Time passed swiftly, and before they knew it, dawn of the next day had come.
After breakfast, Zhu Yuan drove the New Eridu Public Security patrol car, bringing Qingyi to the [Hollow Zero Operations Department]. There, they found Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Yaksha Xiao...
The Adepti were preparing to head for the Outer Ring.
Originally, according to their plan, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi's company wasn't required. But the Outer Ring was chaotic, and the Public Security Bureau's Superior Officer feared accidents might occur. Thus, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi were ordered to accompany the Adepti.
Of course, the Adepti didn't refuse.
Soon after, Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Xiao settled into the patrol car.
Before setting out, Mountain Shaper spoke slowly:
"Young friend Zhu Yuan, let us first stop by the Hare's House."
Zhu Yuan frowned. "Do we need the Hare's House' help? Qingyi and I know where Bangboo Village is..."
But Mountain Shaper shook his head.
"Azhdaha's temper is fierce. If we wish to invite him to aid us, it must be Mr. Sam Li who makes the request."
At that, Zhu Yuan immediately understood—Sam Li was counted among the Adepti.
Cloud Retainer added lightly, "In all of Liyue, Azhdaha respects no one but the Ge... cough, I mean, only Mr. Sam Li. Their bond runs deepest."
Hearing the Adepti's agreement, Zhu Yuan dropped the matter. She drove them straight to the Hare's House.
At the entrance, they met Nicole and Billy.
Upon learning the group had come for Sam Li, Billy let out a long sigh.
"I'd love to go with you, but today I have to accompany Boss Nicole to the Hollow Investigation Association..."
Nicole said seriously, "Miss Zhu Yuan, Sam Li is in your care. Make sure you return him to me safe and whole."
Zhu Yuan nodded at once. "Rest assured."
Qingyi smiled and added, "No one strong enough to harm Sam Li has been born yet—"
With that, Zhu Yuan entered the Hare's House and explained the situation to Sam Li, inviting him to join the Adepti in traveling to Bangboo Village to see Azhdaha.
Sam Li agreed readily.
"Very well. I shall accompany you on this journey."
Zhu Yuan beamed. "Mr. Sam Li, we're truly grateful for your help—"
And so, with Zhu Yuan and Qingyi leading the way, Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, Xiao, and Sam Li set out for the Outer Ring.
...
An hour later, the patrol car crossed into the Outer Ring.
Gazing out at the barren wasteland, Mountain Shaper let out a heavy sigh.
"If Hollow Zero were suppressed, perhaps this land could return to what it once was..."
The Outer Ring's desolation was the result of Ether contamination, warping the environment until no crops could grow. Only giant cacti evolved for Ether resistance, along with a few patches of weeds, dotted the otherwise bare earth.
Qingyi drew a deep breath.
"In my memories, the world wasn't like this..."
Shards of memory flickered in her mind—forests, flowing rivers, birds wheeling in the skies... A world full of life, just like Liyue.
The Hollows and Ether energy had destroyed it all.
Just then, Zhu Yuan's phone rang. It was the Superior Officer of the Janus District Bureau.
"This is Zhu Yuan. We've entered the Outer Ring... What? A Hollow disaster rated A or higher? Understood—we'll remain alert."
When the call ended, Zhu Yuan relayed the warning to the Adepti.
Moments ago, monitors in the city had detected an intense Ether reaction, a clear sign of a Hollow disaster erupting.
The readings suggested a Class A disaster at minimum—possibly even S-rank.
Hearing this, Moon Carver showed no concern at all. In fact, he was already itching for battle.
"If we encounter it, I'll be the one to subdue it."
Mountain Shaper asked calmly, "Do we know the direction?"
Zhu Yuan hesitated. "The distance is too far—the exact location can't be determined."
But Sam Li's brow furrowed.
"It's in the direction of Bangboo Village."
Zhu Yuan blinked in disbelief. "That can't be..."
Moon Carver, however, showed no doubt.
"Azhdaha must be in trouble. Young friend Zhu Yuan, drive faster."
Mountain Shaper shook his head. "With Azhdaha's strength, no Hollow disaster could possibly overcome him."
Cloud Retainer snorted. "He's not worried about Azhdaha—he's just eager for a fight. Some things never change."
"Understood!" Zhu Yuan pressed down on the accelerator.
As the car sped along, a dark, dome-shaped sphere loomed on the horizon—the Hollow, in full eruption.
Sam Li had been right—the Hollow disaster had erupted in Bangboo Village.
The Adepti quickly grew impatient with the slow car.
Cloud Retainer opened the door and, in a flash of light, transformed into a crane, soaring high into the sky...
Moon Carver transformed into a celestial stag and bounded forward across the air itself...
Sam Li and Mountain Shaper followed suit.
Zhu Yuan glanced at the observation instruments. Her eyes widened.
"Be careful, Adepti—this could be an SS-class Hollow disaster!"
According to New Eridu's classifications, SS-class was the highest rank of companion Hollow disaster—second only to Hollow Zero itself.
Qingyi exhaled softly. "The Adepti have already gone ahead."
Zhu Yuan gritted her teeth. "Senior Qingyi, we must hurry. We can't allow anything to happen to Golden Bangboo and Platinum Bangboo."
With that, she floored the accelerator, the patrol car roaring down the ruined highway.
...
Meanwhile, outside the erupting Hollow, Sam Li, Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper had already reached the outskirts of Bangboo Village.
But the town was gone—swallowed whole by the Hollow.
Sam Li's voice was calm.
"Let's go inside and see."
Moon Carver smirked. "An SS-class Hollow—there must be a formidable beast within. Perhaps it's already clashing with Azhdaha."
Cloud Retainer spoke solemnly.
"Mountain Shaper, stay behind and wait for the two young ones following us."
Mountain Shaper sighed. "Always me..."
Without hesitation, Sam Li, Moon Carver, Cloud Retainer, and Xiao plunged straight into the raging Hollow.
Inside, the Ether concentration, activity, corruption, and pressure were at their maximum.
Barely had they entered when two colossal silhouettes loomed ahead.