Over the past two days, word had been secretly spreading that Yang Zicang would be taking people into City 11.

Many people scrambled to get to Hub Town, hoping to visit the two Prism Group leaders. But, of course, they couldn’t meet Morrie.

To avoid any potential strange dangers, Yang Zicang instructed Boboli not to let Morrie leave that villa and absolutely not to see any outsiders.

As for Xu Aiyuan’s place, there was likewise a steady stream of visitors.

Had it not been for someone holding him back, the deputy mayor of Hub Town would have personally gone to the Lost-Frequency Land. That would surely have become breaking news for those spot-reporting journalists.

“That Rose Creek woman got the upper hand again.”

Inside that drafty wooden shack, two people watched the figure wrapped in a blanket huddling nearby for warmth for magic crystals.

“That first guy who simped for the cursed blade got thrown away after nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years. If he could sense this from the heavens, I wonder if he’d cry.”

“You bastard, how do you manage to twist everything that comes out of your mouth?”

“Aren’t we supposed to be discussing how to get into City 11? Why are we gossiping?”

“Discussing my ass. You’re dreaming.”

The man pursed his lips. “I wonder if this Yang Zicang will manage to get a piece of the fat in the Frequency Lost Zone. I’m worried for the kid, really—that woman’s methods are way too sharp.”

“Ah, well, that’s true. Nothing to do with us. Getting wind of the news already means we’ve got some clout in the Condensation Wind Shantytown,” the other chimed in.

……

At the A-class Crossland, Xiao Yushan, disconnected from the link, spoke with a hint of excitement.

“Alexander said we can have two free slots to enter City 11. We need to figure out who should go.”

The people gnawing on their dry rations immediately burst into coughs. Though their isolated urban island had existed for ten months, no team had yet managed to venture deep inside, let alone reach the actual City 11.

“Yang Zicang can go straight to the center of City 11?”

“Captain Xiao, you’re not joking, are you?”

Xiao Yushan nodded excitedly. “It’s absolutely true.”

The other end of City 25.

A group of people with hair colors ranging from golden blonde to dark brown, and all sorts of complexions, gathered inside a manor-like building.

“The qualification to directly enter City 11—Morrie leaked it again.”

“He’s too valuable. We should get him into our team.”

“But he stays in Hub Town and won’t come out. What do we do?”

The group looked toward the young man to the left of the black man at the center.

“Niccolo, do you have a way?”

Upon hearing this, the young man with thick, jet-black hair narrowed his deep, piercing dark eyes. He flexed his olive-toned, sturdy arm, a streak of silvery-white flash flickering at his fingertips.

“I heard Morrie’s missing fiancée is named Julia.”

Their eyes lit up.

“A fiancée? If we knew what she looked like, we could try to find her.”

Niccolo thought deeply for a moment.

“Find someone who can do criminal sketching, and a plastic surgeon.”

The others exchanged glances—some shuddered, while others were overjoyed.

“Right! That’s the plan!”

The burly black man in the main seat slapped Niccolo hard on the shoulder.

“Once we know what she looks like, never mind one Julia—I can find five or ten Julias for him, hahaha!”

Niccolo gave a wordless smile, his body swaying slightly with the heavy hand on his shoulder.

……

In the rosy morning light of City 23,

“They’re bringing people straight into the real City 11?!”

Cheng Yunze shot up from his chair, his expression stern.

This news cast a haze of gloom over the Four-Phase Team, who had been brimming with confidence for the year-end ranking battle.

A burly man said solemnly, “Our greatest advantage was the Virtual Zero Chrono Weapon, but unexpectedly, they have obtained one too. How in the world did That Guy manage that?”

“A city that fails in the ranking challenge has to be re-ranked after all the winners. If we fail, we might drop to the thirty-something range or lower.”

“Absolutely not!” Cheng Yunze slammed his hand onto the chair back, snapping it off instantly. “We need to go in there again and secure more Virtual Zero weapons!”

Everyone shrank back. Cheng Yunze issued orders with authority:

“Zhang Quantou, Jiajia, and Bai Xiaoshou—you three come with me to the island. We’ll clear the way. The rest of you, immediately start preparing for the mobilization into the city.”

The three of them nodded obediently and remained silent.

Cheng Yunze had never been this furious before.

Although City No. 41’s ranking had tied with his own city overnight, he never truly believed they could threaten him and had initially dismissed them entirely.

But not long after, that Yang Zicang stirred up trouble in the lands of signal loss.

As the other party’s trump cards were continuously revealed, Cheng Yunze felt some pressure—but only pressure. No matter how formidable Yang Zicang was, he was just one person. Even if he had a fully subdued psychic demonic nightmare, Cheng Yunze was not afraid of him.

And now, that guy had actually gone to City No. 11! It was a top-secret that even the lowest-ranked cities weren’t qualified to hear about. Not only did he go there himself, but he could also directly bring people inside!

“That godforsaken 41st City, alone, has barely any Chrono Weapons to speak of. This Yang Zicang… Looks like we’ll need to seriously plan for the year-end ranking battles.”

“He must be using that despicable superstar train again.”

During the morning meeting, everyone exclaimed in frustration.

They all clearly understood that a divine weapon like the “Virtual Zero Chrono Weapon” had evidently lost its value in turning the tables and determining the final outcome.

Cheng Yunze led a team of one woman and two men onto the path leading toward the island.

Upon the azure waves, the large ship braved the wind and waves. A woman named Jiajia gazed at the distant ripples ahead. She appeared youthful and beautiful, but bore an air of weathered experience.

Ning Jiajia turned her head and said, “Captain Yunze, isn’t that Yang Zicang reliant on his psychic abilities? Faced with those Bound Spirits, he should be at a disadvantage, shouldn’t he?”

“Which is very likely the reason he seeks out others.”

The woman fell silent.

Bai Xiaoshou was a slender young man wearing a pair of glasses, with a gaunt, skeletal structure to his face. At that moment, the model on his chest flashed continuously. Though his eyes looked ahead, his focal point was not upon the lake, clearly directing his attention elsewhere.

“It’s said that Morrie of the Park Myung Group is an exceptionally powerful Timeline Manager. Captain, since we have a chance to enter City 11 this time, we should rub shoulders with Yang Zicang’s people and see if they’re truly as formidable as the legends say. After all, Yang Zicang has come close to death several times; we have no reason to fear him.”

The remaining burly man, with his skin weathered and tanned from the sun, also chimed in:

“From the intelligence I’ve gathered, although Yang Zicang is formidable, he is definitely not strong enough to go head-to-head with a Defender. As long as his strength remains within this range, we can’t possibly fail.”

“Right.” Chen Yunze, standing at the bow of the boat, nodded perfunctorily.

Sensing the weight of the captain’s thoughts, Bai Xiaoshou looked up and chuckled:

“Captain, at worst, at the end of the year, we’ll assign him a tough battleground. Then we gather some masters and enter an A-level Confluence Zone, making it extremely difficult and summoning the Shadows. That way, the top team from City 41 will definitely be unable to complete it. As long as they fail all the way, they can’t even think about taking our place.”

Remembering the privilege of being a city that accepts challenges and can designate trials, Chen Yunze felt slightly more at peace.

“That’s right—that’s our last card.”

His face regained a composed expression, and he said with a soft laugh:

“But if Yang Zicang manages to get his hands on the Virtual Zero Sequence Weapon this time, combined with that long-range spear he wields, the A-level Confluence Grounds that keep giving us headaches might not be so tough for him anymore.”

“That spear is way too broken—I didn’t think much of it before, but the more I consider it, the more terrifying it becomes.”

“Yeah, and…” Chen Yunze let out a long breath: “Don’t forget the invisible model he can swap into on hand. Pair that with the Chrono Blade, and it’s way too difficult to counter—this is what truly worries me.”

All three fell silent.

Bai Xiaoshou said without hesitation, “The model probably hasn’t been used yet. If they release a monster that can turn invisible by the end of the year for the rankings, I’d rather we just lose it all.”

Ning Jiajia seemed to want to say something but held back, finally speaking up: “Maybe we could try to win him over and offer him some benefits.”

Cheng Yunze turned his head to look at the woman: “Jiajia, you may have the boldness of ambition that refuses to be confined by petty details, but don’t underestimate Yang Zicang. Don’t even mention winning him over.”

Zhang Quantou suddenly let out a slight chuckle.

“Now what are you laughing at?” Bai Xiaoshou turned his head.

“We’ve been saying so much, but don’t forget that the last time we successfully entered City 11 was still back at the beginning of the year.”

……

“Cheng Yunze has set foot on the island!”

A boat drifting across the lake mass, peddling daily living supplies, had spotted the Four-Phase Team’s vessel making its way over to the island. As the beginning of the month arrived, more teams showed up on the island, and this kind of supply ship correspondingly multiplied.

Jiang Junyi of the Longteng group dragged his longsword across the ground, splitting open a patch of broken rocks and picking up the demon crystal beneath.

A strand of communication light flickered over.

“Mm, I see.”

Having received the news, Jiang Junyi cut the link, then turned his gaze to the group members beside him.

“Cheng Yunze is here. Let’s go pick him up.”

On the other side, Chen Bin, the captain of the Shexin group, also made his way toward the edge of the island.

The scorching sun shone brightly as blue ripples spread across the lake surface.

The bow of the ship nudged against the sandy shore beside the mudbank, and Ning Jiajia stepped onto the gravel-and-sand ground of this fragmented island along with Cheng Yunze.

At least twenty to thirty people had already gathered around, like courtiers awaiting their monarch, greeting the arrival of the Four-Phase Team’s captain.

“Captain Yunze.”

“Brother Cheng.”

“Sister Ning. Mr. Bai, Mr. Zhang.”

The crowd stepped forward eagerly, and someone even opened an umbrella.

“Give it to Jiajia.”

Cheng Yunze pushed away the umbrella handle extended toward him.

The person flashed a flattering smile, then moved behind to hold the umbrella over the gracefully composed woman. The oppressive heat of the sun was immediately blocked by the shade.

Ning Jiajia’s chin involuntarily lifted slightly.

She relished this feeling. Even if these people weren’t welcoming her specifically, as long as she stood next to this figure, she could naturally shine—like a star beside the moon, equally captivating.

Under the sunlight, Cheng Yunze said:

“No need for formalities. I’ve come this time to re-enter the 11th City. Everyone, in the past two months, have you found any easier routes?”