Chapter 125: Not Responding

Chen Ling knew he had most likely been tricked by the "Audience" again.

In his vision, the Fifth-Tier giant centipede was still a giant centipede, but the smaller centipedes scurrying everywhere were actually chickens... Initially, Chen Ling found it strange. How could centipedes give birth to chickens? But when Xi Renjie pointed it out just now, he finally realized something was wrong.

The Audience hadn't altered the image of the giant centipede in his perception, but only that of the smaller ones?

Why?

They knew he couldn't defeat the giant centipede, so they only changed the smaller ones, intending to trick him into eating them? Indeed, while he was eating those "chickens," he had felt an indescribable sense of disorientation...

The thought of having eaten something similar to the giant centipede made Chen Ling feel nauseous. He hugged the trash can and took several minutes to calm down.

He glanced at the ground beside him, and two lines of small text appeared:

Audience Expectation Value 3

Current Expectation Value: 39

"These lunatics..." Chen Ling cursed under his breath, then stood up and pushed the door open.

Han Meng's figure pierced through the thick fog, like a black arrow, streaking across the sky.

The streets of District Three receded further and further, gradually disappearing into the mist. In this gray, hazy world, it seemed as if he were the only one left.

Aurora City was located at the center of the entire Aurora Domain. The seven major districts clustered around it like satellites, forming a vast ring. This arrangement meant that the distance from Aurora City to each district was not too far, but travel between the seven districts themselves was much more troublesome.

However, even with relatively short distances, reaching Aurora City on foot was no easy feat.

In the past, people had tried to walk from the seven districts to Aurora City, but the two most difficult challenges were the extreme low temperatures and the incredibly rugged terrain. Vast expanses of permafrost and glaciers traversed the route, making it almost inevitable to freeze to death from exhaustion if one attempted the journey on foot without sufficient supplies.

Moreover, even if one managed to reach Aurora City, without proper identification and entry qualifications, they would be denied entry. Attempting to return the same way would then become another hellish journey.

The only way to connect Aurora City with the various districts was by steam train, which had only one departure per day. A round trip would inevitably take two days.

Han Meng didn't have that much time, or rather, District Three didn't have time. Fortunately, he possessed the ability to fly, and in terms of speed alone, he was dozens of times faster than the steam train.

Of course, this was assuming no consideration for mental energy consumption.

After Han Meng's promotion to Fifth-Tier, his total mental energy had increased again, enough to sustain him through the entire flight in one go.

After an unknown period, a black line sprawling across the permafrost appeared at the end of the horizon amidst the hazy fog. It wasn't a line, but a city wall so long that its end was out of sight.

As Han Meng approached, the city wall grew more imposing. By the time he reached the city gate, it seemed like a towering wall supporting the very sky.

Even ordinary people, craning their necks, couldn't see the top of this wall through the thin mist. And such a colossal wall stretched for thousands of miles.

"Who's there?"

As soon as Han Meng reached the city gate, a deep voice rang out.

A man, also wearing a black trench coat, leaned against the wall, standing at the edge of the city gate like a guard. Four shimmering silver patterns glowed on the hem of his coat.

"I am Han Meng, Chief Enforcer of District Three," Han Meng stated gravely, pulling out his identification. "I need to see Tan Xin."

"Han Meng?" Hearing the name, the enforcer at the gate narrowed his eyes slightly and replied coldly, "Do you have the documents to enter the city?"

"Our communication channels cannot connect to Aurora City at all, so naturally, we don't have documents."

"Without documents, you cannot enter the city... As a Chief Enforcer, don't you understand this rule?"

"District Three is experiencing a large-scale Gray Zone convergence. The situation is urgent. I need to follow a special procedure."

"A 'special procedure' is something a District Three enforcer can just declare?" The enforcer replied unhurriedly. "Go back. You won't be entering Aurora City today."

Hearing this, Han Meng's gaze instantly turned cold. He had no patience for pointless talk with this man, and his Judgment Court immediately unfolded!

Fifth-Tier mental energy surged forth, firmly suppressing the enforcer in place. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed:

"Han Meng! What are you doing?"

"I told you," Han Meng said, raising his gun and aiming it at the enforcer. "I need to follow a special procedure."

Han Meng was still wearing the four-marked enforcer's trench coat, but the aura he was emitting was undeniably Fifth-Tier... How could a Fifth-Tier enforcer appear in a place like the Seven Districts?

With Han Meng's gun aimed at him, cold sweat frantically beaded on the enforcer's forehead.

At the same time, several patrolling enforcers rushed over, their faces blanching at the sight. They surrounded Han Meng at the gate, and a major conflict was on the verge of erupting.

Yet, Han Meng stood calmly amidst the encirclement, his gun steadily pointed at the enforcer at the gate. His eyes were like a winter lake, showing no hint of emotion.

This made the enforcer truly believe that if anyone else made a move against Han Meng, the latter would immediately blow his brains out.

The enforcer gritted his teeth, staring at Han Meng for a long time before finally speaking:

"...I will go request instructions from Chief Tan Xin."

Aurora City.

Winter sunlight streamed into the courtyard. At the entrance of the tea room, Tan Xin, draped in a black trench coat, unhurriedly scraped tea stains with a teapot lid.

Just then, a figure silently crossed the floor and respectfully knelt beside him.

"Teacher, it's been eight hours since the fog began..."

Tan Xin placed the teacup on the small table, closed his eyes, and spoke calmly:

"Of the seven major districts, how many remain now?"

"Three hours ago, Districts One, Two, Three, Six, and Seven were still transmitting communications to us... But as of half an hour ago, the signals from Districts Two, Six, and Seven also cut off."

"So, only District One and District Three are left... The Chief Enforcer of District One is Chong Feng, and District Three is Han Meng. Those two still have some capability."

"Teacher, aren't we going to respond to them?" The figure paused, then added, "If we don't respond soon, I estimate these last two districts will also fall."

Tan Xin opened his eyes, glanced through the bright eaves at the clear sun high in the sky, and replied faintly:

"No response."