Oh, it was just a little bug.

Gu Li patted Irwin on the shoulder, telling him to put her down. Her nonchalant attitude seemed to have angered the insect.

The swarm of insects moving beneath the crowd stirred for a moment, as if about to surge toward them, but then forcibly restrained themselves and pulled back.

The insects continued to sacrifice themselves amidst everyone's unconscious trampling, constantly emerging to fill the gap.

In this silver hall, nearly a thousand people coexisted harmoniously with countless insects. The countless crushed insect corpses made a silent yet crisp sound, and the bursting dark green slime covered the soles of everyone's shoes.

Gu Li's gaze swept over the open gate not far away. Going out was easy, of course, but the most important thing was what these insects were trying to do, lying in their cocoons on the ground.

Irwin suddenly put his hand on her shoulder and asked hesitantly, "Is that someone you know?"

"Um?"

She followed Irwin's hand and saw a weak, helpless, and pitiful unlucky guy huddled in the crowd. His face was turning blue, and he was desperately trying to wink at her.

Ah, it's Zhang Heng.

When Zhang Heng saw that Gu Li had finally noticed him, he almost burst into tears. He tiptoed slowly around the insect corpses that were gradually piling up on the ground.

His face was contorted with despair as he spun and leaped toward Gu Li and the other man, the veins on his neck bulging with barely suppressed rage.

As soon as he reached Gu Li, he knelt down with a thud and hugged her leg, while also making sure to avoid the insects under his feet.

His tone was expressive, sentimental, extremely melancholic, and utterly obsequious: "Sister! Boss! Please save me one more time!"

A day earlier, Gu Li would have shaken off the large pendant on his leg and coldly let him climb.

After a moment's hesitation, she extended a hand to Zhang Heng, and the QR code on her wrist popped up.

"Settle the thank-you fee and protection fee. We don't accept credit. Things are negotiable."

Those who had noticed the commotion earlier scoffed. What was going on today? Asking this sickly little girl for help was less appealing than praying they wouldn't be assigned to clean up the battlefield.

"drop!"

A crisp sound of a money transfer rang out.

Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief, transferred 500,000 yuan very quickly, and then tightened his grip on the thigh with a peaceful expression.

He smiled obsequiously: "Boss, is that enough?"

Gu Li nodded as he looked at the newly arrived 500,000 yuan. He hadn't expected that he would raise 1 million yuan so quickly, even before he had started his mission.

Making money isn't that hard! (Sound of excitement)

Of course, she couldn't let her current client know this. Gu Li clenched her fist and coughed, "I think the base is about to fall into chaos. Remember to stick close to me later."

She paused after speaking, then looked at Irwin with equal favor. Seeing that he had no intention of paying protection money, she said regretfully, "Since you helped me earlier, you can come with me too."

Irwin's calm green eyes scanned Gu Li and her thigh accessory for a moment, his expression a mixture of confusion and doubt, choosing to show respect despite his lack of understanding.

Under the gaze of his sky-blue eyes, he nodded obediently.

"Thanks."

Gu Li turned around with satisfaction: "You're welcome."

Those standing around rolled their eyes. What kind of time is this to be coaxing a child?

It's pointless.

Irwin paid no attention to the stares around him. He kept an eye on the movements in the crowd. After observing for a while, his expression suddenly turned grim.

He reached out and grabbed Gu Li's arm, then gave Zhang Heng, who was getting up from the ground, a wink.

The group moved towards the gate discreetly.

Gu Li withdrew his gaze from the swarming insects and looked thoughtfully at Irwin: "What did you find?"

Irwin's green eyes were somewhat serious. He glanced at her but did not voice his guess.

He only noticed that the smell in the hall was gradually becoming fishy and murky, just like every time he... encountered an alien species.

Zhang Heng raised his hand, his face grave: "Boss, I know, I know! That's a summoning circle!"

He didn't know why others couldn't see it, but he could clearly see the pattern gradually becoming familiar!

He almost lost his life to that thing just two days ago. Before he set off, the law enforcement team hadn't even found out the cause!

No one understands summoning circles better than him! (Chest out)

A sudden realization dawned on Gu Li, and he understood where that inexplicable sense of familiarity came from. Standing at the entrance of the hall, he pulled up the photo on his communicator and compared it with the scene in front of him.

After a long pause, she murmured, "I'm afraid what's coming this time won't be anything insignificant."

With so many insect corpses that are not even considered low-level species forming an array, and a thousand people within the array being sacrificed, it is probably truly the "king" that Bai Biaozi murmured.

With the magic array in the hall nearing completion, the base had yet to realize that something was amiss, and the situation elsewhere was likely not much better.

They must leave quickly; this base is no longer safe. They need to find a way to stop that thing from descending, or... leave the base before it fully arrives.

Gu Li glanced one last time at the subtly restless crowd, then frowned and ran back the way he came, deliberately kicking the huge metal door as he passed it.

We can't openly cause too much disturbance; we should try to disperse the crowd as much as possible!

A tremendous buzzing sound echoed through the space, instantly causing even greater chaos.

None of those present had volunteered; upon seeing Gu Li leading the way, they ran out.

After a brief moment of hesitation, a small number of people rushed out.

Seeing that she was leaving so suddenly, Zhang Heng quickly shouted and followed her, "Hey! Boss, wait for me!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!