Not a single person could remain calm, their faces all showing signs of losing composure. Even Director Lin De's heart was pounding wildly.
As they repeatedly confirmed that Granny Xia was neither insane nor lying, the people in both conference rooms fell silent.
"Director Lin, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. If the Underworld is gone, I fear that it's not just the realm of the dead— even the realm of the living will also…"
The branch director forcibly suppressed his emotions, his expression incomparably solemn. Although he did not continue speaking, everyone understood the meaning of his words.
At this moment, Granny Xia also spoke. "The Underworld governs reincarnation. If Fengdu City is gone, reincarnation will likely be affected, and it will inevitably disrupt the cycle of rebirth."
Director Lin De did not speak immediately. After pondering for a moment, he finally spoke in a deep voice.
"For now, calm yourselves. If Fengdu City has been destroyed, then the Underworld has definitely encountered a major event. This matter indeed needs to be investigated thoroughly, but we must not lose our composure first."
"At present, I have not received any information regarding a large number of difficult births among newborns."
"At the very least, from this point alone, reincarnation is still operating. The Underworld should not have been completely annihilated, nor have all its beings perished. Most likely, Fengdu City has suffered severe losses, but it has not been wiped out entirely."
To have attained the position of Director of Bureau 749, Lin De was certainly no ordinary figure. With just a few words, he analyzed the general state of the Underworld and reassured everyone's emotions.
Then, he continued. "Granny Xia, we need your help. In the coming days, please assemble a team as quickly as possible. I need you all to travel to the Underworld and investigate what has happened there."
"Additionally, if possible, aside from investigating the incident in the Underworld, see if you can contact Yama, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and the others."
"I believe that there are still surviving gods and spirits in the Underworld. Find a way to locate them."
"Alright, give this old woman a week— no, three days! I will definitely assemble the most powerful team in all of Daxia for this journey to the Underworld, and when the time comes, I will personally lead the team to the Underworld." Granny Xia's aged face was solemn as she spoke each word firmly.
"Even if I have to risk my life, even if I end up never being able to reincarnate, I will still find the surviving gods of the Underworld."
Director Lin De solemnly nodded, stood up, and bowed in gratitude for Granny Xia's commitment. "Granny Xia, even if the world does not know of your sacrifices, Bureau 749 will remember them. We will record them in our files, and if, in the future, the secular and supernatural realms completely merge, Bureau 749 will ensure that everyone knows of you all."
Although he did not yet know what had happened in the Underworld, Lin De was certain of one thing— with Granny Xia forming an expedition team, and with the current state of the Underworld filled with peril, no one could guarantee that this journey would be safe.
Perhaps this expedition would be a final farewell, separating them eternally between the realms of the living and the dead.
Hearing this, Granny Xia merely waved her hand with a smile. "No need for that. This old woman is simply doing what she can."
She did not linger. After making her promise, she left the conference room with the help of her successor, a young girl, to immediately begin recruiting personnel and assembling the strongest expedition team in Daxia.
As they watched Granny Xia leave, Lin De retracted his gaze and turned to look at the branch director on the screen.
"Brother Cai, what happened today— aside from those present in this conference room— must not be spread."
Branch Director Cai's expression was resolute. "Brother Lin— no, Director Lin, rest assured. This matter, I will ensure that everyone in the conference room keeps it to themselves."
Lin De nodded. "The destruction of Fengdu City, the disappearance of the gods of the Underworld— any one of these alone would be enough to cause a massive upheaval in the supernatural world, possibly even affecting the secular world."
"I will be making some arrangements next to prepare for the situation in the Underworld. After all…" His voice suddenly stopped, his expression more serious than ever before. Then, after a moment, he spoke again.
"In the worst-case scenario, if the Underworld is truly gone, we must ensure the continuation of reincarnation."
Branch Director Cai's breath caught, not daring to follow Lin De's words to their conclusion. He said hesitantly, "It shouldn't come to that, right? The Celestial Court wouldn't just stand by and do nothing."
But just as he finished speaking, Lin De responded slowly. "Let's not be too sure… what if the Celestial Court has been affected as well?"
Branch Director Cai's pupils contracted. Even with his position as a branch director, he could not calm his emotions at this moment. His breathing became rapid, his chest rising and falling sharply.
The Celestial Court being affected? Was that even possible?
In folklore, Daxia had thousands upon thousands of deities. Mythological stories had been passed down for five thousand years. To ordinary people, they were just tales. But those in Bureau 749 knew the truth— mythology was not fiction. It was real.
There truly existed supernatural beings beyond science and human cognition.
Because of this, Branch Director Cai did not believe that the Celestial Court would be affected.
But just as this thought surfaced, in less than half a second— before he even had the chance to voice his rebuttal— as if predicting his thoughts, Lin De spoke first.
"Actually, recently, Bureau 749 received a report regarding the land gods of the capital and surrounding areas. Recently, our Bureau 749 cultivators, while handling supernatural incidents, attempted to seek assistance from the land gods."
"But they could not be contacted, nor could they be found. They seemed to have vanished into thin air. This situation has been ongoing for more than half a month now."
"This…!" Branch Director Cai's expression changed drastically.
"Brother Lin, are you saying the land gods of the capital have gone missing?"
"Previously, we weren't certain. But with what has happened in the Underworld, I now suspect that they truly are missing. As for the exact reason, we don't know yet. We will conduct an investigation into this next."
As Lin De spoke, his exhaustion was clearly visible.
The level-one emergency incidents occurring across Daxia had already kept him overwhelmed. Now, before these matters were even resolved, an even greater catastrophe had emerged. He felt physically and mentally drained, with a faint sense of regret— had he known this would happen, he might not have taken this position at all.
But despite his grievances, he had no intention of shirking his duty.
Pressing the bridge of his nose, Lin De briefly discussed matters with Branch Director Cai before ending the video call. Then, he turned to look at the three department heads present.
"Difficult times are ahead. The level-one emergency incidents across various regions may very well be linked to what happened in the Underworld. Contact the ten grandmasters and regional guardians responsible for handling these cases."
"Inform them that when dealing with level-one emergency incidents, if circumstances allow, they should communicate with the supernatural entities involved to find out if they have any knowledge about the Underworld's situation."
"Also, summon Grandmaster Guan Xinghe back from his overseas assignment to take charge of investigating the missing land gods in the capital."
"Understood!" The three department heads responded in unison.
In the time that followed, Lin De began intense discussions, formulating response plans and strategies.
And as the meeting concluded, the ten grandmasters and powerful regional guardians tasked with resolving level-one emergency incidents all received a classified message that was not to be leaked.
It was the information regarding the destruction of Fengdu City and the missing gods of the Underworld.
Upon receiving this message, without exception, every single one of them was shaken.
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