Chapter 149: Corpse At The Door, Fierce Warrior Teng Liang
“Mm.” Su Chen nodded and said, “Wei Yinshuo seems to be dead, and Meng Qi’s Corpse was taken.”
Teng Liang’s expression was strange, momentarily stunned. “Wei Yinshuo is dead?”
“Chief Judge Thunder said it. I’m not clear on the details.” Su Chen looked at his Senior Brother. “The Chief asked me to find Meng Qi.”
“I’m afraid that’s very difficult.” Teng Liang finally understood why he had come out. He frowned and said, “It’s no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.”
“Let’s fish around and see.” Su Chen didn’t mind and said, “I’m planning to access information on the Faceless Ghost. Senior Brother, coming along?”
“Let’s go.” Teng Liang was concise.
……
At the same time, in the back kitchen of the Court of Justice’s canteen, three figures gathered together. One of them was Meng Qi, who had died and come back to life.
But at this moment, his face was ashen. “The explosion at the other place happened before ours, and it was huge. The Court of Justice has already sealed off ahead of time.”
“Exactly, what happened!”
He was furious. He had finally convinced the other Strange Gods’ Followers under Ying Feng to create a big disturbance, drawing away most of the Court of Justice’s forces and creating an excellent situation.
In the end, a bizarre explosion had trapped him here again.
The other two couldn’t answer his question. Meng Qi took a deep breath. “You two disguise yourselves first and don’t stay together. Drag it out as long as you can.”
The two Faceless Ghost Followers responsible for receiving him nodded and left.
“It’s fine. As long as I get this shell, there’s still a chance. It won’t be that easy for these people to find me.” Meng Qi’s eyes flickered as his body gradually deformed into another person, and he walked out openly.
“Let’s see what’s going on first.”
This disguise couldn’t fool the Court of Justice’s detection, but fooling the human eye was still very simple.
He blended in among the Judges and soon learned some information.
“The Medical Department was attacked, and Wei Yinshuo may be dead?” After getting this news, even Meng Qi was stunned for a moment, but then he realized something.
“Someone took advantage of me grabbing the corpse to secretly sabotage!” A fierce light flashed in his eyes. “I knew it. The other Strange God Followers wouldn’t obediently follow orders. Damn it!”
………
All information related to Strange Gods in the Court of Justice was sealed in a separate server, located at the deepest part of the Court of Justice, isolated from external networks. To access it, approval from at least one Chief Judge was required.
The silver-white building in front had no visible seams on its surface, as if it were cast as a whole. Its surface was embedded with a row of dark blue flowing patterns, and the roof was a smooth dome structure with faint ripples from energy flow visible on the surface.
It wasn’t very tall, only about three meters, yet it was guarded by several Senior Judges. Chong Jingtian had already given the order, so Su Chen could naturally enter, but Teng Liang was stopped outside.
“Sorry, only you can enter.” The guard was expressionless, a Fourth Order Professional.
“Junior Brother, be careful on your own.” Teng Liang didn’t mind and just reminded Su Chen not to look too long, only what was necessary.
Su Chen stepped inside. The interior was simple. Behind an alloy table floated a Mechanical Head, emitting an emotionless voice:
“Core Seed Su Chen, temporarily granted permission to access information on the Faceless Ghost.”
Su Chen had it list all information on the Faceless Ghost and checked them one by one. He had been curious about these Strange Gods for far too long.
The information held by the Court of Justice was undoubtedly the most complete and extensive.
He flipped through it bit by bit, reading very carefully.
“…The first recorded appearance of Faceless Ghost Followers was seven hundred years ago. Follower characteristics: faceless, fond of disguising as others, integrating into others’ lives, harvesting despairing souls in the guise of loved ones…”
“…Only five hundred years ago did it truly attract the Faceless Ghost’s attention, giving birth to the first Priest…”
Seeing this, Su Chen was stunned. What did that mean?
The previous appearances of Followers had nothing to do with the Faceless Ghost?
He asked the Mechanical Head in front of him, and it pulled up a file recording the common characteristics of all Strange Gods.
“All Strange God Follower professions can unconsciously fulfill related requirements, thereby encountering the Strange God and becoming a Follower…”
“Only when the number of Strange God Followers reaches a certain threshold does it attract the Strange God’s attention, giving birth to the first Priest with the ability to truly communicate with the Strange God.”
So that’s how it is… Su Chen was inevitably surprised. Normal professions only give a sense after fulfilling requirements.
But Strange God Follower professions are different. Even without knowing the requirements, unconsciously fulfilling them creates involvement.
For example, Heituo Priest’s job appointment requirement is simply to hold reverence for it.
In other words, just learning the name Heituo could make one a Follower.
Would someone learn the name Heituo for no reason?
Su Chen thought it possible, because this planet was full of ruins.
“These Strange Gods’ true forms are even more powerful than I imagined.” Su Chen realized.
From the fragmentary records, it could be inferred that at first, the Followers on Crimson Thunder Star did not attract the Strange Gods’ attention. Only after their numbers increased did they turn their gaze.
Before turning their gaze, were these Strange Gods paying attention elsewhere?
Su Chen’s thoughts raced for a moment, but he soon reined them in. He saved the Faceless Ghost information for last and couldn’t help asking, “What about the profession information for Faceless Ghost Followers?”
“Warning: After accessing profession information for Faceless Ghost Followers, your information will be marked with a hidden ‘potential contamination’ label and subject to random checks by the Adjudication Department for Follower screening.”
This precaution is so strict… Su Chen muttered to himself. He wasn’t afraid anyway and continued checking.
A line of small text appeared on the Virtual Screen in front of him, and the Panel immediately reacted–
【Discovered special profession—Faceless Ghost Follower. Fulfill related profession requirements to job appoint.】
【Faceless Ghost Follower: Live three days in place of the original owner using a disguised identity and face.】
It’s really that simple… Su Chen couldn’t help sighing. If someone unintentionally fulfilled it for assassination or hiding purposes.
Then while sleeping at night, they might dream of the Faceless Ghost and be persuaded by its “omnipotent” divine might to job appoint.
The Strange Gods’ common trait specifically emphasized that all Strange Gods label themselves as omnipotent. In a sense, they could indeed do it—reviving loved ones, extending lifespan, and so on.
But the revived loved one might stab a knife into your chest.
Extending lifespan might turn you into a mass of mindless rotten flesh.
The information he was reading was marked every few lines in red text: never believe any promises from Strange Gods.
“With warnings like this, how could Wei Yinshuo still believe?” He couldn’t help thinking.
“Perhaps he had no choice. The Strange God Power in his body could be fatal at any time. To avoid death, he could only believe those illusory promises.”
As he was thinking, the Panel popped up again–
【The Faceless Ghost cowers under the might of the Crimson Flame Thunder Great Venerable, not daring to move. The Priest steps forward and absorbs it.】
【Priest gains new disguise option—Faceless Ghost Priest】
A simple description highlighting the pitiful state of the Faceless Ghost Follower. By the end, it had been completely devoured.
“It can directly disguise as a Priest. I thought it would just be a Follower.” Su Chen was quite surprised, but this was even better.
“Whoever controls Meng Qi, if it’s something like the thing in Wei Yinshuo’s body, should sense it.”
That was his idea: obtain the Faceless Ghost Follower job appointment method from the Court of Justice, then directly lock on.
But this definitely wasn’t the place to try. Su Chen turned and left.
Teng Liang was still waiting outside. Seeing him come out, he carefully scrutinized his expression before lowering his voice: “Strange Gods take pleasure in deception. Never develop curiosity toward them, and don’t think they’ll fulfill any of your requests.”
“Don’t worry, Senior Brother.” Su Chen understood what Teng Liang was worried about.
Seeing no abnormality in Su Chen, Teng Liang turned to ask, “Any ideas for finding Meng Qi?”
“Plow through the entire Court of Justice, and we’ll probably find him. Or just point somewhere on the map at random, and maybe we’ll find him.” Su Chen shrugged.
Teng Liang ignored Su Chen’s second half and nodded. “Reliable.”
He reminded again, “Don’t take risks yourself. That Meng Qi isn’t simple. Though he’s Third Order himself, he has other means. Even ordinary Fourth Order Professionals might not be his match.”
“I know.” Su Chen nodded. For this open thief-hunt against a named enemy, he naturally wouldn’t take risks.
Go back, switch states, sense the location, then find some excuse to drag Teng Liang along, and be done with it.
By now, nightfall had completely darkened, but the entire Court of Justice was brightly lit, with armed Patrol Teams everywhere on the roads.
Su Chen used the excuse of too much consumption from afternoon training and went back to replenish some nutrition.
Teng Liang naturally wouldn’t stop him and even told him to rest well. He’d handle assigning personnel. He really didn’t want him to take risks.
Su Chen first went to the Adjudication Department for a Follower screening and filing.
The process was simple. Specialized Mental Side Professionals used a certain instrument to detect nearly a hundred people at once for Strange God contamination.
It was done in under a minute.
Back at his residence, Su Chen entered the Gravity Chamber, closed the door, and his entire body gradually concealed into the Spatial Layer while switching to the new Faceless Ghost Priest state.
His facial features seemed to melt into water, gradually dissolving into formlessness, but Su Chen himself felt nothing.
At the same time, several sensations appeared from all directions, some strong and some weak.
“They’ve really been cleaned up a lot. Far fewer than when I became a Heituo Priest.” Su Chen couldn’t help thinking. As he was about to carefully identify them, his expression gradually changed.
Because one sensation was extremely clear and strong, and most crucially, very close to him.
“Right outside?” His expression became extremely colorful as he canceled the disguise.
“Waiting for me to come back and then show up at the door? It’s targeted me because I’m Teng Liang’s Junior Brother, to avenge being exposed by Teng Liang?”
Or for other reasons, Su Chen immediately opened his Bracelet and sent a message to Teng Liang.
……
Thud! Thud! Thud!
At the door, the Judge disguised as Meng Qi lowered his knocking hand, his expression calm.
The people here probably all thought he was panicking and hiding. No one would think he’d dare act so openly.
Being trapped in the Court of Justice put him in an extremely tricky situation. This shell couldn’t perfectly disguise as others yet, and he’d likely be discovered in the end.
“Even if this shell is wasted, it has to be worth it.” The disguised Judge’s expression was calm. Coming to find Su Chen wasn’t just to avenge being exposed by Teng Liang last time.
He was also very curious why this guy had been targeted by Heituo, even issuing a command to Followers on this planet to get him at any cost.
“Perhaps I can use this guy to preserve the shell. His status isn’t low.”
As he was thinking, his expression suddenly froze, and he looked suspiciously at the door in front of him. In that instant, he had sensed a familiar aura from the villa.
Even if only for a moment, he was certain it was unmistakable.
“How could there be a Follower’s aura in Su Chen’s residence? Who’s hiding here?”
For a moment, he was baffled.
The sudden change left him uncertain. He originally planned to turn and leave to figure out the situation first.
But then, a click came from in front as the door opened.
Su Chen looked at the Judge in front of him with feigned confusion. “Who are you?”
Meng Qi could only proceed with the original plan and said, “Your Excellency Su Chen, I’m Luo Bin. We’ve found some clues about the Research Department incident.”
“I see…” Su Chen looked thoughtful. “Come in and talk.”
Meng Qi hesitated slightly but still followed Su Chen inside. No matter the situation just now, preserving his shell was most important.
“Let’s hear it.” Su Chen casually walked toward the fridge, as if to get water.
“…It’s like this. We traced a few lab personnel who weren’t supposed to be on duty today…” As he spoke, he paced forward, staring intently at Su Chen’s back, a cold light in his eyes.
“Wait…” Su Chen suddenly turned around. Meng Qi paused, but saw him tilting his head as if listening. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Meng Qi was baffled. The two were already close enough.
But there was indeed a faint rumbling sound in his ears.
The next moment
Boom!
The house door exploded. The thick solid wood door shattered into fragments with a piercing crack, tearing open the surrounding walls. The fragments sprayed like shotgun pellets under the fierce airflow, shooting in all directions.
A violent pressure wave hit head-on like a solid iron hammer, slamming the living room sofa and coffee table hard against the wall.
In the storm, a thick bronze metal arm reached out, compressing the air around it into a semi-transparent shockwave. Wherever it passed, it left a brief vacuum channel, with airflow madly swirling on both sides into milky white vortices.
Su Chen couldn’t help narrowing his eyes. Meng Qi’s pupils contracted, seeing only the familiar large hand pressing down.
Boom!
His entire body was smashed into the floor and then into the ground, utterly powerless to resist.
“Teng… Liang!”
Meng Qi roared inwardly. It was this brute again!
In the dust, the giant’s outline was extremely oppressive. He was half-crouched, his shoulder having smashed half the second-floor floor. His giant eyes were full of cold indifference, and his thick arm exerted slight force.
Bang!
With a muffled sound like a watermelon bursting, Meng Qi’s head exploded, red and white matter flying chaotically, followed by his body with the sound of bones being crushed, smashed into a pile of mush.
