"Is it Zhao Hu causing trouble again?!"
Bai Shuang's angry shout attracted the attention of the others around.
They saw that above the last-ranked 0527 Squad, the second-to-last squad barely edged ahead with just a tiny bit—2300 points!
Not only that, all the original last dozen squads also tied with 2300 points!
Han Zhan and his team had worked tirelessly, tackling high-score tasks in numerous cities to barely earn this many points.
These squads, how could they?
They couldn't all be hidden masters, each possessing SSS Level Talent, endlessly farming Insect Race dungeons, could they?
"It's point control." Han Zhan, a former homebody, was no stranger to the common tricks in ranking games. "All squads agree to tie at one score, and the points gained from completing tasks are averaged by one person."
"In this way, you can create a situation where several squads have the same score at once."
"Won't the headquarters check on this?"
"No." Han Zhan shook his head.
"Point tasks are completed collaboratively. As long as it's agreed upon who will submit the task for points, it doesn't breach the rules set by the City Guardian Organization."
"Damn!" Hearing this, Bai Shuang angrily slapped the electronic screen.
For these ten days, though they hadn't been much help, they all tagged along, running around together.
After a while, without saying it outright, they secretly harbored hopes of shaking off the "most useless squad" label.
But now, hopes dashed again!
Zhao Hu, Zhao Hu again!
Such a lingering shadow!
"Let's go, back to Deep Blue first." Han Zhan exhaled, calming down, "We're very close in points to them, it's not impossible to overtake."
"Before, we managed to close a gap of over a thousand points; only a few hundred points are left now, is it really that hard?"
"Everyone is tired from the last ten days; once we're back in Deep Blue, let's relax for a few days."
Han Zhan's words resonated with Yi Fan, a person habitually lazy, enduring these days was pure torture for him.
Drinking wasn't enjoyable, he couldn't lie back at ease, even lying in the back of the pickup truck, the bumpy road made his back ache.
"Finally, some days off!"
…
Back in Deep Blue City, it was already evening. Han Zhan and Xia Youwei bid farewell to their companions before returning to the villa.
Ten days apart, the villa remained unchanged.
Li Shutong was sitting at the outdoor stone table, sipping a drink.
Seeing Han Zhan and Xia Youwei walk in, he smiled.
"Have you returned?"
"Yes, we're back."
A brief exchange, yet it truly made Han Zhan and Xia Youwei feel a sense of "coming home."
No matter how powerful and domineering outside, there will always be a need for a home as a haven of rest; this feeling is wonderful.
"How was the harvest this trip?" Li Shutong asked, like an old family elder, concerned and questioning.
Han Zhan and Xia Youwei began to sit down, also answering some of his questions and recounting their travel experiences.
"That little girl from the Shang Family was saved by you, calling you 'unromantic'—was it you?" Li Shutong laughed heartily, "No wonder she's been bugging me these past few days, asking how she can awaken as a powerful Contracted Spirit."
"Master, do you know Shang Siteng?" Han Zhan asked, surprised.
"Her grandfather is an old acquaintance of mine. The Shang Family, one of the five main companies, is the family behind Can Shang Technology."
"Can Shang Technology is chiefly involved in developing advanced weapons for Spirit Contract Masters without a Contracted Spirit or ordinary people. She and my granddaughter Li Lingzhen are the same age; I've always treated her like my own granddaughter."
"She has an outgoing personality and always wants to venture out. This time, the Dead Ash Fly tornado was deliberately created by the Shang Family, trying to deter her from reckless endeavors."
"Unexpectedly, you intercepted it halfway."
Li Shutong's explanation suddenly clarified the situation.
No wonder their luck was so "good." Encountering such a massive amount of Dead Ash Flies with no strong Spirit Contract Master escort, even the two Shang Family guards charging into the insect swarm were likely planned as a deliberate "martyr tactic."
"Coincidentally, Siteng came to Deep Blue City representing the Shang Family convoy to bring me two items this time."
Li Shutong said, with a conjuring gesture, revealing a box full of high-tech vibes.
He entered the password, and the box opened, revealing two potions emitting a cold, white frost.
"Breakthrough Potion!"
Indeed, these two potions glowing a frosty blue were precisely the Breakthrough Potions previously sent to Longevity Company to refine their spiritual power.
With these two potions, Han Zhan and Xia Youwei could finally break through to Tier Two!
"Why are you still standing there? Take one each and swallow it quickly."
"Alright!"
Han Zhan nodded and didn't act politely towards Li Shutong anymore. He took one of the Breakthrough Potions and gulped it down.
In an instant, inside him, countless cells cheered with joy.
The ice-blue liquid representing spiritual power, condensed to its essence into liquid form by Longevity Company using advanced technology, was being fiercely contended for and devoured by his body cells, allowing Han Zhan to feel his visible transformation!
Strength, speed, reaction, defense, even talent!
The process lasted only a short time,
Han Zhan felt as if he had taken an incredibly refreshing hot bath and then enjoyed a hearty meal, indescribably comfortable.
Breakthrough to Tier Two Spirit Contract Master!
Seeing Han Zhan's successful breakthrough, Xia Youwei swallowed her own vial of potion.
Soon, she, too, just like Han Zhan, completed the breakthrough and entered Tier Two Contracted Spirit.
At the instant Xia Youwei also achieved the breakthrough, a new insight simultaneously appeared in the minds of both:
[Xia Youwei, SSS Level Contracted Spirit.]
[Power: Tier Two]
[Illusion Form: Ancient Divine Soldiers- Fu Xi Zither.]
[Divinity: Sword Heart and Zither Heart, Celestial Intent Four Symbols (new).]
New divinity!
Celestial Intent Four Symbols!
Meant as Celestial Intent but indeed Celestial Phenomena, four symbols of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning!
The corresponding Tier Two Zither Tune also fully unlocked then.
Besides the previously advanced-used "Joyful Wind" by Han Zhan, there were two more Zither Tunes, namely "Spring Field Fire" and "Six Ding Thunder."
All three Zither Tunes are related to celestial phenomena, corroborating its description.
Thus, Han Zhan and Xia Youwei complete the breakthrough, becoming Tier Two Spirit Contract Master and Tier Two Contracted Spirit, gaining new divinity [Celestial Intent Four Symbols], three Zither Tunes, and greatly enhanced strength.
The two thanked Li Shutong again.
At that moment, Han Zhan's communicator rang. After answering, Bai Shuang's slightly urgent voice came through:
"Captain, check the Deep Blue City task list quickly; a new task just refreshed!"
On the electronic screen, the top of the Deep Blue City point task list displayed a brand-new task.
Task description: Red alert, Insect Race [Wanderer] has appeared near Deep Blue City. Please dispatch personnel to eliminate them immediately!
Task points: 1000 points
Threat level: Level 3+.
Recommended number of participants: Unlimited.
Taking limit: None.
All City Guardian Squads can accept!