His heart, once strong, now seemed to have only one final breath remaining, beating slowly, maintaining the last bit of life.

Wen Yan cupped his hands, having nothing left to say. There was truly a reason why people could unlock the War God profession.

When there was a chance to fight, this guy really risked his life.

As for the final outcome, Zhang Xuewen didn't get a chance to say, and Wen Yan didn't really want to ask anymore.

Brother Ye next door routinely came to ask Wen Yan when he could go home.

Wen Yan said, "I've booked your ticket, you can leave now."

Brother Ye was slightly taken aback, opened his mouth, and asked nothing.

Wen Yan had told him before that he had been asking when he could go home, and that invisible being was coaxing Brother Ye to go back to Xiao Xiang County, so Wen Yan let Brother Ye come and ask twice a day.

Whenever Wen Yan told him he could go home, he would go back, everything as usual, without worrying about anything else.

Brother Ye didn't ask much either, fearing that if he found out, that thing inside him might also know.

Wen Yan found someone to escort Brother Ye to the high-speed rail station and entered using his ID card.

As for Wen Yan, holding onto Zhang Xuewen, who would cough blood with each movement and whose clothes were stained with blood, he went to the basement to light incense for the bigshots there.

"Grandma, I'm going out for a fight, sorry to trouble you this time, please bless me that this guy doesn't die today."

Then he went to the nameless tablet and lit three sticks of incense.

"Bless me so that everything goes smoothly. When I return, I'll cook some meat for the whole family, simmered slowly until the oil is bright and clear, the meat isn't tough, but tender and fresh, perfect as a sauce or in a bun..."

As he said this, Wen Yan himself began to crave it. After placing the incense, he saluted, picked up a hat, put it on Zhang Xuewen, and took him away.

Walking inside the Nether Path, Netherworld Avenue became slightly wider.

The sound of running water beneath the Big Intersection became more distinct, and what was originally a three-forked road was now apparently turning into a crossroads.

Only here, the width extending outward was slightly wider compared to other places, resembling an emergency parking lane suddenly widened on a highway.

Standing here, the sound of water was even more obvious.

Wen Yan listened and asked Tong Si, who said nothing could be seen yet; the road was just expanded a little, not yet truly stretched out.

At the same time, in the Scorching Sun Department's technical division, a group had been working overtime, taking shifts for two days, eating and living inside the department.

In the western Xiao Xiang County, within the mountains, fire-fighting helicopters executing tasks were patrolling the area.

In some places, tasks were completed, and orderly withdrawals had begun.

Don't ask why, just say it's to prevent wildfires, or that temperatures have dropped rapidly to de-ice high voltage power lines.

Ask any further, and they'll call in the meteorological bureau.

Wen Yan, carrying Zhang Xuewen, crossed the Nether Path and arrived at Xiao Xiang County.

Reaching the place, outside the Desolate Tomb, only Feng Yao was there, dressed in tactical gear, carrying the laptop bag he never parted with, waiting quietly.

"Ready?"

"Ready, just waiting for you."

"Efficiency is truly high."

"Haha, it's really not easy to pull out a free squad of experts who fight Great Demons head-on.

But if you need experts in other fields, pulling out an enhanced regiment within three hours isn't too hard."

"Great, consider it an experiment then."

Wen Yan took out a box and handed it to Feng Yao.

Then made a call to Lord Zhu.

"Hello, Lord Zhu, I really need your help with something, some manpower."

"Oh, tell me, how much do you need?" Lord Zhu's eyes lit up, thinking Wen Yan was truly loyal, needing manpower just two days after he mentioned it.

"How many reliable ones do you have?"

Hearing this, Lord Zhu immediately waved at the Ghosts around him, stood up, and went to the backyard.

"Is it a confidential matter? Reliable in terms of character and ability; those might not be particularly many, are you in a rush?"

"I need them today."

"Then probably only two or three hundred who are absolutely reliable, capable, tight-lipped, and will never hesitate, even if ordered to jump into a fire pit."

"It doesn't need to be to that extent, just tight-lipped, it's okay to be a bit chaotic, just to make up the numbers. How many can you get?"

"This..." Lord Zhu hesitated, hard to say.

"A big event for the Scorching Sun Department, just like hiring extras, just let me know."

"Would three thousand be enough?" Lord Zhu tentatively suggested a number.

"Almost."

"Then... five thousand?"

"Still feels a bit lacking."

"Hiss... what are you planning, needing so many Ghosts?"

Lord Zhu was greatly shocked, initially thinking Wen Yan just needed a few to run errands or act as bodyguards.

Never expected Wen Yan to take the matter seriously as he exaggeratedly asked for several thousand. Even though each Ghost might not have significant achievements, each could undoubtedly etch a record once.

A record of being temporarily recruited by the Scorching Sun Department, making things much easier afterward.

This breakthrough from zero to one, even from zero to zero point zero one, holds different significance.

Lord Zhu gritted his teeth and said.

"Over seven thousand, I can't pin down the exact number, will inform you later."

"Then over seven thousand, by the end of today, I'll use them, someone will contact you.

Don't worry, executing this properly has its benefits.

The times have changed, my Prince, no need to worry unnecessarily."

"True..." Lord Zhu laughed, slightly relieved.

He was actually quite apprehensive, able to gather seven to eight thousand Ghosts in a day, who wouldn't ask what for, just following him to their demise.

If this were in his living years, he couldn't afford it.

Now, he still couldn't really afford, regardless of his intentions; if seven to eight thousand Ghosts gathered outside the city, it wouldn't cause much turmoil, yet he had to be cautious.

Only because Wen Yan asked; anyone else would've received only two or three hundred, no more.

On the other side, Wen Yan hung up, waiting quietly.

At midnight, crossing into the new day, Wen Yan suddenly felt the very faint heartbeat of Zhang Xuewen, which seemed about to stop, suddenly became strong again.