They will only hide, accumulate strength, and wait for the opportunity to "strike."

And without a doubt...

In this regard, Chen Zaikun almost did his best.

Not to mention his several martial brothers, even Old Jin failed to notice any hint.

...

February 3, 2080, another New Year’s Eve.

On this day, the headquarters of the Equality Association located in Nest City No. 3 held their New Year’s party once again.

However... compared to the previous year, this banquet was evidently much more deserted.

Without Old Jin, without Jiang Wuji, nor Vitinya, Tang Jin, Kasima Reiko.

Even Aurora and others loyal to Yun You declined Chen Zaikun’s invitation, citing health issues.

Thus, those present were basically the diehard followers of Chen Zaikun and the officers within his legion.

These people would not raise any objections, nor speak ill of him, only flatter him... this lacked a bit of "fireworks ambiance."

However, Chen Zaikun didn’t care.

He was different from Old Jin; he never thought he did anything wrong, so he wouldn’t accept others’ opinions.

As long as there are compliments, that’s enough.

He raised a glass, walked to the window, and looked at the countless sparkling lights outside.

At this moment, Nest City No. 3 had undergone earth-shaking changes.

People lived peacefully, not only did their income increase significantly, but prices also stabilized... the construction of infrastructure allowed technological products and social services, once only available to Upper City People, now accessible to even the lowest citizens.

They no longer needed to worry about underground gangs, because the Second Legion established countless small posts in Lower City, guarding 24/7, eliminating 99% of criminal behavior.

They also didn’t need to worry about getting sick. Like the posts, convenient medical centers and automatic medical facilities appeared at almost every street corner, capable of promptly treating minor ailments or severe conditions requiring surgery, without an excessive medical expense.

Additionally, Chen Zaikun set up numerous social subsidies on the foundation of Old Jin, and reduced a lot of taxes.

It can be said, in the current Nest City No. 3, as long as a person is willing to work, willing to exert some physical strength, then, not to say how good life is... at least they can eat normal food, and rent a fairly decent little place.

A vast amount of labor was liberated, invested into new industries, so in these 4 months, merely a quarter, the total GDP of Nest City No. 3 increased by a full 12 percentage points.

This was unprecedented in the past, even when the city was newly established... it wasn’t this exaggerated.

It was precisely because of such brilliant achievements that Chen Zaikun believed he was not wrong.

Everything he did was correct and righteous.

Even if Old Jin, far away in Supreme Heaven, knew all this, he wouldn’t be afraid.

Because he always believed he was free from guilty conscience.

...

"Senior brother, the view from the mountaintop is, for you, the most exquisite frontier in the world, unmatched by any other scenery, right?"

Suddenly, a voice distinct from any flattery appeared behind Chen Zaikun.

Simultaneously, those praises and compliments gradually disappeared.

"..."

Chen Zaikun instinctively turned around, only to find that his subordinates had somehow all slumped over the table, falling asleep.

Amidst the crowd, a small figure cloaked in black stood quietly in the corner, watching him.

Chen Zaikun was slightly taken aback but quickly recognized the person’s identity.

Without a doubt.

At this very moment, the only one who can still call him senior brother is none other than junior sister and political commissar Yun You, right?

"Junior sister Yun."

Chen Zaikun grinned, put down the wine glass, and spoke softly: "Why are you and I like this? Still need masks and capes to meet?"

"I know you’ve been carrying out missions outside for over a year now, inevitably stained with some blood, feeling uneasy inside."

"If you don’t mind, feel free to take off the mask, remove the cape, that way it will be less unfamiliar."

"The estrangement between us always stems from you."

Yun You didn’t remove the cape and mask, her voice was also devoid of much emotion.

"Second senior brother, you really know how to hide yourself, even Teacher couldn’t see through your ambition."

"If we talk about patience, in this era, no one is stronger than you."

Upon hearing this slightly sarcastic remark, Chen Zaikun did not get angry, maintaining that faint smile, seemingly indifferent.

"There’s no way, Teacher was too domineering, and he didn’t like overly ambitious people."

"Beside him, even if you’re a dragon or a tiger, you must obediently lie down."

"However... Heaven indeed favored me."

Chen Zaikun sighed slightly, turned to look at a statue of Old Jin not far outside the window.

"Teacher left shortly after achieving godhood, and the boss trusted me, never guarded against me. There’s natural discord between the third and fifth siblings to exploit, while you constantly stay outside, maybe returning only once a year."

"In such circumstances, if I can’t break the impasse, then I’m not fit to stand in this position."

"..."

Yun You fell silent.

She suddenly didn’t know where to start questioning, because Chen Zaikun’s transformation was far too great...

Just half a year ago, in everyone’s eyes, Chen Zaikun was a naive and honest farmer.

He worked diligently, cared for all his martial brothers and sisters equally, willing to offer help to them unreservedly.

He was almost like... a defanged Old Jin, bringing only feelings of gentleness and thoughtfulness.

But...

How did he turn into this?

Or was he always like this from the beginning, merely wearing a mask called "honesty"?

Yun You pondered briefly before carefully asking, "Why did you kill the senior brothers?"

"Kill them?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zaikun first froze, then hurriedly waved his hand, smilingly explained: "Ah You, you misunderstood."

"Although I’m indeed interested in this position, it doesn’t mean I will act against my martial brothers who have lived with me for more than ten years because of ambition."

"I wouldn’t fall to that level."

"Then where did they go?"

Yun You furrowed her brows and pursued: "You can’t tell me they voluntarily gave up all positions, retreating into seclusion with their legions after hearing your dream, right?"

Chen Zaikun shook his head with a smile.

"No need to worry, Ah You."

As he spoke, he slowly extended his hand, gently waved, and a pale blue light emerged from his body.

This was the sight of Sur Particles being activated; he was using his Talent Ability.

Soon after, the familiar white light appeared before Yun You’s eyes.

But instead of swallowing Yun You, it formed a visible space before her.

Within this space, there’s no sky, no earth, no direction, not even boundaries between "empty" and "filled." Only pure white, despairingly so. It devoured all shadows, leveled all contours.

And within this white space, the vanished million-strong army astonishingly appeared, along with the dissenters against Chen Zaikun, Jiang Wuji, and several other martial brothers.

However, they maintained the posture of the moment they vanished, soldiers’ muscles knotted, veins bulging, arms reaching fervently towards void ahead, open mouths were silent roars, teeth and spittle clearly visible yet frozen mid-spray, forming a static matrix of human-shaped statues.

They didn’t die but were forcibly put on pause by a power beyond comprehension.

Absolute silence ruled everything, only one "existence" was the exception.

That was the "sound of waves" from the mobilization scene.

"Swish... swish... swish..."

No longer a distant blurred background, it became ubiquitous, enveloping these hundreds of static souls tenderly yet coldly.

"Cyber Space·Eternal Moment."

Chen Zaikun smiled, holding the singularity of the white glow, calmly said...

"This is my Ability."