Chapter 24: Prologue

Su Qi’s expression stiffened for a brief moment. He didn’t know much about these matters himself and could only give an awkward laugh: “Your ideas are quite bold.”

Bild understood the skepticism—he was long accustomed to others’ reactions. He took another serious look at Su Qi and said: “The source energy on you is strange, as if forcibly elevated. Can I meet the person who did it?”

Su Qi hadn’t expected Bild to notice even that. His gaze grew solemn, but he asked: “Professor, are you planning a short stay in Weiqing City or to settle here?”

“Settle, of course.” Bild answered without hesitation: “I won’t leave until I find answers.”

“In that case, I can take you to meet the person you want to see—though whether they’re available is uncertain.” Su Qi exhaled, deciding to bring Bild to Su Qi and Zhang Yujun.

Though the two were out setting up the formation, it didn’t mean they never returned—Weiqing City was the central control node of the entire array.

“Good.” Bild naturally agreed at once. Carrying his leather case, he followed Su Qi out of the administrative building and into a dedicated car that took them to the outskirts of Weiqing City’s core district.

There, Su Qi and he got out—the remaining distance required walking.

Buildings here were far fewer than outside, mostly low structures, revealing a conspicuous black tower at the center. Even under the sun, a faint chill permeated the ground.

This tower had been rebuilt atop the ruins of the energy hub.

It was also the heart of the Duan Yue Heavenly Gang Array.

Outside the tower, Su Qi straightened his clothes, then stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door.

Bild watched quietly from the side.

When the great doors opened automatically, Su Qi showed a relieved smile.

“You’re in luck.” He glanced back at Bild and pointed inside: “Go in. The answers you seek are there.”

Hearing Su Qi’s words, a flicker of hesitation rose in Bild’s heart.

But soon he cast those feelings aside. With firm, reverent eyes, he stepped into the black tower.

The double doors closed behind him.

Yet what appeared before Bild wasn’t the tower’s interior—but an endless, distant starry sky.

He froze briefly, then looked down at his feet: a beautiful, unfamiliar planet.

“This… is our planet.”

The thought surfaced in Bild’s mind. But immediately after, he saw in the adjacent void a massive, intricately structured colossal object, rings interlocking.

“What is that?!” Bild exclaimed in shock.

The megastructure’s size rivaled the planet itself, always hidden on the star’s shadowed side.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he could never have imagined such a thing existed overhead every night.

“This is called the Heavenly Ring. It is the alien observer you suspected. This planet is merely an experimental field. Congratulations—every one of your guesses was correct.” Zhang Yujun’s figure materialized beside him, speaking calmly.

She had decided to meet this person who had prematurely glimpsed the truth of source energy.

“So source energy truly is an artificial product?” Bild instantly realized Zhang Yujun was the one he sought, but his first focus was the information she revealed.

Having his conjectures confirmed brought no joy—only absurdity and grotesqueness.

He even felt a trace of fear at facing the truth.

Zhang Yujun replied indifferently: “Source energy—its original name was Heavenly Rainbow Potion. It was an experimental drug developed by Valen Temple to cultivate knights. Unfortunately, your world was chosen as the testing ground.”

Zhang Yujun shared what she knew.

Bild digested the information. Fortunately, he’d prepared mentally beforehand and quickly calmed. When he looked at Zhang Yujun, surprise flashed in his eyes.

This didn’t match the wise scholar he’d imagined.

“What will our future be like?” Bild asked after pondering.

“Pitch black.” Zhang Yujun didn’t hide it: “Without accident, you’ll all perish in this source energy tidal wave. Only the fully evolved form of the Heavenly Rainbow Potion can survive—then be captured by Valen Temple as test subjects.”

Bild fell silent.

This truth was crueler than he’d imagined.

But Zhang Yujun continued: “However, that likely won’t happen now. The array we’re setting up can completely block the source energy tidal wave. You can continue surviving within it.”

Bild’s head snapped up, light igniting in his eyes. He didn’t ask much more, simply saying: “What can I do for you?”

Zhang Yujun smiled.

This was precisely why she met Bild. Compared to locals like Xi En, Su Qi, and Xu Cheng, she valued scholars like him more.

Source energy users had fixed ceilings, but knowledge’s value had none.

“I’ll give you the Heavenly Rainbow Potion’s data and experiment records. Your task is to figure out its composition and production method.” Zhang Yujun said.

“This… might be difficult.” Bild’s face stiffened; he didn’t dare commit.

Even as a top scholar today, he had zero confidence against an advanced civilization’s alien drug.

“Don’t worry—not for you to solve now. After surviving this crisis, I’ll take you elsewhere. Someone will assist you, and you’ll access an entirely new knowledge system.” Zhang Yujun wasn’t rushed.

She was planning for the future.

Though Heavenly Rainbow Potion’s ceiling was locked, its physical enhancement was real. Integrating it into Asking Immortal Sect’s system would boost fellow disciples’ strength.

Bild was merely one step toward that goal.

For now, the priority was returning to the sect.

As if sensing something off, Bild cautiously asked: “You said ‘surviving this crisis’ just now? Isn’t the source energy tidal wave already resolved?”

Zhang Yujun glanced at him and admitted frankly: “You’ve probably guessed—I’m not from this world, merely trapped here. The Heavenly Ring you see before you is already destroyed. Valen Temple will surely send investigators. There will eventually be a battle here.”

“You have a grudge against Valen Temple?”

Zhang Yujun didn’t answer. If she could ultimately bring people out, what needed knowing would come in time.

Bild suddenly felt dragged into a massive vortex—affecting not just him but everyone on the planet, with no way to resist.

With a long sigh, Bild stated he’d work under Zhang Yujun and would gather some friends. She gladly agreed.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed. Five days since Zhang Yujun’s return from the Heavenly Ring.

Atop the black tower.

Zhang Yujun, meditating in cultivation, suddenly opened her eyes and looked toward the horizon’s end. There, thick black shadows surged like a tide toward this region.

Looking closely, it wasn’t water but densely packed hordes of corpses.

No longer the mindless wanderers of before, they now showed organization. At the rear, several differently shaped corpse kings stood silently, watching the horde surge forward, human-like glints in their eyes.

Such scenes appeared worldwide. In an instant, everyone realized the source energy tidal wave had erupted.

Unexpectedly, the first wave affected not humans—but these astonishingly numerous, long-mindless dead corpses.