Cataclysm King

Chapter 229 Xie Guozhong’s defection

On the dirt **** outside Shangbang Prison, in the asphalt-like darkness, a disgraced figure emerged from the hole.

The prison's barrier can trap those miners, but it cannot trap top powerhouses like Gong Wu.

 The old man has been in the mine for many years. It can be said that he knows the secrets of the mine better than anyone else.

It also includes those flaws in the barrier.

 Then he pointed out such a way for Ji Xun.

 Find the weak point in the barrier, break through the rock formation, and dig a hole to reach the ground.

Ji Xun moved his body and his joints made a clicking sound.

His muscles ached all over his body and he grimaced, and he couldn't help but complain: "Oh my, the old man's actions are really dark."

 In order to learn the [Ba Fist] these two days, I received a lot of beatings.

The kind of beating someone gets from a great qigong master is not just ordinary physical damage, but also erosion at the level of laws and mysterious attacks at the level of fighting spirit.

 Pain is felt in the body, nerves and consciousness and lasts for a long time.

This kind of ordinary medicine has no alleviating effect at all.

What’s more, as the old man said, only by being beaten can the body form muscle memory. This is a required course for fighters.

Ji Xun also thinks it makes sense.

Besides, he was reluctant to use the few life-saving potions, so he just let his body hurt.

But luckily it’s worth it.

 Complaints are complaints, and he had a look of accomplishment on his face.

This time I stayed in Shangbang Prison for more than two months. Not only did I learn the follow-up to the secret method of "Gluttony", I also experienced a real qualitative change in my martial arts.

 There is also a pile of [Battle Spirit Crystals] in the package, and some ancient secrets have been glimpsed.

 The harvest has far exceeded expectations.

Thinking of this, he took out his steam motorcycle and drove towards the lower city of Sinless City, puffing out white gas all the way.

　Not long after, Ji Xun arrived outside the city of Sinlessness.

However, from a distance, looking at the bright lights and busy construction sites on the city wall, he was a little surprised and thought to himself: "Hey, I haven't been back in the past two months. Has Innocence City changed so much?"

The former Innocence City was full of exiled criminals. Although the number of people was large, it was not enough to fill this ancient ruins. Even less than half of the area used for the city's buildings was used.

For example, near the outermost city wall, there used to be an uninhabited ruins with no lights at all.

 At least it was like this when Ji Xun left last time.

 But now when I come back, I see that everything has changed a lot.

On those incomplete city walls, thousands of workers controlled mechanical skeletons and various large cranes to transport rocks up to repair the incomplete city walls.

There is also a huge alloy gate at the city gate, and vehicles transporting supplies come in and out, forming a long queue.

 A busy scene.

Today’s Sinless City is like an antique dug out of the ground, restored and cleaned, and looks brand new.

Ji Xun murmured in his heart: "If the content on the stone tablet is deciphered correctly, the Innocence City three thousand years ago was called 'Xinhuo City'?"

 The scene in front of me is a bit like a fire burning from the ashes.

Looking at the prosperous and lively scene in front of him, he also felt very good.

 Innocence City is becoming more and more prosperous, which means that the development of the Old Continent is also a general trend.

Seeing the vibrant city in front of you, it seems as if history has shined into reality, and there is always an inexplicable sense of expectation in people's hearts.

　　After seeing the scenery at the peak of Ka Master from the old senior, Ji Xun became more and more excited about the ancient civilization relics in the old continent.

Those secrets and treasures buried in history are waiting for people to discover them little by little.

With thoughts in his mind, Ji Xun rode his motorcycle to an uninhabited section of the city wall without leaving the gate, and easily climbed up with his wolf claws.

 After entering the city, it was pretty much what he had expected.

 The city is much livelier than it was two months ago.

 The ruins of the past were full of busy and lively scenes, and the city was full of bright lights.

 The major families of the Federation poured a lot of new blood into this city, including hunters, mercenaries, businessmen, speculators and ordinary people.

 A new city is full of opportunities and attracts people from all walks of life to dig for money.

Ji Xun was riding a motorcycle and was speeding along the street.

 The previously potholed roads have now been basically repaired, and lane lines have also been spray-painted.

Thousands of years ago, Sinless City was a huge city with a two-way eight-lane main road running through the entire city.

A variety of steam vehicles are constantly flowing on the streets.

The once chaotic and chaotic Innocence City has also faintly transformed into a well-organized super new city.

 Not long after, Ji Xun arrived at Downing Street.

This is connected to the Nugget Pier in the Old Continent and is still the most prosperous place in Innocence City.

Ji Xun parked the car on the side of the road.

There are a lot of pedestrians as expected.

 But he was immediately attracted by the quality of the mechanical equipment on the hunters on the street.

“Is this level of mechanical equipment capable of mass production?”

Ji Xun also had thoughts in his eyes.

  Mechanical arms, mechanical exoskeletons, and various steam lances, hooks, and individual boilers. The technological content of the mechanical equipment worn by hunters far exceeds that of two months ago.

  He had spent some time in Dong Qi's machinery workshop before and had a lot of understanding of the steam machinery of this era.

 That’s why I’m amazed.

 In the past, the steam machinery that lower-level hunters could use was basically purely mechanical equipment.

 Simple, fragile, and of little power.

For example, some inscribed spells have special effects on enchanting machines, which have always been exclusive to noble legions before.

Not only are the materials expensive, but the technology is also a strategic secret and will not be spread to the public.

 But right now, the mechanical equipment worn by hunters on the streets is almost all enchanted equipment.

There are also all kinds of weird black technologies.

 It can be used by low-level hunters, which means that this level of mechanical equipment can already be produced.

 Haven’t seen each other for two months.

Ji Xun felt like he was in another world.

Many of the topics discussed by pedestrians on the road are also related to machinery.

"The mechanical equipment of Cao's Chamber of Commerce is really powerful. The old spray gun before can kill a late-stage Katu monster, which is pretty good. Now my 'Thunder Cannon R3 spray gun' can kill a first-order disaster! Hahaha. From now on, I, a card disciple, can also explore advanced extra-dimensional spaces."

“Yes, the quality of the military industry is indeed good! In the past, the military machinery and equipment of the federal nobles were only of this power. I didn’t expect that we ordinary hunters could buy them with money.”

“Not only is it easy to use, the price is also cheap. I heard that all members of Lao Liu’s ‘Baohu Group’ have been replaced by mechanical equipment, and they are now making a fortune across the Old Continent.”

“Tsk, tsk. Mechanical equipment has become a legion, and combat power is truly terrifying. With these mechanical equipment, a child can have the combat power of a card disciple, or even a formal card master. I really can’t imagine the future.”

"Yes, times are changing. In the future, mechanics will definitely be the most popular civilian occupation. I have to say that the Old Continent is a **** good place too!"

ˆ “.”

Ji Xun listened to a few words selectively and roughly understood what happened.

After walking a few steps, the pub in the best location of Downing Street had some mechanical equipment for display in the window.

 Complete sets of mechanical battle armor, as well as some individual equipment and components, giving it a strong sense of black technology.

Ji Xun also stopped and looked at it for a while.

 The materials and workmanship are all of high quality.

 Looking at the factory nameplate, they were all produced by the Cao family of the Lord's Mansion.

 The onlookers were also very interested in these mechanical samples and pointed at them.

“Hey, you guys said, why would the Cao family sell such a good thing if they don’t use it for their own army?”

"If the Cao family doesn't sell it, there are others. It's not just the Cao family who discovered mechanical remains in the Old Continent, and all kinds of new drawings are still coming out. Now mass production and occupying the market is the wisest decision. . Don’t look at how cheap these mechanical equipment are. Look at which hunter on the street doesn’t bring a few pieces with him? The profit is frighteningly high. I estimate that the machinery industry may be the most profitable business in the entire federation now."

“How good is this thing we bought? My old uncle just came back from Devil’s Crossing. It is said that the Cao family’s army is now equipped with a large number of mechanical swords that can threaten high-level card masters.”

“I heard that the new city built by the Cao family in Devil’s Crossing also sells higher-end mechanical equipment. Do you want to go and take a look? It is said that as long as you join the Cao family’s hunter group, you can also get free equipment for recruits.”

 “Go! Let’s form a group and count me in!”

ˆ “.”

The hunters in front of the display window all seemed ready to make a move.

 Many people are going to the Old World immediately.

Ji Xun looked at it and smiled in his heart.

This "free routine" is easy to use no matter where you go.

 This will attract a large number of hunters to open up wasteland in Devil's Crossing.

It seems that some equipment is given away for free, but once the mechanical equipment is mass-produced, the cost will become lower and lower, and it will not actually cost much.

Moreover, the blueprints, materials, and ancient relics produced by hunters will eventually fall into the hands of the Cao family.

 What’s more, as long as we can attract people to the new city, food, clothing, housing and transportation will all be money.

 The more people there are, the more prosperous it is.

 The benefits that the Cao family will gain will also snowball.

 The new city has also been revitalized.

 From this point, it can be seen that the Cao family does have experts in planning.

Ji Xun also remembered that he attended the Cao family’s mechanical launch conference a few months ago.

 Since then, the Cao family has actually been laying out the machinery field.

 After getting to know Catalina, Ji Xun experienced the brutal competition for heirs within the top nobles.

　　also had a changed view on the nobility.

In the eyes of the people at the bottom, the federal aristocrats are just a group of fat lords and arrogant ladies who only know how to enjoy themselves.

  But this is not the case.

In such an environment of great wealth, there may be some dandies.

 But if the family has not declined, there must be capable people.

Especially the five major federal parliamentary families, which can last for two hundred years without any fuel-saving lamp.

 Cao Yu, whom Ji Xun killed before, was only a branch of the great councilor Cao family.

 Now with this layout, we can see some of the Cao family’s heritage.

Today's federation has a pattern of competing for hegemony among powerful powers, with no center.

As the only innocent city connected to the Old Continent, it has now become the focus of all eyes of the entire Federation.

 The current Innocence City is truly the gaming field for those top dignitaries.

Ji Xun raised the corners of his mouth slightly when he thought of this.

 He was looking forward to this kind of excitement.

It was as if a spotlight had been turned on, a huge stage had been set, and the actors had already appeared.

 A wonderful drama has begun.

The changes in Innocence City were so great that Ji Xun wandered around the streets for a while and realized that his news was too late.

So I planned to sit in a tavern and find out what happened recently.

 13 Downing Street, The Old Gun Tavern.

 This is one of the pubs that Ji Xun is accustomed to visiting.

The qualifications are old enough, the background is solid enough, and the information channels are stable.

I haven’t been here for two months. The number of customers has increased dramatically and the old tavern has been renovated.

Not only did they install a new area with a two-story steel structure, they also built a larger musket sculpture in brass at the entrance of the store.

Ji Xun mingled in the crowd and originally wanted to find a corner to drink.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered, he was immediately attracted by the wanted notice on the notice board and couldn't move his feet.

Ji Xun himself, an S-class wanted criminal with a bounty of hundreds of millions, has fallen from the C position on the bounty list because he has not shown his face for several months.

　　We have put on some new faces that have been popular recently.

The rewards may not all be higher than his, but the crimes committed are not small. Ji Xun originally just glanced at it.

 But when he saw a familiar face appearing in a row of wanted posters with a bounty of over 100 million, his eyes suddenly shrank.

  The red letter stamp at Bureau

 “Is Lao Xie actually wanted? Or is it a wanted order issued by Bureau X headquarters?”

Ji Xun also felt incredible when he saw the familiar bearded face.

 He is very familiar with Xie Guozhong and knows the guy's character very well.

  Being a field agent is not just his job for a living, that guy also has a sense of family belonging to Bureau X.

 But what is the situation now? This kind of ace agent has defected and is wanted?

Under the reward order, a row of small letters read the charges: "S-class wanted criminal, on April 15th, he stole important research information from Bureau After the discovery, he went crazy and massacred the city. More than a thousand civilians in the town were not alive. The crime was extremely heinous. Now, an urgent reward is being offered, regardless of life or death! The characteristics are as follows. "

When Ji Xun saw this, he became more and more confused: "Massacre the city?"

 His first reaction was: Impossible!

 Xie Guozhong's character is definitely the most upright guy Ji Xun thinks he has ever seen.

Although he looks sloppy and unruly, this guy is a genuine fifth-level card master of the [Order] path.

 That man would never be able to do such a thing as massacre civilians.

 But since it was written on the wanted notice, the massacre in the town should have really happened.

Ji Xun turned his eyes and immediately thought: "Being framed? Contaminated? Or some other reason?"

 He thought of what Xie Guozhong said when he saw him for the last time.

 That old friend wanted to investigate the changes that occurred at the top level of Bureau X.

 If you guessed correctly, the problem may lie here.

Ji Xun's thoughts were racing when he saw the wanted notice. He suddenly thought of something and thought in his mind: "If it's April 27th, it should be ten days ago. Counting the time, maybe Lao Xie has already come to Sinless City?"

　　To say where in the entire Federation is the most suitable place for wanted criminals to take refuge, it is definitely Innocence City and the Old Continent.

Moreover, Ji Xun always felt that Lao Xie's defection from Bureau X had hidden secrets involving the Old Continent.

Thinking of this, he immediately turned around and left the tavern, heading towards the Hunters Guild.

Not long after, Ji Xun left an encrypted message for Xie Guozhong at the Hunter Guild.

  After all, they are friends of life and death.

No matter what happened to that old friend, he felt that as long as he could help a little bit, he would do it.

After placing the reward, Ji Xun returned to the Old Gun Tavern.

 This is the place where we agreed to meet.

 Being wanted by his old employer, Bureau

Ji Xun felt that his old friend was really in Innocence City and needed help, so he must be in need of someone who could help him.

After asking the intelligence dealer about the recent news, Ji Xun sat in the corner of the second floor of the tavern, eating the new dishes in the tavern and waiting.

 After Ji Xun advanced to the third level [Dragon Catcher], he obtained the professional entry of "Giant Eater".

His appetite is as good as a dragon now. When he is hungry, he can eat a large table and digest it quickly.

 The nutrition of food is very important to his current body. The amount of food eaten even affects the growth of physical attributes. The bigger the better.

Huge amount of food intake can also speed up the recovery of injuries to a certain extent.

There are many benefits.

Ji Xun was eating like this while observing the people coming and going in the tavern.

Taverns are a favorite hangout for spies and intelligence informants of all kinds.

Ji Xun took a moment to observe and immediately discovered that there were many eye-catching guys in the tavern.

 It is not only observed from the details of clothing and demeanor, but also "Qi".

This is also an incidental professional ability for practicing the 52 Demon God's forbidden technique "Gluttony".

Ji Xun could see out-of-control extraordinary characteristics in dead people before, but now, he can see the "qi" in living people.

 As the palace elder said, all living beings have Qi.

Even if the power of the spell was not leaked, he could still see the "qi" rising from everyone, swaying like a flame.

 Those who are strong will have strong Qi like a campfire.

 For those who are weak, their Qi will be as weak as a candle flame.

Unless you encounter a master who can control Qi very well, most people can tell their strength and weakness almost at a glance.

With the werewolf's sense of smell and observation, you can almost make a judgment.

For example, the girl in the bunny suit, Ji Xun thinks she should be an assassin card master, with cold and sharp Qi, and her demeanor and demeanor are consistent;

There is also the mustached businessman in the corner. He has a strong aura and looks like a second-level melee card master. He has the smell of human blood on his body and his eyes are cautious. He may be a murderous fugitive from out of town just now;

The other guy in the cap on the dance floor has an erratic attitude and is probably a professional thief.

 Different people have different Qi.

  It's like a person's face.

Ji Xun saw him once, and even if he was disguised, he could still recognize him.

 This is a new experience.

  It seems that a new world of senses has been opened, and you can observe it from another angle.

 Perception carefully is also practicing this new skill.

 There were no living people in the mine before, but now the streets are full of people when they come out.

This is all a bunch of wandering "qi".

 Practice a little more, and the proficiency on the panel gradually increases.

 The efficiency of identification has also increased.

Looking at the pedestrians whose secrets he had discovered, Ji Xun couldn't help but sigh at the magic of this ability: "Qigong is really mysterious. No wonder the old man can immediately sense whatever he was thinking before. 'Qi machine perception' is really outrageous."

Having just scratched the surface, I already feel it’s amazing.

 This is more direct than vision, hearing, and smell.

 There are many card masters who can disguise themselves, transform themselves, and eliminate their presence.

 But those who can control their qi are very rare.

Without Gong Wu’s guidance, Ji Xun felt that he might have spent dozens of times longer and still not be able to grasp the mysteries of Qigong.

Even if you are really lucky and get various qigong master’s exclusive books and skill cards, you may have to take many detours and you may not be able to find the right direction.

 Very lucky.

The tavern was a mixed bag, and it was not surprising that there were all kinds of strange people.

Especially in the current lively environment of Innocence City, spies from all major forces are hiding in the city.

Ji Xun just observed and identified some special people and didn't pay much attention to them.

He sat in the tavern for several hours.

 The agreed meeting time has almost passed.

Originally thinking that he might not be able to wait for anyone, Ji Xun was ready to leave.

 Let’s see again tomorrow.

 But at this moment, a strong man in a windbreaker suddenly walked into the tavern, and then walked straight up to the second floor.

Ji Xun actually noticed this man as soon as he entered the door.

 The Qi machine is very stable. Either he is a master who can control Qi, or he is just an ordinary drinker.

He was dressed like a workman from the street. He smelled of alcohol, and he walked very naturally. There was no trace of anything inappropriate for his identity.

If it were somewhere else, Ji Xun would definitely ignore the man in the trench coat.

 But now Ji Xun is here to wait for someone.

 So he would instinctively bring anyone into his old friend, thinking: "If it is Lao Xie, as a professional agent, he should be able to achieve this level of perfect disguise, right?"

 However, this idea just emerged.

Ji Xun was surprised to find that the man in trench coat who was still on the stairs just now cleverly avoided the eyes of the people around him, and then appeared at the screen less than two meters away from his position.

This position is very clever, just so that no one can see him.

 But Ji Xun could see it.

Ji Xun immediately became alert when he saw this position.

Obviously, the man in the trench coat didn't recognize the disguised Ji Xun and didn't say anything.

Ji Xun took the initiative and muttered tentatively: "Today's wine is really bad."

 This is the agreed secret communication word.

He thought that even if Lao Xie couldn't come in person, if someone else came to bring the letter, they could still connect safely.

 After all, both parties are now wanted criminals, so there is no room for carelessness.

As soon as these words came out, the man in windbreaker was obviously shaken. He was obviously surprised that Ji Xun could disguise himself to this extent: "Ji Xun?"

Ji Xun also looked at this unfamiliar face with a sallow complexion, "Lao Xie?"

Both of them have perfect disguises.

 But that’s not the point.

Xie Guozhong knew his situation very well. After confirming his identity, he said directly without saying a word: "I'm in a lot of trouble now. But I can't die now. I have something crucial in my hand."

He knew that Ji Xun wanted to help since he posted the encrypted information.

 He really needs help too!

 So I spoke directly.

Ji Xun breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this and thought to himself: "You're not crazy."

 Looking at the reward order before, he was worried that Xie Guozhong might have something wrong with him, which was why he massacred the city.

 But now that they met, he was immediately sure that he was the old friend he knew before him.

 As long as you’re not crazy.

Xie Guozhong also guessed what he was thinking, but he had no time to explain. He continued: "You have thought about it. If you take it, you may be in big trouble or even life-threatening."

Ji Xun knew that this must be a big trouble, but he didn't think about it at all.

He also knew that the situation did not allow for nagging. He didn't even ask what the thing was, so he chose to trust it absolutely: "Give it to me."

Xie Guozhong also breathed a sigh of relief.

 In fact, after seeing the reward, he knew what Ji Xun would choose.

 In fact, from the first time they met, he knew that if he became a friend, he would be worthy of trust.

He spoke very quickly: "I have found someone who can handle this thing, but that person hasn't replied yet. You can keep it for me first. Only you can keep this thing. My friend. Sorry, I It’s not that I can’t believe you. It’s just that this thing involves the secret of the catastrophe. Even mentioning related words may cause unpredictable contamination risks.”

Cataclysm?

When Ji Xun heard this, he suddenly thought of what he had seen on the stone tablet before.

 Xie Guozhong returned to Bureau X this time to investigate what happened.

Ji Xun still did not hesitate and took it directly: "Well, I will try my best to keep it."

 Xie Guozhong looked at the box in his arms with a complicated expression.

 This matter is very complicated.

 But it was too late to explain.

He said quickly: "Remember, in case I don't come back to you. You can't give this to anyone. Now except that person, I can't think of anyone who can handle it. Oh, by the way, if you can get in touch, please give it to me." Give it to him. If that doesn't work, take it to any secret place in the Old World and bury it. Don't let anyone find it."

Ji Xun nodded and asked, "To whom?"

 Xie Guozhong: “The leader of the Thirteen Knights—Light Chaser!”

Ji Xun asked again: "Jia Yu?"

  Let myself get in touch, probably because Chujiu is a member of the Thirteen Knights.

Hearing this, Xie Guozhong was slightly surprised: "You know?"

Ji Xun nodded, "Yeah."

 There is no time to explain the previous experience.

Xie Guozhong breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that he knew the Light Chaser, and continued: "There has been a big change within Bureau X. I can't trust anyone in the past. I can only leave it to you."

Before he could say anything more, he said urgently: "I must have been noticed when I showed up. I will lead people away first, and you can find an opportunity to leave."

Ji Xun nodded: "Yeah."

 Looking again, the man in the trench coat had disappeared.

 (End of this chapter)