The Post Sky Tipping Era

The abandoned building interior was dim, brightened only briefly by the light shining in as they passed windows.

The air was filled with a rotten, moldy smell.

In the deadly silent hallway, the faint dripping sound of water echoed, "drip, drip."

As soon as everyone entered, they inexplicably felt a chill, as if the surrounding temperature had suddenly dropped several degrees, and it was eerily quiet except for the echoing footsteps.

"Crow's information said that what we're looking for is on the second basement level of this building, which used to be the parking garage. But because the building has been damaged, the only confirmed entrances and exits to the underground parking are two places: one is the safety stairs on the east side, and the other is the elevator shaft in Zone B1."

"For us, there's actually only one entrance and exit, which is the safety stairs on the east side. The elevator shaft isn't practical; we're all ordinary people, and climbing the elevator shaft is too dangerous and slow. So, I hope everyone remembers the escape route clearly, because if an accident occurs and you get lost on the second basement level, it means you're not far from death,"

"Crow's new information says that danger will appear on the first basement level, but because we're ordinary people, we can probably avoid the dangers on the first level. So the real lethal danger is on the second level, and the closer we get to a certain source, the greater the danger,"

Wei Li, a doctor, continued talking as he walked.

His tone was steady, his articulation clear, and his expression very serious.

"I say we just wander around the first basement level and then head back. Wouldn't picking up fifty thousand yuan for nothing be sweet?" Zhang Kaiwen's eyes shifted as he came up with a perfunctory plan.

Li Yi immediately said, "The other party has already anticipated this. That mysterious woman who activated the Spirit Medium is probably already watching us. If we brush this off, she'll probably have us killed the moment we leave this building."

"I've heard that people who have activated the Spirit Medium can see things that normal people can't. I don't know if it's true or not, but if it is, then we are definitely under surveillance, so your proposal isn't very practical," Liu Yan said softly.

"A bunch of cowards, it's shameful to work with you. We have the opportunity to enter the second basement level; it's a chance given by fate to compete for the Mysterious Object. After obtaining the Mysterious Object, what are two million yuan? I want that woman outside to kneel before me, knock her head on the ground three times, and then lick my shoes clean,"

Wang Hu spoke out, without hiding his inner thoughts or avoiding the topic.

But no one objected to his words.

Who doesn't want to change their destiny deep down?

"Hey, you're right, my life isn't worth much. Since we're risking it, we might as well go all out. Even getting the fifty thousand yuan won't change much. But if I do get a Mysterious Object, I'll be one of the big players in the world, changing my fate forever," Zhang Kaiwen was influenced by Wang Hu's ideas and immediately changed his perspective.

"If I get the Mysterious Object, even if I choose to hand it over directly, I could enter Golden Academy and completely change my fate," said Liu Yan under her breath.

Li Yi, listening to their conversation, couldn't help but be moved.

Because they were right.

Earning this money would only solve the immediate financial needs. His parents as Silent Ones required better medical pods and nutrition fluids to sustain life. The future expenses would be enormous, and fifty thousand yuan would be a drop in the ocean. Moreover, he lacked skills, background, or any Cultivation talents.

If he could really obtain the Mysterious Object, everything could change.

Yet, despite his yearning, rationality told him that there might not even be a Mysterious Object here, only perils lurking in the darkness—all greed would do is lead to an untimely, innocent death.

After a brief conversation, the group had ventured deeper into the collapsed building and soon spotted the staircase leading to the underground parking garage.

The stairs descended, and the darkness intensified, feeling like a deep abyss, unsettling to all.

Everyone immediately turned on the flashlights Crow had prepared for them beforehand.

As the flashlights came on, they dispelled much of the surrounding darkness.

After surveying the area and seeing nothing abnormal, the five of them proceeded down the stairs toward the second level of the parking garage.

Along the way, everyone was cautious, even intentionally muffling the sound of their footsteps on the stairs, fearing they might disturb something lurking in the darkness.

Everything seemed smooth, with no danger apparent.

The group reached the first basement level.

But they didn't linger since Crow had already scouted the first basement level. Although it was dangerous, there was nothing valuable there. They encountered danger and mishaps on the second level during previous entrances, which all ended in failure with severe losses.

Therefore, the task of Li Yi and the others was to start their exploration from the second basement level.

However, as they continued down the stairs, Wang Hu at the forefront suddenly stopped in his tracks.

As the light shone forward,

the darkness cleared, and there on the stair lay a corpse. Its skin was pale, emitting an aura of death, its neck stiff, and its head tilted back in an odd pose. Its arms were rigidly lifted in midair, as if it struggled to escape from the parking garage behind but had perhaps been targeted by something and ended up dying here horrendously.

Wang Hu spoke, "That's just our luck—a dead body."

Zhang Kaiwen, unmoved, crossed calmly over the body and continued forward.

The others briefly examined then cautiously avoided the body before following behind Wang Hu.

But then, Wei Li suddenly said in a low voice, "There's something off about that body."

"It's just a dead body, what are you scared of?" Zhang Kaiwen retorted.

"Don't forget, I'm a doctor, I've encountered far more bodies than you. I noticed something about that body just now, it had no livor mortis, nor signs of decay, which doesn't make sense. Also, the place where the body just appeared is off. It doesn't look like it died on the stairs initially, it seemed as if someone moved it there," Wei Li said earnestly.

"Wei Li, you should have said that earlier," Zhang Kaiwen said and immediately shone his flashlight back at the body.

He wanted to check if the body was indeed as Wei Li stated, problematic.

But soon, he froze.

The body they had just seen... was gone.

"The body, it's gone," Zhang Kaiwen's eyes widened. "Are you joking? It was right there just a moment ago, could it have just gotten up and walked away on its own?"

Seeing the empty stairs, everyone suddenly felt a wave of dread.

"Perhaps that wasn't a dead body, but a ghost. Do not forget what Crow previously mentioned—this building is haunted, and that's why they dare not venture down to the second basement level."

Li Yi's face looked very grim as he stated this horrifying reality.

They had most likely encountered a ghost.

"Did you know, originally, our world didn't have ghosts, it was after the Sky Tipping event that the legends of ghosts were proven true. However, ghosts can only exist in certain areas because they too need a certain force to sustain themselves, otherwise they dissipate. The presence of ghosts here implies there's something powering them," Li Yi explained.

After briefly being frightened, Liu Yan revealed a bit of excitement: "That source might very well be the Mysterious Object."

"What are we waiting for? Mere filthy things, how could they scare me off?" Wang Hu strode towards the second basement level.

"Defying fate depends on today. I, Zhang Kaiwen, am just short of this chance to turn things around. What is there to fear about ghosts? Poverty is scarier."

Zhang Kaiwen grinned, recklessly following him, oblivious to the hidden dangers.

Li Yi took a deep breath and followed without hesitation.

Liu Yan and Wei Li also did not hesitate.

At this point, there was no possibility of backing down.

Soon.

They entered the second basement level.

However, the condition here was nothing like what they had envisioned.

The ground was covered with thick mud, on which grew many unknown, withering yellow wild grasses that emitted faint glows in the darkness, appearing from afar like ghostly will-o'-the-wisps scattered about. Structures that resembled ancient derelict village houses, nearly all wooden and half-collapsed, freckled the area. These houses looked ancient, nothing like modern design.

If it weren't for the many half-buried wrecked cars around them, they might have thought they stumbled into a strange world.

"Let's split up; survival or finding the Mysterious Object depends on personal ability now," Zhang Kaiwen said, then advanced in a chosen direction without looking back.

"That makes sense," Wang Hu looked around and chose a direction too.

"This place is very dangerous; perhaps it would be better to stay together," Li Yi thought briefly before speaking up.

Smiling slightly, Wei Li responded, "Young man, you should understand, it's okay if none of us find the Mysterious Object, but if we do, conflicts will arise if we stick together, no one wants to be backstabbed. It's better for everyone if we split up, at least we can save face."

Having said that, he too left.

Liu Yan, without uttering a word and after hesitating briefly, also started to act alone.

Soon.

The team of five quickly fell apart, each going their own way.