Chapter 98: The Mysterious Building

Having successfully made it to the building discovered by the canine scouts, Wu Jue was met with yet another misfortune: the building was utterly inaccessible.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, noticing several of the earlier-arrived canines collapsed from poisoning, writhing in agony.

Pick spoke up, wary, “There’s toxic mist drifting around this building. We’ll have to find another way, or we’ll end up dead out here, unable to even get inside.”

Xun’er busied herself dispelling the poison from the affected canines, while explaining to Wu Jue, “This mist is incredibly potent—far more sophisticated than the virus of the Heaven’s Punishment clan. It seems to have been engineered with advanced technology. Whoever set this trap must be some kind of scientist.”

Her words set Wu Jue thinking, a name flickering in his mind, though he couldn't confirm it. Before he could piece it together, Luke and Pick urged him, “We need to pull back. This place is too dangerous. Maybe it’s safer to leave the city altogether.”

“To somewhere else? Do we even have any other options now?” Wu Jue glanced around, already seeing zombies converging on their position.

He drew his twin pistols and began firing at the approaching enemies, while Luke and the others followed suit, their actions swift and anxious, as they waited desperately for answers.

After dispatching a couple of zombies, Wu Jue turned back to the building, time running out, and realized he had to risk everything.

He fired a fierce shot at the building’s protective barrier, creating a massive shockwave. “I know you’re in there, Rossi—it must be you! You want to watch us die right here before your eyes. But let me tell you: this world is on the brink of collapse. Without companions, even if you guard this lonely city, you’ll end up with nothing.”

His blow left only a faint shimmer on the building’s barrier, and no one understood his outburst. Luke tugged at him in frustration, “Let’s go, Wu Jue. Give up hope. The people here are cold-blooded—they won’t care if we live or die.”

“No! I know who’s inside!” Wu Jue shouted frantically, pointing his gun at the building’s rooftop. “Rossi, I know you’re hiding in there watching us—watching our despair and breakdown. But I tell you, you’ll never win. We will survive, and we will find a way in and ruin your little dream, completely ruin it…”

“Wu Jue’s lost it! What do we do?”

“Wu Jue, snap out of it!”

Just as Luke and the others thought Wu Jue had gone mad, a gigantic screen suddenly flashed to life atop the building, displaying a familiar figure.

Rossi’s long-missed, yet strangely alien face appeared before them. His skin had turned a blue-violet hue, every hair on his face gone, revealing a frightening visage. He spoke, “Wu Jue, I really love watching you lose control. You’re so hysterical—so heartbreaking, yet so entertaining.”

“You want me to let you in, but I haven’t had enough fun yet. At least, I want to watch you get devoured by the Heaven’s Punishment clan and these disgusting zombies. Only then will my hatred be satisfied.”

Rossi laughed wildly on the screen, venting his fury at Wu Jue, enraging everyone.

Wu Jue was the first to gather his shotgun, aiming at Rossi’s floating face and firing. The shockwave distorted the image above.

Rossi’s grin grew even more twisted.

Xun’er, angered, declared, “Despicable! Watch me punish you with sorcery!” With a wave of her hand, powerful magic gathered at her fingertips, forming a potent seal that shot toward the building’s barrier.

With a thunderous explosion, a small breach was blasted open. Rossi’s image, still floating, now showed an unsightly black hole. Hope flickered in Luke and the others.

There might be a way through. Everyone opened fire, Wu Jue leading the charge. He leapt over ten meters high, thrusting his shotgun through the black hole just as it vanished.

Suspended in midair, he closed his eyes, pulled the trigger, and unleashed his formidable strength, causing a violent shockwave on the barrier.

Wu Jue’s own magical power, combined with the force of the “Great Transformation Record” and the “Bone Refining Sutra,” absorbed all the toxic mist from within the barrier into the palm of his hand.

A marvelous scene unfolded. Wu Jue’s body absorbed the powerful toxins, stimulating his blood and veins, quietly ushering him into the sixth stage of bone refinement. His bones underwent tremendous transformation.

The mist nourished his flesh, strengthening his frame without him realizing it. His body expanded, and he roared, fists and feet flailing wildly. All the secret techniques of the Forest Temple erupted without method or order, stirring the heavens and earth.

The formidable barrier collapsed, turning into a source of strength for Wu Jue. He hammered away, finally connecting and understanding all the previously ungraspable aspects of his martial arts.

In an instant, his mastery reached a new realm.

Wu Jue’s body became the ultimate tome—every Forest Temple skill etched deeply into his flesh, ready to be summoned at will.

He snapped his eyes open; Rossi’s arrogant visage vanished. The obstacles around the building disappeared.

Luke and the others, witnessing the sudden transformation, stared at him in awe and astonishment.

Wu Jue snapped his fingers. “Let’s go in.”

He strode calmly into the building, the others remaining vigilant. Xun’er muttered, “I have to find Rossi. He’s too much—after all, we were cellmates in prison. He’s not giving us any respect.”

Luke cautioned, “Be careful. Rossi reeks of toxins. Our companions have already fallen victim.”

The canine scouts, revived by Xun’er, leaned against the lobby doors. “We won’t go any deeper. You all take care!”

Leaving them some weapons, the group pressed on.

The building was filled with strangeness. Even though they’d broken inside, safety wasn’t assured. Wu Jue adjusted his breathing, searching every corner.

Xun’er cast more spells, trying to locate Rossi.

The surviving canine sniffed the air. “The smell of disinfectant is overwhelming. It’s as if the place has been scrubbed clean countless times. Very strange.”

Wu Jue warned, “Don’t get careless. Rossi is cunning and sharp—there’s no telling what tricks he might have.”

As they ventured further, they realized the place resembled a research facility. High-tech instruments filled the rooms, departments divided by category.

Luke remarked, “From outside, you’d never guess this was a research institute. Could it be a government secret facility?”

“Welcome to the premises. The special emergency protocol has been activated,” a mechanical voice suddenly echoed through the building—a computer speaking. “You will be treated as honored guests. Suitable candidates may become laboratory guardians.”

“Hey, what is this place?” a canine demanded, addressing the air. “Stop playing games—bring out Rossi!”

“Sorry, Rossi is merely a subject under study here. You lack clearance to communicate with him,” the voice replied, unhurried.

Wu Jue observed his surroundings, noting the sound came from ceiling-mounted cameras—clearly, the entire building was networked.

He boldly asked, “So, what happened here? Why can Rossi control everything? Where have the original owners gone?”

“The original owners…” The system’s voice was abruptly cut off, replaced by Rossi’s familiar laughter. “Trying to dig up my secrets? No need. I’ll tell you.”

“This is a government secret research facility. After the outbreak, it was tasked with studying virus samples transmitted from various locations. Unfortunately, no great achievements were made, and the researchers were poisoned and died.”

“So you’ve come here to meet your doom,” Rossi laughed, “Now the whole building is an empty city. Without me, it’s nothing but ruins.”

Wu Jue, facing the echoing cruel laughter, decisively raised his shotgun and blew out the ceiling camera. “Drop the taunts. Aren’t you trapped here as well? Rossi, I know you too well—always scheming for advantage. If you stayed, it proves there’s something here you need. I’ll find it, and shock you.”

End of Chapter 98: The Mysterious Building.