Chapter Seventy-Three: Exposed! Escape to Black Iron City!

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on triggering a new mission: Survive for more than half a month under Aotian’s relentless pursuit! This system noticed you’ve been stuck on your previous task for too long, so here’s a little boost—You can even overachieve, for example, by slaying your pursuer! Best of luck, Host!]
[Mission Reward: Enhanced Skill Card (Platinum)!]

Damn it!
Congratulations, my ass!
Platinum pinnacle?
Why don’t you just kill me yourself!
And why the hell couldn’t you have told me sooner!

Gu Lang was speechless; he was deep in enemy territory right now!
“What on earth gave me away?”
There was no time to think. The moment the wall exploded, Gu Lang instantly retreated!
Blades flashed, swords clashed!
In a blur, Gu Lang doubled his speed and vanished on the spot.
He broke the sound barrier, heading straight out of the city.
His movements were clean and decisive; he didn’t even glance at Aotian.
As for his wife, Gu Lang had already summoned her away through telepathic transmission.
Aotian was only after him, with no intention of pursuing his wife.
After smashing the city wall with a punch, Aotian stared at the now-empty room, eyes wide.
“So fast? Some kind of skill? That kid sure is decisive, didn’t even ask a single question! Looks like he really did kill the Golden of Black Iron City—definitely hiding something.”
Aotian stood at the fractured wall, glancing into the distance.
He had already investigated Gu Lang’s identity.
He knew now that Gu Lang’s name was a fabrication.
“I don’t like meddling, but now I’ve uncovered the truth. He killed one of ours, and as a member of the branch factory, I can’t just let it go!”
With that, his figure flickered and disappeared.
At the peak of platinum, his speed closed the distance in an instant.
“Gu Lang, is it? Don’t bother struggling. I’m at the platinum pinnacle, you’re only mid-gold. There’s a gap of nearly ten thousand attribute points between us. Killing you is child’s play. Cooperate, and I’ll make it quick.”
Aotian strode through the air, his passage making countless zombies below tremble in fear.

“Damn it! How did you find me? And so what if I killed a Golden? Isn’t the SPC all about the survival of the fittest? Killing a Golden only proves I’m strong. Why not make me the city lord? I could even help you in the competition.”
Gu Lang, while unleashing his blade techniques, cut down any zombies in his path.
He hoped to draw the attention of platinum-level zombies this way.
Yet along the entire route, none of them stirred.
“Heh, ordinarily you’d be right, but times have changed. The main factory just issued an order—unity above all. I can’t go against it. Sure, you have your uses, but not enough to matter. And you have too many secrets. Killing you benefits me.”
Aotian snorted coldly, unmoved by Gu Lang’s words.
With each step, he pointed downward.

Each gesture summoned a barrage of lightning from the skies!
Gu Lang zigzagged desperately, narrowly avoiding strike after strike.
Wherever the lightning hit, deep craters erupted in the ground.
The bolts came thick and fast, forming a veritable sea of thunder.
“So this is the platinum pinnacle? The gap is immense. What now? Even Luoxue can’t beat this guy!”
Gu Lang’s mind whirled. He hadn’t expected to be hunted by someone at the platinum pinnacle.
The only place he could think to flee was Black Iron City—at least he knew the terrain there.
“Never mind, head for Black Iron City first!”
With a shift of will, he once more unleashed his blade skills.
Under the terrifying enhancement, his speed soared to two thousand points.
Only then could he narrowly dodge the lightning each time.
But using skills drained his stamina.
Unless he used a skill card.
“But if I use it, I’ll just run faster—not solve the real problem. I can’t keep running forever, can I?”
Gritting his teeth, Gu Lang chose not to use it.
He continued fleeing toward Black Iron City.
Luoxue and the others followed anxiously, helpless to intervene.
“What do we do? Just watch Lord Gu Lang get hunted down like this?”
Yu Qiuchi was frantic, wishing she could take the blows for him.
“What’s the rush? That man is at the platinum pinnacle. I can’t beat him either. Just keep our distance—he hasn’t noticed us,” Luoxue replied coolly, her composure unshaken.

Thus, three groups hurtled toward Black Iron City.
Not long after they passed, a middle-aged man and a young man arrived.
The middle-aged man radiated power, his mere presence intimidating the entire withered city.
Within the city, whether Golden or Platinum zombies, all cowered in terror.
“Heh, what’s going on? Why hasn’t the city’s guardian come out to greet me?”
The man was none other than Yu Lao, a top expert of the SPC.
“Sir! Lord Aotian just left to pursue a traitor. That man killed the Golden of Black Iron City, and now he’s heading straight for it.”
A human Chosen One flew out from the city—a brawny man at the Golden pinnacle, cold sweat streaming down his face.
“Master, could he be talking about Gu Lang? So the whole thing was a ruse!”
Liu Hongyun’s eyes gleamed, his voice venomous.
“He’s angered Master and killed one of ours. That man is as good as dead. Why don’t we join the chase?”

Yu Lao only smiled, not moving immediately, but instead glanced at the burly Golden.
“Well? You’re close to Dawn City. Any word on my daughter?”
The big man bowed respectfully.
“Sir Yu! You and one other are the only diamond pinnacles in the SPC. Your word is law. But your surname is rare, and your daughter still hasn’t been found…”
“Enough. I suppose you’re not up to the task anyway. My main reason for coming, besides killing Gu Lang, is to search for my daughter in Dawn City. Keep your eyes open.”
With a dissatisfied grunt, Yu Lao turned and left, heading straight for Gu Lang’s destination—Black Iron City!

…

Thunder rumbled!
A bolt of lightning struck the boulder in front of Gu Lang, shattering it to pieces and sending shards flying everywhere.
Gu Lang swerved sharply, barreling through with a wild rush.
At the same time, he gave a sharp command, sending zombies lunging back in pursuit.
Countless wild zombies threw themselves recklessly at Aotian to block his path.
“Ha! So you do have zombie-controlling skills. In the apocalypse, that’s a death warrant—I’ll make sure you don’t see another day!”
A greedy glint flickered in Aotian’s eyes.
Gu Lang could control zombies.
If he could seize that skill for himself, wouldn’t he be invincible?
“Heh! That’s if you live to claim it!”
Gu Lang snorted coldly. Though pursued, he showed no sign of panic or disgrace.
He turned, flinging hundreds of ice spikes, conjuring a blizzard to boot.
Thunder crashed!
Countless gales, riddled with icy spears, swept up to the heavens.
The snow concealed the spikes, making them all the more dangerous.
Yet Aotian only chuckled darkly, flicking his hand.
Bolts of lightning twisted and spun into orbs, forming spherical shields that blocked the oncoming storm.
“Let’s see where you run now!”
Aotian stepped forward—now less than five meters from Gu Lang!

Suddenly, the earth trembled!
[Special Dungeon: Mutation Event Triggered!]