Xiong Da's face clearly showed a trace of lingering fear. Although Mei Niang couldn't see it, she could sense it from his tone.
"Have you experienced it?"
Xiong Da nodded and said, "The camp leader of Camp Number Three, whom I mentioned earlier, owed me a favor. It was him. But according to records, the Death Storm only appears once every three years within the safe zone. Hasn't it only been a short while since the last one?"
Xiong Da faltered towards the end, while Mei Niang asked in confusion, "But I've been in Red Coast for over ten years, why have I never heard of this?"
Xiong Da explained, "Normally, our missions only begin after the Death Storm appears. Those 'black ones' are also afraid of this thing, so to avoid panic, the higher-ups didn't publicize it internally."
Li Chonglou instantly caught onto the issue and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Xiong Da, are there other hidden reasons for this, otherwise why would it cause panic?"
Xiong Da's expression changed drastically. He clearly hadn't expected Li Chonglou to be so sharp. Perhaps it was because they were in the dark that he hadn't managed his expression.
Li Chonglou clearly saw his expression hesitate and struggle, as if he were trying to make excuses or considering whether to speak.
Li Chonglou didn't expose him, but silently waited for a response. It was Mei Niang who couldn't hold back, and shouted, "Xiong Da, what time is it? If there's something, say it quickly! You want to die here, but I don't want to be buried with you!"
Although Mei Niang couldn't see Xiong Da's expression, his prolonged silence was obvious to anyone with a brain. Her words indeed had an effect. Xiong Da sighed and slowly said.
"Within three days of the Death Storm appearing, a special spiritual energy called Black Spirit will exist. This thing is the Black Ones' favorite, and we normal cultivators will become like them under its influence."
That's it?
This was clearly impossible. Li Chonglou and Mei Niang didn't interrupt, continuing to wait for Xiong Da's next words.
As expected, after a pause, Xiong Da, seeing that he couldn't avoid it, finally revealed the biggest secret.
"Under the influence of the Black Spirit, there are two key points. One is that within these three days, there will also be spiritual treasures erupting within the safe zone, all sorts of rare and precious resources. Anything that has reached its critical point will emerge at this time."
"The second key point, and the most important one, is that after the Black Spirit enters the bodies of normal cultivators, it will form a special virus. This thing is contagious."
Li Chonglou's pupils contracted sharply. He finally understood Xiong Da's meaning!
The reason the higher-ups dared not speak of this was because they feared people would die for wealth!
Indeed, in this world, as long as there was enough temptation, there were plenty of people willing to gamble their lives for it!
If they knew that the Death Storm would bring treasures, could this mere virus stop them?
"Senior Xiong Da, can you tell us what the consequences of this virus are?"
Having said so much, Xiong Da no longer concealed anything.
"The Black Spirit will conflict with normal spiritual energy. Not only is it highly addictive, but it will also make you reject external spiritual energy!"
Now both of them understood. No wonder those Black Ones, despite their formidable strength, had never thought of sneaking out. It turned out they had lost the qualifications to survive in the outside world!
At the same time, they also understood why the higher-ups were reluctant to make this public. With its nature, wasn't it forcing normal people to become Black Ones?
Xiong Da then continued, "The Death Storm is not called that for nothing. Although its appearance time is usually only half a day, during this half day, let alone the Black Ones, even their mothers would have to huddle in their own camps!"
After speaking, Xiong Da looked up at the few inches of soil, his eyes full of worry. "Compared to the infection, let's focus on surviving the storm first."
Mei Niang could now understand his feelings and couldn't help but feel worried.
"Xiong Da, there shouldn't be any major problems, right? We can take turns using our spiritual power to resist it. We should be able to hold on for half a day, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiong Da's face suddenly changed.
"Not good, this storm also absorbs my internal energy!"
Both of their faces changed simultaneously. They both released their internal energy to protect themselves. Sure enough, the next moment, they could feel their internal energy rapidly depleting.
"It's actually absorbing internal energy!"
"You two, quickly withdraw!"
Xiong Da said urgently. Both of them simultaneously released their guard. Li Chonglou couldn't help but ponder.
Mei Niang said anxiously, "What do we do? At this rate of consumption, each of us can only last for half an hour at most, right?"
Xiong Da said grimly, "We can only hope this ends sooner this time."
Isn't that the same as having no hope?
Mei Niang wasn't a novice. Such cyclical events rarely changed, and when they did, it was usually for the worse!
Just as despair began to creep onto Mei Niang's face, Li Chonglou suddenly spoke, "If it's enough to maintain sufficient internal energy to cope, I think it should be fine."
Both of them looked at him in unison.
"Little Li, do you have a way?"
After speaking, Mei Niang immediately denied it, "No, I've been in here at least ten times, and this is your first time. How could you have a way?"
Li Chonglou was speechless, "Mei Niang, you can't say that. It's my first time here, but when it comes to internal energy, I really do have a way."
"Oh? Tell us?"
Mei Niang initially thought Li Chonglou was just trying to comfort them, but hearing his certainty, she held her breath.
"When your internal energy runs out, just take over from me. It should recover in an hour and a half, right?"
The two of them remained silent. An hour and a half would certainly be enough for recovery, but the problem was there were only three people in total, so where would they find an extra half hour for rest?
While Xiong Da was confused, Mei Niang was the first to react, "You mean you can last for an hour?"
Xiong Da immediately denied it, "That's impossible! We're all only at the fifth level. Even if there's a difference, it shouldn't be half an hour, unless Little Li, you have strength above the seventh level?"
"If I had the seventh level, would I be here?"
Li Chonglou's rhetorical question extinguished the sliver of hope that had just risen in both of them.
Seeing that both of them looked completely unconvinced, Li Chonglou didn't explain further, only saying, "There are no other options now, right? We'll know if we try."
Although he said so, they were not unfamiliar with cultivation realms. While there was a qualitative leap with each increase after the third level, the total amount of internal energy didn't increase exponentially.
In normal understanding, the fifth level was simply impossible!