Chapter 776 【Celestial Phenomena: A Track That Follows Like a Shadow】, Ruined City World

Day 165 of the Wasteland Calendar.

Yu Yuan arrived at the Starry Sky Observatory early.

He looked toward the Starry Sky Realm with a trace of anticipation.

“I wonder what effect this Celestial Phenomena Card will have this time.......”

Starlight descended and, under the influence of the Starry Sky Realm, coalesced into a silver-white card.

Yu Yuan sighed softly and picked it up.

The moment he saw the card’s information, he paused in surprise.

“Hm?”

【Celestial Phenomena Card: A Track That Follows Like a Shadow】

Quality: Silver

Function: Use this card while in the same world, silently recite the name, title, or distinguishing mark of a creature, and you will appear beside it.

---

The card’s effect was simple and clear.

Yet Yu Yuan’s eyes lit up.

If used well, this card might produce some unexpected results.

“Not bad!”

Yu Yuan was about to head to the Hidden Library when he received a message from Quis.

【Quis: Leader, we’ve come across a Gold-tier creature lead at the Myriad Nations Bathhouse. A traveler claims to have seen one...】

After Yu Yuan drew a Gold-tier Conquest Card, he made preparations on several fronts. Searching for traces of Gold-tier creatures was one of them.

The Myriad Nations Bathhouse had naturally become an important intelligence-gathering point.

Originally, it had just been one of his idle moves, and he hadn’t expected much from it.

He hadn’t imagined they would actually get a result.

【Wolf Den · King: Good. Do we have the intelligence?】

【Quis: Not yet....... She entered the bathhouse to seek emergency refuge. She wants to use this information to gain our civilization’s help, and she has a request.】

Yu Yuan considered this in silence.

The Myriad Nations Bathhouse did indeed offer emergency refuge. When Downtrodden Travelers encountered danger, they could return to the bathhouse for Limited Refuge.

But this refuge came at a price.

In theory, the information alone would be enough in exchange for refuge. But since Quis had brought the matter to Yu Yuan, the situation was clearly not that simple.

【Wolf Den · King: Is her request going to be troublesome?】

【Quis: She wants to speak with you in person, and guarantees that the Gold-tier creature intelligence is absolutely genuine and reliable.】

【Wolf Den · King: I see... Understood. Keep her there. I’ll be over shortly.】

Yu Yuan was also curious about what request this Downtrodden Traveler would make.

But intelligence on a Gold-tier creature was important to him, too.

There was no harm in hearing her terms before deciding.

For now, though, the most important thing was to check today’s Civilization Ladder publication.

He entered the Hidden Library.

No intelligence cards had refreshed today, but Yu Yuan wasn’t disappointed.

He opened the Civilization Ladder publication. After seeing the first piece of intelligence, he smiled and began reading carefully.

A long while later, Yu Yuan let out a long breath, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

The Eternal Frozen Tyrant had already picked up the Corruption Source’s presence and narrowed its location down to the Bronze Rank Star Tracks region. It was currently working to confirm the exact position.

The Eternal Frozen Tyrant had realized that the Green Forest World was not far away.

Yu Yuan’s caution had been justified.

On the Virtual Light Screen, the disguise authenticity of the Eternal Frozen Tyrant had increased by another 5.1%.

He was one step closer to seizing the Ice Faith.

-

Myriad Nations Bathhouse.

Yu Yuan met the Downtrodden Traveler.

She appeared to be human, but her left hand and right leg were both mechanical, driven by gears and hydraulic rods.

Her wheat-colored skin did little to conceal her formidable presence.

She had a distinctly steampunk air about her.

Noticing someone approaching, she turned her head and fixed them with a wary, icy gaze. Only when she saw Quis following beside Yu Yuan did a glimmer of understanding pass through her eyes.

Then she turned her gaze back to Yu Yuan and scrutinized him.

Yu Yuan was surprised.

She had shaved her head and bore quite a few scars, but none of that could hide her appearance.

She was also Silver-tier.

“I’m the owner here. I heard you have a lead on a Gold-tier creature?”

Yu Yuan sat down opposite the woman.

The woman stared at him for several seconds before slowly nodding.

“A Gold-tier burrowing sandworm, 120 meters long. It can burrow underground, travel beneath the soil, spray acid, and create sandstorms.”

Yu Yuan raised an eyebrow and looked at her in surprise.

“You know quite a lot. How about telling me what it’ll take to get those coordinates from you?”

At his words, hatred and pain flashed through the woman’s eyes.

“I can give you the coordinates, but....... I have one request...” She looked at Yu Yuan.

“When you go to that world, take me with you.”

Yu Yuan frowned at the woman, his expression thoughtful.

Soon, his brows relaxed, and he said slowly,

“Fine, but I decide how you’ll be taken there. And once we’re inside, you can’t interfere with our operation. Otherwise...”

The woman nodded emphatically without the slightest hesitation, speaking with barely contained urgency.

“No problem. As long as you take me back, I absolutely won’t interfere with your operation. Afterward... if I’m still alive, I can pledge my loyalty to you.”

Yu Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had caught one word in the woman’s statement: back.

He waved a hand.

“We can talk about loyalty later. For now, can we discuss that Gold-tier creature?”

“Of course...”

A long while later.

Yu Yuan left the Myriad Nations Bathhouse and returned to the Civilization War Fortress Square.

He looked at the Civilization Teleportation Gate, deep in thought.

Before long, the portal opened, and Xiao Xi and Hogg hurried over.

Then came the Pioneering Group Soldiers, led by Alpha.

“Leader.......”

Yu Yuan glanced back at everyone. Every member of the Pioneering Group who had come this time was Bronze Rank, and Alpha had already received the first batch of Arnold Virus-Enhanced Serum, becoming a Silver-tier Lifeform.

“I’ve got a lead on a Gold-tier creature. Our goal this time is to find it, then take it down.”

At his words, Xiao Xi, Hogg, and Alpha all trembled with excitement.

Xiao Xi most of all. A dazzling, intimidating gleam lit her eyes.

A Gold-tier creature was her hope of advancing.

Hogg was just as excited. His requirements for advancing to Gold-tier were even harsher: he had to defeat a Gold-tier creature on his own.

It would be ideal to fight one now and gain experience.

And if he could absorb the Gold-tier creature’s blood to strengthen his body, that would be perfect.

Yu Yuan smiled and began operating the system.

【Civilization Teleportation Gate coordinates anchored: Ruined City World. Transmission countdown.......】

The transmission announcement made Xiao Xi pause. She turned to look at Yu Yuan.

“That’s right. The Gold-tier creature is in Ruined City...” Yu Yuan’s voice held a trace of emotion.

Ruined City was a world he had known about ever since he was at Rock Rank.

Both the Epic Heavy Hammer in his possession and the original armor that served as the prototype for his Destiny Armor came from Ruined City.

Yu Yuan was curious, too, about what kind of world it was.

When the transmission countdown ended, the portal opened.

The group entered the portal and disappeared.