Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1238: Star Island Uproar

For some reason, following that enigmatic feeling, Zhang Yi's mind grew remarkably serene.

An inexplicable transformation occurred within his physique, like the core of his existence had ascended to a higher level.

Yet upon his return to reality, those faint, murmuring whispers lingered persistently near his ears.

It felt as though an individual hovered intimately close, softly divulging a hidden truth.

Still, the sounds remained too vague; Zhang Yi failed to discern even one distinct phrase.

He lifted his hand to massage his brow, dismissing it merely as a lingering impact from assimilating such an enormous surge of power.

Noticing this, Lu Keran quickly approached to steady Zhang Yi.

"Brother Yi, are you okay? Such reactions are typical; I've encountered them myself."

"But they'll dissipate quickly, and you'll recover soon."

Feeling comforted, Zhang Yi replied, "Just side effects, huh? Then no problem."

Having taken in the full essence of the sacrificial spirit's power, Zhang Yi merely suffered momentary exhaustion.

To Lu Keran, he stated, "Manage the remaining procedures on your own! I need to head back and rest briefly."

Zhang Yi courteously refused Lu Keran's suggestion to escort him.

His form wasn't feeble right then; rather, it overflowed with vitality. Merely his thoughts, overwhelmed by a flood of data, swirled in disarray and craved true repose.

Lu Keran could only observe as Zhang Yi departed.

Once Zhang Yi vanished from view, she bowed her head, creased her brow, and examined her hands covered in a faint layer of hardened skin.

In the course of the trial, for precautionary measures, she had drawn in a minuscule portion of the sacrificial spirit's essence.

She recognized that sensation all too well.

And upon intake, it triggered a profoundly marvelous alteration.

It went beyond mere enhancement of a superhuman's abilities.

It involved something far more intricate and arcane.

However, at present, neither Lu Keran nor Zhang Yi had uncovered its profound mysteries.

Zhang Yi went back to his quarters and reclined upon the mattress. Gradually, he shut his eyes, aiming to restore his mental clarity.

Yet with eyes closed, the muffled mutterings beside his ears persisted undiminished.

It appeared as if a presence continued to murmur softly at his side.

Zhang Yi reopened his eyes and scanned the chamber. No other soul occupied the space.

He perched on the bed's rim and peered through the glass. Darkness enveloped the night, with the Eastern Sea stretching distantly to the southeast.

Beneath the inky sky, waves crashed relentlessly, wave upon wave.

Zhang Yi pressed hard on his nasal bridge.

"I suspect I'm ill."

He chose to ignore the auditory disturbance, shed his garments, slipped beneath the sheets, and cocooned himself snugly in the bedding.

A solid night's rest would resolve it all.

...

The following dawn, knocks roused Zhang Yi from sleep.

Upon arising, his psyche had improved substantially. The whispers in his ears had ceased entirely.

He brimmed with vigor, sensing as though his whole self had been uplifted.

Zhang Yi donned his attire, proceeded to the entrance, and swung it open.

There stood Yang Xinxin at the threshold, her face etched with gravity, addressing him:

"Brother Zhang Yi, a huge incident has unfolded at sea!"

Zhang Yi paused briefly, then uttered, "Star Island?"

Yang Xinxin affirmed with a nod.

Zhang Yi's gaze sharpened in an instant.

"So the anticipated event has at last materialized?"

The prior evening.

While Zhang Yi drifted into sleep, plagued by the insistent whispers haunting his hearing...

The vicinity spanning a hundred kilometers around Star Island had transformed into a forbidden domain long ago. Surveillance boats from the East Sea Region alongside the Columbian Navy's maritime armada monitored the adjacent waters.

This enigmatic site harbored countless enigmas. Though fraught with hazards, participants had reaped substantial rewards from it.

Risk and reward intertwined inseparably.

In spite of the threats, none desired to relinquish this invaluable asset.

But during their routine surveillance, the personnel suddenly detected an irregularity.

Star Island, eternally veiled in dense haze, commenced dispersing its vapors gradually.

From afar, over a hundred kilometers distant, and amid the nocturnal gloom, this shift wasn't instantly apparent; it even progressed languidly.

However, once spotted, the haze's dispersal accelerated dramatically.

The crew aboard the vessels promptly relayed the developments to command and hastened away from the encroaching mist's path.

"Irregularity detected on Star Island. The island's vapor is swiftly advancing across the nearby oceans. Expansion rate now approximately 40 nautical miles hourly... wait, 50, 60, 70 nautical miles—it's approaching!! No..."

This marked the last communication captured by the East Sea Region Naval Command.

Afterward, the pair of surveillance ships succumbed to the unrelenting fog, severing all links.

The top authority of the East Sea Region, Li Guangxiao, received the alert and rushed to the Tactical Control Hub, convening senior officers through the night.

Xuanwu, Qinglong, Zhuque, and the freshly installed successor Baihu all convened.

Gazing at the expansive display's orbital photos depicting the fog's outgrowth from Star Island, and meticulously reviewing the patrol signals via equipment, every face bore a somber cast.

Thankfully, ultimately, the mist extended merely around five hundred nautical miles before halting its outreach.

"That location has forever posed an underlying threat."

Li Guangxiao declared gravely.

Xuanwu removed the augmented reality device, gnawing on synthetic gum while commenting. "Should the abyssal beast lurking under Star Island surface, I fear scarce few across Huaxu Kingdom could halt its onslaught."

It had clashed with that Black-armored Strange Man previously.

And presently, the East Sea Region had formalized a designation for the Black-armored Strange Man: [Gatekeeper of the Netherworld].

Upon the Gatekeeper's debut, the formidable prowess it unveiled stunned global authorities.

Xuanwu endured only a glancing blow before being hurled aside.

Were it not for its resilient dermis and sturdy frame, Xuanwu might have sustained grave wounds.

One could readily envision that if additional such entities lurked below, the globe would falter in assembling forces to impede them.

Qinglong appeared pallid. His remaining days dwindled; the lingering wounds inside demanded constant suppression via drugs, granting him scarcely five years more.

He remarked, "Regardless of its nature, if it's a carbon-based entity, it must dread the Death Reaper of Love. For the present, it at least regards us with caution."

Li Guangxiao assented, as did surrounding senior officers.

The Death Reaper of Love stood as humankind's ultimate armament ever devised.

In their grasp lay a devastating tool poised to obliterate Star Island utterly from existence.

This instilled a modicum of confidence.

In that instant, Zhuque interjected.

"Should Star Island's Mist Valley resemble the Qinling Mountains of the Shengjing Region, then this could prove an excellent prospect for us."

Post her Shengjing return, Zhuque grappled with overwhelming strain.

Though deemed the East Sea Region's wunderkind, an Epsilon-potential superhuman.

Until achieving true Epsilon status, against figures like Zhang Yi and Li Changgong, she ranked as a mere subordinate.

And relative to them, what did she lack?

Potentially merely a single chance to access a hidden domain and claim its bounty.

Author's Note