without hesitation, ignoring the insignificant little bugs from the two teams in the distance, the shepherd dashed towards the grand hall!
Behind him, a river of vengeful spirits cascaded downward like a waterfall.
Immediately, a door swung open from the void.
“Found it, right here!”
A joyful voice emerged from behind the door, a muddy face peeking out, eyes gleaming with excitement. “Right here!”
Another team!
“Boss, the probe we left behind has picked up a signal,” Si Lan said, her expression shifting, moving closer to Lou Feng’s ear, “Someone seems to be chasing us from behind.”
Lou Feng stood stunned, unable to grasp the situation.
He only saw two more figures squeezing through the cracks in the ceiling and walls, making their way toward the workshop’s core, the goal that he had believed was his alone.
The tremors and various anomalies had alerted countless chosen ones to the strange happenings underground.
As the date for the workshop’s reactivation approached, it no longer concealed its structure, and anyone with even slight experience could discern the positions…
Lou Feng had prepared to defend his discovery, but he hadn’t expected that just as he opened the door, others had already arrived!
Ji Jue being the first was one thing, but how the hell did so many others pop out behind him?
It felt like a victim returning home only to discover something was amiss, finding shadows lurking beneath the bed, in the wardrobe, behind the curtains, and outside the windows.
What once seemed like an empty road now felt packed with people in the bushes!
Where did they all come from?!
But it was too late to dwell on these thoughts now.
After taking a hard look at Ji Jue, those bloodshot eyes withdrew their gaze, leading the charge toward the grand hall.
One more moment of delay and they wouldn’t get a single morsel—probably wouldn’t even get the broth!
Meanwhile, Ji Jue could no longer restrain himself.
What the hell?
Is this a market day or something?
Why suddenly so lively?
“Prophet…” he instinctively glanced at the silent, peculiar head beside him, “Do you have any thoughts?”
“I’m not too sure either,” the Prophet replied calmly, “Maybe it’s a coincidence.”
A timely coincidence, where everyone “coincidentally” found the hidden workshop deep underground, and “coincidentally” showed up at the same time, rushing to be the first in the core?
So perfectly coincidental?
But anyone who had bought a couple of federal lottery tickets wouldn’t be naïve enough to think so.
Boom!!!
Flames suddenly surged from the end of the pathway.
Inside the hall, an unexpected, blade-like tongue of fire burst forth from the air, scorching winds spreading across, stirring up a cloud of dust in terror.
A charred figure was seen flying backward, turning to ash mid-air, falling as dust.
There were explosions of flame erupting continuously from the towering darkness of the grand hall…
In an instant, the once still hall seemed to awaken, with countless ethereal circuits revealing themselves.
Liquid darkness thickened, writhing and spreading, showcasing an unimaginable horrific visage.
Like a furious beast.
Ready to devour anyone in its path!
The defense mechanisms laid down by the once-buried mercury had been fully activated, unleashing their terrifying power to bury every intruder after four hundred years.
“Damn, so many people are here to be cannon fodder? This woman is truly ruthless!”
The first to react was the Ghostly Worker, who, sensing the workshop’s operational state from the fluctuations, shouted in shock, “Did you see that? Didn’t I say so? The more beautiful the craftsmanship, the more it deceives! Stay cautious, Little Ji!”
Ji Jue asked hoarsely, “Did you do all of this…”
“Only to ensure a backup plan for this mission,” the Prophet replied, glancing back carelessly. “With so many ahead of us, we shouldn’t need to fear the workshop’s measures targeting us.”
Like a diligent guide smoothing out every stumbling stone for an employer.
She said, “Now, we can set out.”
Then came the deafening roar of thunder, lightning flashing.
Bright flashes of lightning exploded forth as a figure at an unseen speed darted from a crack, slipping into the workshop’s central hall.
Then… half a leg, still sparking with electricity, was flung out, plunging into the ethereal sea, rapidly dissolving and vanishing.
Not even a scream was heard.
With the turbulence in the air, a massive creature resembling a lion appeared, revealing itself the moment it stepped into the area.
Surprised to be detected, the beast was momentarily stunned, but then layers of armor grew from its flesh, bracing against the descending lightning and flames, vanishing into the darkness.
In the silence, an eerie laugh suddenly erupted, so enchanting that all who heard it felt their minds empty, and even from a distance, Ji Jue’s vision darkened, blood pouring from his nose.
But the laughter cut short, transforming into miserable groans and screams.
Boom!
With a loud crash, crimson ethereal light exploded from within, remnants of glowing mist rising like blood fog, spilling out of the darkness, chilling to the bone.
Lou Feng’s group, unhidden, gathered around him as he raised his wrist.
Suddenly, a bead from the familiar string Ji Jue recognized shattered.
Ethereal molding!
But this time, what appeared was not a creation or armor, but a vague, shadowy figure—by using the ability of ethereal molding, the ancestors of the Lou family had sealed their own essence and power within the beads, bestowing protection upon their descendants, allowing them to create effects akin to a clone when necessary.
The hazy figure sensed the moment before waving its hand, unleashing a silver mist that engulfed them, pushing through various times of attacks and defenses, directly entering the core.
Ji Jue’s eyes turned red.
They had said they would explore the rupture, and yet this bastard couldn’t stop moving everywhere and had to bring along so many people!
But just as the core activated, even more figures started emerging from the fissures and various passages.
For a moment, Ji Jue gawked, feeling as if a once desolate fairyland suddenly welcomed a peak travel season.
A once barren place, suddenly bustling with people…
In an instant, it felt like a swell of human heads surged.
Ji Jue never imagined the rupture would suddenly become so lively, yet he couldn’t shake the sense of horror—what other people were hiding in the bushes?
And weirdly, there hadn’t been a trace just a few days ago…
The world is truly full of schemers!
Making it hard for young folks to get by…
“So what now? How do we get in?”
He looked at the outermost layer deemed a solid wall, momentarily at a loss—besides the little beast, there was himself, Little An, and the Prophet: one couldn’t bear a thing, another had dodged everything, and one was a head that couldn’t move—none prepared for defense!
Surely they couldn’t charge in with the cart?!
“Just use your legs and walk in!”
The Ghostly Worker couldn’t bear it and just wanted to give him a good kick, “The external defense module only cares about permissions. Did you forget you’re a local now?!”
Oh damn!
Ji Jue finally caught on; he still had privileges from Furnace Brother, not to mention the validation of fluid alchemy!
With a higher privilege, it felt like he could almost cosplay as pure mercury…
The defense systems were meant for those filthy outsiders.
But he was a genuine local of the rupture!
So why wait?
Let’s go!
Ah, feeling a little better now, though my head’s clearer, my body aches even more… Can’t take it anymore…
It’s the start of the month, seeking a guaranteed monthly ticket~
(The chapter ends)