《Lord of Mysterious Wizard》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Soul Swapping Balance Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Soul Swapping Balance Editor: Atlas Studios Pain! Unbearable, intense pain! This was Tang Qi¡¯s first sensation upon regaining consciousness; it flooded in like a tide, a kind of pain that no measure could prevent, seemingly targeting his soul directly. The sources of the pain were his skull, and the wrists of his hands, and the ankles of his feet. As he instinctively howled in agony, a series of old, hoarse voices buzzed into his mind like flies, speaking a complex and abstruse language. Strangely enough, Tang Qi understood every word. ¡°O Great Judgement Demon, please heed the call of your believer, Old Morgan. For a humble believer¡¯s soul to swap with a younger body, I offer a fresh, young soul as a sacrifice, for the great Judgement Demon to relish¡­¡± Judgement Demon? Who? Is this a prank? Wasn¡¯t I at the bar drinking with my colleagues? Could it be I¡¯ve been kidnapped? Wait a second? Am I being crucified? When Tang Qi realized this, his pain seemed to lessen briefly, and he finally ceased his howling, exerting great effort to open his eyes. His slowly expanding field of vision was initially filled with shadows, then from the mist, it gradually became clear, and then an extremely horrific, bizarre scene entered his sight. Before him was a misty, black shadowy bubble. Judging from the extending boundary of the bubble, Tang Qi realized he was also inside it. Emitting this giant black bubble was a huge scale, seemingly made of bronze and covered with mottled colors. On each end of the bronze plates of the scale, there were nebulous glows, both seemingly¡­ human-shaped? Yes, human-shaped. Tang Qi¡¯s gaze penetrated the misty light and saw their true forms. At one end was a young man in a coma, with delicate features, pale complexion, and a slim figure who seemed to be having a nightmare, his face marked with terror. On the other end, there was an extremely old man, a Black man, with loose black skin, but he was conscious, hunching over and kneeling on the bronze plate, his hands in a strange pose, murmuring as if praying, pleading. And he was praying in the direction of Tang Qi. Yes, that was him. Although the whole scale was in a shaking state, constantly changing direction with a ¡°creak, creak¡± sound, no matter how it shifted, the old Black man always faced Tang Qi while praying. ¡°Could it be that I am the Judgement Demon?¡± The moment Tang Qi realized something and courageously looked down, his already painful mind hammered as if struck by a giant mallet, and amidst his howls, he finally saw his true predicament. He was indeed tied to a cross, a very peculiar cross. In the middle of this giant scale, any part Tang Qi looked down at bore carvings of blood-red skull patterns, seeming like symbols or script, with a bizarre and horrifying presence roaming among these patterns. When Tang Qi attempted to twist his body to see more, pain more severe than anything before surged violently, still emanating from his skull, wrists, and ankles. In another bout of agonizing howl, Tang Qi clearly saw his own body, also wrapped in a layer of nebulous glow, hung on a skull cross with a total of five sharp nails piercing through his skull, wrists of both hands, and ankles of both feet. Tang Qi was terrified; he had sustained such injuries and yet he wasn¡¯t dead? ¡°No, that¡¯s not right, I¡¯m already dead, I am in a soul state now.¡± ¡°These two, are also souls.¡± Tang Qi suddenly realized an incredibly dreadful fact; then his already terrified expression could only be described as distorted this moment, a distorted soul hanging on the cross and howling, witnessing all this, the old Black man seemed to think all this was normal, becoming even more fervent in his prayers. At that moment, Tang Qi¡¯s gaze suddenly penetrated the black bubble and saw the outside scene: a spacious, luxurious study with a huge bookshelf, a desk made of some kind of mahogany, a luxurious crystal chandelier above, and various exquisite trinkets, all asserting the master¡¯s wealth and taste. But at this moment, the place was marred by two ¡°bodies¡± on the floor. There was no blood, and no signs of disarray or struggle, but indeed, there were two bodies lying side by side on the floor. One body was a young man, with black hair, delicate features, pale complexion, a slim body dressed in well-fitting clothes that carried a style of foreign fashion never seen before. The other, an aged Black man with ordinary features and a somber demeanor, dressed perhaps like a butler. Around them, burned candles of a blood-like color, and in the middle, drawn with white powder, were bizarre patterns, above their heads in the central area, stood an ancient bronze scale. ¡°This is¡­?¡± Stay calm, I must remain calm, I resist moving, take a few deep breaths, Tang Qi forced himself to calm down. One choice is to agree to the Old Black Man¡¯s request, help him swap bodies, and complete this evil ritual. At this moment, Tang Qi has a premonition that as soon as he opens his mouth, he could devour the soul of the comatose youth on the left side of the scale. This is the process to complete the ritual. As soon as one side of the scale loses a soul, the other side naturally sinks, touching some mechanism that would allow the Old Black Man¡¯s soul to enter the youthful body below, turning from an elderly black man into a handsome young man. Tang Qi¡¯s second option is to refuse the Old Black Man. The consequence of that choice is unknown to Tang Qi ¨C what would happen if he refuses? It¡¯s bad enough being transformed into an ambiguous Devil, but wouldn¡¯t it be even worse if he couldn¡¯t even be a Devil? ¡°How should I choose?¡± While suppressing his pain, Tang Qi struggles to swallow the non-existent saliva, shifting his gaze away from the ¡°sacrifice¡±. He is now a starving Devil, craving for souls. Tang Qi could feel he was rapidly weakening. The five nails were not merely inflicting pain, and if this continued, Tang Qi felt he would soon utterly dissipate. But if he agrees to help the Old Black Man, then the best outcome for Tang Qi is to continue as the so-called ¡°Judgement Demon,¡± attached to this scale, pressed at the bottom of the box, waiting for the next customer. No, is it just that? Would he have to constantly endure torment, forever unable to be free? Could he accept such an end? ¡°No, there must be another way, there has to be.¡± ¡°I can think of something, I must think of something.¡± His intense will to live caused Tang Qi¡¯s mind to operate like never before, yet in his past life, he was just an ordinary office worker. Now a novice Devil, how could he possibly find a way out of this dead-end situation so quickly? And time, was rapidly ticking away. One second! Two seconds! Three seconds! Tang Qi¡¯s flickering soul was becoming fainter, and the still praying Old Black Man raised his head in astonishment, wondering why his ritual hadn¡¯t taken effect. At this moment, Tang Qi could clearly see that the Old Black Man was unequivocally evil. That aged face was filled with gloom and ferocity, his blur soul teeming with black tendrils¡ªa murky wicked person. However, what the Old Black Man was seemed no longer important. Tang Qi¡¯s head grew increasingly heavy and dim, feeling as if he was losing the strength to devour the sacrifice, maybe even dissipate in the next second. Or perhaps, fall into a deep sleep. In that final moment, Tang Qi suddenly had a ridiculous thought¡ªhe wanted to see if his current posture really resembled Jesus. As this thought emerged, Tang Qi¡¯s vision shifted, and he truly saw his hazy soul in an awkward position, nailed to the cross, just like Jesus. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Tang Qi suddenly froze, his eyes blank, seemingly seeing something incredible. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t stay stunned for long, and quickly snapped back to reality. Staring intently at the strange interface that had appeared in front of him without notice. Name: Tang Qi. State: Weak. Profession: Judgement Demon [Information Fragment One:As a Judgement Demon, your duty is to collect the sacrifice and then place the sacrificer¡¯s soul in the target body.] [Information Fragment Two:Before you make a judgement, both souls must stay put. You can devour the sacrifice on the left, but unless the sacrificer on the right volunteers, you cannot harm him.] [Information Fragment Three:As a Judgement Demon, once you leave the Soul Swapping Balance, your soul will dissipate within three seconds.] [Information Fragment Four:If you choose not to make a judgement this time, the sacrifice will automatically be absorbed by the scale, and you will fall into slumber.] ¡°Is this my Golden Finger?¡± Tang Qi, as a veteran web novel enthusiast in his past life, of course knew commonly that those who are reborn or traverse to another world usually come with some kind of Golden Finger. Tang Qi thought he didn¡¯t have such a luxury in his devil state, but now it suddenly appeared. ¡°There¡¯s a chance, the only chance.¡± Tang Qi¡¯s gaze, carelessly ignoring the rest of the interface, focused entirely on the second and third Information Fragments. The excitement surged through him like a warm current, forcefully consolidated Tang Qi¡¯s increasingly fading soul, and using this restored bit of strength, Tang Qi opened his mouth and released a surprisingly hoarse, low voice. ¡°Solemn believer, your offering¡­ is not enough.¡± At this moment, Tang Qi¡¯s appearance was like a truly twisted Devil, wailing and roaring. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 I am the Devil Chapter 2: Chapter 2 I am the Devil Editor: Atlas Studios Old Morgan, finally getting a response, looked up in delighted surprise, only for the fleeting joy of fulfilled wishes to be washed away by a sudden sense of wrongness. Is the sacrifice still not enough? As the initiator of the ritual, Old Morgan knew very well that the Judgement Demon, although sounding formidable, was in fact a lowly and insignificant devil attached to the Soul Swapping Balance, guided by a sole instinctual need for souls. So, when it stated that the sacrifice was insufficient, it truly meant that the sacrifice was inadequate and there was no room for negotiation like one might with other devils. Could the delicious soul of a righteous youth really not be enough? This was completely different from what the notes had recorded, had there been a mistake? Old Morgan¡¯s ancient soul whirred into action as he contemplated rapidly within himself. Unfortunately, at this juncture, he was unable to find another soul to offer as a sacrifice to the Judgement Demon. Wait, that¡¯s not right, there¡¯s still a chance. Abruptly, Old Morgan seemed to realize something, looking down at himself, he was also in the state of a soul. ¡°Have you come to realize it? Are you willing to part with it or not?¡± Tang Qi, still hanging from the Soul Swapping Balance, while maintaining the outer appearance of the howling Judgement Demon in pain, was closely observing Old Morgan. This old Black Man revealed a very interesting and complex side at this moment. The face covered in age spots and the profound creases that even the racial talents of the Black Man could not conceal, eyes brimming with a strong desire to survive, looking at the soul of the young man in a comatose state on the other end of the scale with undisguised jealousy and greed, and when looking at Tang Qi, it was the longing for a last respite. Confronted with the realization that he needed to pay a higher price, his eyes were filled with struggle and unwillingness. All of this was clearly perceived by Tang Qi, and not even the surging pain could interrupt his senses at this moment. It was such an abnormal feeling that Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Is this a benefit of being a devil? Such acute sensitivity to human emotions.¡± Tang Qi suddenly smiled, although Old Morgan was still struggling with hesitation, the keen perception had already informed Tang Qi of his decision in advance. Old Morgan, had no other choice. Indeed, in the next moment, Tang Qi saw Old Morgan¡¯s expression turn grim, and then he stood up abruptly, roaring in an arcane tongue, ¡°Come then, I am willing to offer up half of my soul as compensation for the exchange of bodies, please, great Judgement Demon, enjoy it as you wish.¡± ¡°Come on, come forth.¡± Tang Qi could clearly hear the fear under Old Morgan¡¯s roar, and at the same time, a strong uncontrollable impulse surged within him. At this moment, Tang Qi was like a traveler who had been thirsting in the desert for several days, starved to the point of losing reason, almost the instant Old Morgan¡¯s voice ceased, Tang Qi opened his mouth, his eyes glowing dimly as he murmured, ¡°Humble believer, as you wish.¡± ¡°Ah~¡± When Tang Qi opened his mouth and sucked towards Old Morgan, his already aged soul instantly lost half of its substance, like a misty smoke being drawn into Tang Qi¡¯s mouth thread by thread, drowning the pitiful old man in boundless pain, causing him to roll around frantically and scream at one end of the scale. And at this moment, Tang Qi was feeling unprecedentedly wonderful. After consuming half a soul, it felt as if he was about to fly, everything was so marvelous, like the lingering sensations after an apex, meandering and hovering as if it would never touch the ground. If Tang Qi so wished, he could maintain this state for at least a dozen breaths. But at this time, Tang Qi harshly suppressed all the wonderful sensations. Because the scale had moved! The ceremony had begun. Not by Tang Qi¡¯s own volition; although he was the Judgement Demon, the Soul Swapping Balance clearly had its own rules of operation. Old Morgan had fulfilled Tang Qi¡¯s desires, and the scale automatically determined the transaction a success. What was proceeding now was the swapping of souls. The originally creaking and swaying ends of the scale suddenly began to spin rapidly, with dark mists rising and eerie red glows accompanying them, the Rune Array beneath the two bodies in the study gleamed with a ghostly white light, and the souls of the youngster and Old Morgan¡¯s soul on either end of the scale, both began to transform. The soul of the youngster was suddenly pierced by blood-red thorns, the already comatose young man immediately screamed, but it lasted less than a second before abruptly stopping, and then Tang Qi saw, the pitiable soul of the youngster seemed to have lost something, becoming dazed and muddled, devoid of its previous liveliness. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Tang Qi spoke this because of the special interface he was seeing at that moment. Soul: Human Quality: Common State: Selfless transparent soul, available for devouring. Upon seeing this interface, Tang Qi subconsciously looked towards Old Morgan. Indeed, he too had undergone a change. Soul: Human Quality: Inferior State: A poor-quality soul that has lost half of its soul power, cannot be devoured. [Information Fragment: The Soul Swapping Ceremony has commenced, this soul will be cast into a new body in three seconds.] ¡°Hiss¡± As the sole piece of information caught his eye, Tang Qi immediately drew in a sharp breath, his face then twisted into an unprecedented craze and resolve, and the next moment he made a startling move without hesitation. ¡°Ah~¡± A wail more miserable than ever before emanated from Tang Qi¡¯s mouth, the source of this pain was his sudden exertion pulling his own hands violently from under the blood-drenched nails, and likewise, his feet were also pulled out. Having done all this, although Tang Qi was almost driven mad by endless pain, his already hazy soul became even more transparent. It was clear without looking that his current state must be severely weakened, but at this moment, Tang Qi was inexplicably overjoyed. It worked, it really worked. He could break free from that devilish thing, although only for three seconds. Without a moment to struggle or wail, Tang Qi, amidst mad wailing, swiftly turned around, propping himself up against the Cross bearing devil runes, and forcibly pulled out his own torso as well, the blood transforming into soul power nearly staining the Cross completely, the scene horrifying and bloody. Old Morgan, immersed in the joy of nearly successful soul swapping, finally noticed Tang Qi¡¯s insane actions. The weak Old Black Man screamed in shock and anger, ¡°You shameless, despicable devil, what are you trying to do? You cannot break the contract between us; you will be struck into nihility by the power of rules.¡± Old Morgan was completely consumed by anger. As an evil soul, he almost immediately saw through Tang Qi¡¯s intentions, but was utterly powerless to stop him, his own soul protected by the rules of the Soul Swapping Balance while also being bound by it. All he could do was watch Tang Qi continue his madness, while he stared with bulging eyes and cursed, ¡°You lowly devil, you won¡¯t succeed, once you leave the scale you will quickly dissipate, you lowly thing, you disgusting thing.¡± Tang Qi was fully focused on his actions, feeling as though time had slowed down during the process; Old Morgan¡¯s curses exploded in his mind as thought fragments, but they were unable to affect him in the slightest. When a ¡°pfft¡± sound came, Tang Qi¡¯s entire soul body was completely freed from the five Painful Nails and the Cross, nearly dyed red by the blood, and Tang Qi entered a state as if he was about to dissipate instantly. Weak, almost unable to think from weakness, let alone respond to Old Morgan¡¯s curses. But Tang Qi, feeling his newfound freedom, burst out laughing madly, his bloody face suddenly turned, and with a gulp at one end of the scale, the masterless transparent soul on the bronze plate immediately transformed into a white light entering Tang Qi¡¯s mouth. ¡°Boom¡± Even more delightful than before, the sensation almost overwhelming Tang Qi, along with copious fragments of memories. A fleeting glimpse of panic, Tang Qi seemed to see the life of a young man. The complex memories, the tremendous pleasure almost completely immersed Tang Qi. Fortunately, at this moment, Tang Qi¡¯s will power prevailed, aided by Old Morgan¡¯s roaring curses, Tang Qi struggled to maintain his clarity of mind, but the already pained face twisted even more. Disregarding the ¡°two¡± countdown going on in his mind, Tang Qi turned and mocked the Old Black Man who was cursing him, ¡°You old fool, I¡¯m the devil, contracts are made to be broken, idiot.¡± The moment he spoke, Tang Qi had already leapt into the air, his soul completely separating from the scale, turning into a streak of light heading towards a body outside the black bubble. Unsurprisingly, Tang Qi had chosen that young man. ¡°No¡± Old Morgan, still in a ¡°protected¡± state, ignored his weakened soul, got up and roared crazily, trying to leave the scale to chase after Tang Qi, but at that moment, the previously wildly spinning scale suddenly halted, black fog and eerie red light all converged towards Old Morgan. One after another, crimson thorns spread from beneath the bronze plate, instantly piercing through Old Morgan¡¯s soul, then dragging him towards the center of the scale, that devilish Cross completely soaked in blood. ¡°No, this can¡¯t be real.¡± ¡°I am the initiator of the ritual, the one who should be swapping bodies, is me.¡± ¡°Ah~¡± The scream, as well, abruptly ended. Amidst the surging red light, the Cross which briefly lost its ¡°master¡± had once again gained a tormented soul. At this moment, what Tang Qi saw as he looked back were a few fleeting fragments of information. The Soul Swapping Ceremony was forcibly interrupted! The scale has lost the Judgement Demon! Soul Capture is underway! Target confirmed! The new Judgement Demon has been captured! Fusion in progress¡­ ¡°I¡ªI succeeded¡± As Tang Qi whispered with a laugh, a fresh, peaceful young body appeared before him, and an overwhelming sucking force swept over, pulling in Tang Qi¡¯s soul, which didn¡¯t have a hint of resistance. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Old Morgans Inheritance Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Old Morgan¡¯s Inheritance Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°` Late at night, a misty purple moon hung high in the vault of the sky. The entire city was immersed in a calm, cold atmosphere while the common people continued their mundane lives, working hard during the day and sleeping peacefully at night, oblivious to the turbulent undercurrents hidden within the city. Near the outskirts, a mansion from garden to hall exuded desolation. It was only upon entering the study that a human presence became decidedly apparent. And there were two. On the expensive oak floor, a pair of ¡°corpses¡± were faintly illuminated by the dwindling candlelight. The body of one young man suddenly moved, a groan of discomfort unconsciously escaping his lips. Tang Qi abruptly opened his eyes, a sensation he had never before experienced washing over him, as if his skull had been pounded on incessantly. Everything in front of him appeared as double images. The body that should have been easily controllable felt unbearably heavy, lifting even a single hand proved difficult. Even so, Tang Qi swiftly sat up, first turning his head to look at the body of an old black man next to him, dressed in butler¡¯s attire with a sullen and ugly face, eyes tightly closed, its icy coldness and rigidity palpable even without touching. A corpse, this is a true corpse, Tang Qi thought subconsciously. But still not reassured, Tang Qi turned his head again to look at the mottled ancient bronze scale. In the center, the cross stained with blood had indeed regained a human figure, although greatly shrunken in size, the facial features contorted in an expression of pain and howling, identical to that of the black man¡¯s corpse next to him. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­ *cough cough*, I really did it.¡± Tang Qi¡¯s lips curled into a wild laugh, but since he still couldn¡¯t perfectly control his new body, his delicate features twisted grotesquely, tears and snot streaming, which was quite unsightly. He had risen from an insignificant devil, successfully turned the tables on an evil old black man, and was reborn as a human. The process may not have seemed lengthy, but for Tang Qi, it indeed was filled with drastic ups and downs; his current loss of composure was quite understandable. It was as he laughed that his head ¡°boomed¡± as if hammered by a punch. But this time, his mind broke open like a floodgate, and fragments of memory surged forward. Unlike the fleeting glimpse before, this time, Tang Qi felt completely transformed into the boy, reliving over a decade. When Tang Qi became lucid again, he not only understood everything about his original self but also gained a bit more insight into this new world. This was a world highly similar to Earth in his previous life, yet vastly different. This planet was called Origin Blue Star, with its environment, language, history, and other aspects strikingly similar to Earth, only with the addition of some mysterious legends beyond scientific explanation. There weren¡¯t hundreds of nations here; the vast territories were mainly divided among several political entities such as the Eternal Heaven Dynasty, Divine Eagle Federation, Europe Alliance, Ancient India Empire, Maya Empire¡­ along with some smaller factions so insignificant they often went unnoticed, forming the whole political landscape of Blue Star. As for Tang Qi, his identity was that of a common citizen in Messer City, located in the Secret Phoenix State under the jurisdiction of the Divine Eagle Federation, and he was also a rich second-generation youth who had just lost his parents. Interestingly, the original self was also named Tang Qi. His parents were the founders of Tang Steel Company, a not-so-large entity that occupied a small share of the steel market in Messer City, but still sufficient to bring considerable wealth to the Tang Family. Unfortunately, the ambitious founders ultimately perished together in an accident. Of course, the original self did not die from excessive grief, but was murdered by his deeply trusted butler. Old Morgan, the butler who worked for the Tang Family for over twenty years, had the deep trust of the original self and his parents. Which is why the original self was deceived by Old Morgan, who actually led him to believe in his spirit communication abilities, attempting a spirit summoning ritual to reunite with his parents, who became dead souls. Although his soul indeed left his body after drinking a suspicious liquid, he didn¡¯t meet his parents; instead, he saw Old Morgan, also in soul form, who by then had torn off his facade of hypocrisy to reveal his ferocious true face. What was performed was not a spirit summoning ritual, but a malicious soul swapping ceremony. Old Morgan, this wicked old thing, coveted not only the Tang Family¡¯s wealth but also Tang Qi¡¯s young and vibrant body. Regrettably, it seemed Old Morgan was also a novice at the ceremony, not very familiar with it, at least unaware that the Judgement Demon on the cross could briefly leave the scale, which allowed Tang Qi, who had crossed over, to successfully turn the tables. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; everything now belonged to Tang Qi. Now becoming gradually accustomed to his new body, Tang Qi was absorbing the memory flooding his mind while at the same time inspecting his spoils, the inheritance from Old Morgan. Old Morgan¡¯s body was bound tightly by Tang Qi. Though Tang Qi was utterly sure of his death, with his soul caught by the scale, becoming the new Judgement Demon. Without someone initiating a soul swapping ceremony, it seemed he would never have the chance to turn the tables. Yet Tang Qi¡¯s cautious nature still compelled him to apply an extra layer of protection. As for destroying the body, Tang Qi had considered it, but another arrangement came to mind, so for the moment he refrained from acting. ¡°` Having dealt with the body, all of Old Morgan¡¯s belongings were naturally searched by Tang Qi. Six items in total, laid out before Tang Qi. The first, the all too familiar Soul Swapping Balance, was immediately set aside by Tang Qi. The second, a notebook that seemed to have seen many years. As for the third, fourth, and fifth items, they were some rough-looking witchcraft artifacts. The last one was a rolled-up animal hide. Tang Qi¡¯s gaze landed on the notebook first and foremost. Opening it, he flipped through. What caught his eye were the yellowed pages, clearly showing their age. Thanks to the memories of his original body, the script of this world posed no obstacle to Tang Qi¡¯s reading. And the content recorded therein immediately piqued Tang Qi¡¯s interest. Witchcraft, each page contained the record of a spell, but from the description alone, they appeared to be entirely from the Evil Camp. Moreover, each spell¡¯s requirements were complex, and their effects seemed less remarkable than the legends suggested ¨C at least, they didn¡¯t appear to have the capacity to rob wealth or cause fatalities without fulfilling some very stringent and complex preconditions. For example, a spell called ¡°Heart of Fear¡± required collecting the target¡¯s blood, hair, nails, and then at a specific hour and location, setting up an elaborate ritual to summon a Fear Demon to invade the target¡¯s dreams. After several consecutive days, the target would be plunged into incessant nightmares and eventually be driven to madness. Or, another spell named ¡°Uluu Puppet,¡± which upon successful casting, could create a puppet entirely subservient to one¡¯s will, but first required finding a target innately intellectually deficient, then soaking them in a special potion, followed by precision bloodline modifications akin to surgery, only then it might have a certain chance of success. This ¡°certain chance¡± was presumably not very high. Though these witchcraft spells were both evil and cumbersome, Tang Qi found them extremely intriguing to read. Having been reborn and transported to an unfamiliar world, although he had already learned some information about the new world ¨C seemingly a safe world highly similar to Earth in his past life, even without the emergence of nuclear weapons thus supposedly even safer ¨C Based on the circumstances of his former self, even if there were no nuclear weapons, Extraordinary Power existed. It left Tang Qi with no choice but to cautiously speculate: could this be a Dark World where demons and ghosts run rife? If so, then the Evil legacy of the Old Black Man might just be the first-hand resource Tang Qi could rely on for self-preservation. Aside from a tightly bound corpse and the flickering candlelight in the study, only the rustling sound of pages turning remained. Soon, Tang Qi¡¯s fingers suddenly paused, stopping on a certain page. Relative to the other witchcraft spells, this page was densely packed with text, accompanied by many exquisite illustrations, with the image of a scale in the center quite conspicuous. No doubt about it, this page documented the Soul Swapping Ceremony. After Tang Qi carefully read through the ritual process, he took a long breath. The last shred of doubt he had was finally put to rest. According to the notebook, once the ritual failed, there were only two outcomes for the initiator. One, be captured by the Soul Swapping Balance and become the new Judgement Demon. Two, dissipate completely. Clearly, Old Morgan met the first outcome. He had no clue that what he summoned was not the true Judgement Demon but an otherworld soul desperate for rebirth. At last, the credulous Old Black Man who trusted the devil became the new devil, and Tang Qi took over all the gains. ¡°Perhaps, it is time for me to start a new life.¡± Tang Qi sighed, his eyes brimming with complex emotions. Anyone with an experience like Tang Qi¡¯s would find it hard to calm down in a short time, but fortunately, Tang Qi¡¯s mental strength was still quite good, plus he had the intriguing witchcraft notebook to distract him. However, when Tang Qi turned another page and saw the following content, his previously relaxed expression immediately became serious. Scanning the page in a matter of seconds and quickly flipping through a few more, Tang Qi¡¯s expression turned dark as water. Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 All-Knowing Chapter 4: Chapter 4 All-Knowing Editor: Atlas Studios Great Osar above, save us, for Nimo Prairie hasn¡¯t seen rain in three years; rivers have dried, wells have depleted, and the people of Ukuru Tribe are dying off, my poor daughter, she¡¯s also on the brink of death. ¡­ Great Osar, you must have heard my prayers, mother finally agreed to take our family away from Nimo Prairie. Using mother¡¯s reputation, we passed through dozens of tribes across the prairie with only one incident of conflict. That time, mother killed the opposing clan leader and as punishment, also took the most beautiful woman from that tribes, who will become my new wife. ¡­ We arrived at Yoruba Kingdom, the most powerful kingdom in the southern Saha Continent. Everything here is good; mother sold a gemstone, and our family moved into a comfortable house. My new wife is finally pregnant. ¡­ Damn the Yoruba people, they discovered mother¡¯s presence and threatened to burn her alive if we didn¡¯t leave. Fosca went berserk, he killed a few Yoruba policemen, and we were besieged. My new wife and daughter were killed, I was wounded there, and now I can no longer continue the family line. ¡­ A cunning snakehead found us, promising to take us away from Yoruba to the legendary paradise¡ªDivine Eagle Federation. Mother gave him the last gemstone. ¡­ We finally reached the Divine Eagle Federation, mother wanted to kill the snakehead to take back the gemstone, but she found her power rapidly waning, she could no longer kill, we can¡¯t make a living with mother¡¯s power anymore, this is not paradise, this is a hell for the poor. ¡­ For the sake of the family, I sold myself; a despicable middleman introduced me to a couple to work as a butler. The salary was plenty, but I had to give half to the middleman, yet what remained was enough for the family to eat well. Balagon also had money to apprentice at a meat shop. ¡­ Twenty years have passed, mother suddenly contacted me; she could feel her power swiftly returning, and it seems the world has undergone unknown changes. The already mystical witchcraft not only works again but is stronger than ever before. Mother said she has touched a higher realm and has decided to travel the world, leaving the duty of caring for the family to me. Just then, that couple died in a car accident, leaving behind a vast inheritance and a foolish child. I need a fresh body; I also need that wealth. I can finally contribute greatly to the family; it looks like it¡¯s time to start preparing that ritual. I will definitely succeed. ¡ª Last page. Old Morgan¡¯s diary, the first part records some witchcraft, but the latter part is indeed his diary. From his intermittent descriptions, it¡¯s not hard to deduce that Old Morgan had smuggled himself from the distant Saha Continent over twenty years ago, having lost his wife and child along the way. To sustain life, he sold himself to some black middlemen. Of course, none of this is crucial; what truly interests Tang Qi. Is that behind Old Morgan, there¡¯s still a family. And from the diary, it¡¯s evident that the family head isn¡¯t Old Morgan, but his mother, a seemingly dangerous old witch. Clearly, Old Morgan¡¯s witchcraft was learned from her. So the situation now is that although I have replaced a wealthy second-generation heir, I have also offended a black family skilled in witchcraft. From Old Morgan¡¯s diary, this family clearly consists of individuals who kill without regard for good or evil. Old Morgan and this family were able to keep their grievances hidden for over twenty years because witchcraft ceased to work after entering the Divine Eagle Federation. They have started to emerge now because witchcraft has once again been restored. Even though these are just trivial details, it¡¯s not hard to infer that this world, which looks just like Earth in my previous life, actually possesses real Extraordinary Powers. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if, like the Old Witch, the power is just beginning to restore, or if it has been there since the very start¡­? Regardless of these questions, what I need to think about first and foremost is how to survive the revenge of that twisted family with this hard-earned new life. But I am alone with no relatives or friends, and I am just an ordinary person. How can I fight against a family with witches who are skilled in witchcraft? Call the police? Tang Qi¡¯s first thought, coming from a civilized society, was just that. Unfortunately, he soon shook his head and dismissed the idea. From the memories of his original body, while he had indeed witnessed the existence of Extraordinary Powers, the world still publicly appeared no different from Earth in the past life. That is to say, if Tang Qi went to the police, there¡¯s a high chance he would be regarded as insane, and he might even end up being accused of murdering his steward. With this path blocked, Tang Qi realized he might ultimately have to rely on his own strength. Yet, as soon as this thought emerged, Tang Qi looked at the diary in his hands and the few crudely made witchcraft trinkets, somewhat helplessly saying, ¡°Even if I do have a unique talent, and I learn these witchcraft quickly, I¡¯m probably no match for a ruthless Old Witch. It wouldn¡¯t be much different from seeking death.¡± ¡°What should I do? Maybe I should just sell all my properties and flee Messer City right away. Perhaps I can avoid the twisted family¡¯s vengeance.¡± Tang Qi is very clear that the latter option is the correct one, but the idea of fleeing without even fighting makes him instinctively resistant. After pondering deeply for a while and coming up with no good plan, Tang Qi let out a slight sigh, his gaze involuntarily falling onto the last item that was found on Old Morgan ¨C a strange and ancient Sheepskin Scroll. According to Old Morgan¡¯s diary, the Sheepskin Scroll was left by his second wife who had passed away, whose father was the Clan Leader killed by Old Morgan¡¯s mother, and the scroll was a Holy Relic worshiped by the tribe for hundreds of years. Tang Qi put down the diary and picked up the Sheepskin Scroll, slowly unrolling it. Tang Qi didn¡¯t hold much hope for the Sheepskin Scroll, for since it had fallen into Old Morgan¡¯s hands, it was as good as falling into the Old Witch¡¯s hands. If it were truly a miraculous Holy Relic, the Old Witch would have likely taken it long ago. The sight that unfolded confirmed Tang Qi¡¯s premonition, because nothing happened. The Sheepskin Scroll was a comforting touch, with mottled colors and an ancient aura. Oddly enough, it was deep into the night, yet the scroll felt warm, as though it had been kept in the sunlight. Coincidentally, after unrolling the Sheepskin Scroll, there was only one totem depicted inside. A Sun, a golden Sun. Tang Qi stared at the totem for a while, but aside from his eyes growing tired, he gained nothing. ¡°Seems like escaping is still the more practical option.¡± Muttering to himself, Tang Qi was about to set the Sheepskin Scroll aside and continue studying the diary when. Unexpectedly, something happened. Tang Qi¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted; a familiar sight appeared before his eyes. A special image was presented in Tang Qi¡¯s vision. Curios: Ancient Sheepskin Scroll Information Fragment One: The Origin is a Curios that records the Golden Furnace Meditation Method, which can be deciphered. Information Fragment Two: Decryption method, align the sheepskin scroll with the dawn¡¯s sunlight, and silently recite ¡°The sun is the golden melter, the sole fuel is the soul,¡± after ten seconds, the Curios will revert to its original form. It appeared again, it has appeared once more. Tang Qi forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart and focused intently on the image before him. A familiar yet different scene had occurred when Tang Qi was still a lowly Judgement Demon; anytime he looked at anything, an interface similar to what would appear while playing online games on Previous Earth would emerge, only more simple and mysterious. At that time, Tang Qi thought it was a benefit of his crossing over to this world, but after his rebirth, those images all disappeared, which led Tang Qi to believe that these could only be seen as a Devil. Now it seems, Tang Qi was wrong. Perhaps, such an interface only appears for Extraordinary things. The operating Soul Swapping Balance is an Extraordinary Artifact, I was when I was a Judgement Demon, Old Morgan¡¯s soul was too, and this Curios, the sheepskin scroll. Of course, it could also be that I am too weak, so this ability is sporadic and unreliable? Moreover, what should this ability be called? All-Knowing? All-knowing and All-powerful? While Tang Qi was guessing and naming his Golden Finger, his gaze fell directly onto those two Information Fragments. According to the fragments, this ancient sheepskin scroll¡¯s true nature should be an artifact that records the ¡°Golden Furnace Meditation,¡± and the method to restore it was directly displayed before Tang Qi. A not so complicated method, but without knowing the spell, even if one had the sheepskin scroll for hundreds of years, they couldn¡¯t unlock its mystery. Much like the tribe of Old Morgan¡¯s second wife, which had been enshrined for hundreds of years, probably was researched for hundreds of years, but in the end, it was not as effective as Tang Qi¡¯s glance. ¡°Golden Furnace Meditation!¡± ¡°Dawn!¡± Holding the sheepskin scroll, Tang Qi murmured as he stood up. He walked straight to the windowsill, his hand suddenly seizing the exquisite curtain. With a ¡°swish,¡± the curtains parted, Light suddenly bloomed, dispersing the darkness of the study, as the first warm ray of sunlight pierced through the window, landing perfectly on the sheepskin scroll in Tang Qi¡¯s hand. Tang Qi immediately lifted the sheepskin scroll, placing it entirely under the sunlight, closed his eyes, and mouthed word by word, ¡°The sun is the golden melter, the sole fuel is the soul.¡± With the last word uttered, Tang Qi started counting down in his heart. Ten! Nine! Eight! ¡­ One! Tang Qi abruptly opened his eyes, his nervous and expectant gaze once again landing on the sheepskin scroll. Was it successful? Has it reverted? Although Tang Qi did not know what the so-called Golden Furnace Meditation was, at this moment, this artifact that sounded like some Cultivation Method was undoubtedly Tang Qi¡¯s greatest hope. When Tang Qi¡¯s gaze settled on it, when the last second ended. Tang Qi saw it, the golden sunlight scattered on the sheepskin scroll, flowing like water along the sun totem, and when the sunlight turned into a golden line reaching the center of the totem. Boom! A burst of golden light exploded, engulfing not only Tang Qi but the entire study, and although it was only for a brief second, Tang Qi still felt endless warmth. All tension, apprehension, and fear brought about by the experiences of turning into a devil, plotting against Old Morgan, and rebirth as a human seemed to dissolve silently. At this moment, Tang Qi was in utter peace and looked at his palm once more. There, the sheepskin scroll had vanished. In its place was a ball of golden light, akin to a newborn sun, warm and dazzling, with a slight heat that melted away, and then, under the intense gaze of Tang Qi¡¯s wide-open eyes, it slowly merged into his palm. In a daze, Tang Qi once again caught a few Information Fragments. The Curios has been restored! Discovered the ancient Meditation Method ¨C Golden Furnace Meditation! Can be converted into a Skill! Converting in progress! ¡­ Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Snowflake Rabbit Meat Stew Soup Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Snowflake Rabbit Meat Stew Soup Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°This feeling¡­it¡¯s wonderful.¡± Tang Qi stood before the windowsill, basking in the warm sunlight, all the gloom swept away, feeling better than ever before. In his field of vision, the odd interface underwent a change. Name: Tang Qi. State: Normal. Species: Human. Skill: Golden Furnace Meditation. Information Fragment: This is an ancient Meditation Method, visualizing a golden Sun, and your soul will be thrown into the Melter, sublimating in the Burning. ¡°A Cultivation Method?¡± Tang Qi suppressed the joy in his heart. Although he had retaliated and killed the evil butler Old Morgan, Samra, who was behind Old Morgan, still cast a huge shadow over Tang Qi¡¯s future. Just a glimpse into Old Morgan¡¯s diary revealed a sliver of the terror of the Old Witch Samra. Tang Qi, still an ordinary person, dared not imagine what would happen to him if this family came looking for vengeance. The inheritance of wealth from his original body did not give Tang Qi any sense of security. As a result, he had not even consciously thought about it until now. However, this newly acquired Extraordinary Cultivation Method was a beam of hope that exhilarated Tang Qi. Start cultivating now? Tang Qi glanced at Old Morgan¡¯s corpse lying on the ground, the evil ritual, the extinguished red candles, the ominous Soul Swapping Balance. It was difficult for an ordinary person to remain calm in such an environment, yet Tang Qi merely smiled lightly and sat down cross-legged beneath the window sill, directly in the sunlight. Without hesitation and following the methods in the Information Fragment, he started visualizing the golden Sun in his Sea of Consciousness. The Sheepskin Scroll was gone, but oddly enough, all the details of the sun totem were incredibly clear in Tang Qi¡¯s mind, thoroughly vivid. With just a thought, Tang Qi began to sketch out the Sun bit by bit in his Sea of Consciousness: golden lines, weird and ancient runes, as if a primeval sage was sketching the faith in their heart upon stone while facing the Sun. The moment the Sun took shape, the golden Light Flames, like the entrance to a Dream World, swelled and exploded instantaneously, engulfing all of Tang Qi¡¯s thoughts. What followed was a spectacle Tang Qi had never experienced before. He seemed to become a golden Sun himself, suspended high above Nihility, releasing infinite Light Flames, warm and vast. In this infinite Nihility, many bizarre things were sweeping in from unknown places. These things included pitch-black mists, murky streams, roaring nebulous monsters, attention-drawing flower seas¡­ Any of these could greatly attract Tang Qi. Yet when they touched the golden Light Flames, they burned up in an instant without exception. While the strange things were incinerated, a golden Light Point was born, like dust, flying automatically into Tang Qi¡¯s body, the center of the Light Flames, an undeniable sensation of warmth that made Tang Qi want to groan. Comfortable! Fun! That was Tang Qi¡¯s feeling at the moment. The painful Extraordinary experience he imagined did not occur; instead, the comfort allowed him to immediately immerse himself. It was like playing a game collecting golden Light Points, tirelessly. In this state, Tang Qi forgot his surroundings, completely engrossed. Time flew by rapidly. ¡°Ha.¡± After who knows how long, Tang Qi suddenly felt an unbearable heat inside his head, like one touching a hot iron, which immediately woke him up. Upon opening his eyes, what he saw was a dim purple Moon, slowly fading away. On the horizon, a new round of the Sun was slowly rising. What happened, did time reverse? Subconsciously, Tang Qi looked at the wall clock in the study. His pupils shrank slightly, and he exclaimed in surprise, ¡°A whole day and night have passed.¡± Tang Qi felt amazed. He had been sitting cross-legged beneath the window sill for an entire day and night, and by all rights, he should be stiff and aching. But at the moment, all Tang Qi felt was an unprecedented sense of well-being. Not only was there no soreness in his body, but there was also no sense of fatigue in his spirit. The most incredible part was that Tang Qi now sensed ¡°something¡± new in his Sea of Consciousness. Without standing up, he focused his spiritual power, and ¡°whoosh,¡± in the transformation of Nihility, he saw his own Sea of Consciousness¡ªa world of Nihility, with dots of golden light floating like fireflies. Although further detached, these golden light points seemed very small compared to the vast Sea of Consciousness. But at this moment, Tang Qi was still overjoyed; these golden light points were, undoubtedly, Extraordinary Power. ¡°` However, Tang Qi currently lacked the corresponding method to utilize it. ¡°Since it is a power born after practicing the Meditation Method, could these all be spiritual power?¡± Tang Qi speculated briefly before he couldn¡¯t resist testing it himself. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he stared, he couldn¡¯t move even a single pencil, and his strength and speed remained unchanged. Consequently, Tang Qi¡¯s gaze involuntarily fell upon the diary left by Old Morgan. Inside, there were as many as a dozen witchcrafts recorded. Although most required the preparation of complex rituals of evil witchcraft, there were still a few special witchcrafts that could be cast using only Magic Power. However, Tang Qi soon shook his head and dismissed the idea. Apart from being uncertain whether the golden light points that he had cultivated fit the definition of ¡°Magic Power¡± in witchcraft, there was an even more daunting reason. According to Old Morgan¡¯s diary, all the witchcrafts he knew originated from his mother. A witch named ¡°Samra¡±, once a Shaman of a mysterious tribe on the Saha Continent, had a terrible reputation and high prestige in that region. If he used those witchcrafts, it was very likely that Samra would sense it. Tang Qi had just stepped into the Extraordinary Domain and was absolutely unprepared to handle the revenge of a Black Witchcraft family, so he could only set the idea aside for now. Of course, having succeeded in his first cultivation, a smile couldn¡¯t help but appear on Tang Qi¡¯s face, and at the bottom of his heart, he guessed, ¡°This strange Golden Finger of mine doesn¡¯t seem so simple either, the Golden Furnace Meditation has been lost for many years, and the difficulty of cultivation must be extraordinary.¡± ¡°If I succeeded on my first attempt, either I am the once-in-a-lifetime genius of legends, or it¡¯s due to the previous transformation of this Meditation into a skill.¡± ¡°Since it is a skill, as long as I am in good condition, success every time is inevitable.¡± While mumbling to himself, Tang Qi slowly got up, stepped over Old Morgan, who was already in a state of rigor mortis on the floor, walked straight out of the study, and headed directly to the kitchen following the Information Fragments. Along the way, the familiar yet strange scenery evoked even more Information Fragments in Tang Qi¡¯s mind, frame after frame of images that enhanced his understanding of his original identity and deepened his understanding of this entirely new World. Out of the study, first was a corridor adorned with many paintings, then the classical solid wood staircase, an elegant and atmospheric hall; although the layout was not spacious at all, it showcased the exquisite taste of the Master. However, apart from Tang Qi himself, not a single Human Figure was to be seen, making the entire mansion seem incredibly desolate. After a brief recollection, Tang Qi understood the reason. In fact, there were a few servants previously, such as a chef, a gardener, two elderly maids responsible for cleaning, but they had all been given a long holiday by Old Morgan. Now, it was clear that it was for the convenience of scheming. ¡°` Tang Qi could call the servants back, but now he was getting a bit impatient. After a day and night of cultivation, his spiritual state was incredibly full, and his body itself was fine, but the hunger in his stomach was like a monster trying to break free. Not taking time to admire the understated luxury of the villa, Tang Qi walked straight through the hall and into the kitchen behind. Without scrambling around, he recalled a few details and got to work. He stepped up to the huge refrigerator, clicked it open, fumbled for a bit, then took out a piece of bright red meat. Under the vast cold air, it was clear that this was a piece of meat covered with snowflake patterns like snowflake beef. Weighing it, Tang Qi placed it satisfactorily on the chopping board in front of him, then turned around and took a few potatoes from the nearby vegetable rack, an onion, something resembling a carrot, as well as a few green vegetables. After putting them down, he casually also picked up a complex-looking spice box. After a silent glance, feeling everything was ready, Tang Qi clicked the stove on with a flick of his finger. Underneath a cauldron-like cooking vessel, a blue-purple flame rose. After adding clear water, on the other side, Tang Qi started cutting with a knife. Although it was his first time cooking with this new body, it seemed to unexpectedly fit well due to some reason. After the ¡°chop chop¡± sounds ended, all the ingredients on the chopping board were prepared, and just in time, the water boiled. Tang Qi¡¯s hands danced fluently as he separately put the ingredients, including the whole piece of snowflake meat, into the pot. He opened the spice box, and according to the memories in his mind, he muttered to himself while quickly adding various exotic spices to the cauldron. After he added them, Tang Qi covered the pot, and a magical scene happened quickly. Ten seconds, just ten seconds. Tang Qi quickly took the lid off, and with a ¡°whoosh,¡± an overwhelmingly rich fragrance surged out of the cauldron. It was an irresistibly appetizing scent, and Tang Qi did not prepare any bowls or utensils. He roughly lifted the cauldron onto the massive dining table, scooped a spoonful of soup directly into his mouth with a silver spoon he grabbed on the way. Before it even touched his lips, the unique aroma had already stimulated Tang Qi¡¯s salivation intensely. As that spoonful of red-glowing thick soup entered his mouth, flowing down his throat, the lingering taste seemed to activate all taste buds, and a prolonged, comfortable breath was immediately exhaled from Tang Qi¡¯s mouth. Delicious, so delicious, so delectable. At this moment, Tang Qi was full of heartfelt emotion, different from the joy brought by gaining extraordinary power; this was the happiness of delicious food entering the stomach. Starving as he was, Tang Qi could not wait. He waved the silver spoon quickly and ate up all the food in the cauldron, including the broth. After the last bite entered his stomach, Tang Qi put down the spoon, leaned back in his chair satisfactorily, looked at the empty cauldron in front of him, and couldn¡¯t find any trace of meat. He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Snowflake Rabbit Meat Stew, made with the best snowflake rabbit meat paired with seasonal vegetables and special spices, results in an extraordinarily delicious thick soup.¡± ¡°The key is that the snowflake rabbit meat, when cooked in a cauldron, turns into essence and integrates into the soup within ten seconds. Drinking the soup is like eating the meat, truly magical.¡± ¡°According to the original owner¡¯s memories, it seems such magical cooking is not a rare occurrence.¡± ¡°Looking at it this way, the humans of this world are simply too fortunate. Although it¡¯s not like those worlds with glowing dishes or drugged cuisines, it is still a wonderful world for food lovers.¡± After lamenting a few words, Tang Qi cleaned up the dishes. After muttering, ¡°The more beautiful the life, the more it needs a strong foundation,¡± Tang Qi didn¡¯t pause in the slightest, nor did he continue to admire the luxurious villa but went straight to the study. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Handling of Inheritance Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Handling of Inheritance Editor: Atlas Studios Pushing the study door open again, everything inside remained unchanged: the evil ritual on the ground, the burnt candles, the bound corpse of Old Morgan, and the slightly open curtains, all preserved as they were, waiting for Tang Qi¡¯s handling. Although he had complete control over this body now, he was still unable to change some of the original owner¡¯s habits. Tang Qi subconsciously walked over and sat down in the high-back chair behind the desk, his mind automatically beginning to think of solutions. His current situation was that of a teenager without any support. Although he was a wealthy second-generation, he seemed to find no one he could trust in his memories, and apart from his deceased parents, the original owner apparently had no other relatives. Inheriting Tang Steel Company was evidently not something a young man who knew nothing could manage well, and the same went for other belongings which felt like a tangled mess. More urgently, the matter of Old Morgan¡¯s corpse needed to be dealt with. As for the Samra family¡¯s revenge, it could be postponed for a while according to Old Morgan¡¯s diary. ¡°Disposing of the body is easy, after all, Old Morgan had already prepared his own death method and the necessary documents to facilitate his plot to kill the original owner and take over the body; I just need to sign a document to cremate him as an accidental or natural death.¡± ¡°The company and wealth are a bit troublesome. Although most of the shares have already been inherited by the original owner, a significant portion is still dispersed among others, and the current leaders of the company are obviously not going to accept the leadership of a kid.¡± ¡°But at my current age, it¡¯s not like I should start working. If this were a world like Previous Earth it might have been fine, but as it stands, this is a seemingly calm but secretly terrifying world where Extraordinary Power is ready to burst forth.¡± ¡°What I want to do now is to enter the real Extraordinary Domain, to obtain those legendary powers, and if possible, find a way back.¡± ¡°Solving everything perfectly, buying time to grow, and not raising any suspicion is proving to be troublesome.¡± Tang Qi had a slight headache, he rubbed his brow and his gaze unintentionally swept across the desk. On the desk, there were some books, several pen holders and other decorative items, an exquisite lamp, and an old-fashioned rotary dial telephone, which looked very ancient to Tang Qi. Next to the telephone was a small notebook. According to memory, the notebook was left by the original owner¡¯s parents, containing several important phone numbers, mostly those of business partners. ¡°Hmm!¡± An idea seemed to strike Tang Qi, a flash of insight passed through him. He hesitated for a moment, then with a resolved expression, he immediately reached out and took the small notebook. Opening it, he quickly found a name following the memory. ¡°Ronald Kerry, the second-largest shareholder of Tang Steel Company, also a city councilor of Messer City, a shareholder of multiple companies, with significant influence in the city, a real big shot who has been actively promoting the establishment of the Messer City Steel Association and competing for the position of its president.¡± ¡°Such a big shot should be able to perfectly handle all the bothersome affairs for me and satisfy a few small requests.¡± With a thought, Tang Qi moved the telephone over, slender and fair fingers touched it, dialing the numbers from the notebook, one by one. Drip! Drip, drip! It wasn¡¯t long before the receiver came alive with a ¡°click¡±, a voice came through: ¡°Hello, this is Mr. Ronald¡¯s office. May I ask¡­?¡± Hearing the query, Tang Qi immediately replied: ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Tang Qi, I need to speak with Mr. Ronald.¡± After a pause, Tang Qi added: ¡°My parents and Mr. Ronald have been partners for many years, please let me speak with Mr. Ronald for a moment.¡± ¡°Okay, please hold.¡± There was a brief silence on the other end, then a formulaic female voice responded, following which the only sound was that of what seemed like high heels tapping on the floor. After a while, the receiver was picked up, and a steady voice came through: ¡°Little guy, I¡¯m very sorry about your predicament. I¡¯ve been friends with your parents for many years, if there¡¯s anything you need help with, just ask.¡± Hearing this voice, Tang Qi¡¯s mind conjured an image of a well-dressed, composed middle-aged gentleman, a big shot who spoke and acted appropriately and could inspire trust in many people, including the original owner. Unfortunately, Tang Qi was not so easily fooled. Based on fragmented memories of this person, Tang Qi could easily tell that he was dealing with a Heroic Level figure, powerful in both business and politics. If one were to think of taking advantage based on his composed demeanor, it would undoubtedly come with a hefty price. The original owner¡¯s prior idea was to entrust Ronald Kerry with the shares of Tang Steel Company and then live off the dividends. It was a nice thought, but reality could be cruel. If he really did that, within a few years after receiving dividends a few times, Tang Steel Company would completely become Mr. Ronald¡¯s possession, and the original owner would have nothing. Business is just that ruthless. Not to mention that the original owner¡¯s parents didn¡¯t have a particularly deep relationship with this person to begin with; even if they did, with the death of the parents, these connections might have evaporated, ultimately boiling down to interests. Of course, understanding the situation does not mean Tang Qi can compete with this person. Even if he exerted only a little energy and strength, they are not on the same level. Fortunately, this time, Tang Qi¡¯s intention was not to take advantage, precisely, he came to give money. ¡°Uncle Ronald, I indeed need your help with two things.¡± ¡°Oh, tell me.¡± Tang Qi could imagine the middle-aged man on the other end of the phone probably wearing a slight smile, patiently dealing with him like a little brat. He also smiled faintly, without any pleasantries, directly stated his intentions through the phone. ¡°I heard you own an auction house, I want to commission you to auction off all the inheritance I received, except for the villa I live in, including company shares, real estate, mines, just sell them all.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After Tang Qi finished speaking, there was silence on the other end for a moment, then a slightly fluctuating voice came through. ¡°Little guy, are you sure? These are all left by your father, although auctioning them will temporarily bring a large sum of wealth, the losses will be greater, maybe think it over again.¡± Gently advising, almost a perfect elder. However, Tang Qi didn¡¯t appreciate it, simply replied: ¡°Uncle Ronald, I understand your good intentions, but my ambitions are not here, and I can¡¯t cope with these, better to convert them into Divine Eagle Gold Coins, leaving everything in your hands, Uncle Ronald.¡± ¡°Also, besides this, there are two small matters I¡¯d like to trouble Uncle Ronald with¡­¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve thought it through, I will not persuade you further, stay at home for a few minutes, I¡¯ll take care of everything for you.¡± ¡­ After hanging up the phone, Tang Qi stood up. He went straight to get some cleaning tools and swiftly cleaned up all traces of the Soul Swapping Ceremony on the floor, looked one more time at Old Morgan on the floor, coldly smiled, and took off the ropes from his body. After everything was handled, Tang Qi washed his hands, returned to the living room, brewed a pot of tea, and quietly waited. Just about ten minutes later, Tang Qi heard a bell ringing outside the villa. He put down the teacup, went to the door and opened the large iron gate, a very inconspicuous black sedan appeared, the car door opened, and a middle-aged man and two men in black clothes got out. The middle-aged man was dressed in a suit, looking all smart and sharp. After seeing Tang Qi, the man came over and slightly bowed, saying, ¡°Mr. Tang, Mr. Ronald sent us.¡± Tang Qi glanced at the three people, nodded faintly, and said: ¡°Old Morgan is in my study, you go take him down, as per his hometown¡¯s customs, cremate him and scatter the ashes into the sea. Poor old man, suffered a sudden illness, left too soon, may he rest in peace.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After agreeing, the two men in black clothes moved quickly, knowing the location of the study, and in less than a minute, they moved Old Morgan¡¯s completely stiff corpse down and stuffed it into the sedan. By this time, Tang Qi had come out again, holding a stack of documents, apparently all signed, handed them directly to the astute middle-aged man. The middle-aged man took them without even a glance, stowed them away, then respectfully smiled at Tang Qi, saying, ¡°Mr. Tang, the goods you requested will be sent over in three days, please check for their arrival, we take our leave now.¡± Hearing this, Tang Qi nodded faintly, said a slow goodbye, and then turned back into the villa. After a round of inspection, he returned to the study. The room, which had a somewhat horror-filled atmosphere, indeed looked much cleaner now. Without Old Morgan¡¯s body, everything seemed perfect. Tang Qi walked to the windowsill, watching the departing figures, and exhaled a breath. From today, he will have lost all his ¡°inheritance,¡± except for the villa he currently resides in. Just a moment ago, he had delegated all property documents to Ronald¡¯s subordinates, nominally to have Ronald auction them, but Tang Qi was very aware that this was actually his initiative to sell Tang Steel Company and some subsidiary properties directly to Ronald. For Tang Qi, it meant directly cashing out a large sum of wealth. For Ronald, though, the significance was much greater. While it wouldn¡¯t allow his Steel Association plans to be completed, pushing forward the progress and adding some stakes was no problem. For this, Ronald also helped Tang Qi with two small favors. The first was to handle Old Morgan¡¯s body, Tang Qi could have done it himself, but it would be troublesome, possibly even dealing with police inquiries, but it¡¯s much simpler for a big shot like Ronald, especially since Old Morgan had already prepared his ¡°way of death,¡± extremely easy. As for the second favor, it will be disclosed after three days. ps: Chapter 7 and Chapter 9 have been harmonized, restoration date (Fat Fish is very anxious, editing an application to unban) to be determined, everyone can first join the group to watch (number 726582990) without affecting the plot. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Saint Thorn High School Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Saint Thorn High School Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°` Three days have flown by in a flash. This time, in the bedroom, Tang Qi placed the last piece of clothing into the wooden chest in front of him, securing the lid with a lock, and then picked up a beautifully crafted envelope laid on the adjacent bed, which held an admission notice¡ªthis was what Tang Qi had been waiting for these three days. The notice was made of a kind of paper that felt cool to the touch, bordered with intricate designs, and topped with an emblem: a Holy Sword entwined with thorns, embodying a noble and holy aura. In the middle section, it read: Dear Tang Qi, after evaluation, we believe you are an honest, good young man, fully meeting our requirements for Thorns Apprentices. You have been admitted to Saint Thorn High School. Please report to Saint Thorn High School between May 3rd to 9th of the year 102 of the Divine Eagle Calendar. The last line was the school motto: May you don the thorns, may you ultimately cut through the thorns. If one were to only look at this motto, they might think it was a high school run by the church. Indeed, Saint Thorn High School was just that a century ago. However, with the decline of the church¡¯s influence, today¡¯s Saint Thorn High School is more like a noble high school, renowned in Secret Phoenix State for its exceptionally high educational quality and excellent ethos, and is also one of Messer City¡¯s calling cards to the outside world. As for whether it¡¯s authentic? That doesn¡¯t matter to him; he¡¯s only interested in the school¡¯s background. The second small favor Tang Qi asked of Mr. Ronald was this. The original host was exactly fifteen years old, just the right age for high school. Had the original host¡¯s parents not met with accidents and passed away, with the Tang Family¡¯s wealth and connections, they could have barely managed to send Tang Qi to Saint Thorn. Sadly, the now alone Tang Qi, even if he wanted to find connections, would probably be ignored by others. Of course, he could also choose the ¡°normal route,¡± such as getting in through grades and test scores. But the former host let him down with his Asian heritage, being a complete academic slacker, forcing Tang Qi to abandon this path. With Mr. Ronald¡¯s intervention, everything was different. And the reason Tang Qi insisted on entering Saint Thorn High School was, of course, not because he coveted the name of a noble student. Aside from indeed needing a place to study and understand the new world, it was more to avoid the vengeance of the Samra family. According to Old Morgan¡¯s diary, anyone from their family, as soon as they approached Saint Thorn High School, would rapidly weaken, even becoming more frail than the average person. This was something even Samra could not be exempt from. The Old Witch speculated that this was due to the remnants of the church¡¯s power within Saint Thorn High School, a significant force, that without even engaging in battle, the mere aura emitted was enough to suppress the evil of Black Witchcraft. With this intel, it would be foolish for Tang Qi not to take advantage of it. Stuffing the notice into his chest pocket, he hoisted the wooden chest, and Tang Qi locked up all the rooms in the villa, along with securing the iron gate thoroughly. Finally, he glanced back at the now completely deserted ¡°home,¡± turned away with a calm expression, and left without any lingering attachment. Living the life of a rich second-generation with a hefty inheritance and without anyone to answer to might sound wonderful. But sadly, that was not what Tang Qi wanted. If he hadn¡¯t experienced Extraordinary Power, perhaps Tang Qi could have comfortably enjoyed it. But now, everything was different. Holding the wooden chest, Tang Qi walked leisurely out of the villa¡¯s tree-lined path; his image, however, was somewhat different from when he had just been reborn¡ªquality black trousers, a blue linen shirt that looked somewhat formal, a short coat, with black hair and black eyes, he appeared delicate and youthful. One cannot help but admire, the original host possessed good looks and great affinity. So to disguise it somewhat, Tang Qi found and wore a pair of black-framed glasses in the villa, finally making himself less conspicuous. The area where the Tang Family lived was a community called ¡°Rocky,¡± with a tranquil environment inhabited by people with considerable wealth, most of whom had their own Transportation. However, there were clearly also many children, so along the central tree-lined boulevard of the villa district, there was also public transportation service. At this moment, a pale yellow bus arrived in front of Tang Qi. After boarding, Tang Qi didn¡¯t interact with anyone; he directly moved towards an empty seat. The public buses here were free of charge, likely factored into the villa association fees, so there were no fare collectors, and Tang Qi didn¡¯t need to call for stops as his destination was, for sure, a scheduled stop. Indeed, as soon as he sat down, Tang Qi realized that the destination of everyone else on the bus was probably the same as his. The bus was mostly filled with students. About the same age as Tang Qi, there were also one or two who looked older, but unlike Tang Qi, they were all dressed in uniform-like attire, similar to the noble school uniform he had imagined, except that on the chest, all bore the same emblem. The same Holy Sword Thorns Badge that was on his notice. ¡°` ¡°` Perhaps because Tang Qi was not wearing a school uniform, all the students on the bus glanced at him, looked indifferently, and then turned away. The friendlier ones smiled, but no bullies appeared to harass him out of the blue. Tang Qi responded with a smile, perfectly portraying a shy and ordinary black-haired boy. He took a seat in a corner of the bus, and the ride was uneventful. Soon the school bus reached its nearly sole stop¡ªThorns Street. Following a group of students off the bus, the crowd surged towards the buildings at the end of the street. In front was a square paved with white bricks, at the center of which stood a low, old-looking church without any luxurious flair, fitting well with the definition of the Holy Thorns Church, which advocates pain and suffering and does not seek extravagance. The crowd split up in the square, with students heading towards another cluster of buildings at the far end, while the adults, who looked like teachers or staff, headed in the opposite direction. Tang Qi observed for a moment and chose the direction opposite to that of the students. Crossing the square, he entered a cluttered group of buildings, bustling with church staff. Just as Tang Qi was about to arbitrarily stop someone to ask where the ¡°student reception¡± was, an elderly man dressed in a priest¡¯s robe caught up from behind. Seeing Tang Qi turn around, he directly asked, ¡°Child, is your name Tang Qi?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me!¡± Tang Qi replied puzzledly. Upon hearing the affirmative answer, the middle-aged priest sighed with relief and said, ¡°I thought I missed you, luckily.¡± ¡°Child, I have been entrusted by Mr. Ronald to assist you with your enrollment procedures. You can call me Pastor Benny, come with me.¡± After speaking, Pastor Benny turned and led Tang Qi towards a red low-rise building within the group. Approaching, they indeed saw on the first floor of the low-rise building, the third office had a wooden door with a sign hanging on it, reading ¡°Student Reception.¡± ¡°Pastor Benny, thank you for your help.¡± After coming out of the reception, Tang Qi turned and bowed slightly to the priest, speaking very politely. Without waiting for the priest to reply, as if suddenly remembering something, Tang Qi asked again, ¡°Pastor Benny, is there accommodation available for rent within the campus? I plan to choose to board and undergo my three-year Thorny Trial. Due to my personality, I hope to find a quiet, individual room if possible. Do you have any recommendations?¡± The so-called Trial Tang Qi mentioned naturally means studies. But here, it is referred to as the Thorny Trial, at least the stern-looking, blonde old lady in charge of receiving newcomers said so. Not sure if it¡¯s his natural disposition or because of Ronald¡¯s entrusting, Pastor Benny was very affable towards Tang Qi. Upon hearing the question, he replied with a faint smile, ¡°Ah, a brave child indeed. Let me think, which area might still have rooms for rent?¡± ¡°At this time, there really aren¡¯t many options left.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve asked the right person, I do remember a few places where you can find a room that meets your requirements.¡± ¡°Mr. Priest, are there any other options? This place is quite nice already, but if there¡¯s something better, I can afford the extra rent.¡± Tang Qi walked down the steps of a detached small building, apologetically saying to Pastor Benny. There was a room available for rent inside the small building. Although there was no need to share, the owner himself lived on the first floor. Although it already met Tang Qi¡¯s requirements compared to the previous rooms he had seen, Tang Qi still wanted to try his luck and find the one that best met his needs. Because of Ronald¡¯s instructions, Pastor Benny was indeed very responsible. Hearing Tang Qi¡¯s request, he wasn¡¯t annoyed; he simply stroked his face, frowned in thought for a moment, then replied with some difficulty, ¡°There is one place that meets your requirements, yet it¡¯s a bit special. It¡¯s very quiet being near the Ascetic Society, but every dawn is their Cultivation time, so it might be a bit Abnormal. If you can accept that¡­¡± Halfway through what Pastor Benny was saying, Tang Qi¡¯s eyes had already lit up. Not long after, deep within the Holy Thorn Campus, in a secluded corner. Tang Qi was saying goodbye with a smile to two people. One was Pastor Benny, who had completed the reception task, and the other was a white-haired old man with a rosacea nose. Tang Qi had just reached a rental agreement with the old man and rented the old man¡¯s two-story building at a price that was quite expensive by conventional standards. After politely saying farewell, Tang Qi did not look back at the small building, whose walls were covered with ivy and which looked quite exquisite. Instead, he looked toward a few buildings at the end of a tree-lined path across a small grove: a bell tower, several small buildings grouped together, and something like a small square resembling a training ground. ¡°Ascetic Society!¡± After looking a few times and seeing nothing special, Tang Qi shook his head, murmuring to himself before turning back to the building. Pushing open the half-closed door, the interior layout of the small building was immediately clear: a small and refined living room, a rest area, a washroom, and upstairs lay the bedroom and guest room. The furniture and all essentials were present, obviating the need for Tang Qi to make any additional preparations. The homeowner had included a bookshelf of books in the bedroom without moving them. Even though the rent Tang Qi paid was somewhat overpriced relative to these amenities, for Tang Qi, it obviously wasn¡¯t a big deal, given his particular needs. Moreover, he¡¯d just come into a considerable fortune. ¡°` Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Divided History Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Divided History Editor: Atlas Studios The next morning, within the mottled brick and stone building. On the second floor, in a bedroom facing the sun, in the center lay a soft carpet with moon patterns, where Tang Qi slowly woke up. Before opening his eyes, what Tang Qi saw in his mind was that gray, nebulous space. The golden, dust-like light points had increased, the result of an entire night of meditation. It was strange, he had been sitting in meditation all night and still felt not a hint of tiredness. After waking up, he seemed even more spirited. He had also tested the time limit for a single session of the Golden Furnace Meditation, aside from the special state of the first session, the subsequent meditations lasted about an hour each. When his brain began to feel a stabbing pain, he had to stop. Rest for half an hour, then continue to meditate, another hour. The cycle repeated, and a night had passed. Of course, how to properly arrange his meditation time was something Tang Qi was still exploring. What really troubled Tang Qi was the spiritual power obtained from meditation; he hadn¡¯t yet found a way to use it. However, finding a way to practice Extraordinary skills was obviously not an easy task. For Tang Qi, who was still in the ¡°adaptation phase¡± in this new world, it would take some more time. Now, what Tang Qi needed to do was to play the role of a ninth-grade student. Despite the fact that he had moved from his luxurious villa and was living alone in the high school dormitory, requiring no one¡¯s care, which was quite different from his former life, Tang Qi felt he still needed to try hard to play the final role of a student, and also take this opportunity to catch up on some common knowledge. With this thought, Tang Qi immediately got up, cooked breakfast for himself, grabbed the textbooks and classroom schedule he had received the previous day, and headed out. Just as he was about to leave, it seemed he remembered something, and he turned back into the storage room next to the leisure room. He reached straight into the cramped room and pulled out a wooden box, opened it, and what he saw inside were the witchcraft notes he had taken from Old Morgan, some small witchcraft curiosities, and the Soul Swapping Balance. The previous night, Tang Qi had thrown these items in here. To give up the Black Witchcraft notes and the Soul Swapping Balance was not because he lacked decisiveness or was adhering to a division between good and evil. From beginning to end, there was only one reason: caution. These items could indeed endow a person with remarkable power. However, using such Black Witchcraft could attract the attention of an old witch¡¯s family, which was not a wise choice for Tang Qi at the moment. Especially after Tang Qi had obtained the Golden Furnace Meditation, these items seemed even more superfluous. At this moment, as Tang Qi looked at them again, even though only a night had passed, he couldn¡¯t tell if it was an illusion, but Tang Qi always felt that the evil aura of these items seemed to have weakened somewhat, and was continuing to diminish. ¡°Could it be, it actually works?¡± Tang Qi muttered to himself, his gaze directly focusing on the scale at the bottom of the box. Immediately, ripples surged within his field of vision, and a special interface once again appeared. Among these items, it seemed that only the scale and the un-restored Meditation had reached the level to trigger Tang Qi¡¯s All-Knowing ability, or the Golden Finger. Curios: Soul Swapping Balance Information Fragment One: This is an evil creation that can swap souls. Information Fragment Two: Due to the special environment it is in, it is undergoing suppression by Light powers, continuing to weaken, with a high probability of failure in launching the ritual. ¡°It works!¡± Seeing the changed information fragment, Tang Qi exclaimed joyfully. The intelligence in the diary was correct; within Saint Thorn High School, there indeed existed a Light power suppressing Black Witchcraft. Regardless if it was not a human but an evil creation, it would still be suppressed within the area. Having verified this, a big stone in Tang Qi¡¯s heart immediately fell. He stored these items back, feeling more relaxed. Turning, he opened the front door, walked down the stone steps, and followed the path he had remembered from the previous day, heading to the actual campus area. Saint Thorn High School¡¯s front was the white brick and stone square and the Thorny Church with a history of hundreds of years. But that was merely the facade. Behind it lay an exceedingly vast campus. Deep within the campus, there was even a sizable park. The main area, such as the central campus, housed the actual educational buildings comprising four or five majestic high-rises. On the left and right were buildings for teaching staff and student dormitories. The place Tang Qi resided was in a secluded corner on the left side. As he walked toward the main campus area, he glanced unintentionally a few times at the clock tower area very close to his small building. This was exactly what Pastor Benny had mentioned¡ªthat the only drawback of this quiet brick and stone building was being too close to the ¡°Ascetic Society.¡± One could often see some eerie scenes, especially in the early morning hours. However, this time Tang Qi didn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Could it be I got up too late?¡± Shaking his head, Tang Qi muttered a sentence. Taking out a book from his bosom, Tang Qi slowly headed towards the main campus. There was a somewhat lengthy path ahead, which provided sufficient time for Tang Qi to review some common knowledge, especially in terms of history. For instance, the page Tang Qi randomly flipped open discussed the historical establishment of the Divine Eagle Empire. Before seeing the text, what first caught his eye was a striking image depicting a seaside metropolitan city, with a gigantic statue that seemed to reach into the clouds. That metropolitan city, Tang Qi knew, was the second largest city of the Divine Eagle Federation¡ªJiatai City. And that sculpture was actually a divine statue. It had a long and wide robe, a thorny crown on its head radiating light, holding an unknown book in one hand, and a seemingly cold and ancient long sword in the other, around its feet on the tall black stone base, numerous bas-reliefs shaped like shattered demons and ghosts were carved. Merely with the naked eye, it was hard to determine how tall the statue was, and naturally, more details were unknowable. However, there was a paragraph below this page about this statue. Lord of Thorns: A gift from the Europe Alliance to the Divine Eagle Federation following the Great Catastrophe, the crown on its head represents the endless radiance bestowed by the Lord of Light, the book in its hand is the ¡°Thorny Law Code,¡± representing the most strict and fair law, the sword in its hand and the bas-reliefs at its feet represent the countless demons defeated during the establishment process of the Divine Eagle Federation. It was rumored that there was also a pair of Wings of Freedom within the gifts from Europe, meant to accompany the statue of the Lord of Thorns, which unfortunately went missing mysteriously during transportation, remaining lost for hundreds of years and becoming one of the biggest mysteries in the long history of the Divine Eagle Federation. ¡°Why is it not the Statue of Liberty?¡± Tang Qi, looking at the somewhat familiar scene in his memory, could not help but sigh. Although everything was different, some details about the depiction of this scene on this page of the history book indeed resembled the Statue of Liberty on the previous Earth. However, the related history was utterly different. It was known that this history book recorded the official history. The appearance of things like the Lord of Thorns and law code could be understood, but the realistic mentioning of demons puzzled Tang Qi. His confusion was not about the existence of demons, as the experiences of the day of his rebirth did not allow Tang Qi to deny the existence of Extraordinary Powers; since devils, Soul Swapping Balance, and Black Witchcraft could exist, the emergence of demons was also natural. What truly perplexed Tang Qi was that in the open, the existence of Extraordinary Powers was officially denied. This world, like the previous Earth, had developed modern civilization. Though still filled with many strange, exaggerated mythological tales circulated in various books, media, or by word of mouth, and compared to Earth, this world seemed to have especially more tales that were excessively real in detail. For instance, the most profound memory in the original host¡¯s mind was that over a thousand years ago, a great disaster occurred in this world, which, whether it was war or natural disaster, tied together with complicated terms like deities, demons, apocalypse, ¡­ engulfing the entire world. And the Divine Eagle Federation, now one of the strongest political bodies, was established at the end of the Great Catastrophe. Such a huge event should have detailed records passed down, but from the original host¡¯s memory, it seemed that the true story of that significant event was jointly concealed by each major country under some mutual understanding. In those that were somewhat unhideable, various information was polluted and processed, successfully ushering the whole world into a harmonious modern civilization atmosphere, even somewhat better than the previous Earth. But if those Extraordinary Powers, be it demons or deities, could truly appear, even if all the major political bodies conspired to conceal them, they could not stop all mouths and eyes from knowing. The reason behind this situation, Tang Qi found the answer on the next page. Or rather, a possible answer. It turned out that a hundred years ago, a miraculous meteor streaked across the Origin Blue Star, and overnight, all signs of extraordinary phenomena disappeared. What followed was the booming development of science. Quickly within just a hundred years, the entire Origin Blue Star achieved achievements more brilliant than the past thousand years, except for some local areas and the Saha Continent still occasionally plagued by wars, most regions of the Origin Blue Star were very civilized and prosperous. In light of this, many political bodies or species adopted a new calendar following that meteor, and the Divine Eagle Federation was also one of them. Thus, Tang Qi saw the ¡°Year 102 of Divine Eagle Calendar¡± on his acceptance letter. Here, the Divine Eagle Calendar actually is the Divine Eagle New Calendar. If converted to the old calendar, the number would have to be increased by at least several thousand years. This split and incredible historical process of the Origin Blue Star somewhat fascinated Tang Qi, making him unaware that he had already stepped into the Main Campus, and the surroundings began to buzz with people moving back and forth. Just then, Tang Qi suddenly felt a pain in his forehead, his body swayed nearly falling, managing to stabilize himself, but in the corner of his eye saw the human figure he had bumped into was about to fall, Tang Qi instinctively reached out a hand, catching the person by the waist. ¡°Ah!¡± When the crisp, pleasant exclamation hit his ears, Tang Qi also felt the soft touch in his palm. ¡°It¡¯s a girl!¡± Tang Qi internally made the judgment immediately. ps: Chapter 9 has been harmonized, recovery date (Fat Fish is very anxious, modification application for lifting the ban in progress) is pending, everyone can first join the group to catch up (number 726582990), it won¡¯t affect the plot. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Derived Skills Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Derived Skills Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi, at fifteen years old, already stood around 1.7 meters tall. And the girl wrapped in his arms was surprisingly not shorter than Tang Qi. She looked to be about the same age with a beautiful face, yet her appearance was ruined by her attire. Baggy pants, an oversized sweater, messy hair compounded by even more exaggerated black-framed glasses than those worn by Tang Qi, and her timid gaze¡ªshe was practically a prime target for the school bullies. Tang Qi¡¯s thoughts were like the curse of a prophet. For just at the next moment, several figures appeared in front of them, along with sharp, disdainful laughter that one would find annoying. ¡°Sally, Sally, isn¡¯t this the unluckiest Sally? Finally realized you¡¯re too lonely and started to flirt with some silly boys just after school started. How does it feel to be held by a boy for the first time? Is it comfortable or not?¡± ¡°Unlucky Sally is finally lovesick, taking initiative now, huh?¡± ¡°We should pity this little boy, targeted by Sally right at the start of school.¡± The speaking girls, flamboyantly dressed, wore sexy outfits like jeans, some revealing their bellies, or half their chests with cropped T-shirts. The leader, a blonde girl, with pale skin and a curvy figure, plus a pretty face enhanced by makeup skills, was clearly the type of popular girl you¡¯d find in any school. However, this girl, with a proud expression spoke harshly, watching the girl who quickly withdrew from Tang Qi¡¯s embrace as the group of girls showed up, then teasingly smiled, speaking in a mockingly tender voice, ¡°Sally, do you still want to join our Sisterhood?¡± ¡°I want~ I want.¡± Just as the girl picked up the books she dropped, upon hearing the blonde¡¯s words, a flash of excitement crossed her face. But shortly after, she remembered some unpleasant memories, hesitated, and then timidly replied. ¡°Good, since you still want to join, then we¡¯ll give you one last test. I remember you still have your first kiss, right?¡± ¡°How about this, you give your first kiss to this junior boy right now, and I will allow you into our Sisterhood. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Ah~¡± As soon as the blonde finished speaking, the girl called Sally instantly froze. Then hesitantly and fearfully said, ¡°Angela, I~ I~ I can¡¯t¡­¡± Blonde girl, Angela, seeing Sally hesitate, a distorted pleasure appeared on her delicate face, laughing unreservedly. She leaned close to Sally¡¯s ear, whispering, ¡°Dear Sally, this is your last chance. If you don¡¯t do this, not only will you not be able to join the Sisterhood, but also no one at Thorny High School will want to be your friend, you understand?¡± Hearing this threat, Sally was on the verge of crying. Unfortunately, seeing her pitiful appearance, the several sizzling girls in front, far from showing any sympathy, instead burst into laughter, their faces showing the joy of a successful mischief. Witnessing a session of campus bullying firsthand and unexpectedly being used as a prop in it, Tang Qi was anything but happy. Closing the history book he was halfway through reading, he shook his head and attempted to leave past the group of girls. For such matters, Tang Qi had no interest¡ªmerely teenage hormonal outbursts and mean girls¡¯ pranks. He¡¯d rather spend time reading and learning more about this interesting new world. However, he wanted to leave, someone didn¡¯t want him to. ¡°Stop there¡± A sharp voice hailed from blonde girl Angela as she blocked Tang Qi, her impressive chest heaving, a rather appealing sight. Her pretty face drew close, smiling seductively, seemingly purposefully letting her chest¡¯s enticing view leak into Tang Qi¡¯s sight, spoke in a honeyed voice, ¡°Junior, you just enrolled, right? As your senior, I¡¯d like to ask you a little favor, to be a good prop, which is quite a benefit.¡± ¡°Maybe after today, you can earn the title of [The boy who has been kissed by unlucky Sally], sounds pretty good.¡± As soon as Angela finished speaking, the other girls laughed even louder. Passersby students also realized there was a spectacle to witness, gathering around, yet none dared to intervene. Tang Qi casually observed and noticed that the surrounding students, both male and female, particularly feared the group of girls, especially the leader Angela. The girls mostly felt this, while the boys, despite fear, also felt strong admiration. This situation was very common. In any school, there are usually three kinds of people. One kind, making up the majority, are the students who study diligently and are mediocre and honest. The second kind, a minority comprised of those with good family backgrounds and attractive looks. Most boys in this category are sports stars, and the girls are stylish and hot, but mostly they have poor characters, enjoying bullying the third type. Which is just like Sally, beside Tang Qi¡ªtimid, earnest, and simple. Regardless of gender, they get bullied. Tang Qi didn¡¯t enroll in Saint Thorn High School to become the third type; he aimed to be an ordinary student with a low profile, the Transcendent World being a different matter. So, suddenly being entangled in this situation, Tang Qi felt quite helpless. However, as onlookers kept increasing, Tang Qi got tired of the hassle, completely ignoring the allure Angela exposed, continued past the group planning to leave. But just as he was about to take the next step, a tall figure suddenly squeezed through the crowd. This was a tall Caucasian male, with flowing golden hair and a handsome face, wearing clothes resembling a fencing outfit. Apparently just finished some kind of sports activity, he walked directly towards Angela, noticing Tang Qi¡¯s rude refusal to Angela. The boy immediately stretched out a robust palm to grab Tang Qi¡¯s shoulder, sounding gentle but in fact extremely domineering said, ¡°Junior, I suggest you better follow Angela¡¯s arrangement, a boring day with a good show, and your senior wants to see how unlucky Sally gives her first kiss.¡± Just after enrolling, Tang Qi found himself embroiled in trouble, even becoming the focus of bullying as a spectacle to behold. On the surface, he remained calm, but anger was stirring within him. As soon as his way was blocked, Tang Qi immediately raised his head, locking eyes seriously with the Caucasian male student, who was a so-called senior, and then said word by word: ¡°Please make way.¡± While Tang Qi spoke earnestly, suddenly, a buzzing sound echoed in his mind, and a burning sensation flowed into his eyes. Thus, the next moment, what the Caucasian male student saw when he lowered his head were pupils faintly shimmering with golden light. The threat that was on the tip of his tongue was immediately swallowed back. He felt as though he was being assaulted by a solar brilliance, dazzling his mind and leaving him dizzy. ¡°You~¡± He wanted to do something, but at this moment, his body wouldn¡¯t obey him, and he could only watch helplessly as Tang Qi casually pushed him aside and walked toward the academic area. This scene caused a small stir among the onlookers. Clearly, the outcome of this ¡°confrontation¡± was beyond their expectations. The Caucasian student was the captain of the Ancient Sword Team at Saint Thorn High School, from a distinguished family, good-looking and a figure of prominence. Not only the naive underclassmen, even some of the teachers had to give him face. That scene shouldn¡¯t have happened. It can be imagined that in the eyes of the onlooking students, this captain of the Ancient Sword Team suddenly didn¡¯t seem cool or tough anymore. Especially when Sally, regaining her senses, took advantage of the few girls being somewhat dazed, and, clutching her books while keeping her head down, dashed out of the crowd and rushed after Tang Qi, even Angela and her fiery girlfriends lost face. ¡°Hmph.¡± First, giving the Caucasian student a cold look, Angela, with a discontented expression, coldly snorted and then turned away with her close friends. The crowd of onlookers also quickly dispersed. ¡°No, Angela I¡­¡± The Caucasian student wanted to cry but had no tears, trying to justify himself, but in the end, he said nothing. He almost foresaw that within half an hour, the news that the most prominent eleventh-grade captain of the Ancient Sword Team had been frightened by a new student would spread throughout the entire Saint Thorn High School. There was nothing he could do about it; he didn¡¯t even chase after Tang Qi to confront him. He doubted what he had just seen was an illusion, but clearly, he had no courage to verify it again. He could only watch Tang Qi¡¯s departing figure with a baffled and resentful gaze. Meanwhile, Tang Qi, who appeared miraculous in the eyes of the onlooking students, had already followed the crowd into an academic building. Unlike most students heading to the classrooms of their selected courses, he checked his bearings and turned to enter the men¡¯s restroom at the corner of the staircase. Tang Qi appeared calm, but if one only looked at his eyes, they could see the hidden turmoil beneath the tranquility. He hurried here to find a mirror to confirm something. Due to the upcoming class, there were few people in the restroom. Tang Qi walked directly to the vanity mirror in the corner, pretending to arrange his hair, and leaned close to the mirror, letting his eyelids droop slightly. Then recalling the emotions from just moments before, the familiar sensation quickly emerged, a warm current flowing from his mind into his eye sockets. He saw it¡ªTang Qi saw his own eyes at this moment. Beneath the black pupils, points of golden light were faintly emerging, a sharp and scorching aura rushing forward. Tang Qi could imagine how an ordinary person would be frightened if they locked eyes with such eyes. ¡°Is this, a mutation?¡± ¡°Because of what? Could it be¡­?¡± Tang Qi seemed to realize something, his eyes closing slightly, then suddenly reopening. This time, however, he concentrated on observing himself, slightly shocked as the familiar interface indeed appeared again. Name: Tang Qi. State: Normal. Species: Human. Skill: Golden Furnace Meditation, Unnamed Derived Skill. ¡°Indeed.¡± Tang Qi¡¯s gaze immediately focused on the additional line of text. His mind moved there, and immediately below, an Information Fragment appeared. [Information Fragment: You have obtained a derived skill, unnamed. Activation part: eyes, effect: shock, calming spirit, can be enhanced.] Looking at this Information Fragment, Tang Qi fell silent for a moment. Recalling how that Caucasian student had been startled by just one look from him, it seemed like a blessing of the wits, he subconsciously thought: ¡°Since it¡¯s a skill derived from the Golden Furnace Meditation, why not call it Molten Furnace Eye.¡± Following Tang Qi¡¯s thought, the [Unnamed Derived Skill]in the interface immediately twitched, and after a faint light flashed, it transformed into the words [Molten Furnace Eye]. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Monster Records Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Monster Records Editor: Atlas Studios Tall, towering school buildings, students of different grades clutching textbooks, bustling between various classrooms. This school has an open teaching model, where a student¡¯s choice of classes, apart from a few mandatory foundational courses, is up to their discretion. If you feel energetic enough, you can even enroll in more than a dozen different courses. Apart from compulsory courses in literature, mathematics, and basic foreign languages, Tang Qi also chose ancient history, appreciation of ancient art, global geography, basic biology, and a unique course called ¡°Mystical Legends¡±. Throughout the day, Tang Qi, very honestly, carried his books and moved among these classrooms with the crowd. He neither made friends nor performed any outrageous deeds, perfectly playing the role of an exceedingly honest and attentive Asian student, using this stereotype to truly blend in with the student body. Of course, while mingling, Tang Qi continuously tested the derivative skill he had just acquired. An unexpected surprise! The Molten Furnace Eye! After experimenting for most of the day, Tang Qi faintly understood the function of this skill. As the special interface indicated, when he injected the spiritual power derived from his meditation into his eyes, his pupils would briefly turn a pale gold, producing a shocking effect that ordinary people could hardly withstand. As for the so-called ¡°Calming Spirit,¡± Tang Qi was still exploring. Although this could barely be considered a support combat skill, for Tang Qi at this moment, it was already a delightful surprise. You know, hanging over his head was always the Sword of Damocles, especially when thinking of what was written in Old Morgan¡¯s diary about his mother, Samra, who had eerie nicknames like ¡°Ukuru Guardian¡± and ¡°Black Snake Witch¡±. Just snippets of information already terrified Tang Qi. An old Black woman, yet possessed the evil power to kill hundreds. Most crucially, Tang Qi had killed her son. Tang Qi wasn¡¯t blindly optimistic. He did not expect this family to never come knocking. The external force Tang Qi could rely on now was merely the ambiguous shelter of Saint Thorn High School; beyond that, there was none. As for Mr. Ronald, after helping Tang Qi deal with the inheritance and giving two minor assists, his kindness was deemed exhausted. In the end, Tang Qi had to rely on himself. ¡°Meditation Method, Molten Furnace Eye.¡± ¡°Oh, and some Saha Continent combat techniques learned from the diary.¡± ¡°These are obviously not enough, hope there could be some more time.¡± In the corridor, following a group of students, Tang Qi contemplated his own powers; no matter how he calculated, he knew he could confront a few ordinary people, but he was far from ready to face a Black Witchcraft family. Tang Qi was very anxious inside, but maintained an absolute calm on the surface. There were already some plans forming, just in need of time to implement. Suppressing the sense of crisis in his heart, he followed a few sporadic male and female students into the classroom for today¡¯s last class. The content of this class was ¡°Mystical Legends¡±. A very niche course which mainly discussed mysterious legends from various parts of Blue Star, covering both domestic and foreign, ancient and modern. Although Tang Qi was skeptical why a school that seemed like a noble institution would offer such a strange course, for him, who was eager to enter the Transcendent Domain, just a glance at the course description was enough for him to enroll spontaneously. Just as he walked into the classroom, Tang Qi¡¯s eyes flickered when he saw an unexpected person. It was the female main character who had bumped into Tang Qi before, inadvertently involving him in a school bullying incident, her messy blond curly hair was very noticeable, the unlucky Sally. There weren¡¯t many students in the classroom, just a few scattered here and there, and Tang Qi¡¯s entrance, however ordinary, still made some noise. The girl named Sally looked up slightly, paused obviously when she saw Tang Qi, probably recalling something, and her face turned red with a ¡°whoosh¡±. ¡°She¡¯s really a very timid girl.¡± Tang Qi sighed inwardly, maintaining politeness on his face, giving the girl named Sally a kind smile. Perhaps it had been a long time since she had been treated this way, and Sally was somewhat flustered by Tang Qi¡¯s smile, her face, hidden behind black-framed glasses, flushed deep red, her head almost burying into her chest. Fortunately, at this moment, an unkempt old man who seemed to be the teacher walked in. No pleasantries, no roll call; the old man just glanced at the few sparse students and began his lecture on his own. ¡°Today marks the beginning of the school year, so I will introduce a completely new topic, recording the archives of all the demons and ghosts slain by several Holy Warriors of the Divine Eagle Federation¡ª[Monster Records], the complete book of which can be borrowed from the Messer Library.¡± ¡°Now, let me recite Chapter One to you, about the great Holy Axe Justice Lincoln who slew a demon in the Ze Xi Swamp, its shape resembling a gigantic bat, with the head of a dog, the face of a horse¡­¡± After hearing just a few sentences, Tang Qi began to understand why such an odd class existed. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, this likely stemmed from a historical legacy issue. Saint Thorn High School was originally a Church school, naturally promulgating the greatness of God and faith, and so some brainwashing education was essential. The so-called Monster Records were secondary; more important was the glory belonging to God¡¯s warriors, who under the guidance of the power of faith, vanquished the monsters. As modern civilization advanced, it was entirely normal for such courses to be dismissed and perhaps soon abolished. Tang Qi¡¯s original self was religious, but unfortunately, the present Tang Qi was not a believer. Even though the old man spoke flamboyantly, Tang Qi¡¯s focus was on the descriptions of those monsters. After listening for a while, a peculiar feeling emerged in his mind. Real! Yes, it was a sense of reality. In the year 1841 of the Divine Eagle Old Calendar, in Jersey, Mrs. Liz gave birth to her thirteenth child. She felt utterly dissatisfied with her recurrent pregnancies and exclaimed loudly, ¡°I am tired of children, let the Devil take this one away!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the baby immediately transformed into a winged monster, swiftly devoured Mrs. Liz¡¯s other children, and then flew away through the chimney. This legend sounds absurd to ordinary people, but for some reason, it struck Tang Qi with an intensely eerie sense of reality. Shaking his head, he suppressed the strange feelings. Tang Qi continued to listen as the old man moved on to the story of the second monster, the Deep Mountain Snow Monster; this time the main character was the Holy Spear Warrior, Morgan. ¡­ Time passed quickly, and the bell signaled the end of the class, while Tang Qi still appeared eager to hear more. The old man had just reached a crucial part, but showed no intention of dragging out the lecture, quickly rolled up his books and left the classroom like a gust of wind, and the already few students in the classroom lazily stood up and left. Tang Qi also stood up, brainstorming Messer Library as one of his next destinations. After the last class, Tang Qi, carrying his books, exited amidst the bustling crowd of male and female students just like when he arrived. Although it was the first day, overall, it met Tang Qi¡¯s expectations. Except for the unpleasant beginning, Tang Qi had almost perfectly integrated into Saint Thorn High School, achieving the effect he desired¡ªwho would care about an exceedingly ordinary male student? However, just as this sense of satisfaction arose, it was immediately destroyed. Because as soon as Tang Qi stepped out of the academic building, he felt a wave of malice and looked up to see, beyond a few obstacles on a nearby lawn, a group of tall, brawny youths, all Caucasians, led by the Ancient Sword Team captain whom Tang Qi had previously shocked. After a day at school, Tang Qi had also found out who the prominent figures from the morning were. It was as he expected; the girl named Angela, the cheerleader captain of Saint Thorn High School, whose father was one of the city councilors and mother a lawyer, a prominent family, explosive figure, pretty face, and sharp personality. And the Caucasian youth Ryan Clooney, whose father was a tycoon, mother a director of Messer City Hospital and school, and he himself was the high school basketball team captain, ancient fencing team captain, and boxing club president, considered the perfect boyfriend by all female students. For an ordinary student, facing such prominent figures, bootlicking would be too late, definitely not wanting to offend. Yet, Tang Qi had managed to offend both. What was likely to unfold now was probably a typical post-school, group brawl scene. If Tang Qi really were a hormone-driven teenager, he might be interested in participating, but unfortunately, he was not. Tang Qi was somewhat troubled; he was not worried about being brutally beaten by a few high school students, despite his original body¡¯s average physical condition, but the combat techniques he learned from Old Morgan¡¯s diary seemed quite practical. However, those techniques were rather fierce. Just as Tang Qi hesitated, a somewhat familiar figure suddenly walked past him from the side, messy blonde hair sweeping across Tang Qi¡¯s nose, accompanied by a pleasant yet faint voice that said, ¡°Follow me.¡± After speaking, she walked through the corridor on the side of the academic building towards a secluded corner. Tang Qi paused for a moment, then smiled lightly, and without hesitation, followed her. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Murder Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Murder Editor: Atlas Studios Compared to Tang Qi, a true newcomer, Sally clearly knew her way around. She swiftly led Tang Qi through the complex campus, avoiding a few trouble-seeking youths blocking the central path, and saved Tang Qi from the fate of fighting with several hormonally charged brats. However, Tang Qi felt somewhat helpless because the route they took seemed to be the one Sally used to avoid bullying, so by the time they reached the end, they had also left the campus grounds. ¡°Creak~¡± Hearing the noise, Tang Qi turned around just in time to see a rusty iron gate slam shut with a ¡°bang.¡± This was an inconspicuous side gate of Saint Thorn High School; very few students used this exit. Tang Qi didn¡¯t need to guess why, as the messy and dilapidated scene in front of him said it all. It looked like a very secluded street: empty, with foul-smelling piles of garbage in the corners, graffiti scrolling down the walls, the ground covered with blackened, cracked bricks and stones, newspapers fluttering past with the breeze, and greasy billboards at the street corner. A look of realization flashed through Tang Qi¡¯s eyes; he was somewhat surprised that there was a place like this near the Holy Thorn Campus. Silently recalling the nearby layout, Tang Qi now knew where he was. Messer City is divided into five major districts, among which there are four districts namely Blank District, Lopez, Newton, and Rach District, all surrounding the central ¡°Central District.¡± Naturally, Central District is the largest and wealthiest, attracting many rich and upper-class individuals who enjoy the resource supply of the entire Messer City, and Saint Thorn High School is located in this district. As for the other four districts, Blank District is where refugees and poor people gather; Lopez is the favorite of the middle class; Newton has a long history but a very weak presence; while Rach District is where the petty bourgeoisie and some less established wealthy people congregate. Tang Qi¡¯s original family home was in Rach District. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the street Tang Qi and Sally were on should be part of Blank District. Juxtaposed right next to Central District, to get here they must have traversed the entire Holy Thorns campus. While Tang Qi indulged in fond recollections, he unwittingly made Sally think that he was looking down on the place. That was quite normal; although Tang Qi tried his best to appear as an ordinary Asian teenager, the details, such as the designer clothes he wore and his polite demeanor, still revealed his upper-class background. Because of the morning¡¯s incident, Sally, a girl who was often bullied, felt quite favorable towards Tang Qi. This was also why she was willing to risk being bullied again by leading Tang Qi to this place. Unfortunately, her long-standing inferiority complex stopped her from even daring to ask the boy in front of her anything. Her face turned a shade darker and she said to Tang Qi in a low voice, ¡°There¡¯s a bus stop around the corner of this street, in a few minutes the next bus will come, so¡­ goodbye.¡± After speaking, Sally turned and ran to the other end of the street, her rush and possibly her oversized pants almost causing her to fall. She staggered but didn¡¯t fall, yet her face turned even paler, and it looked like she was about to cry behind her black-rimmed glasses. She hastened her steps, about to disappear at the end of the street. This sudden change caught Tang Qi off guard; this girl named Sally was extremely sensitive, like a frightened little rabbit, and Tang Qi was somewhat unable to keep up with her train of thought. Shaking his head, Tang Qi turned towards the bus stop, planning to find this girl again tomorrow to explain. As for returning to campus, since he was already out, Tang Qi had a few places in mind to go, all outside the campus. This opportunity was good for a visit; he would return to his own brick house once his mission was accomplished. After all, night had just fallen, and it wasn¡¯t too late. Tang Qi had just taken a few steps when a couple came out from a bakery ahead on the street. They dashed toward the stop as soon as they emerged, with the guy in the lead muttering, ¡°Pegi, hurry up, it¡¯s your fault for wanting that special blueberry pie. It¡¯s so late and we¡¯re still lingering in Blank District. Let¡¯s get out of here quickly, the vicious hoodlums will be out if we¡¯re late.¡± The black-haired girl, feeling guilty, didn¡¯t argue, panting as she tried to keep up with her boyfriend in high heels. Behind the pair, the last store on this street, a bakery named White Truffle, also creaked shut its main door. Tang Qi stopped, first glanced at the nearly reached bus stop with its faintly visible lights, a touch of helplessness crossed his face, then he decisively turned and chased after the direction Sally had left. They¡¯d only met twice, but after all, they were schoolmates. What was more key was that Tang Qi had a very good impression of this girl. That reason was enough. On the other hand, Sally really did run into big trouble. She was cornered in a gloomy alleyway, facing three oddly dressed Caucasian youths. One with yellow hair and a nose ring, another bare-chested showing off his muscular upper body, toying with a knife, while the third looked somewhat normal, except for his lustful face and arms filled with needle marks, practically having ¡°not a good person¡± tattooed on his forehead. The drug addict looked to be the leader among the three standing in front, tilting his pale face, with his disgusting tongue licking his bruised lips, and a depraved gaze in his eyes fixed on Sally. ¡°Look at this, we¡¯ve hit the jackpot today; we¡¯ve found a top-notch girl.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover; this girl may look unsophisticated, but I can¡¯t take my eyes off her hot, perfect body. Believe me, she¡¯s top-notch. We take her back and lock her up, not only can we enjoy her for a few days, but even after she¡¯s broken, we can sell her off and make a tidy profit.¡± ¡°Hehehe~¡± Although the words of the drug addict seemed unreliable, at that moment, Sally¡¯s frightened and rapid breathing, along with the rise and fall of her chest and abdomen, made the other two thugs¡¯ eyes light up with similarly disgusting expressions. Sally didn¡¯t scream, nor did she utter any fearless but empty warnings. She just pursed her lips, and beneath her black-rimmed glasses, along with deep despair and fear, there was a hint of determination that was hard to detect. She secretly reached into her small bag and gripped something. It was a small knife, too short and not sharp, and given her own lack of strength, it was difficult to use for self-defense. But for committing suicide, it was fast enough. She had to travel through this dangerous place because her home was in Blank District. But in the past, she had perfectly calculated the streets she would pass and the time it would take, avoiding all the dangerous corners with little chance of encountering the likes of these people. Blank District was very dangerous, as it was a hub for gangs, assassins, and other dangerous individuals. But to her, as a female student, even if she encountered these people, there was no need to worry. The real danger came from others. Like bottom-tier thugs, wandering drug addicts, and an exceptional few dangerous vagrants. She had avoided them before, but this time, Because she was with Tang Qi, who wasn¡¯t familiar with the streets, and in her sadness and panic due to a misunderstanding with Tang Qi, not only was it getting late, but she also took a wrong turn or two. And now, she was in trouble. As the three disgusting thugs closed in, the determination in Sally¡¯s eyes intensified. Her hand gripped the small knife tightly and slowly drew it out, with the force directed not towards the three men in front of her but towards her own stomach. After all, she was just a female student; with a knife, she could not defeat three strong men, especially when one of them was a crazed drug addict. But she could deprive these three creatures of any gain; by the time they got to her, there would be nothing left but a corpse. ¡°Girl, don¡¯t resist. Be good, and we guarantee you¡¯ll have an experience you¡¯ll never forget.¡± ¡°As a girl like you, you must be the least popular among boys at school, with no one courting you. Your first kiss, your first night¡ªthey must all still be intact. Relax, leave it to us, and soon you¡¯ll know what it means to be in ecstasy.¡± The drug addict stepped closer, the words coming out of his mouth precisely hitting Sally¡¯s weak point. The determined look on her face instantly turned to intense anger, and the direction of the small knife pivoted towards the young Caucasian man. Clearly, Sally had been figured out. Although a drug addict, he indeed had a way with young girls. He had even prepared his stance to exert force, slightly sidestepping, ready to quickly move behind Sally and grab her once she moved, bringing everything to a conclusion. In the dim alley, aside from the flickering streetlight, there wasn¡¯t even the shadow of a ghost. Just as Sally¡¯s bag showed a small gap and the expected gleam of knife light appeared, much to the three men¡¯s anticipation, the drug addict laughed boisterously, ready to pounce on Sally. But then, the unexpected happened. ¡°Swish¡± A shadow, silent and stealthy, darted into the alley entrance. Like a ghost, it appeared behind Yellow Fur and the man with the small knife, with a pair of pale hands shaped like blades chopping down directly on the back of their necks. Two crisp sounds rang out, and the two men¡¯s eyes rolled back as they fell to the ground. The shadow didn¡¯t try to snatch the knife from the hand of Small Knife but instead, as the drug addict heard the noise and tried to swiftly dash toward Sally, hastily increased its speed to intercept, with presumably frail arms ferociously strangling the drug addict¡¯s neck. Just as the drug addict felt a twinge of joy at the perceived weakness in the grip, a tremendous twisting force came, and the fragile human neck could not resist this power. With a ¡°crack,¡± his neck broke, and his body immediately went limp. After dealing with the three men, the shadow also staggered and leaned against the wall, then took deep breaths, with chest and abdomen heaving like a bellows. The faint streetlight illuminated Tang Qi¡¯s face, which had turned red due to the brief intense exertion. ¡°Sally, you¡­¡± ¡°Bang¡± ¡°Ah~¡± As Tang Qi let out a breath, intending to console the girl in front who must have been terrified, he raised his head only to see a figure suddenly plunging into his embrace. Then, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but let out a pained scream. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Chaga Fighting Technique Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Chaga Fighting Technique Editor: Atlas Studios In the gloomy alley, Tang Qi clutched his abdomen, gasping for air with a pale face and a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, his expression helpless as he looked at Sally, who had reverted to her frightened bunny-like demeanor. Tang Qi was not injured, but merely winded by the excited bump from the girl after intense physical activity. However, this disruption had slightly lightened the mood in the alley. On the grimy ground, three corpses still lay. Tang Qi had killed people. It wasn¡¯t like the first day he was reborn, taking advantage of a loophole in witchcraft to counterattack and trick Old Morgan. It was a real, physical act of murder. Everything had happened too quickly, even Tang Qi had little time to think. He had just caught up and found Sally in deep trouble. Just by looking at the three thugs, it was clear if Tang Qi didn¡¯t step in, Sally¡¯s chances were slim. And if Tang Qi confronted them head-on, his own outcome wouldn¡¯t be much better. One against three, Tang Qi was uncertain. Even using the newly acquired derivative skill, Molten Furnace Eye, he doubted it could aid him in a three against one fight; the skill was barely mastered, enough to intimidate a high school student but likely ineffective against a frenzied, vicious drug addict. Seeing the ¡°tragedy¡± about to unfold, Tang Qi had no choice but to employ the only combat skill he could use from Old Morgan¡¯s diary. A set of simple, brutal, and highly lethal Fighting Skill. It originated from the barbaric tribes on Saha Continent during wars and hunting excursions. Originally, Tang Qi only intended to learn it for self-defense, but unexpectedly, its first use was for killing. In the instant he lashed out, Tang Qi felt as if he entered a special state, with his strength, speed, and reaction capabilities all receiving an unknown enhancement, effortlessly completing originally challenging maneuvers. However, once stopped, Tang Qi immediately felt a pain throughout his body as if he was pricked by needles, along with a boiling blood sensation so intense he doubted he had killed three men or finished an entire marathon. There were benefits, though. While gasping heavily, a special interface emerged in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes once again. Skill category, one more item added. Skills: Golden Furnace Meditation, Molten Furnace Eye, Chaga Fighting Technique (Beginner, Progress 0.01%) ¡°Is this¡­ transformed into a skill?¡± As he thought, an Information Fragment emerged. [Information Fragment: This is a Fighting Skill originating from the Chaga Tribe of Saha Continent, derived from war and hunting, distributed among various tribes of Saha Continent. Easy to enter, but rarely mastered to an expert level.] ¡°Just at the beginner stage, progress at 0.01%, and already capable of sneak attacking and killing three people?¡± Initially, Tang Qi didn¡¯t highly regard the Fighting Skill noted in the diary, studying it silently only because it wouldn¡¯t alert the Old Witch during his Meditation practice. Now, realizing it was recorded in Old Morgan¡¯s precious witchcraft notes, this Fighting Skill clearly was not simple. Internally elevating the importance of the Fighting Skill, he withdrew his focus. After a long exhale, Tang Qi finally evened out his breath, the needle-like pain receding. He glanced at the corpses on the ground, recalling the details of the action, ensuring he hadn¡¯t left anything like fingerprints. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After the soft utterance, without any attachment, he turned and walked away, with Sally quickly following. As for the three thugs¡¯ corpses, Tang Qi neither called the police nor intended to destroy the evidence. In Messer City, the surface may seem peaceful, but Bronk District is notoriously chaotic. Here, robbery and murder are as common as eating and drinking. It is said that every morning, the Blank Police Station dispatches a corpse collection vehicle to haul away bodies that died in dark alleys or gunfight scenes during the night. Unless they were well-dressed residents, the police would allow forensic examination and investigation. If it was apparent that they were gang members or thugs, their bodies would be taken directly to the crematorium. Even if the police later came knocking, strictly speaking, Tang Qi¡¯s actions were considered ¡°taking action for justice,¡± without any repercussions. ¡­ In the dim and dirty street, Tang Qi had Sally lead the way with him following calmly by her side, seemingly unaffected by the previous incident. However, only he knew the intense turmoil still roiling inside him. Killing in hand-to-hand combat, and taking three lives at once. Although the process wasn¡¯t bloody or fierce, the Chaga Fighting Technique he used was lethal. Nevertheless, taking three vibrant lives into his own hands, making them cold and dim, the recent surge of energy, and Skill activation had led Tang Qi into a dangerously calm State. Now that he had awakened, he immediately felt an extreme sense of shock. If it weren¡¯t for this moment, where a warm aura began to slowly emerge in his mind and gently flowed through his limbs, Tang Qi might have completely lost his composure. After a long time, under the influence of the Melter spiritual power, Tang Qi regained his calm. It was only then that Tang Qi noticed something very abnormal. His ability to stay calm after killing was the result of an adult¡¯s mindset, special experiences, and the meditation Techniques mixed in his mind. How could Sally achieve the same? After all, Tang Qi had killed three people in front of her to save her, but how could an ordinary girl still take Tang Qi back home in such a situation? ¡°Perhaps, she is not an ordinary girl.¡± Tang Qi remembered how Sally had remained calm when facing three crazed thugs. Facing imminent tragedy, she thought not of screaming or begging, but of suicide, something an ordinary girl, especially a high school girl, couldn¡¯t possibly do. Though these thoughts crossed his mind, Tang Qi¡¯s expression remained calm. He asked no questions nor mentioned the earlier events. Continuing towards Sally¡¯s home, the shadows of the two stretched long under the moonlight. The road ahead went smoothly without any more dramatic incidents. About ten minutes later, they stopped in front of a small building. It was a cramped blue brick building squeezed between two larger ones, with not even twenty centimeters of gap, mottled walls, an old iron gate, and a rusty fire escape¡ªa typical residence for the poor in the Blank District. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m home.¡± Standing before the iron gate, Sally still looked like a frightened little rabbit, speaking softly. Despite having decent conditions, unfortunate circumstances regarding her personality and family background relegated her to a role that was often bullied and seemed unsophisticated. Unlike Tang Qi¡¯s role-playing, from various details, Tang Qi could tell that Sally¡¯s home life was probably worse than that of an average family, which must have shaped her unique personality. Her entry into Saint Thorn High School must have only one explanation: the girl was very smart. Unlike Tang Qi, who used backdoor connections, she likely passed the examinations on her own. Currently, Tang Qi was trying his best to fit into the role of a high school student, adopting a go-with-the-flow attitude towards everything, such as making friends. This girl was Tang Qi¡¯s first friend at Saint Thorn High School. A normal boy probably wouldn¡¯t choose to be friends with such a bland, strange girl who was also shunned by the popular girls at school. But Tang Qi didn¡¯t mind. With this thought, Tang Qi gently smiled, reached out to ruffle Sally¡¯s messy blonde hair, and said, ¡°Go back. If you need anything next time, just let me know. I can walk you home since you are my first friend at Saint Thorn High School, and I certainly don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you.¡± ¡°Ah~¡± As soon as Tang Qi finished speaking, the girl in front of him immediately lifted her head in delight, revealing a radiant smile under her black-frame glasses. Her previously dull eyes, shocked by earlier events, now shone with a moving brilliance. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Gun Store Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Gun Store Editor: Atlas Studios Sally¡¯s surprised reaction was clearly because of the word ¡°friend¡±. Growing up alone and being bullied all the time, she went to a noble school like Saint Thorn High School, where she was despised by almost all the students and even got the nickname ¡°Unlucky Sally¡±. For Sally, having a friend was a luxury. Who could have thought that at the start of the school year, she would make a new friend, and also the only friend. Although this friend, strictly speaking, was her junior. From the beginning of their encounter, and that heart-stopping scene just now, it was hard to tell that their relationship was that of a senior and a junior. It was Sally who was in the position of being absolutely protected. The experience of this whole day was something Sally had never felt in her past dozen years. Even now, she still felt a sensation like she was floating in midair, unable to truly touch the ground, her excited and joyful emotions well concealed. If possible, she even wished it could continue, this was the brightest spot she had ever felt in her dull, miserable life. Unfortunately, before she could savor the feeling for a few more seconds, a rough, hoarse voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Sally, is that you?¡± ¡°What are you doing out so late, not hurrying back home?¡± The voice came from upstairs, very distinctive, along with the ¡°tap tap¡± sound of footsteps on the wooden floor, which immediately conjured up the image of a plump woman with a gloomy face approaching. Sally was startled, then quickly came to her senses, first shouting, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s me, I¡¯m coming up right away.¡± After shouting, she turned anxiously to Tang Qi and said, ¡°If you cross this street and then walk past Midtown Avenue, you will see the bus stop, don¡¯t stay here too long, it¡¯s very dangerous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going home now, see you tomorrow.¡± With that, Sally, seemingly worried that her mother would peer out the window and spot Tang Qi below, turned and pulled out her keys, opened the big iron gate, and deliberately made a loud noise as she went upstairs. Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but shake his head at the abrupt farewell but didn¡¯t say anything, turned around, and headed towards the stop, following Sally¡¯s directions. Although he now possessed the Chaga Fighting Technique as a means of attack, it didn¡¯t cover the fact that Tang Qi was still a high school student with feeble physical strength; he could deal with unarmed thugs indeed. But if faced with those vicious gangs, then Tang Qi would be in trouble. To avoid becoming just another corpse on the street, Tang Qi had to leave quickly. However, just as he turned around, a very strange sensation suddenly emerged, and the hairs on his arms stood on end. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Being watched? Targeted?¡± Tang Qi turned around in surprise, looking in the opposite direction towards the end of the street. That was the way he and Sally had come. But after looking over, other than the swaying streetlights, the deserted streets, and the darkness that couldn¡¯t be illuminated by the light, nothing else was visible. Focusing on that special interface, he also didn¡¯t spot anything amiss. And that strange sensation of being watched also dissipated at this moment. Tang Qi paused for a moment, then without hesitation turned and left. After a few steps, Tang Qi unconsciously used the techniques of Fighting Skill, like an agile cheetah, silently and quickly crossed several streets and arrived at a stop on Midtown Avenue. The lights of several late-night buses that appeared simultaneously gave Tang Qi a slight sense of relief. After discerning the many destinations on the stop¡¯s buses, Tang Qi quickly chose one. Before the conductor could speak, he took out six copper coins wei lei and handed them to the conductor, saying, ¡°Midtown Avenue!¡± Copper coin is the most basic currency of the Divine Eagle Federation, a single unit called wei lei, a hundred wei lei equaling one silver coin nar, and then the Divine Eagle Gold Coin, known as Divine Grace, obviously a remnant of the Church¡¯s influence. Of course, Gold Coins weren¡¯t entirely gold but an alloy mixed with a bit of gold and other metals. Tang Qi had sold the inheritance and received a large sum of Divine Eagle Gold Coins. Compared to other people of his age, Tang Qi was a super-rich individual. Originally, Tang Qi¡¯s plan was to go to several pre-determined destinations to buy the things he wanted during the weekend. ¡°` But after what had just happened, he changed his mind. As night fell, the car sped away quickly. In just a few minutes, the vehicle had left the Bronk District with a ¡°whoosh,¡± and Tang Qi had arrived at his destination. Stepping out of the car, Tang Qi beheld a broad avenue. Converging streets appeared in every direction, with bright street lights everywhere, shimmering signs, skyscrapers full of modern flair, and pretty streets lined with an array of stores. Were it not for the hazy purple moon still hanging in the sky, the scene almost made Tang Qi think he had returned to his hometown. He exhales deeply, steadies his mind, and without lingering on the foreign prosperity, Tang Qi discerns his bearings and dives into a street that looks less bustling. Compared to the others, the lighting here is cooler, and there are fewer shops. However, the products within each shop are quite similar. Weapons! More specifically, guns. This is Gun Street of Messer City. Although the ¡°gun ban wave¡± continues to sweep through the Divine Eagle Federation, it¡¯s unfortunately difficult for even the more progressive states to make headway, let alone the staunchly conservative Secret Phoenix State. The local custom of valuing brute force here is not for show ¨C steel and industry are the mainstream. Otherwise, Tang Qi¡¯s birth parents wouldn¡¯t have chosen to establish a steel company in Messer City. Right now, Tang Qi looks just like a high school student fascinated by curiosities, walking past each gun shop and lingering with admiration for the different firearms on display. However, he only looked from the outside and entered none of the shops. Not that he didn¡¯t want to, but because he couldn¡¯t. Even if a ban on guns isn¡¯t realistic in the Divine Eagle Federation, all Federation residents support the rule that prohibits gun ownership for those under eighteen. So, even though Tang Qi really wants and needs a gun. His current body¡¯s age restricts that possibility. The inherited weapons from his birth parents were definitely part of the inheritance, but they never appeared in Tang Qi¡¯s memory, obviously confiscated directly by the Messer City Government after the accident. Knowing this, Tang Qi still came here. The reason is simple, while he couldn¡¯t openly defy that regulation, there were ways to work around it. For instance, right now, Tang Qi¡¯s figure suddenly halts in front of a somewhat peculiar gun shop. ¡°Ding-ding¡± Tang Qi pushes open the door and upon entering, lifts his gaze to see in the center and on both sides of the shop protective glass cases displaying various firearms¡ªfrom handguns to assault rifles, with just everything, and a few customers gently moving around, seemingly making their choices. ¡°Welcome¡­ Kid, this isn¡¯t the place for you, surely you¡¯re not of age to handle guns, you better head home,¡± a burly white store owner approaches to welcome but immediately changes his tone upon seeing Tang Qi. The other customers shopping also notice Tang Qi, one particularly large African American bursts into laughter and says, ¡°Hey, Richie, don¡¯t be so harsh, maybe the kid just wants to feel the charm of a firearm firsthand, take a look at this perfect design, this irresistible touch, oh, she¡¯s got more charm than my wife.¡± The large man caresses an exaggeratedly styled black pistol in his hand, speaking in a tone that sends shivers down one¡¯s spine. The rest of the customers couldn¡¯t help but smile. The white shop owner laughs along, sarcastically retorting, ¡°Wake up, Freeman, your wife ran off with the soap salesman ages ago. Remove that disgusting paw of yours or buy this Black Hawk home. She might not replace your wife, but next time a soap salesman comes knocking, you could blow him away with it.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± The pain of one is the joy of another¡ªeveryone in the shop burst into laughter. Amid the laughter, the shop owner turns back with a softened expression but his decision remains unchanged, still a rejection: ¡°Listen kid, until you¡¯re eighteen, this place and Red Bird Street are off-limits to you, you better go home.¡± Hearing himself treated as an excitement-seeking teenager, Tang Qi doesn¡¯t get angry or flush with embarrassment in denial. Instead, he gives a ¡°shy¡± smile, not looking at the cold firearms in the bulletproof glass cabinets, but instead pointing to the old, worn firearms of various kinds on the walls. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯ve got the wrong idea. I¡¯m not here to buy guns. I¡¯m here to buy a birthday gift for my father; he likes those things.¡± Tang Qi said earnestly. ¡°` Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Sudden Surprise Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Sudden Surprise Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°You want to buy an antique gun as a birthday gift for your father?¡± The store manager was surprised, and so were the customers in the store. But it¡¯s not surprising they reacted this way, as visitors to Gun Street usually have one target: to purchase a desired firearm with suitable firepower, be it a pistol or a rifle. There are those who buy antique guns, but they are a very specific group of people. At the very least, it¡¯s rare to see a high school student among them. The reason is simple: most antique guns have lost their firearm functionality and are very expensive. In some ways, they are luxury items, beyond the means of an ordinary high school student. Those who can afford them have other channels to obtain better firearms. However, the reason Tang Qi gave was faultless. A seemingly well-off ¡°rich second generation¡± buying an antique gun for a father who has that interest, who could find fault in that? Of course, Tang Qi wouldn¡¯t mention that his real father had already passed away. His purpose in buying the antique gun was of course to find a weapon for self-defense. With firearms available, Tang Qi naturally wouldn¡¯t resort to using knives or clubs. But given his age, he was unable to purchase those powerful new firearms, so he turned his attention to antique guns. The reason he didn¡¯t choose to take risks by purchasing real firearms through some shady channels was twofold. First, he was unwilling to expose the identity he was currently working hard to maintain, and second, it hadn¡¯t reached a point where he had to risk everything. Antique guns, as long as some could still function as firearms, were sufficient. Perhaps the original owner had little knowledge about firearms, but Tang Qi himself had plenty. In his previous life, he was a gun enthusiast who had even gone to the United States to experience guns firsthand, and he took a keen interest in antique guns, relying on the abundant information available on the internet. Here, a high school student would absolutely not possess expert knowledge on repairing antique guns. This was because the internet had not yet emerged. The civilization of Origin Blue Star was currently stuck at this point in technological development. Realizing these things, the burly Caucasian store manager immediately turned from solemn to enthusiastic, and his gaze towards Tang Qi became like that of a beloved¡­ sucker. ¡°Selling an antique gun can cover half a month¡¯s income for this lousy shop.¡± Muttering this to himself, the store manager enthusiastically led Tang Qi inside. At the far end of the counter, with a ¡°snap,¡± a thick catalog dropped in front of Tang Qi. The cover featured an exceedingly ancient matchlock gun. The store manager patted the catalog proudly and said, ¡°I always appreciate people who show filial piety. Take your time to choose. In the entire Gun Street, no one can compare with me when it comes to collecting antique guns. Just tell me which one you like, and I¡¯ll give you a 10% discount.¡± While the store manager was speaking, Tang Qi had already opened the catalog. The price of the first antique gun he saw nearly made him roll his eyes. It was very expensive. Although Tang Qi had only recently come into this world, he was already well-acquainted with the prices. The prices of the antique guns in this catalog were more than ten times the cost of new firearms. For less firepower, but at prices ten to even a hundred times more, no wonder Tang Qi felt like rolling his eyes, and no wonder the store manager was so generous. Unfortunately, even a 10% discount couldn¡¯t mask the essence of ripping off customers. But now, Tang Qi didn¡¯t have much room to be picky; he patiently started flipping through. Just after skimming through a few pages, Tang Qi became somewhat immersed. Like antique swords, antique guns also possess an enchanting artistic charm¡ªan amalgamation of epochs and bloodshed, where steel meets gunpowder. If he hadn¡¯t come with a specific purpose, Tang Qi would have truly enjoyed a thorough appreciation. Especially since Origin Blue Star and Previous Earth were somewhat similar but still greatly different in many aspects, notably in firearms which are more exaggerated and wild on Blue Star. Various enchanting antique guns, imbued with the aura of time, exude an irresistibly enticing fragrance. After earnestly admiring a few pages, Tang Qi began to flip through them rapidly, pretending to pick a gift based solely on appearances, which further convinced the store manager that a big deal was about to be struck. Soon, Tang Qi selected about a dozen antique guns. Most of them still functioned, while a few that were meant as a decoy could only be displayed as art pieces. ¡°Store Manager, these are my choices; I¡¯d like to see the actual items.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± The white robust store manager was very patient with a potential major customer. He summoned two svelte waitresses from the store, and soon they placed over a dozen boxes in front of Tang Qi. Upon opening the first box, Tang Qi immediately saw a shimmering, ivory-handled pistol with a gold-plated body, hinting at the lavish and powerful first owner from just a glance. The store manager timely chimed in, ¡°This is the Wake Lion Gold Pistol, custom made by the notable slave owner Earl William for his juniors and subordinates, with less than a hundred existing. It¡¯s the treasure of my store.¡± Listening to the presentation, Tang Qi didn¡¯t even flicker his eyelids and directly turned to the second box. A gold pistol? Tang Qi was buying for self-defense, not to attract thieves. The second box was much more reasonable: a revolver full of Wild West charm with a simple, brutal design, wooden handle, and a well-maintained light body. ¡°Kid, this is the Corona Revolver¡ªonce the Western cowboys¡¯ favorite partner, the perfect combination of simplicity and strength. Every man is bound to like it.¡± Tang Qi suppressed his excitement and moved on to the third box. This time, it contained two large-caliber short-barreled pistols. The hefty caliber and silver body immediately conjured the explosive scent of gunpowder and pungent sulfur. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve spotted my prized possession. These are a pair of Silver Hunters, and from Silver Hunters Company, only a thousand pairs were made. You can¡¯t take them without offering a price that excites me.¡± Clearly, this pair of pistols was very eye-catching, as Tang Qi could hear the sounds of many around him swallowing their saliva. Honestly, Tang Qi was tremendously tempted. This pair of large-caliber short-barreled pistols, fully functional, didn¡¯t need testing to know their formidable power. However, driven by the principle of not missing out on good things, Tang Qi painstakingly continued to the next. Subsequently, box after box was opened, showcasing antique guns of various styles and eras. The store manager displayed patient and detailed introductions that revealed a collector-level depth of knowledge, broadening Tang Qi¡¯s horizons. But as only one last box remained, Tang Qi still hadn¡¯t found anything surpassing the ¡°Silver Hunters.¡± Just as Tang Qi resolved to decide, the svelte waitress ahead opened the last box. Tang Qi, who had been about to deal for the Silver Hunters, abruptly paused. ¡°Eh¡± As the shock echoed in his heart, Tang Qi¡¯s breath momentarily lost its rhythm. His eyes quickly narrowed, focusing intently on the special interface emerging within his pupils. There, the sudden appearance of the word ¡°Curios¡± was glaringly bright, bringing an excitement Tang Qi almost couldn¡¯t contain. Chapter 15 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Sudden Surprise Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Sudden Surprise Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°You want to buy an antique gun as a birthday gift for your father?¡± The store manager was surprised, and so were the customers in the store. But it¡¯s not surprising they reacted this way, as visitors to Gun Street usually have one target: to purchase a desired firearm with suitable firepower, be it a pistol or a rifle. There are those who buy antique guns, but they are a very specific group of people. At the very least, it¡¯s rare to see a high school student among them. The reason is simple: most antique guns have lost their firearm functionality and are very expensive. In some ways, they are luxury items, beyond the means of an ordinary high school student. Those who can afford them have other channels to obtain better firearms. However, the reason Tang Qi gave was faultless. A seemingly well-off ¡°rich second generation¡± buying an antique gun for a father who has that interest, who could find fault in that? Of course, Tang Qi wouldn¡¯t mention that his real father had already passed away. His purpose in buying the antique gun was of course to find a weapon for self-defense. With firearms available, Tang Qi naturally wouldn¡¯t resort to using knives or clubs. But given his age, he was unable to purchase those powerful new firearms, so he turned his attention to antique guns. The reason he didn¡¯t choose to take risks by purchasing real firearms through some shady channels was twofold. First, he was unwilling to expose the identity he was currently working hard to maintain, and second, it hadn¡¯t reached a point where he had to risk everything. Antique guns, as long as some could still function as firearms, were sufficient. Perhaps the original owner had little knowledge about firearms, but Tang Qi himself had plenty. In his previous life, he was a gun enthusiast who had even gone to the United States to experience guns firsthand, and he took a keen interest in antique guns, relying on the abundant information available on the internet. Here, a high school student would absolutely not possess expert knowledge on repairing antique guns. This was because the internet had not yet emerged. The civilization of Origin Blue Star was currently stuck at this point in technological development. Realizing these things, the burly Caucasian store manager immediately turned from solemn to enthusiastic, and his gaze towards Tang Qi became like that of a beloved¡­ sucker. ¡°Selling an antique gun can cover half a month¡¯s income for this lousy shop.¡± Muttering this to himself, the store manager enthusiastically led Tang Qi inside. At the far end of the counter, with a ¡°snap,¡± a thick catalog dropped in front of Tang Qi. The cover featured an exceedingly ancient matchlock gun. The store manager patted the catalog proudly and said, ¡°I always appreciate people who show filial piety. Take your time to choose. In the entire Gun Street, no one can compare with me when it comes to collecting antique guns. Just tell me which one you like, and I¡¯ll give you a 10% discount.¡± While the store manager was speaking, Tang Qi had already opened the catalog. The price of the first antique gun he saw nearly made him roll his eyes. It was very expensive. Although Tang Qi had only recently come into this world, he was already well-acquainted with the prices. The prices of the antique guns in this catalog were more than ten times the cost of new firearms. For less firepower, but at prices ten to even a hundred times more, no wonder Tang Qi felt like rolling his eyes, and no wonder the store manager was so generous. Unfortunately, even a 10% discount couldn¡¯t mask the essence of ripping off customers. But now, Tang Qi didn¡¯t have much room to be picky; he patiently started flipping through. Just after skimming through a few pages, Tang Qi became somewhat immersed. Like antique swords, antique guns also possess an enchanting artistic charm¡ªan amalgamation of epochs and bloodshed, where steel meets gunpowder. If he hadn¡¯t come with a specific purpose, Tang Qi would have truly enjoyed a thorough appreciation. Especially since Origin Blue Star and Previous Earth were somewhat similar but still greatly different in many aspects, notably in firearms which are more exaggerated and wild on Blue Star. Various enchanting antique guns, imbued with the aura of time, exude an irresistibly enticing fragrance. After earnestly admiring a few pages, Tang Qi began to flip through them rapidly, pretending to pick a gift based solely on appearances, which further convinced the store manager that a big deal was about to be struck. Soon, Tang Qi selected about a dozen antique guns. Most of them still functioned, while a few that were meant as a decoy could only be displayed as art pieces. ¡°Store Manager, these are my choices; I¡¯d like to see the actual items.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± The white robust store manager was very patient with a potential major customer. He summoned two svelte waitresses from the store, and soon they placed over a dozen boxes in front of Tang Qi. Upon opening the first box, Tang Qi immediately saw a shimmering, ivory-handled pistol with a gold-plated body, hinting at the lavish and powerful first owner from just a glance. The store manager timely chimed in, ¡°This is the Wake Lion Gold Pistol, custom made by the notable slave owner Earl William for his juniors and subordinates, with less than a hundred existing. It¡¯s the treasure of my store.¡± Listening to the presentation, Tang Qi didn¡¯t even flicker his eyelids and directly turned to the second box. A gold pistol? Tang Qi was buying for self-defense, not to attract thieves. The second box was much more reasonable: a revolver full of Wild West charm with a simple, brutal design, wooden handle, and a well-maintained light body. ¡°Kid, this is the Corona Revolver¡ªonce the Western cowboys¡¯ favorite partner, the perfect combination of simplicity and strength. Every man is bound to like it.¡± Tang Qi suppressed his excitement and moved on to the third box. This time, it contained two large-caliber short-barreled pistols. The hefty caliber and silver body immediately conjured the explosive scent of gunpowder and pungent sulfur. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve spotted my prized possession. These are a pair of Silver Hunters, and from Silver Hunters Company, only a thousand pairs were made. You can¡¯t take them without offering a price that excites me.¡± Clearly, this pair of pistols was very eye-catching, as Tang Qi could hear the sounds of many around him swallowing their saliva. Honestly, Tang Qi was tremendously tempted. This pair of large-caliber short-barreled pistols, fully functional, didn¡¯t need testing to know their formidable power. However, driven by the principle of not missing out on good things, Tang Qi painstakingly continued to the next. Subsequently, box after box was opened, showcasing antique guns of various styles and eras. The store manager displayed patient and detailed introductions that revealed a collector-level depth of knowledge, broadening Tang Qi¡¯s horizons. But as only one last box remained, Tang Qi still hadn¡¯t found anything surpassing the ¡°Silver Hunters.¡± Just as Tang Qi resolved to decide, the svelte waitress ahead opened the last box. Tang Qi, who had been about to deal for the Silver Hunters, abruptly paused. ¡°Eh¡± As the shock echoed in his heart, Tang Qi¡¯s breath momentarily lost its rhythm. His eyes quickly narrowed, focusing intently on the special interface emerging within his pupils. There, the sudden appearance of the word ¡°Curios¡± was glaringly bright, bringing an excitement Tang Qi almost couldn¡¯t contain. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Extraordinary Blood Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Extraordinary Blood Editor: Atlas Studios A growing Extraordinary Monster, created by: Tang Qi himself. Tang Qi, when he cruelly murdered someone in the past, apparently never thought he would create a monster. And now, the monster is biting back at Tang Qi. At this moment, he still didn¡¯t understand that the peering gaze he had felt underneath Sally¡¯s house was very likely this Dog-faced Man, except that at the time it was probably busy devouring corpses, and the drug addict¡¯s Resentful Soul had just moved into the canine body. Since it¡¯s a monster born of resentment and venom, it will not stop until it has killed its enemy. And its first enemy was Tang Qi. The second was Sally. It can be imagined that after dealing with Tang Qi, its next step would be to go after Sally. Tang Qi¡¯s actions now were to preserve his own life first. ¡°The diary says that the Holy Thorn Campus possesses the power to restrain evil. Although I haven¡¯t found the source of that power, it should be enough to deal with a just-born Extraordinary Monster.¡± With this thought in mind, Tang Qi¡¯s figure dashed into the campus like the wind. He didn¡¯t use the main entrance but, ignoring the pain in his foot, climbed over the mottled brick wall with agile and rapid movements, completely unlike an ordinary high school student. However, with just a ¡°bang¡± heard behind him, Tang Qi knew the Monster Dog had caught up. Despite the danger, Tang Qi still turned his head for a quick glance. Crack! Tang Qi saw the monster instantly flip over the fence and land. The stray dog had long lost its original appearance, its muscles swollen and twisted, even forming large meat tumors, and to make matters worse, it had a human face. Saliva was dripping everywhere, and it was ugly and terrifyingly bizarre to a certain extent. But the moment Tang Qi saw it, his eyes lit up; he realized the monster¡¯s speed had slowed. Not just the speed, the frenzy, the bloodthirsty scent coming from the monster¡¯s body had also suddenly diminished considerably. ¡°It¡¯s effective.¡± Tang Qi said joyfully, his feet still moving non-stop, agile like a monkey, using the various obstacles on both sides of the shaded path to evade the monster¡¯s sharp claws and Blood Bowl. But due to his injury, Tang Qi¡¯s speed was still not as fast as the monster¡¯s, and the distance between them was closing. What was even more frustrating for Tang Qi was that the route he had chosen led through the most secluded area of the campus, where there wasn¡¯t a shadow to be seen, apart from him and the monster. Tang Qi exhausted all his strength to escape deeper into the campus, but physical stamina is inevitably limited, and his speed was getting slower and slower. On the contrary, the monster chasing behind him had no issue with exhaustion. The distance between them closed once again, and Tang Qi could even hear the foul breath from behind his neck. ¡°No good, if this continues, I¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°What do I do? What should I do?¡± A flash of inspiration suddenly sparkled through Tang Qi¡¯s mind and was immediately seized by him. His gaze fell directly on the box he was clutching in his arms. The most unexpected and delightful find of his journey, even as he fled for his life, was still tightly held. The once vague thoughts in the gun store became incredibly real at this moment. His body was still exhausted to the extreme at this moment, the agility and speed brought by the Chaga Fighting Technique came at the cost of draining all his stamina, his body already suffused with a red color, and his clothes were soaked through with sweat. Even then, he was unable to put even the slightest distance between himself and the Monster pursuing him from behind. Behind his head, Tang Qi could even feel the close-at-hand fangs. In a few more seconds, maybe just one, Tang Qi would be caught by the Monster, and then in one bite, his head would be severed from his neck. The next day, Holy Thorn Campus would have an explosive piece of news, a freshman killed by stray dogs, even the body completely consumed. ¡°No, I will not let such a thing happen.¡± ¡°I have been lucky enough to receive a new life, how could I possibly die to the jaws of a Monster?¡± With an angry roar in his heart, Tang Qi¡¯s body trembled, yet at that moment, there was a warm current flowing through his mind, calming all the Abnormal Movements in Tang Qi¡¯s body, as if he had entered a wonderful State, able to perfectly control his own body. He quickly opened the box, his hands swiftly stuffing one Brass Bullet after another into the exaggerated ¡°Blood Python One.¡± Then, clinging to the gun in one hand, his other hand went straight to his mouth, his teeth fiercely biting down, almost tearing off a small piece of flesh from his index finger, and blood gushed forth immediately. Not wasting a single drop of blood, Tang Qi smeared all the spurting blood onto the Blood Python One held in his other hand. Next, a bizarre scene occurred. The dark gun body was soaked in blood, a strange beauty was born, within the blood smeared on the gun body, specks of Golden Light emerged, then connected into golden threads, eventually enveloping the entire gun body. As the Mist of golden light wrapped around the Blood Python One, Tang Qi clearly saw the special interface in his vision slowly change. But at this time, Tang Qi didn¡¯t have the time to closely examine the detailed changes, he only felt a special sensation in his heart. The gun in his hands, at this moment, seemed to have its own life, held by his hands, a strong impulse turned into a Tide, starting to assault and batter Tang Qi¡¯s Mind. Tang Qi¡¯s figure suddenly stopped. Turning back, the gaping maw of the Monster, emitting a foul stench, appeared. Right in front of him, if Tang Qi did nothing, the next moment would see his head completely swallowed by the Monster¡¯s mouth, followed by a crunch, and everything would be over. In fact, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t do much; once he stopped, he had no opportunity to dodge. So, he made an impossibly Mad move. He proactively stuck out an arm, horizontally stuffing it into the Monster¡¯s mouth, ¡°crunch,¡± Tang Qi heard the sound of fangs embedding into his flesh, about to reach the bone. ¡°Too bad, you won¡¯t have that chance.¡± The whisper hadn¡¯t truly left his mouth, the cold barrel of the gun was already pressed against the side of the Monster¡¯s head. ¡°Bang¡± ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡± The succession of gunshots, like the roar of some Monster, echoed through the empty, remote corner. Tang Qi instinctively emptied all six bullets from the handgun, continuing to fire even when the ¡°click click¡± of the empty chamber sounded, without stopping. Completely unaware, at the moment he fired the gun, the Brass Bullets turned into blinding Golden Light, drilling into the head of the Monster. The Monster, which previously possessed endless strength, suddenly seemed to have been hit by a train, its head lurching to one side, body quivering, attempting to let out a wail, yet its mouth was stuffed tightly by Tang Qi¡¯s arm. Then came the second, third, fourth¡­ after the last bullet was fired, the piercing Golden Light reached its climax, and the Monster¡¯s head, like a watermelon struck by a heavy blow, ¡°boom,¡± burst apart in Tang Qi¡¯s embrace. After losing support, Tang Qi still instinctively continued to pull the trigger, until after a few clicks, he then collapsed to the ground, exhausted. His chest and abdomen heaved violently, like bellows suddenly torn open. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 The Truth in the Mist Chapter 17: Chapter 17 The Truth in the Mist Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Ha ha ha¡­ *cough cough*¡± ¡°I won!¡± On the cold ground, Tang Qi was holding a dog corpse with a blasted head, laughing brilliantly. Just now, he had taken a gamble. With his normal human physical condition, facing a monster dog alone and unarmed while being chased, it was impossible to fight back. But with an Extraordinary Gun, everything was different. In the end, he paid the price of an injured arm and successfully unsealed Blood Python No.1, blowing up the dog¡¯s head at the last moment. Feeling the gradually cooling corpse in his arms, Tang Qi struggled to his feet, not looking at his injured arm first, but at the domineering pistol still in his other hand. In his eyes, a special interface had appeared. [Curios: Blood Python No.1.] [State: Restored.] [Information Fragment One: This is a weapon that has been through wars with its original owner. In an accidental event, it killed a Cave Demon Dragon and acquired the Extraordinary Power of Dragon Power (pseudo) after being stained with the dragon¡¯s blood.] [Information Fragment Two: Its basic attributes are Blast and Armor-piercing, capable of modifying bullets to add various temporary attributes.] ¡°Great stuff!¡± Although Tang Qi was just a beginner in the Extraordinary Domain, he possessed basic discernment skills. Especially with his All-Knowing Golden Finger, the information of the Extraordinary Gun was laid bare, certainly a weapon that could instantly boost Tang Qi¡¯s combat power. This was evident from the Blank Dog-faced Man who had become a corpse in his arms. ¡°Hmm?¡± As Tang Qi¡¯s thoughts shifted to the monster¡¯s corpse in his arms, he immediately noticed that the messed-up mad dog¡¯s body began to rot. The body full of meat tumors was like a deflating balloon, shrinking bit by bit. A large rot spot appeared, skin and flesh disintegrated, then the bones, turning from bone white to pitch black. A gust of wind blew past, and it dispersed like ashes. Where the corpse disappeared, a misty soul that maintained a howling shape arose¡ªit was the drug addict he had killed. The moment it saw Tang Qi, as if seeing a terrifying natural enemy, an expression of deeper resentment emerged on its already distorted face. It screamed and turned to flee. But at that moment, as if blessed by a sudden insight, a pale hand abruptly reached out and grabbed its neck. Before it could scream, inside Tang Qi¡¯s palm, a faint golden flame suddenly ignited. Upon touching the flame, the drug addict¡¯s resentful soul melted away like snow under the scorching sun, quickly dissolving. It struggled desperately with limbs flailing, but still turned to ashes in less than a second. In Tang Qi¡¯s mind, suddenly, it seemed as if he saw a stream entirely made of golden light points converging from his palm, swiftly flowing into that mysterious space shrouded in fog. Tang Qi felt his body tremble, enveloped by an immensely warm sensation, and the accompanying boundless strength circulated throughout his limbs and body. A chase and counterattack that should have exhausted all of Tang Qi¡¯s stamina. But now, aside from a faint pain in the arm, Tang Qi felt no exhaustion, and his state was better than ever. ¡°This feeling¡­?¡± Tang Qi slowly got up, suddenly closed his eyes, entered his own Spirit Space, quickly came out, and looked at himself again. As expected, the anticipated scene appeared. The Skills section had changed once again. But this time, what changed was the Golden Furnace Meditation. Originally a blank space, now included a parenthesis with the text: Beginner, Progress 0.01%. ¡°Meditation Method, also started.¡± Tang Qi felt the spiritual power filling his mind, a smile appeared on his lips as he said lightly. At this moment, he suddenly understood slightly, the decryption method of the Golden Furnace Meditation. The Sun is the golden melter, the only fuel is the soul Perhaps, he had found the correct path to practice the Meditation Method? Tang Qi vaguely understood something, but still had some faint doubts. However, this is not a good place to think, Tang Qi took off his coat and covered his severely injured arm, glancing at the ground that should have been in disarray. Due to the dissipation of the monster¡¯s corpse, aside from some black ash, there were only six orange-yellow shell casings and a few drops of blood from Tang Qi himself. Although it was late at night and this place was remote, plus there were no bodies or such, even if someone appeared, there was no need to worry about explaining. But following the principle of ¡°better less trouble than more,¡± Tang Qi still cleaned up a bit. He picked up the shell casings and put them in the box together with Blood Python No.1, then kicked some mud over to cover the fresh blood. After making sure everything was in order, Tang Qi turned and headed back home. Once back in the small brick house, Tang Qi treated his arm in a bizarre way, with harsh liquor for disinfection and applying herbal medicine, knowledge neither the original owner nor Tang Qi himself had; obviously, it came from Old Morgan, a native of the Saha Continent. Tang Qi had consumed half of his soul, also gaining some fragmentary knowledge. After everything was settled, Tang Qi neither practiced the newly started Meditation Method nor fiddled with the newly acquired Extraordinary Weapon, Blood Python No.1. Instead, he quickly went down to the first floor, entered the cramped storage room, and dragged out a bundle of old newspapers and a pile of magazines or other publications, with the top one dated just yesterday. He moved these publications, fragrant with the smell of ink, to his study room and quickly flipped through them. His focus was different from ordinary people; he didn¡¯t read political news or business information. He specifically looked at strange and unusual events, unreliable urban legends published in small blocks, or simply some ghastly tragic events. April 29th of year 102 in the Divine Eagle Calendar, the famous tourist destination in the Federation, Ghana Snow Mountain, was suspected to have a Snow Monster sighting; a giant entirely covered with ice and snow rushed out from the depths of the Snow Mountain and snatched a child from the hands of a tourist couple, fleeing immediately. April 30th, in the center of Holy Eagle Nest City, the biggest city, a street collapsed, creatures resembling mermaids were spotted in the sewer, officially explained as some marine life that mistakenly entered the sewer. The same day, in Jiatai City, the second largest city, cult members self-immolated under the statue of the Lord of Thorns, were stopped by the police, but all the cult members mysteriously disappeared before being taken back to the police station. May 1st, on the Federation Highway No.5, a serial killer appeared, consecutively killing more than a dozen people, the murder scene left runes similar to those of Devils. ¡­ Seeing more and more of this information, Tang Qi¡¯s brow furrowed tighter, his initially vague guess gradually becoming clearer. Flipping further, Tang Qi was not satisfied with just the Divine Eagle Federation, his search area expanded across the entire Blue Star. A sudden explosion of related information began bombarding Tang Qi¡¯s mind. April 30th of year 102, within a member country of the Europe Alliance in Franqi Country, a blood-colored mist suddenly erupted inside a rural castle, dissipating only in the early hours of the next morning, all life inside the covered area had already died. May 1st, in the southern part of Atlant Ocean, a passing cruise ship was suspected to have been overturned by a giant octopus-shaped sea monster, most of the crew members died, and the few survivors were left in a confused and insane state. May 2nd, deep in the Eritrea Ocean, various strange and terrifying roars were detected, seeming like a monster battle ongoing in the depths of the ocean, a day later, a large area of the central ocean was dyed blood red. April 28th, within the Siren Trench, suddenly a violent column of light erupted, piercing through the ocean, even briefly illuminating half of the trench, within the light column a phantom of a pair of wings could be faintly seen, many claimed it could potentially be a Miracle. The source, believed to be the Divine Eagle Federation¡¯s ¡°Wings of Freedom,¡± lost for hundreds of years, rumors stated that the Federation Government had organized scientists and religious scholars to investigate and salvage. ¡­ Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 A World of Profound Changes Chapter 18: Chapter 18 A World of Profound Changes Editor: Atlas Studios The small building with brick and stone walls, a two-story study, Tang Qi sitting behind the desk, his complexion somewhat murky and uncertain. Although that large bundle of publications looked voluminous, under Tang Qi¡¯s targeted search, they were quickly all read through. When he put down a newspaper called ¡°Purple Moonlight Newspaper,¡± that initially vague guess at the bottom of his heart had now become clearer than ever before. His gaze finally landed on the date at the top of the newspaper. April 28th! Not the latest newspaper, but an old one. However, it was this particular date, in Tang Qi¡¯s estimation, that was critically important. ¡°Before the 28th, those paranormal news events did occur sporadically, but both in terms of scale and frequency, they were not at the same level.¡± ¡°Since that day, everything exploded, those abnormalities, demons, or miracles, all began to erupt in concentration.¡± ¡°Is this what¡¯s called the Spiritual Tide?¡± The two words Tang Qi mentioned were also the reason he suddenly began to search for those news clues. While being hunted by the Blank Dog-faced Man, Tang Qi glimpsed an Information Fragment that mentioned that the creation of the Dog-faced Man was due to the Spiritual Tide. This also explained the confusion Tang Qi felt at first sight of the monster he had created himself. After all, corpses and stray dogs, along with so-called Resentful Souls, are not at all rare in a place like Bronk. If these factors combined could create those monstrously powerful and fast creatures, the Blank District would have been chaotic long ago. The only unexpected factor: the Spiritual Tide, was the real key. Now having looked through these clues, Tang Qi felt he was vaguely gaining insight into the fearful changes occurring on this planet. Before the implementation of the New Calendar, Origin Blue Star was once an incredibly dangerous Mysterious World, rampant with magic and monsters, with various abnormalities happening all over the world, until a mysterious meteor passed by a hundred years ago, and then all of them disappeared. But now, they¡¯re back. Tang Qi might not be able to traverse the entire Origin Blue Star to find evidence, but the many signs around him were enough. The Blank Dog-faced Man, since it was named after the ¡°Blank District,¡± certainly was a famous monster from the Blank District a hundred years ago, with many descriptions visible in various related books, incredibly real. But after the start of the New Calendar, the Dog-faced Man vanished. Until tonight, Tang Qi personally created one. Then there¡¯s what Old Morgan¡¯s diary mentioned, that his terrifying mother¡¯s power began to recover, and was even stronger than before, around the 28th. Of course, the most powerful proof was Tang Qi himself. Meditation Method, Molten Furnace Eye, Chaga Fighting Technique, Extraordinary Blood¡­ Tang Qi could definitely affirm that his All-Knowing ability, as his blessed Golden Finger from crossing into this world. But for the others, Tang Qi did not believe he was the only one. Having deduced this tremendous ¡°Secret,¡± Tang Qi¡¯s expression was not so good-looking. Facing the resurgence of the Mysterious Side, perhaps those who are fond of Mysticism would be very happy, very excited. But Tang Qi, who had already stepped half a foot into the Transcendent, saw the danger directly. In his mind, the already intense sense of urgency had climbed another notch. The world was becoming incredibly dangerous. Although Tang Qi could also see that in the face of the various mysteries erupting globally, official powers intervened immediately and initiated a cover-up, so Origin Blue Star was still extremely peaceful for the time being. But in the dark, the waves were already surging. Most crucially, Tang Qi didn¡¯t believe the authorities could keep covering it up indefinitely. ¡°Sigh~¡± Tang Qi sat in the high-backed chair and pondered for a long while before finally letting out a deep breath and putting away all the publications. Knowing that the world was undergoing great changes was enough; the deeper reasons were certainly beyond the current Tang Qi¡¯s ability to investigate. With a bit of publication, there wasn¡¯t much to uncover. ¡°Power is the foundation of everything.¡± After muttering this phrase to himself. Tang Qi left the desk, returned to his bedroom, but did not go to bed to sleep. Instead, he sat down on the carpet in the middle, just like on the first day. Cultivating while Saint Thorny High School, this sanctuary of peace, he would use all the time he had to strengthen himself. Tang Qi had a strong premonition that if the entire Origin Blue Star was changing dramatically, the tranquility of Saint Thorny High School wouldn¡¯t last too long either. The last bit of stray thought was suppressed by Tang Qi, and when a hazy moonlight fell upon him, he had entered meditation. How long it took others to enter meditation with the Golden Furnace Meditation, Tang Qi did not know. But after turning the Meditation Method into a skill, he only needed one second. Especially now that the Meditation Method, just like the Chaga Fighting Skill, had reached the beginner level, cultivating it became even smoother. His spirit visualized the golden Sun, with a warm breath flowing through his body, as if turning into a Melter, burning all the bizarre lights hitting him into golden Light Points swiftly merging into the dim Spirit Space. A night¡¯s time swiftly passed by. When Tang Qi woke up from meditation again, the sunlight that fell on him was now the early morning sun. He felt the abundant spiritual power in his mind, glanced at his interface, although he felt he had gained a lot overnight, it was still somewhat less compared to refining, or rather, Devouring a soul for spiritual power. The Golden Furnace Meditation was still at the Beginner level, and the progress was still at 0.01%. Without showing surprise, Tang Qi got up, went downstairs, took the medicine box, and changed the dressing on his wound. He didn¡¯t know if it was an illusion, but although only one night had passed, Tang Qi felt that his wound had healed a lot and was not as frightening as when he first applied the medicine. After changing the dressing, Tang Qi took a stone pot and cooked himself a pot of nutrition-rich medicinal porridge. While the stone pot began to ¡°gurgle¡± and work, he took the box he had brought home last night. Upon opening, inside lay the pistol that had an extremely domineering appearance and had saved Tang Qi¡¯s life last night. Blood Python One! This was a very unique pistol with a pitch-black body, said to be made of a type of black iron that had become very rare. The existence of that bloodline was the origin of its name, Blood Python. The same model of pistol was available from Monster Gun Company, but they could only earn the title of Python. In terms of fame, they were far inferior to Blood Python One. Perhaps because it had been stained with Tang Qi¡¯s blood containing Extraordinary Power last night, as Tang Qi carefully wiped it with a cotton cloth, he felt the bloodline seemed even more vivid. After wiping attentively more than a dozen times, Tang Qi put Blood Python One back in the box and stored the box in a sturdy safe. After drinking a large pot of hot medicinal porridge, Tang Qi then left his house with books in hand. Putting on black-framed glasses, his appearance became that of an ordinary-looking Asian teenager, a honest and diligent high school student. Even though one of his hands was almost wrapped up like a rice dumpling. However, with his current physique, apart from temporarily affecting his practice of Chaga Fighting Technique, there seemed to be no other inconveniences. ¡°It¡¯s still a bit inconvenient; going to class like this, I might be misunderstood.¡± Tang Qi muttered as he locked the iron gate. Just as he was about to turn towards the Main Campus, a wave of noise suddenly intruded into his ears. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 The Skin-peeling Murder Case Chapter 19: Chapter 19 The Skin-peeling Murder Case Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Hmm?¡± Tang Qi looked up in surprise, immediately spotting a large swarm of students¡ªboys and girls mixed with quite a few teaching staff¡ªall flocking hastily toward an area on the side of the Main Campus, their faces a mix of excitement and fear as they ran. Something¡¯s happened! This thought just skimmed the bottom of Tang Qi¡¯s heart when a few male students running by quickly clued him in on what had happened through their loud exclamations. ¡°Hurry up, hurry up, I heard there¡¯s been a murder at the school dormitory area.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, quite a few girls died, they say they were all cheerleaders.¡± ¡°And the way they died was awful, their entire skin was peeled off by the perpetrator.¡± Just as Tang Qi was about to walk straight over, he suddenly stopped after hearing the last sentence, His feet moved, and he followed the crowd toward the dormitory area. Saint Thorn High School¡¯s layout, aside from the Main Campus, also had a large area occupied by the school dormitories. As the best high school in Messer City, with a considerable number of students, therefore some chose to board, and ninety-nine percent of them were concentrated in the dormitories, usually sharing rooms with several others. For someone like Tang Qi, who rented a whole small building for himself, this was obviously rare. Who let him have control over a large fortune now? Others, even if well-off, wouldn¡¯t necessarily do the same. When he reached the dormitory area, Tang Qi immediately saw a large crowd blocked in front of a red brick building. The scene of the crime was on the first floor, the sixth room. The police had already arrived beforehand, setting up a cordon outside the room, and a number of burly police officers formed a human wall, stopping some crazed students attempting to push through. A strong smell of blood wafted out. Even through the swarming crowd, Tang Qi could see through some gaps, the door of the room wide open, with thick, congealed black blood flowing out. This horrifying scene could not deter these adolescents in the throes of puberty, with their intense morbid curiosity. The teaching staff mingled within the crowd all had grim expressions on their faces. But these students were excitedly discussing the tragedy, raising their voices in discussion amid a few sporadic cries, which allowed Tang Qi to make out two things. First, the several dead probably weren¡¯t well-liked. Second, the manner of death, or rather the method of dying, was horrifying. He stood at the outskirts for a second then suddenly squeezed into the onlooking crowd, not using brute force, just strong steps, and quickly made his way to the very front. The best position, right in front of the open door. A glance thrown inside, and Tang Qi took in most of the room¡¯s scene. The dead, a total of four, were all female. They were all naked, lying on their beds, covered with thin white sheets, with arms and ankles exposed but the skin on them had vanished. The unimaginable amount of blood had completely soaked the beds before dripping onto the floor, forming puddles that flowed towards the door, eventually solidifying at the threshold. The cause of death? From the earlier discussions, it seemed as if all the skin on their bodies had been peeled off, were they skinned alive to death? It was also fortunate they were covered with white sheets; otherwise, if it were indeed as Tang Qi imagined, the group of morbidly excited students discussing it might have actually vomited right there, disgorging every meal they had for three days and nights. This was proven by a few cleaners in one corner within the cordon who were vomiting so much they were nearly passing out. Tang Qi didn¡¯t stare at the body being carried away like most of the students. Instead, he quickly took in the entire room¡¯s layout and details. Soon, Tang Qi seemed to see something. His pupils shrunk slightly, and his expression instantly became gloomier. Though it quickly returned to normal, a trace of doubt lingered in his eyes. After all, it was a cruel murder case, and it had happened at Saint Thorn High School. It was imaginable what kind of impact this case would have once it spread throughout Messer City. Because of this, both the police and the school authorities were under tremendous pressure. They worked in remarkable synergy and high efficiency, as the police cordoned off the crime scene and experts arrived one after another. Meanwhile, the white-haired Principal approached the students and declared that classes would not be canceled, all students should attend as usual. This was done, not only to temporarily lock down information to gain more time for investigation but likely also to assist in finding the perpetrator. Especially those few Discoverers and the students living in the same building as the dead were directly entered into the ¡°witness questioning¡± phase. The rest of the students were evacuated to their classes. Tang Qi was among them. Before leaving, he narrowed his eyes slightly. Yet, instead of looking back at the crime scene, he scanned the crowd of onlookers, as if trying to find something. Unfortunately, he found nothing. A hint of slight disappointment flashed through his eyes, and he turned to join the other students towards the Main Campus. However, at that moment, a voice suddenly came from behind him. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°You, wait a moment.¡± Surprised to be called out, Tang Qi turned his head in confusion and saw a tall female police officer approaching with several subordinates. The female officer was dressed in a burgundy leather jacket, with tight jeans below, a model-like figure that did not hide her martial aura. Below her red hair was a face both delicate and beautiful, and her eyes were mature but also sharp. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Chief Stanna. I have a few questions to ask you. If you don¡¯t mind, can we talk over there?¡± She had shown her badge right away and pointed to a temporary resting spot within the hall, making the aforementioned request. As a student receiving this kind of treatment, Tang Qi¡¯s face showed a hint of helplessness, and without thinking, he knew. This treatment was most likely due to his meticulously bandaged hand. Any police officer who spots someone with an injured hand at a crime scene would immediately bring that person in for questioning. Tang Qi didn¡¯t believe that his ordinary student appearance would exempt him from this treatment. But before Tang Qi could respond, the Principal approached, looked Tang Qi over carefully, confirmed something, then turned to address Chief Stanna, ¡°Chief Stanna, this student no longer has a guardian. If you wish to talk to him, it must be done in the company of a school representative.¡± The Principal, naturally, knew of Tang Qi¡¯s existence. It must have been Mr. Ronald¡¯s doing originally. But the kindness extended by Mr. Ronald could only prompt the Principal to go so far. Tang Qi hadn¡¯t expected that such a slight connection would lead a renowned high school¡¯s Principal to protect him so vehemently, especially in a case involving a ghastly murder. To secure the company of a representative was already fortunate. As for avoiding the conversation altogether, judging by the serious demeanor of Chief Stanna, that seemed impossible. At this thought, Tang Qi calmly stopped the Principal from calling the school representative and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can represent myself and I¡¯m willing to cooperate with the police. After all, the victim was also my classmate.¡± Having said that, Tang Qi willingly stepped into the hall. Behind him, Chief Stanna, witnessing Tang Qi¡¯s actions, had a more piercing look in her eyes. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Venus Kiss Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Venus¡¯ Kiss Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi sat down and waited for a while before Chief Stanna came over. However, by this time, the stern expression on her face had softened a lot, at least her gaze towards Tang Qi was not as sharp. She must have taken this time to understand Tang Qi¡¯s current situation from the principal. Having just lost his parents, and being a slender teenager, how could he possibly be the murderer? ¡°Tang Qi, right? I was too stern just now. I hope I didn¡¯t scare you.¡± ¡°You can relax. I just have a few questions to ask you. It¡¯s routine inquiry, nothing else. Everyone who was at the school last night will go through this investigation.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡± It must be said, once the stern demeanor is retracted, Chief Stanna is indeed a mature woman with great affinity and quite beautiful. Whether by the aesthetics of this world or those of the Previous Earth, she is a stunning beauty, especially her tall figure which makes one regret that she should have been a model instead. If it were the original soul, facing such a gentle and mature big sister, he would probably be shy and excited, spilling all the beans. Unfortunately, it is now Tang Qi. Watching the female chief sitting in front of him, opening a small notebook, ready to begin the routine questioning, Tang Qi didn¡¯t wait for her to ask her first question. He slowly raised his tightly wrapped arm, casually pulled with the other hand, and untied the bandages. Soon, Tang Qi¡¯s wound that was healing well but still horrifying appeared in front of Stanna. Of course, an upsetting wound like that couldn¡¯t scare a female chief. Stanna grabbed a passing forensic scientist on the scene, whispered to them for a moment, and then the forensic immediately examined Tang Qi¡¯s wound. Not long after, the forensic re-bandaged Tang Qi and then reported the findings and conclusions to Stanna. Before leaving, the forensic also kindly reminded Tang Qi, ¡°Kid, if you¡¯ve been bitten by a dog, especially so severely, it¡¯s better to get vaccinated for rabies as soon as possible. Doing so within twenty-four hours would be safer.¡± The forensic¡¯s conclusion essentially proved Tang Qi¡¯s innocence. After all, a person with such a severe arm injury couldn¡¯t possibly have skinned four teenage girls alive at dawn. She accepted the kind intentions; if he were still an ordinary person, he would actually worry about rabies. But now, as long as Tang Qi wishes, he could always check his own state. Moreover, the primal herbs from the Saha Continent seemed to be very effective. Although he was completely out of suspicion, Tang Qi still had to go through the routine inquiry, but this time, Chief Stanna¡¯s expression was completely eased, and occasionally she even revealed a couple of very stunning smiles. The interrogation was underway when suddenly, another commotion ensued. Both of them looked towards the source, only to see a girl anxiously breaking through the police cordon, hurrying toward them, with several policemen unable to keep up for a moment. ¡°Tang Qi, how are you? Are you alright?¡± ¡°Lady, I can vouch for Tang Qi, he¡¯s my friend. He walked me home last night and he definitely has nothing to do with this case¡­¡± ¡°Ugh~¡± Clearly, Sally arrived a bit late and was a bit rushed, not yet understanding what had happened here. She was anxious to testify for Tang Qi, and unwittingly turned her head to see everything inside the room. Although the bodies had been removed, the solidified black blood on the bed and the floor was still enough to be horrifying and upsetting, causing Sally to throw up on the spot. Poor girl, it was her first time witnessing such a powerful scene. If nothing unexpected, she might have nightmares tonight. However, her interruption had actually imparted quite a favorable impression of both Tang Qi and Sally to Chief Stanna. It seemed that these were just two plain high school students. The previous doubts, due to professional conduct, softened after understanding the situation, which was quite normal. After Sally felt better, Stanna then took them away from the scene before turning back to continue the investigation. She hadn¡¯t been in the position of chief of Messer City Police Station for long, and she encountered such a thorny and vicious case as soon as she took office. She was somewhat overwhelmed and on edge. Besides the horrific nature of the case, the location was also too delicate. Saint Thorn High School has an extraordinary status in Messer City, although the families of the four cheerleaders who died could only be said to be well-off, not to the extent that the police station can¡¯t afford to provoke them. But the other students might not be the same. Many people here are either rich or of high social status. Handling this case poorly might not only spell the end of the case being solved, but she might also lose her position first. Why is that? This atrocious case was handed to her, a newcomer, because none of the seasoned detectives would touch it. However, these ¡°external factors¡± were not the main cause of her headache. What truly troubled Chief Stanna about this case was its complexity. In a single night, the skin of four girls in the prime of their youth was flayed off without making a sound, unnoticed by students in the neighboring rooms. This alone spoke volumes of the murderer¡¯s terrifying proficiency. What¡¯s most incredible is that not a single clue was left at the scene. No fingerprints, hair, footprints¡­ nothing at all, not even biological evidence like sweat. In Chief Stanna¡¯s decade plus career in law enforcement, she had never encountered such a killer. Although she¡¯s an outstanding policewoman, she had a feeling that this adversary might far surpass anything she could imagine. After sending Tang Qi and Sally beyond the police tape, Chief Stanna turned back, frowning. At this moment, Tang Qi, just having stepped outside the cordoned area, paused and his gaze flickered, pondering something before swiftly making a decision. Tang Qi turned to face Chief Stanna, a trace of ¡°hesitation¡± fleeting across his face, but he spoke up nevertheless: ¡°Chief Stanna, have you ever heard of ¡®Venus¡¯ Kiss¡¯?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Chief Stanna was momentarily startled by Tang Qi¡¯s words, tried to recall what he mentioned, then shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a minor game, similar to ¡®Bloody Mary¡¯, not popular in the Divine Eagle Federation, but origination and widely played in the Anglo Kingdom within the Europe Alliance, a pastime for young girls during the boring late hours, a game about fear and beauty.¡± ¡°The rule is¡­¡± Tang Qi paused here. At this point, something seemed to dawn on Chief Stanna and she grew solemn. Indeed, as Tang Qi continued, her entire body tensed, goosebumps formed, and her scalp tingled. Tang Qi was equally serious, casting a distant gaze towards the busy room as he spoke: ¡°Venus is a symbol of love and beauty. Legend says that receiving her kiss grants eternal beauty and the sincerest of love.¡± ¡°This delightful little game dictates that the girl must be stripped naked, lying on the bed on her side, surrounded by red rose petals, and must wear a floral crown upon her head. Beside her, a seashell filled with deep blue seawater must be placed.¡± ¡°If the ritual is successful, the one who summoned it will receive Venus¡¯ blessing¡ªbeauty and sincere love.¡± ¡°If the ritual fails, the summoner will pay with her looks and lifespan, becoming older and uglier.¡± ¡°Of course, this is just a trivial game.¡± ¡°Venus¡­ perhaps, does not exist.¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± Every word Tang Qi spoke, Chief Stanna¡¯s heartbeat intensified. Without any need for further explanation, Sally by her side was also showing a face of horror and admiration. Leaving admiration aside, the horror was easy to understand. Because at that moment, inside the opened doorway, an exact scene as described by Tang Qi laid bare. As a police officer with excellent memory, Chief Stanna knew without looking back that the layout on each girl¡¯s bed within that room, matched Tang Qi¡¯s description without any discrepancy. Chief Stanna, at this point, was both surprised and excited. A case that seemed intractable might find a breakthrough due to Tang Qi¡¯s words. Yet Chief Stanna¡¯s imagination was clearly not enough; the truly significant breakthrough was in Tang Qi¡¯s following words. ¡°As I understand it, to complete this little game, the key prop is that seashell. According to the rules, it must be a shell from the Aegean Sea, and while it¡¯s not rare, it¡¯s unlikely the four girls could have found an authentic one on such short notice.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± The answer revealed, Tang Qi didn¡¯t elaborate further. Just as Chief Stanna, excited, was about to turn around, he gave another reminder: ¡°Chief Stanna, someone capable of a heinous crime like this must be terrifying. If possible, when capturing him, try not to give him a chance to counterattack or escape.¡± Chief Stanna may or may not have taken this last advice to heart. After hastily responding with an ¡®okay¡¯, the decisive and beautiful chief hurried back to the crime scene, heading straight for the four abnormal seashells lying quietly beside the bed, filled with deep blue seawater. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Remodeling the Bullet Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Remodeling the Bullet Editor: Atlas Studios After reminding Stanna, the mature and charming police chief, Tang Qi left the crime scene with Sally. Turning around, he was again just an ordinary-looking Asian student. As if the calm youth who had offered clues just moments before was not him at all. Only Sally, with her oversized black-rimmed glasses, shone brightly every time she looked at Tang Qi. To this, Tang Qi could only smile helplessly, thinking his first friend might be somewhat naive and sweet. The reason Tang Qi benevolently helped Stanna solve the case was not for show, nor was it because he was overly righteous or good-natured; it was because he noticed traces of the extraordinary at the crime scene. More precisely, there were four Extraordinary Items. Even though it was just a quick glance, his Special Ability still allowed him to see some things. [Curios: Sea Demon¡¯s Shell] [Information Fragment: This is a shell from the Aegean Sea, marked by the Sea Demon and also part of an Evil ritual.] The blunt information directly informed Tang Qi that the perpetrator of this bloody crime was no ordinary person. Of course, aside from this was knowledge that Tang Qi knew from the original body¡¯s memories. Although the original person was just an average Asian student, and even academically inferior to other Asian students, he was surprisingly a prodigy in various odd and Abnormal Knowledge. Now, all that Knowledge had become Tang Qi¡¯s. Despite this, it didn¡¯t stop Tang Qi from eagerly continuing to acquire more Knowledge. Unfortunately, due to this terrible crime, the entire Saint Thorny High School maintained its operations, but students, teachers, or other academic staff seemed somewhat absent-minded. Especially the students, who were growing restless. Being at an age of intense curiosity, such a case happening close by stirred up passionate discussions among all the students. And Tang Qi, was one of the very few still seriously attending classes. Even so, Tang Qi still spared a bit of attention to overhear the various murmurings around him. He automatically filtered out the massive amounts of irrelevant garbage information. But by the end of the day, he still silently noted many pieces of useful information. After the last class of the day, aside from those still being questioned, the residential academic staff and students living in the same building, the rest of the students dispersed, most of them in a hurry to go home to share the ¡°earth-shaking case¡± with their parents or friends. If it were a regular high school, these students might receive some warnings, not to disclose such information. At Saint Thorny High School, such restrictions were impossible. Tang Qi could almost foresee, by the end of the night, the entire Messer City would be shaken by this major case. As a city in a remote state, Messer City¡¯s presence in the Federation was very low. This case might raise its profile a bit. But the leaders of Messer City would certainly not be happy to gain attention in such a way. Unlike those excited students, Tang Qi had no one to confide in or share with, nor did he need to. However, he did not immediately head back to his brick-and-diamond small building, as he had some arrangements for the evening. After bidding Sally goodbye, Tang Qi left the campus area, boarded a bus, and headed straight for Central Avenue in the Central District. As the Neon flickered, that bustling street, apparently thriving in all directions, once again came into Tang Qi¡¯s view. Although to many residents of Messer City, Central Avenue is considered one of its iconic sights. But to Tang Qi, who had seen too many prosperous night scenes on Previous Earth, it was just average, after all. Of course, there were also many different aspects that amazed Tang Qi. After all, it was an Otherworldly setting, with its own unique characteristics. For instance, at this time, after Tang Qi got off the bus, unlike other people who came to Central Avenue, he didn¡¯t go to the streets selling various delicious foods, nor to the clothing streets. Instead, he deliberately dove into the streets selling strange things, and of course, what he bought were some items that seemed utterly useless and Abnormal. An hour later, Tang Qi once again entered Gun Street, and when he left, he carried an extra toolbox in his hands. As he boarded the bus again, his hands were laden with big and small parcels of various things. Fortunately, due to the beginner boost from the Chaga Fighting Technique, Tang Qi¡¯s physical condition had also been enhanced. Although it wasn¡¯t exaggerated enough to enter the Extraordinary Domain, Tang Qi was now a very robust young man. Carrying a large bundle of items, he stepped back onto the campus. The daytime Saint Thorn High School was undoubtedly ancient and holy, with various details of the Church¡¯s legacy making this high school so special. But for some reason, after nightfall, this sense of holiness was greatly diminished. It might have been an illusion, or perhaps due to the daytime homicide. At this moment, to Tang Qi, the vast campus somehow seemed rather sinister. And as Tang Qi made his way towards his brick stone building, a series of sharp siren wails suddenly erupted in the night sky. A cluster of faint, flickering lights passed straight through the streets on another side of Thorny High School, and then headed towards the side with a large cluster of buildings. These lights belonged to police cars. Tang Qi glanced from afar, suppressing a somewhat ominous premonition in his heart, and said with a frown, ¡°Have they found the killer so quickly?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope nothing bad happens. I hope she remembers my hint.¡± He muttered to himself, then turned away and continued walking back to the building. The desire to get involved? There was a bit of that, but alas, Tang Qi was well aware that he was not yet at a stage where he could afford to provoke enemies at will. Especially considering the unknown killer could be an Extraordinary Monster. Providing that clue and the final hint. That was already the best effort Tang Qi could make. After all, he¡¯s just a high school student, not a police officer. Several thoughts flashed by, and Tang Qi had already locked the main door, placing the large bundle of items on the wooden table in the small living room on the first floor. Afterward, Tang Qi headed straight for the kitchen. Following a series of smooth and efficient movements, when he emerged again, Tang Qi had in his hands a plate of golden fried rice that looked quite appetizing. The ingredient was the precious Golden Tooth Rice, a well-known foodstuff throughout the Federation, typically turned by most chefs into stews or baked dishes beloved by the nobles. On a whim, Tang Qi went for a dish of fried rice. With the first bite, Tang Qi¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. Then like a typhoon sweeping through, he finished off the entire plate of fried rice. Putting down the spoon, he exclaimed, ¡°The ingredients of this world, once cooked, actually don¡¯t glow. That¡¯s illogical.¡± He muttered a complaint to himself, quickly tidied up the table, and brewed a pot of coffee. As the rich aroma began to spread, Tang Qi finally sat down at the wooden table, opening up the large packs of items. Apart from the toolbox for firearms, a huge pile of miscellaneous, strange items came into view. Pearl Powder, Oak Fruit, Silver Shavings, garlic essence, rouge flower seeds¡­ After checking over the items, Tang Qi turned around to fetch a few small wooden boxes, opened them, and dumped them onto the table. Amidst a sound of ¡°clatter, clatter, clatter,¡± a pile of yellowish bullets lay before Tang Qi. This was what Tang Qi intended to do tonight. The Extraordinary Gun, Blood Python No.1, currently represented Tang Qi¡¯s strongest Attack power. Following the hints from the Information Fragment, Tang Qi planned to continue enhancing its power. The first step was to modify the bullets. Extraordinary firearms require matching Extraordinary bullets. Although Tang Qi possessed the relevant technical Knowledge, this venture still involved the Extraordinary Domain, in which he was still a Beginner. ¡°Hu¡± With this breath exhaled, Tang Qi quickly sat down, deftly opening the heavy toolbox for firearms. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Perverted Serial Killer Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Perverted Serial Killer Editor: Atlas Studios Late at night, the wooden table had become cluttered and untidy, with the bright light flickering slightly. Tang Qi was holding tools in both hands, engrossed in very meticulous work. Whether it was because he had become a Transcendent or the enhancement from the Chaga Fighting Technique, the recovery speed of Tang Qi¡¯s arms was astoundingly fast. Although not as flexible as his other hand yet, it no longer hindered simple grasping actions. Right now, beside him were two books, one titled ¡°Gun Repair Guide ¨C Bullet Chapter,¡± and the other was ¡°Exorcism Items Encyclopedia.¡± The former came with the toolbox he bought; the latter was a personal collection of the original homeowner, a popular common knowledge book a hundred years ago, now considered superstitious. For Tang Qi, both were currently useful. After unsealing Blood Python One, Tang Qi saw two Information Fragments. One told the origin of Blood Python One. The other informed him that this Extraordinary Pistol, now only has two basic attributes, Blast and Armor-piercing. It could become powerful by crafting different Extraordinary Bullets. Tang Qi had been busy for most of the night for this purpose. He bought a bunch of bizarre exorcism items and tried various combinations by inserting them into those golden-yellow bullets. Though not dangerous, the working procedure was tedious and mentally taxing. For instance, at this moment, Tang Qi was experimenting with a new combination. Tang Qi used tweezers to slowly pick up a red seed only slightly larger than a rice grain and carefully placed it into a small bowl beside him. It rolled a few times until it was covered with Silver Shavings, then he picked it out and carefully placed it into a bullet casing that had been soaked in Holy Water. After that, the second seed, the third seed, the fourth seed¡­ Once six seeds were inserted, Tang Qi stopped. He then put the bullet casing back in place, and a ¡°click¡± signaled the completion. There was now another whole bullet on the table. As Tang Qi¡¯s gaze swept over it, the look of anticipation in his eyes instantly disappeared. Despite having added many things, Holy Water, and Silver, that rouge flower seed, apart from being one of the most widely used fragrances in the world, was also one of the most famous Extraordinary Materials for exorcism in the Ancient Maya Empire. Unfortunately, such a combination still ended in failure. ¡°This is the last combination; it seems my method is incorrect.¡± ¡°Do I have to resort to that?¡± Tang Qi put down his tools, looking at the project that took over an hour and yet yielded nothing. His gaze finally settled on his own wrist. Only hesitating for a second, Tang Qi stood up straight, grabbed a clean Small Knife, and made a slice on his wrist at the right spot. A line of red immediately appeared on the pale skin, and fresh, crimson blood flowed out. Not a single drop was wasted; it all dripped into a small bowl on the table. Upon seeing that there was enough blood in the bowl, Tang Qi immediately stopped the bleeding. After hastily bandaging the wound, Tang Qi picked up the tweezers again, grasped a clean bullet that had undergone no combination, and dropped it straight into the bowl full of fresh blood. It might have been an illusion, but without even a second passing, as soon as the bullet was submerged in blood, a faint Golden Light flashed. Tang Qi¡¯s actions were quick, and as a Phantom swept by, the bullet had already been picked out. In the air, the blood covering the bullet¡¯s surface should have dripped down, but under Tang Qi¡¯s watch, that blood seemed to slowly merge into the bullet itself, not a single trace falling off. In just a breath, the bullet regained its golden-yellow color. However, if one looked closely, they would find a faint mark, like the Sun, added to the bullet head. A special interface finally appeared before Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. [Curios: Molten Furnace Bullet.] [Attribute: Evil-breaking, Burning.] [Information Fragment: Bullets soaked in Extraordinary Blood have gained a trace of Melting Furnace Power, transforming from mundane to Extraordinary, acquiring attributes of Evil-breaking and Burning.] ¡°Is this, successful?¡± Tang Qi was somewhat stunned looking at the Extraordinary Bullet before him; an hour of complex operations had given nothing. One cut to the wrist, and he immediately obtained an Extraordinary Bullet? With a moment of realization, Tang Qi looked again at that small bowl of blood. Sure enough, another special interface emerged. [Curios: Extraordinary Blood.] ¡°` [Information Fragment: This is a bowl of Extraordinary Blood infused with Melting Furnace Power, which can have many uses.] ¡°` ¡°So, the key to transforming bullets is that only Extraordinary Materials can be used to facilitate the transformation?¡± ¡°Ding~ Ding Ding¡± As this thought popped up, Tang Qi casually tossed seven or eight bullets into the small bowl, then picked them out one by one. Lined up on the table, there were a total of nine, all turned into Molten Furnace Bullets. But just as Tang Qi was about to throw in the tenth, he was startled to find that the small bowl was empty. Exchanging a bowl of blood for nine Extraordinary Bullets. Tang Qi didn¡¯t feel the cost was too steep, just a bit speechless. If he couldn¡¯t find another method, Tang Qi felt he might be anemic for the foreseeable future. ¡°But it might also be a good thing. At least I understand one rule: only Extraordinary Materials can be used to create Extraordinary Artifacts.¡± ¡°There are no shortcuts. They simply don¡¯t exist.¡± ¡°Knock knock knock¡± Just as Tang Qi was summarizing this, a series of urgent knocks suddenly pierced his ears. Hmm? Who would be looking for him this late at night? Tang Qi immediately got up, alert, quickly pocketed the nine Molten Furnace Bullets, and pulled over a large piece of burlap to cover the items on the table. Only then did he move to the door and peered through the peephole to see a beautiful face he had seen during the day, seeming somewhat familiar. ¡°Chief Stanna, what brings you here at this late hour?¡± Tang Qi asked, opening the door with one hand and rubbing his eyes with the other, feigning exhaustion yet straining to stay awake. Fortunately, he had been working in his pajamas all along, so his act was perfect. However, the current Stanna paid no attention to these details, looking completely different compared to during the day. Her body was stained with blood from who knows who, as if she had just fought a terrible foe and had encountered something unbelievable: her face still held an expression of shock and disbelief, her soul having suffered a strong blow. If it weren¡¯t for the sharpness still present in her eyes, which made a lasting impression, Tang Qi would have doubted whether this brisk and valiant policewoman had been switched out with someone else. Once invited in by Tang Qi, Stanna did not sit down nor accept the aromatic coffee Tang Qi offered her. She took a deep breath and then fixed her gaze onto Tang Qi, word by word she said: ¡°Little guy, did you already know it was a monster? I want you to tell me. Everything.¡± At this, Tang Qi froze, not even asking what had happened. Stanna began speaking on her own, her tone fast and urgent: ¡°Your warning was correct. That monster¡ªthe murderer, I don¡¯t know what that thing is, but we followed the clues you hinted at and examined those four seashells. Indeed, they all come from the Aegean Sea, yet we can¡¯t find a source for them in Messer City.¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s some nobles or the wealthy specifically having them shipped from the Aegean Sea, but we checked, and no one has done this.¡± ¡°So we quickly found the only source; the Europe Alliance had a student exchange with the Federation, and there was a student group from the Anglo Kingdom that had just arrived in Messer City, residing not far from Saint Thorny High School in the international dormitory.¡± ¡°The suspect, also a high school student, confessed after we caught him, admitting he¡¯s a gender deviant Serial Killer, who likes to flay the skin from blooming girls. ¡°Everything was going smoothly, but when we were about to bring him back to the police station, a terrible accident happened.¡± ¡°The man, he suddenly transformed into a monster, sprouting scales all over his body and his lower half turned into a tail. His head seemed like it had been soaked in water for a long time, swelling and rotting, becoming fatty and hideous. The most unimaginable part was that it was draping the skins of four people¡ªit was those four girls who were victims.¡± ¡°My men were so terrified they opened fire, and only after breaking the first layer of human skin on its body, the monster roared in anger. The policemen who were too close were sacrificed; their heads exploded before we could react, and before we knew it, the monster had escaped.¡± ¡­ ¡°I want to kill that monster, I must kill it.¡± ¡°Now, tell me everything you know, all of it ¨C every single thing!¡± As Stanna spat out her last words, she abruptly regained the mature and sharp demeanor she had during the day. If Tang Qi hadn¡¯t faintly felt a sense of danger, suspecting that if this older sister-like policewoman didn¡¯t get a satisfactory answer the next moment he¡¯d likely be battered by her, Tang Qi might actually have the leisure to seriously appreciate it. ¡°Chief Stanna, you¡­¡± ¡°Not good!¡± Before Tang Qi could finish his sentence, a surge of crisis awareness to an extreme degree welled up within him, the exposed skin on his body felt pricked by needles at this very moment. With this mutation, Tang Qi¡¯s expression changed greatly; he pounced forward like a cheetah, grabbing Chief Stanna and rolling on the spot, just in time to roll under a wooden table nearby. It was precisely in the split second his form left its original position that along with a horrifying howl, something resembling a whirlwind directly smashed through a wall of Tang Qi¡¯s house, ¡°Boom!¡± Right at the place where Tang Qi had been standing, making a big hole. Had he been just half a breath slower, Tang Qi might now be nothing more than a pile of minced meat. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Manatee Sea Demon Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Manatee Sea Demon Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Clap~clap clap clap¡± Crisp applause rang out in Tang Qi¡¯s house, as a slender silhouette emerged slowly amidst the scattering dust. This was a delicate boy whose features were so fine they bordered on feminine. And he was wearing heavy makeup. Dressed in some international student uniform, with a pair of beautiful yet crazed eyes, he was now staring intently at Tang Qi and his companion, who had just come out from under the desk. More precisely, Tang Qi was almost completely ignored as if merely an accessory; the real focus of his gaze was Chief Stanna beside him. His eyes rested on Chief Stanna as if she were a work of art, captivated with a strong desire to possess her. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, my dear, you¡¯re truly beautiful. The reason I¡¯ve revealed myself and not left is all because of you. I really want to peel off all your skin and drape it over my body, then I would become you, a perfect woman.¡± Having said that, his gaze finally landed on Tang Qi. A seductive smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, and his voice, which gave Tang Qi goosebumps all over, burrowed into his ears. ¡°So, it was you who discovered the clue to the shell? I have a question for you. How did you know that the shell came from the Aegean Sea without ever touching it?¡± ¡°Or is it that you¡¯re not ordi¡ª¡± ¡°Hissss~¡± ¡°Boom¡± The boy¡¯s sentence never reached its conclusion. Mid-sentence, he bared a sinister smile, then a terrifying soundwave erupted. Despite being prepared, Tang Qi, who was close by, was immediately disoriented by the invisible soundwave, feeling warmth in his ears and nose¡ªwithout touching, he knew he was bleeding. However, this was not the real danger. What made Tang Qi react violently like a cat that had its tail stepped on was the sudden descent of a massive, thick black fish tail from above. Tang Qi could feel that it was powerful enough to crush him instantly. No need for confirmation, and no time to check that peculiar interface¡ªthis was definitely an Extraordinary Monster. And at this moment, this monster, clearly more powerful, still launched a sneak attack on Tang Qi. But this scene did not surprise Tang Qi. ¡°Since it¡¯s confirmed to be an enemy, then naturally one must strike with all their might.¡± ¡°This filthy thing does so, and so do I.¡± While struggling to push Chief Stanna away and secretly placing a few bullets in her hands, this thought flashed through Tang Qi¡¯s mind. Then, with a swift and agile posture, he dodged the incoming fish tail and, with a whoosh like a cheetah sprinting at full speed, activated all his muscles, nearly causing a storm in the room with the speed he unleashed. Due to the sudden burst, Tang Qi even felt a sharp pain in his muscles. But at the moment, he had no time to care. His eyes, unable to hide his killing intent, were fixed on the ¡°guest¡± whose appearance had dramatically changed. The familiar and special interface emerged in his view. [Extraordinary Creature: Manatee Sea Demon.] [State: Fusing.] [Information Fragment One: A perverted human encounters an ugly Sea Demon. The former provides the latter with a human body, the latter bestows upon the former Extraordinary Power, and their fusion creates a special being.] [Information Fragment Two: When different Species fuse, the physical aspect isn¡¯t troublesome; the real issue lies with the mental aspect. They might succeed, but there¡¯s a higher chance of self-destruction.] Upon seeing this interface, Tang Qi also saw what the boy had become. He, or it, had lost most of its human characteristics. There, standing in Tang Qi¡¯s living room, was a bloated, ugly half-human, half-Fish Monster, just like Chief Stanna had described, with a thick fish tail for a lower body, naked upper body covered in scales, and a head appearing as if soaked and decayed. Three human skins were stretched over its form, and the layers supposedly beautiful were now oozing sickening pus and sticky blood, gradually spreading across the blended faces. Faced with such an ugly monster, it would indeed be difficult for ordinary people to maintain composure. Especially since its emergence in the room, the intense fishy odor had already become impossible to ignore, reaching a level that interfered with the senses. It¡¯s just a pity that Tang Qi was not an ordinary person. Completely disregarding the shock of the monster¡¯s appearance, he charged into the storm, reaching it in no time to unleash his prepared Skill. Chaga Fighting Technique! Sssst! Sssst sssst! Fighting Skill typically involves only fists and feet. But this set of moves from the Saha Continent, now transformed into a Skill by Tang Qi, also included dagger attacks. So at this moment, the Manatee Sea Demon faced a series of dagger streaks so fast they were nearly phantoms. The sharp dagger easily cut through the three layers of human skin draped over it, but upon reaching the inner black scales, Tang Qi immediately felt a slippery, tenacious sensation, with most of his force dissipated and the rest only producing a string of sparks upon impact with the black scales. Unable to break through the scale defenses, his attack didn¡¯t provoke anger in the Sea Demon. However, the fact that it had its human skin sliced into tatters drove the Manatee Sea Demon into a frenzy. ¡°Hissss~¡± Another terrifying soundwave erupted at close range, blood gushing simultaneously from Tang Qi¡¯s ears, eyes, and nose. Boom! Amidst the surging sound of wind, that dreadful fish tail lashed out once more. Tang Qi deftly dodged, swinging to the Sea Demon¡¯s back. A cold dagger light instantly circled to the front, and with a ¡°pffft,¡± it buried into the monster¡¯s eye. Every other place was protected by scales, but the eyes remained vulnerable. The moment of impact, blood and pus burst out together, splattering onto Tang Qi¡¯s hand and began corroding his flesh immediately. Bearing the intense Pain, he yanked out the dagger and prepared to strike again, only to find the steel-made dagger in his hand was now corroded beyond use, riddled with holes. A strong premonition of danger hit him at that moment; Tang Qi didn¡¯t think twice, discarding the dagger and dashing away from the spot with a sprint. ¡°` ¡°Sss~¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡± Another Sea Demon Howl, different from the previous ones, this time Tang Qi¡¯s house got hit badly. Everything fragile shattered wherever the sonic wave passed, and even sturdier items were forcefully pushed aside, leaving a vast vacuum in its wake. Despite pushing himself to the brink and bursting out at his highest speed, Tang Qi still couldn¡¯t evade it. ¡°Pfft~¡± He began spitting blood mid-air, his forward momentum ceased, and he crashed to the ground like a dead dog. With a whoosh, before Tang Qi could even assess his injuries, he was snatched up by the throat by a thick and disgusting hand and hoisted violently into the air. In the chaotic room, the floor was completely covered with slime and pus, and putrid blood splattered everywhere, with the strong stench of fish making it seem like the noisiest seafood market. Tang Qi coughed up blood laboriously and looked down to see a wounded, ferocious Sea Demon. Their eyes met, and a vicious and smug expression split open on the Sea Demon¡¯s ugly face. ¡°Tender little mouse.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll eat you up!¡± With a loud shout, the Sea Demon¡¯s already fierce head suddenly reared back, and its gaping maw, now larger than Tang Qi¡¯s own head and lined with serrated teeth like those of a shark, lunged at him. It clearly intended to bite off Tang Qi¡¯s head. As it prepared to devour him, it fixed him with a pair of dead fish eyes, as if savoring the fear and despair Tang Qi would exhibit at his moment of death. Unfortunately, what it saw were eyes full of mockery. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Not right!¡± A foreboding sense just started to dawn on the Sea Demon¡¯s mind. Suddenly, a ¡°click¡± sounded from a corner of the room. It turned its head and caught sight of Stanna¡¯s perfect yet disheveled face, the unmistakable intent to kill, and the dark barrel of a gun. ¡°Ha ha ha, this can¡¯t even hurt¡­¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Before the Sea Demon could finish, its only remaining eye filled with a blinding golden light. It was fast, but not faster than a bullet. Chief Stanna¡¯s gun skills were good, truly befitting of her position as chief. So, the next moment, an excruciating howl echoed through the room once more. But this time it was different, it was more agonized, yet the sonic wave was weakened. The Manatee Sea Demon lost half of its head; its soggy and decaying cranium, actually possessing decent defensive capabilities, was no match for the surging golden bullet. The three human faces made of skin and the gray mist pouring out were all exceedingly fragile. Evil-breaking! Burning! Two attributes exploded simultaneously, and after a burst of golden light, the Manatee Sea Demon was seriously wounded. This time, it truly fell into a berserk state. ¡°Extraordinary Power, and it¡¯s the vilest kind of Extraordinary Power.¡± ¡°I will eat you alive!¡± Amid the howling, something unbelievable happened. From the grey mist surging out of the Sea Demon¡¯s blasted half-head, the broken flesh miraculously began to mend at a speed visible to the naked eye, nourished by the mist. At the same time, two thick and disgusting arms burst from its ribs with ¡°bang bang¡± sounds, and amidst splattering flesh and blood. The Sea Demon, whose aura had started to fade, surged violently. If Tang Qi were to check that special interface at this moment, he would see the status ¡°Merging¡± changed to ¡°Merging Progress 99.9%.¡± Who could have thought that a difficult fusion between a human and a demon could enter the final stage due to the stimulation of a Melter Furnace Bullet? At this moment, the Manatee Sea Demon¡¯s appearance was no longer so hideously grotesque, with black scales, a giant fish tail, a sleek head, four sturdy arms, and sinister yellow eyes all over its body. It no longer resembled a mutated monster, but rather some kind of ancient and evil creature. It clearly sensed this transformation and began to laugh maniacally. The human aspects in its voice rapidly vanished, and the monster side took control. But even so, it did not forget Tang Qi and Stanna; it whipped its fish tail, violently pulling Tang Qi in front of it, intending to stuff him into its mouth, as if it planned to eat Tang Qi first before hunting down Chief Stanna, who clearly posed a greater threat. The bullet capable of turning into golden light made it exceedingly wary. Just then, a real change occurred. A pair of slender but strong hands forcefully stopped its movement, and as it instinctively swung its other three arms to tear Tang Qi to pieces, it was met with an icy voice. ¡°Look into my eyes!¡± Perhaps it was the rage, or perhaps its mind was inherently unstable. Hearing this voice, the Sea Demon actually turned its head involuntarily, locking eyes with Tang Qi. Molten Furnace Eye! When the Sea Demon saw that golden sun, it was stupefied. The superhuman strength became useless, unable to prevent Tang Qi from slowly raising the barrel of Blood Python No.1, which unlike the gun in Stanna¡¯s hands, did possess Extraordinary Power. As Tang Qi¡¯s finger slowly pulled the trigger of Blood Python No.1, a faint blood light shone with a hum, sounding like the misty hum of a dragon. What followed was a surge of golden light far surpassing anything seen before. ¡°` Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Human Skin Ointment (Revised) Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Human Skin Ointment (Revised) Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°` Bang! Bang! Bang! One shot followed by another, incessantly. Tang Qi was severely injured, pain shooting through his body, but his grip on the gun was steady, channeling the remaining strength into it with rhythmic shots. The first bullet shattered the restored half of the Sea Demon¡¯s head. The second, the other half exploded too. The third, fourth, and fifth bullets destroyed its limbs and torso. The sixth bullet targeted the plump fish tail. As the last bullet transformed into golden light flames, blasting the fish tail into a shower of flesh, Tang Qi finally saw a strange human figure, made of gray mist, flying out from the scattered remains on the ground. This shadow resembled the Manatee Sea Demon almost exactly; the only difference being a face, intermingling human and Sea Demon features, constantly tearing and merging while screaming and fleeing toward the house. It was there when a hand gleaming with golden light suddenly reached out, grasping its tail. ¡°Boom.¡± The tragedy that once befell the Blank Dog-faced Man was now being experienced by the Manatee Sea Demon. It could scream when hit by the Molten Furnace Bullet. But as Tang Qi¡¯s palm ignited with golden flames, it could only struggle, then turned to ash. At this moment, even though he was prepared, Tang Qi was still startled by the activity in his mind. He felt his head shake violently. Originally, when consuming the Dog-faced Man¡¯s soul, he gained a small stream. But at this moment, Tang Qi felt a tide composed entirely of golden light points gather from his palm to his head, entering that gray mist space. There, Tang Qi watched a certain area infused with golden light abruptly expand by twice its size. Following this, waves of warm yet scorching air surged forth, coursing through his limbs and bones. Tang Qi felt as if he were inside a furnace, each breath seemed to spout flames. The parts of his body severely injured by the Manatee Sea Demon rapidly healed as the scorching air passed through them, and even old wounds on his arms healed faster, barely starting to itch before being overwhelmed by the burning sensation. Wave after wave of fiery steam emanated from Tang Qi¡¯s body. It evaporated all the disgusting pus and slime within the room entirely, the smell almost knocked Chief Stanna unconscious. Yet, at this moment, Tang Qi could hardly care about these things. With pain and relief intertwined, he almost moaned aloud. Suppressing these sensations, he looked at himself. The special interface popped up, the skill section, as Tang Qi predicted, had changed. And not just one. Under Tang Qi¡¯s gaze, the Meditation Method¡¯s progress leaped from 0.01%, with golden light twisting, suddenly to 0.2%. A twenty-fold increase almost made Tang Qi jump for joy. Even more exciting was the progress of Molten Furnace Eye, finally displaying ¡°Beginner¡±, jumping directly to 0.1%. The third skill, Chaga Fighting Technique¡¯s progress, also rapidly rose, finally settling at 0.15%. When everything was settled, not only was Tang Qi¡¯s injury completely recovered, but all three of his skills also experienced significant enhancement. The increase in progress wasn¡¯t just for show; Tang Qi could feel himself becoming much stronger. If he were to confront the Manatee Sea Demon now, he definitely would not be in such dire straits. This time, Tang Qi was able to kill the Manatee Sea Demon, having gotten quite the advantage. As both exist in the Transcendent Domain, yet their forces differ greatly. Tang Qi possesses Chaga Fighting Technique and Meditation Method, along with an extraordinary gun, but fundamentally remains human, his physical capabilities at most surpassing his peers, yet unable to compete with professional Fighting Masters. ¡°` And the Manatee Sea Demon possessed inhuman strength and speed, along with the Skill of Sea Demon Howl. Even later, when entering the final fusion stage, it seemed to be transforming into some kind of ancient Extraordinary Creature. Once successful, it would become unimaginably powerful. Tang Qi managed to kill it by strategically planning. He didn¡¯t expose Blood Python One beforehand; he used himself as bait, engaged in close combat using Fighting Skill, suffered severe injuries to draw its attention, allowing Stanna to fire the critical shot. Although he didn¡¯t fire Blood Python One, the Molten Furnace Bullet was still an Extraordinary Weapon that exploded half of its head. This also triggered its evolution, but it still provided a precious gap. Molten Furnace Eye! Shock effect! Only one second was available; at any other time, nothing could be done. But in combat, one second is enough to determine life or death. The Sea Demon gave Tang Qi the opportunity to use Blood Python One and completely exposed its own head, almost handing its life over to Tang Qi. The Molten Furnace Bullets fired from Blood Python One, each one¡¯s power massively increased compared to before. So by then, even though it had mostly evolved, it was ineffective. ¡°Cough~cough cough¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to help you!¡± Right after Tang Qi felt the changes inside him, the burning steam also dissipated at this moment. A tall figure ran over, almost immediately half-supporting him up without a word, clearly, in Chief Stanna¡¯s view, Tang Qi was seriously injured. Although being held by Stanna, the warmth and faint fragrance were enjoyable. However, at this moment, Tang Qi still managed to break free, indicating he was alright, and then walked directly to where the Sea Demon had become a pile of shreds of flesh. Spoils! Tang Qi was so eager because he saw numerous spoils. Among the disgusting chunks of flesh on the ground, there were three items emitting a faint ghost light visible only to Tang Qi. ¡°Curios, and three of them.¡± Tang Qi could almost feel his heart beating, suddenly and intensely. Ignoring the disgusting flesh, he went straight over and picked up the three items. The first was a shell-shaped box. Upon opening, it was filled with an unknown pale yellow ointment, and a rich fragrance instantly wafted out. ¡°What is this?¡± Beside him, Stanna¡¯s curious voice came. Her beautiful eyes looked at the ointment in Tang Qi¡¯s hand, her nose twitching slightly, an innate desire emerging. She felt that the ointment was something beneficial. Tang Qi was very sensitive to emotions, so he clearly sensed Stanna¡¯s thoughts at this time. Glancing at the special interface that popped up above the ointment, Tang Qi¡¯s mouth curved slightly. He handed the ointment to Stanna, then casually said, ¡°This is an Extraordinary Item; its purpose is to keep a woman¡¯s skin in perfect condition for thirty years.¡± ¡°Really?¡± As soon as Stanna heard what Tang Qi said, her eyes immediately sparkled. Probably no woman could resist those words. Stanna almost subconsciously hastened to take the ointment, her mind starting to consider whether she should keep this treasure for herself. Then another sentence from Tang Qi softly followed. ¡°Its name is¡­ Human Skin Ointment.¡± ¡°Ah~¡± Once Tang Qi¡¯s words fell, it took Stanna a second to realize the implication of those three words, and she almost immediately threw the ointment away. Luckily, Tang Qi was quick to catch it; otherwise, the one to enjoy this ¡°Extraordinary beauty treatment¡± would have been Tang Qi¡¯s floor. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Confessors Treasure Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Confessor¡¯s Treasure Editor: Atlas Studios Human Skin Ointment, the name alone was unbearably revolting. And indeed, the reality was not much better. Tang Qi scooped up the ointment, took a silent glance, and a special interface popped up. [Curios: Human Skin Ointment.] [Information Fragment One: Norman always wanted to become a woman, craving the beautiful skin of females. Thus, he successively murdered thirteen girls. The Manatee Sea Demon used Extraordinary Powers to refine those thirteen skins into a box of ointment.] [Information Fragment Two: If applied, it can control creatures with weak willpower in the scented area.] [Information Fragment Three: Diluting it with clean water into a perfume can maintain a woman¡¯s skin in optimal condition for thirty years.] A box of ointment emitting an exotic fragrance, surprisingly yielded three Information Fragments. This made Tang Qi glance sideways, and after looking at it, he fell silent. It was a Transcendent item, perhaps with some ethical and moral issues, but Tang Qi did not have a strong sense of cleanliness. He pondered a little and could not think of many uses for it, so he temporarily put away the ointment. Chief Stanna watched Tang Qi do this, subconsciously wanting to say something, but then she immediately recalled the scenes she had just experienced, and the word ¡°evidence¡± that had reached her lips was involuntarily swallowed back. At this moment, the female chief was still in shock from witnessing another world, with countless questions bubbling up, waiting for answers from the ¡°Informer¡± before her. Tang Qi was aware of this, so he turned his attention to the second piece of evidence. It was a small cloth bag that, quite miraculously, did not get stained with any blood amongst a pile of gory flesh. Upon opening it, inside were grains of sea salt glistening like diamonds. The interface popped up within his eyesight. [Curios: Sea Demon¡¯s Tears.] [Information Fragment One: The Manatee Sea Demon imprisoned an enemy female Sea Demon, forcing her to cry daily until her death. The blue sea salt possesses the power to break curses and purify evil, while the red sea salt enables one to briefly unleash the Sea Demon Howl, causing the target to fall into confusion or death.] [Information Fragment Two: Returning these to the Sea Demon clan will earn their friendship.] In contrast to his expressionless reaction to the Human Skin Ointment, this time Tang Qi almost couldn¡¯t hide the thrill on his face. Great stuff! He thought subconsciously in his mind. After looking over the two Information Fragments, Tang Qi held the bag and gave it a gentle shake. Indeed, he saw several grains of azure sea salt spread out, revealing two slightly larger red grains underneath. Blue for purification of evil, red to briefly transform into a Sea Demon. Although he was already considered a person within the Extraordinary Domain, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. With the experience from the first time, Tang Qi smoothly pocketed the whole bag of sea salt. Then he reached out and grabbed the last item. This time, what he took hold of was a piece of soft fabric. It gave him the sensation he had when he first obtained the Sheepskin Scroll containing the Golden Furnace Meditation, except, upon opening it, what he found was a treasure map. It was a rudimentary map drawn on an unknown animal skin, surprisingly encompassing the entire Divine Eagle Federation, with many locations marked with red pigment. Unlike Tang Qi, Chief Stanna was visibly more excited to see a treasure map. ¡°A treasure map?¡± ¡°These places, they seem to be monasteries? Could it be a map of the Federation¡¯s monasteries?¡± ¡°Take a closer look.¡± Tang Qi suddenly handed the treasure map directly to Chief Stanna, who instinctively accepted it and carefully examined it. First, she frowned in thought, and then suddenly her expression shifted with some hesitation, ¡°This is¡­ Confession Road?¡± ¡°At the founding of the Divine Eagle Federation, twelve strong individuals made tremendous efforts, and they were collectively known as the Twelve Saints.¡± ¡°One of the Saints, Martin Sims, was called the Confessor.¡± ¡°He embarked on a sacred journey as an Ascetic, starting from East Town in the East Federation, cutting down demons and rebels along the way. After enduring countless hardships, he reached Balrog City in the far north. On his journey, he established a multitude of monasteries and churches.¡± ¡°The original identity of Saint Thorn High School, the Thorns Church, was one of them.¡± While speaking, Tang Qi pointed to a certain location on the map, which indeed was not as noticeable as the other marked areas compared to Thorny High School. ¡°So, it came in search of the Confessor¡¯s Treasure? Was the murder perhaps a result of an inability to resist desire?¡± Chief Stanna glanced at the large chunks of flesh on the ground and asked. ¡°It¡¯s not about treasure, it¡¯s about inheritance. Many rumors claim that Martin Sims left his ascetic insights in a Monastery on Confession Road. Maybe it came for those things.¡± After answering, Tang Qi directly skipped over the topic and, pointing to his house that looked as if it had been ravaged by a hurricane, asked, ¡°Chief, for these damages, the police department will compensate, right?¡± Although not used to Tang Qi¡¯s sudden change of topic, Chief Stanna, who caught on, immediately said, ¡°Yes, after all, the killer came here following me. I¡¯ll contact the police station right away to send people over. But they¡¯re probably on their way already, given the commotion just now; the school must¡¯ve called the police too.¡± ¡°By the way, since you¡¯re the one who killed the murderer, you¡¯ll receive a substantial reward once I file the report.¡± ¡°No, Chief Stanna.¡± Chief Stanna had barely finished her sentence when she saw Tang Qi looking at her very seriously, with an extremely sincere tone, word by word saying, ¡°The murderer was killed by you.¡± Taking credit for someone else¡¯s deed? That phrase would absolutely not exist in Chief Stanna¡¯s police career. But this time, as she looked into Tang Qi¡¯s eyes, which seemed to emanate light, she found herself unable to refuse. Especially when Tang Qi added, ¡°I¡¯m just a student, I need to protect myself,¡± Chief Stanna, struggling with her principles, nodded for the first time, taking on this great credit. However, always being at a disadvantage was not Chief Stanna¡¯s style. The beautiful police chief, as if thinking of something, looked around at the ground. The scenes from before replayed in her mind, and even further back, the officers who died in front of her, their heads exploded by the Sea Demon Howl. Her experiences within just one day had shattered her previous worldview. Even the most Dull would realize they had come into contact with a different level of the World. And Chief Stanna, lauded as the shining new star of the Messer City police force, certainly did not lack decisiveness. ¡°Little~ Wizard, don¡¯t you think you owe me some explanations?¡± she said while handing over the third piece of evidence to Tang Qi. But this time, Tang Qi shook his head, refusing to accept it, ¡°This thing is of no use to me, just a map of Confession Road; any Library in the Federation could find it. You can take it back to the police station as evidence.¡± ¡°As for the explanation you want, I can only tell you very cruelly yet kindly.¡± ¡°Chief Stanna, you don¡¯t belong to that World. You might have great deterrent power in the eyes of ordinary people, but once you step into that World, you will definitely¡­ die. When this case is over, forget those things that defy science, consider it an accident.¡± Feeling bluntly rejected by Tang Qi, Chief Stanna was clearly not happy. If not for her concern over Tang Qi¡¯s possession of Extraordinary Power, facing such an uncooperative youth, she would have knocked him on his head a long time ago. Besides being a rising star in the police world, she also had a title of a violent beauty. Yet, she still didn¡¯t give up, pointing to the disgusting chunks of Sea Demon flesh on the ground, her face collapsing into an expression of distress as she almost roared: ¡°Look at these chunks of meat, how am I supposed to¡­ Hmm?¡± She was only halfway through her roar when Chief Stanna suddenly saw the flesh chunks, obviously belonging to the Monster, gradually turn to ash, leaving nothing on the ground but the corpse of a high school student from the Anglo State, a sexual deviant Serial Killer named Norman. If not for the experiences of that day which were incredibly real, especially the recent Combat, and the fact that her house hadn¡¯t been repaired along with everything else, Chief Stanna would have believed it all to be an Illusion. The words she wanted to say had to be swallowed back. At that moment, the sound of approaching police sirens was already audible. When Chief Stanna lifted her gaze again, she could only see the back of Tang Qi heading upstairs, wanting to say something threatening but realizing she couldn¡¯t intimidate him. A rich youth who had lost his parents and possessed Extraordinary Power, hiding in a noble high school, he was untouchable. After thinking for a moment, Chief Stanna was even ready to consider methods bending the rules. The helplessness and impulse of having experienced a bit of the Extraordinary World, but unable to truly enter, were feelings surpassing those when she had strived to beat countless burly men to become the top of the police academy. It was at this moment she suddenly noticed several golden shell casings on the ground, her eyes lighting up. She shot a proud glance at Tang Qi¡¯s silhouette by the window, then turned and walked out without the previous reluctance and entanglement. However, as she stepped out the door, Tang Qi¡¯s voice drifted into her ears. ¡°Lady, those bullets are called Melter, each crafted from my blood, sweat, and tears, best not to waste them until the very end.¡± ¡°Snap!¡± Startled by the voice, Chief Stanna nearly stumbled. She turned around, glaring hard at the figure by the second-floor window, then turned to give instructions to the just arrived policemen, and hopped onto the second police car, truly leaving this time. Yet, as she departed, Tang Qi, with his enhanced eyesight, clearly saw Chief Stanna¡¯s mouth curve into a faint smile. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Surging Abnormality Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Surging Abnormality Editor: Atlas Studios On the second floor by the window, Tang Qi watched as Stanna left. The tall and beautiful captain of the police had secretly kept two Molten Furnace Bullets for herself, which Tang Qi was aware of from the beginning. When the Manatee Sea Demon launched its first sneak attack, Tang Qi pulled the captain under the desk, swiftly arranged the setting, and distributed the nine Molten Furnace Bullets he had just made¡ªsix were stuffed into Blood Python One, and the rest were given to Stanna. It took one bullet to buy time. The remaining two naturally fell into Stanna¡¯s hands. Although the Molten Furnace Bullets were precious, being soaked in his own blood, using them to favor someone and prepare for future plans was indeed worthwhile. What truly concerned Tang Qi was the treasure map he sent away with Stanna¡¯s help. [Curio: Confessor Treasure Map.] [Information Fragment: This is a map detailing the locations of monasteries and churches founded by one of the Twelve Saints, Saint Confessor¡ªMartin Sims. It¡¯s rumored that one of the monasteries contains Sims¡¯ inheritance. Using this treasure map, soaked in the Holy Water of the Light Church, there might be a chance to trigger the inheritance.] Even just from the Information Fragment, you could tell this was a valuable treasure map. Yet, Tang Qi sent it away without hesitation, for a simple reason. Besides the first Information Fragment, there was a second one. [Information Fragment Two: This map has the identification number forty-two and can be sensed.] This is how Tang Qi knew the map was real, yet he still sent it away. A numbered treasure map? Even a naive person could sense something was amiss. Especially Tang Qi, who immediately smelled a hint of conspiracy. At this moment, he had already guessed. Perhaps the legacy of a certain Lord Confessor was hidden within Saint Thorny High School. Besides the treasure map, more persuasive evidence lay in a diary. Old Morgan¡¯s diary clearly recorded that his mother, a strong practitioner of Black Witchcraft, almost perished while exploring Thorny High School. However, unfortunately, Tang Qi knew this fact wasn¡¯t very helpful. In fact, on his first day of school, Tang Qi had followed Pastor Sinbenny, under the guise of renting a house, covering the campus, including potential church areas or places like the school¡¯s historical display room. Sadly, he found nothing. This was normal, Tang Qi didn¡¯t believe such legendary power would be easily found. After all, according to various legends, the combat strength of Saint Confessor, in Tang Qi¡¯s understanding, was almost akin to a Divine. Now seeing that numbered map, Tang Qi was even more certain. The people or powers seeking the Confessor¡¯s inheritance were definitely more than just him. Behind this might be a vast net of conspiracy slowly unfolding, ensnaring all those dominated by greed, unable to extricate themselves. But among them, he wouldn¡¯t be one. Tang Qi thought to himself. After Stanna left, Tang Qi let the police handle the aftermath on the first floor, moving some crucial items along with his workbench to the upstairs study. Before tonight, Tang Qi¡¯s task was daily cultivation and making bullets. But now, things were different. Aside from those two extraordinary spoils of war, digesting the gains from devouring the Manatee Sea Demon needed Tang Qi¡¯s attention now. After storing everything well, Tang Qi set up some precautions at the staircase on the second floor, locked the door, and directly entered the cultivation state. Tang Qi¡¯s cultivation routine naturally started with the Golden Furnace Meditation, his sole method before acquiring other cultivation methods, endowing him with clear consciousness and continually enhancing the power of the Molten Furnace Eye. As for other techniques, Tang Qi was still exploring. Secondly, it was the Chaga Fighting Technique, although the progress in that Fighting Skill mainly required experiencing actual combat. As usual, turning the meditation into a skill, Tang Qi immersed himself with a mere thought. The golden Sun, drawn by Tang Qi¡¯s intent, suspended in the void and darkness, various bizarre things rushing towards it like moths to a flame, then being consumed by the golden flames, turning into dust-like golden light points merging into the grey mist space in Tang Qi¡¯s mind. Initially, it was like this, no different from numerous past cultivations. As per habit, an hour later, Tang Qi would feel a burning pain in his mind, and he would have to cease cultivation. But this time, it was different. An hour passed, and not only did Tang Qi not feel the pain, but an unexpected change occurred in his mind. ¡°Boom¡± Suddenly, Tang Qi¡¯s cultivation rhythm was disrupted by a surge of bizarre phenomena. When practicing the Meditation Method, Tang Qi would see various abnormalities, such as black fog, roaring monster shadows, weird sea of flowers¡­ Although it was never quite the same each time, the number remained at a certain level. But this time, that level suddenly skyrocketed. The past cultivation experience could be described like this: Tang Qi turned into the Sun in a sealed space, with only a small gap leading to a strange universe, through which the abnormalities flooded in. Now, that gap had widened. A torrent of abnormalities, at least twice as many as before, surged in. In an instant, Tang Qi felt as if he had fallen into a spacetime black hole. He saw the previous abnormalities, but also saw many more terrifying ones¡ªtwisted auroras, bloody gaping mouths, wriggling tentacles, alluring whispers¡­ Each one enough to drive an ordinary person into mad screaming, trapped in fear. Although it was a sudden encounter with drastic change, Tang Qi knew very well that this was not the time to scream or succumb to fear, otherwise the consequences would be severe. Tang Qi struggled to stay calm, imagining himself as a primitive man in ancient times, holding a stone, his fingers covered in golden mud, stroke by stroke, outlining that glaring pattern, occasionally looking up to feel the warmth, the burning heat. As he delineated, the golden Sun in the dark void suddenly sprang forth more radiant golden light flames, sporting an innocent twist, primitive and natural, burning all the incoming monsters into nothingness, with only specks of golden light dust falling down. ¡°Thump~ Thump, thump¡± When Tang Qi was not paying attention, the Spirit Space in his mind began to expand again, and the number of golden light points floating in the grey mist like fireflies had unknowingly increased by more than half. When he again felt the pain and came to his senses, a ray of sunlight just happened to fall on him. Had another night passed? Tang Qi was surprised, then immediately looked towards his Sea of Consciousness. The expanded area of golden light points immediately caught his eye. The combat from last night that left him severely injured not only left no lingering effects but instead allowed his strength to grow once more. At this moment, his spirit was full, and without needing a mirror, Tang Qi could feel that his eyes might truly be glowing. His gaze swept over himself; a special interface resembling personal attributes appeared. The Skill column had once again undergone changes. Still the same three skills: Meditation, Molten Furnace Eye, and Chaga Fighting Technique. But when Tang Qi¡¯s gaze moved over, detailed information immediately popped up. [Molten Furnace Eye: Derived skill, activation at the eyes, possesses Shock and Calming Spirit effects, can continue to improve, Realm: Beginner, Progress 0.1%.] [Chaga Fighting Technique: An ancient primitive Fighting Skill, Realm: Beginner, Progress 0.15%.] These two skills did not change from before. What truly surprised Tang Qi was his main-focus Meditation. His gaze slid over, and what appeared was: [Golden Furnace Meditation: An immensely ancient meditation method, it can bring you unimaginable power, Realm: Beginner, Progress 0.3%.] The progress directly increased by 0.1%. That was merely the result of one night¡¯s cultivation. Before devouring the Manatee Sea Demon, despite Tang Qi¡¯s dedicated cultivation and even absorbing a Blank Dog-faced Man¡¯s Resentful Soul, progress was only 0.01%. Devouring the soul of the Sea Demon only increased the progress by twenty times. Now, the cultivation results from last night had once again increased by one progress point, no wonder Tang Qi was so surprised. At this moment, Tang Qi even felt the urge to drop out of school and dedicate himself entirely to cultivation. But luckily, his rationality suppressed this impulse. In his mind, recalling the scenes from last night¡¯s cultivation of the Meditation Method, the much more abundant abnormalities than before helped Tang Qi vaguely realize something, and an expression of seriousness crawled onto his face unknowingly. ¡°Does this Meditation Method offer greater rewards the further you go, but also become more dangerous?¡± ¡°Or is it because of some great change in this world that it has become this way?¡± ¡°What if I had succumbed to fear at that moment¡­?¡± Tang Qi didn¡¯t speculate, but he knew that if he fell into fear and chaos during meditation, he would certainly encounter something extremely terrifying. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Dissolution of the Ascetic Order Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Dissolution of the Ascetic Order Editor: Atlas Studios The issues with the Meditation Method, due to the lack of information, cannot be further explored for the time being. As the only technique Tang Qi can practice now, he won¡¯t abandon it; it¡¯s normal for his power to grow daily and to encounter risks. Having tidied up, Tang Qi directly went to the processed area on the first floor; even though it was the scene of a confrontation with the killer, after Stanna¡¯s negotiations, the dismembered corpses were transported away overnight, and the police would compensate for the homeowner¡¯s¡ªor rather, Tang Qi¡¯s¡ªlosses. Looking at the nearly destroyed wall, Tang Qi casually made himself some breakfast, and after eating, he went off to class. A night passed, and the atmosphere in Saint Thorn High School was completely different from yesterday. The shocking murder case was set to cause a huge stir, but it was snuffed out as soon as it began, due to Tang Qi¡¯s intervention. With official forces involved, public opinion naturally turned to praise the efficiency of Messer City Police Station. However, within Thorny High School, many people were still discussing the case. The students were bursting with interest, while the teaching staff breathed a sigh of relief, looking much more relaxed and cheerful. Adults always have more concerns than these immature kids. A serial killer brutal enough to skin four blossoming young girls alive hid within a campus full of teenagers; if the time had been a bit longer, those staff members would have been scared out of their wits. Now, this was for the best. Of course, this warm atmosphere was, as usual, irrelevant to Tang Qi and Sally. The main reason still lay with Sally. Initially, Tang Qi thought Sally was isolated by nearly all students because she was tormented by clubs like the Sisterhood and Brotherhood. But after observing for a few days, Tang Qi realized this was probably not the primary reason. Sally¡¯s position within Saint Thorn High School was a bit strange, not completely one of being bullied. Most students avoided her as though worried about catching something undesirable from her. Like¡­ bad luck. These, in fact, were things Tang Qi learned after a day of classes, reminded by numerous students both openly and covertly. Compared to Sally, Tang Qi¡¯s outward image was actually quite good. After all, this body was handsome, from a well-off family, behaved properly, and had the record of beating a popular senior¡ªwithout Sally¡¯s drag, Tang Qi might have easily joined the ranks of popular boys. Many students perhaps out of kindness or sympathy were offering reminders. This made Tang Qi think of the nickname he heard the first time he met her, which seemed to be ¡°Unlucky Sally.¡± He vaguely understood something, but Tang Qi did not accept their goodwill. Tang Qi had two purposes for coming to Saint Thorn High School: First, to use the mysterious power here to avoid facing the Samra family for the time being. Second, to disguise himself as an ordinary high school student while learning about this whole new world. Since it¡¯s all an act, the current situation is the best. There¡¯s no need to become a popular student or make too many friends; an ordinary Asian student who quietly studies and has only Unlucky Sally as a friend couldn¡¯t be more suitable. This is what Tang Qi thought, and this is what he did. For him, of course, it was no big deal but quite ordinary. Yet for Sally, it was somewhat extraordinary. Sally had also seen some of the reminders to Tang Qi from other students, so when she found that she hadn¡¯t lost her only friend Tang Qi after school, her pretty face hidden behind the exaggerated black-framed glasses immediately revealed a bright smile. But soon, she restrained herself and with an uneasy expression, whispered to Tang Qi, ¡°I really have bad luck, and those who befriend me will share in that misfortune.¡± Faced with the girl¡¯s very kind reminder, Tang Qi smiled faintly and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯d like to see just how unlucky I can get. If such a miraculous phenomenon exists, I might happily accept it.¡± As he spoke these words, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but recall the experiences that had happened since he met Sally: first-day school bullying, then ruffians, and finally the Blank Dog-faced Man. An odd feeling swept through the depths of Tang Qi¡¯s heart. However, he quickly suppressed it and comforted Sally to avoid her continued worry. Tang Qi said he was planning to borrow some materials from the Messer Library but didn¡¯t know the way, hoping the girl could guide him. Sure enough, Sally was diverted and agreed happily. But as soon as they stepped out of the teaching building¡¯s hall, they were startled by the bustling atmosphere outside. Surrounded by the four teaching buildings, the shaded path area was filled with many tables and stands, as well as some tents. Numerous male and female students were each busy, with long lines in front of many tables and some with barely any visitors at all. There were also quite a few students holding flyers and the like, shuttling around to distribute them. ¡°This is¡­ I remember now, today seems to be Society Recruitment Day.¡± ¡°One of the traditions of Saint Thorn High School, all school societies hold a mass recruitment on this day, mainly targeting freshmen in the ninth grade.¡± Seeing Tang Qi¡¯s confusion, Sally promptly explained. Tang Qi glanced around and indeed saw that each of the tables and tents had prominent signs with society names. Among them, the most popular were undoubtedly societies like the dance club or the boxing club, which gathered popular students. The less frequented ones included some odd and quirky societies, such as the Clown Club, Ancient Costume Club, and Bad Jokes Club. Tang Qi didn¡¯t look at those popular clubs; his gaze focused specifically on the obscure societies in the corners. But after scanning the area, he didn¡¯t find his target. ¡°Sally, I heard that there is a society at Saint Thorn High School called the Ascetic Society?¡± Tang Qi asked casually. At the question, Sally furrowed her brows, and just as she was about to ponder, it seemed she suddenly remembered something and immediately said, ¡°The Ascetic Society, I remember now. It seems they were disbanded yesterday.¡± ¡°Disbanded?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard it was because the instructor from the Bright Church in Secret Phoenix State felt the students didn¡¯t need to participate in Ascetic practices, and he ultimately disbanded the society and returned to the church in Secret Phoenix State.¡± ¡°I see, I had wanted to witness the charm of the Ascetics.¡± Tang Qi slightly narrowed his eyes, his mind envisioning the place he saw on his first day at Saint Thorn High School and later, when he rented the small building, an area marked as the Ascetic Society¡¯s activity area by Pastor Benny, centered around a bell tower in a secluded location. Sally¡¯s words now explained why, in the past few days, Tang Qi had not seen the strange scenes of the Ascetic Society practicing that Pastor Benny mentioned. It turned out that the society was suddenly disbanded. This inconspicuous clue, however, deepened Tang Qi¡¯s suspicions even more, coupled with the treasure map of the Confessor that was sent away with Stanna¡¯s help last night, that one number, that hint of a conspiratorial scent, grew even stronger. ¡°In addition, in the entire campus, there¡¯s still one place I have not checked out, that place, is one.¡± He thought of many things in his mind, yet his expression was calm. However, the urgency in his heart became even more difficult to dispel. ¡°Let¡¯s go, before the Messer Library closes.¡± Tang Qi lowered his eyelids, and spoke lightly. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Corpse-eating Nightingale Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Corpse-eating Nightingale Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi led Sally through the bustling campus. Although Tang Qi¡¯s external appearance was quite good and he had plenty of charm, he still had the so-called ¡°unlucky Sally¡± by his side. To prevent any bad luck from rubbing off on him, Tang Qi only received a few sparse invitations during the process. They were just a few promotional brochures, not very enthusiastic at all. It actually made Sally feel even more embarrassed. Fortunately, the two of them left Thorny High School rather quickly. When they got on the bus, Sally visibly breathed a sigh of relief. But she quickly became tense again, looking around anxiously, afraid that something unlucky would happen at any moment, proving that she was indeed plagued by misfortune. She had had enough of days without a single friend. While some people might enjoy solitude, she was not that kind of girl. The most crucial thing was that she had encountered a genuinely kind friend. That¡¯s right, Sally could feel very clearly that she might have made a sincere friend. As a girl who had been entangled with so-called bad luck since childhood, her life had been very tough, whether it was malice from her environment or from other humans, she had experienced a lot of it. These experiences had shaped her current personality and also gave her a sharp perception. At least in judging whether someone was sincere, she was very confident. If it weren¡¯t for such abilities, perhaps she would have been ruined by those recklessly bad students due to her special luck a long time ago. Precisely because of this, she cherished the new friend Tang Qi even more. Tang Qi noticed the girl¡¯s nervousness, and it eased the slight sense of urgency in his heart. He knew the world was undergoing massive changes, that a powerful enemy was waiting for him, and even that the current sheltered environment he was in was actually a trap being set by some superpower. The situation was not as rosy as it appeared on the surface, and his life was not as blissful as that of a wealthy second-generation kid who could enjoy life without a care. But at least, it wasn¡¯t bad enough to keep Tang Qi constantly on edge. Sitting by the window, Tang Qi looked at the streets the bus passed, at buildings that were similar to those on Earth in a previous life yet different in the details. With a faint sigh, Tang Qi suddenly started making casual conversation with Sally. Of course, it was mostly Tang Qi asking and Sally answering. There¡¯s a hidden rule present in most schools: a girl who is silent and introverted is usually a scholastic achiever. Sally was not only a scholarly achiever, but also one with a vast range of knowledge. She could provide answers on both regular subjects and some bizarre topics. Tang Qi could ask targeted questions and then get precise and detailed answers, allowing him to quickly increase his understanding of this new world without having to sift through large amounts of data. Time flew by in the pleasant conversation between the two of them, and the journey was very stable throughout. After they got off the bus, they reached a grand and ancient building, a library filled with literary atmosphere. Messer Library! Built almost simultaneously with Messer City, its history was extremely long, and it had one of the largest collections in Secret Phoenix State, perhaps only rivaled by a few libraries in Secret Phoenix City, the capital of the state. Arriving before the closing time, Tang Qi successfully borrowed a few books that seemed very weighty. Sally glanced at the books Tang Qi had borrowed. They were obviously unrelated to the coursework, such as ¡°Twelve Saints¡¯ deeds verification¡±, ¡°Federation Hundred Years of Strange, Absurd and Real¡±, ¡°Hundred Guesses of Mysterious Meteor¡±, ¡°Detailed Examination of Unsolved Cases of the Federation Bureau¡±, ¡­ The only one that could remotely be related was ¡°Monster Records¡±. Although it was a bit strange, Sally didn¡¯t ask any questions. A smart girl, she would not deliberately cross any boundaries. And what made this thoughtful girl very happy was that until they parted at the central stop in Blank District, nothing unexpected happened. The larger mishaps she had foreseen did not occur. The girl was very excited and also very puzzled. While waving goodbye to Tang Qi, she couldn¡¯t help but mutter to herself. She didn¡¯t expect that Tang Qi¡¯s various physical attributes were growing stronger every day, his hearing had become acutely sharp, and he overheard all of Sally¡¯s mutterings just before she left. ¡°Today was so strange, why didn¡¯t Tang Qi trip over, or get hit in the head by a basketball that came flying out of nowhere, or lose money, or even bump into anyone when walking¡­ It¡¯s too strange.¡± ¡°Could it be that my bad luck has vanished and I¡¯m no longer the unlucky Sally?¡± ¡°Great, today might be the most peaceful day of my life.¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t relax too much, today might just be an exception, and tomorrow it will be back to the familiar series of accidents.¡± ¡°Hopefully Tang Qi can stay strong, he should be able to, after all, he is so impressive, and he played the hero saving the damsel that night.¡± ¡°Oh my, looks like the beauty is me, so nervous.¡± ¡­ Tang Qi looked at Sally going home with an amused expression and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how much the girl could talk in such a short time. It seemed that those accustomed to talking to themselves could indeed gain a bit of a speed boost in their speech. However, Tang Qi¡¯s smile twitched slightly upon hearing the latter part. With a wry smile, Tang Qi shook his head and carried the books toward his current home. There was no need to take a big detour to reach the main school gate; it was probably locked by now. Tang Qi headed straight for the side gate of the school. Although it meant passing through the chaotic Blank District, the upside was that it was very close. But barely a minute had passed when Tang Qi turned a corner¡ªtwo streets away from his brick house¡ªhis footsteps suddenly stopped. Snap! Pausing, Tang Qi slightly turned his head to look at a dark alley beside him. From within, a series of strange noises could be heard. They were sounds people make when they¡¯re engaged in activities they enjoy: suppressed moans that seemed to reflect unbearable pleasure, along with faint pain. Considering the setting, it wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine what was happening inside. It was simply what one would expect after a hasty client encountered a nightingale. As a high school student, Tang Qi should have simply turned and run. Yet at that moment, a strange expression appeared on his face. He placed the books one by one into a cloth bag provided by the library, grabbed it in one hand, and then stepped into the alley. ¡°Tap tap¡± Although there were already plenty of noises in the alley, the light breeze carrying a faint smell of sewage managed to carry the sound of Tang Qi¡¯s steps into the ears of three figures entangled with one another. To be precise, two figures. Aided by the dim streetlight overhead, Tang Qi saw a horrifying scene in the alley. There were exciting and romantic elements, just not in the way most people would imagine. The tangled figures included a middle-aged man with a grievous face, dressed in a clean but cheap suit, with a bald forehead, seemingly a typical office worker who came to relieve stress on an adventure; the other two figures, wearing exaggeratedly revealing dresses, one in black and one in white stockings, with heavily applied makeup, fit the ¡°nightingale¡± profile. But at that moment, they were tangled in an unusual manner. At least it shouldn¡¯t be two nightingales using both hands and feet to wrap around the middle-aged man, then gnawing on his flesh with their pearly white teeth; his neck half-bitten through, his head drooping, one beautiful head intent on sucking the spurting fresh blood. The other nightingale was crouching over the man¡¯s belly, munching away merrily and not forgetting to stuff greasy intestines into her mouth. Without Tang Qi¡¯s interruption, the two nightingales would probably be in a very good mood, as not everyone could enjoy a feast with a good friend in the middle of the night. Of course, the moment their greenish eyes reflected Tang Qi¡¯s figure. Their mood improved even more. ¡°Giggle giggle¡­ look what we¡¯ve found, a tender little rabbit.¡± ¡°Surprise, the joy we haven¡¯t felt in so long.¡± The two young ladies, delighted with the interruption of their meal, gracefully stood up, leaving the poor middle-aged man behind, unconcerned about nearly exposing everything. But at that moment, Tang Qi wasn¡¯t interested in appreciating them anyway. Tang Qi carefully placed his bag in a clean corner and then walked slowly towards the two beauties, who were grinning at him, under the light of a streetlamp. His enhanced eyesight allowed him to see the fresh red flesh in the gaps of their teeth and the thick blood dripping down. As he walked, he recalled the book ¡°Federation Hundred Years of Strange, Absurd and Real¡± that he had flipped through and borrowed from the library. Inside were many chapters discussing urban oddities. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the Blank Dog-faced Man.¡± ¡°Now, on to chapter two, explain to me what is a¡­ Corpse-eating Nightingale?¡± ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± Almost the instant Tang Qi uttered these words, the two beautiful figures shattered the floor tiles beneath them. Amidst the rolling turbulence, they pounced like two evil ghosts towards the fresh and tempting high school boy. ps: Chapter Twenty-nine has been censored, and the recovery date is to be determined. You may join the group (number 726582990) to catch up; it won¡¯t affect the plot. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: New Extraordinary Bullet Chapter 29: Chapter 29: New Extraordinary Bullet Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi¡¯s vision was suddenly assaulted by two ferocious dark shadows, who, despite appearing as beautiful women, emitted a nauseating stench of rot mixed with blood, instinctively repelling anyone who smelled it. Their sharp claws lunged toward Tang Qi¡¯s head and chest, but with his powerful eyesight, Tang Qi could still make out the red and black nail polish coated on their nails. It was patchy and cheap, mostly chipped away. ¡°Terrible taste, just as the books described.¡± ¡°Bang¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± As he spoke, Tang Qi didn¡¯t make any grand gestures, merely stepping back slightly and sidestepping, dodging the attacks of the two corpse-eating nightingales. As the pale white of his fists slowly clenched, and the nightingales hissed amid their rotting stench, Tang Qi¡¯s fist found its way to one¡¯s face, while his whip-like kick delivered its full force to the other. ¡°Bang~Crack¡± ¡°Boom¡± Their approach was fast; their retreat, blown back, was just as brisk. If they had any wisdom left, this exchange would reveal to them that Tang Qi was no ordinary human youth, at least not in close combat where they had no advantage. However, they didn¡¯t flee but instead roared in anger and, driven by beastly instinct, charged at Tang Qi again. Shaking his head, Tang Qi stepped deeper into the alley, swiftly approaching the corpse of the unlucky middle-aged office worker. With a poised hand, he grabbed the head of the first charging corpse-eating nightingale and smashed it against the nearby wall. Another kick followed, an explosive sound in the air, as his fierce strength struck the chin of the second nightingale. A crisp ¡°snap¡± was heard, and the nightingale¡¯s head, along with its jaw, shattered under Tang Qi¡¯s kick. Three seconds? No, not even three seconds. A battle that should have been gruesome was declared over, the disparity in power too great. Tang Qi then turned his attention to the two dying corpse-eating nightingales, and the special interface indeed popped up. [Extraordinary Creatures: Corpse-eating Nightingales.] [State: Dying.] [Information Fragment One: Once-thriving ghouls, after being eradicated, left behind viruses of decent infectiousness around the world. They might not reproduce the ghoul species, but creating disgusting creatures took no effort.] [Information Fragment Two: Corpse-eating Nightingales, are one such creation.] As always, Tang Qi saw the information fragments. However, this time, the information provided by his special ability wasn¡¯t much more than what he learned from books. Tang Qi recalled a chapter from ¡°Federation Hundred Years of Strange, Absurd, and Real¡± that described in detail the so-called corpse-eating nightingales. Of course, disregarding the tales of unknown veracity. To sum it up briefly, these were streetwalkers infected by the ghoul virus, turning into extraordinary creatures. They stayed normal until the ghoul state triggered, transforming them into man-eating monsters with significantly enhanced physical abilities, or else they wouldn¡¯t be able to eat those clients, right? Sadly, no matter how much they were enhanced, they were no match for Tang Qi. As a beginner in Chaga Fighting Technique and enhancing various attributes daily, a mere move from Tang Qi was comparable to a top Fighting Master. And they, merely driven by instinctive beastly hunger. Tang Qi came back to his senses, looking at the corpse of the office worker on the ground and the slowly recovering two corpse-eating nightingales. With clenched fists, a warm surge of power flowed into his palms, and with two ¡°bangs,¡± released it all. Simultaneously, two ¡°crack¡± sounds came from the wall and from the ground. With their skulls shattered to pieces, even ghouls couldn¡¯t survive. Upon their death, two grey resentful souls drifted out, and before they could attempt to flee, a pair of hands surrounded by golden light flames clasped them. ¡°Whoo¡± A breeze blew through, and calm returned to the alley. In Tang Qi¡¯s mind¡¯s grey mist space, two small clusters of golden light points appeared. He then looked at himself, as the interface popped up. Indeed, the meditation method and Molten Furnace Eye made progress, each rising by 0.02%, while Chaga Fighting Technique only by 0.01%. ¡°It seems that after devouring the resentful souls of extraordinary creatures, the most significant increase is in meditation methods and derivative skills. This kill was completely done using fighting skills, yet the increase was the smallest. However, compared to painstaking cultivation, this path is much faster.¡± ¡°Perhaps we could develop a bit more; it doesn¡¯t seem very difficult.¡± ¡°Bait? Oh no, it should be considered some sort of inducement.¡± ¡°However, I cannot be completely sure yet, shall I verify it tomorrow?¡± Tang Qi muttered to himself as he turned to grab a book-filled bag from the corner and headed home. Behind him, three corpses gradually became rigid. Although it¡¯s incredible, the Blank District is indeed chaotic like this. If it weren¡¯t for this chaos, there wouldn¡¯t be things like Corpse Collection Vehicles and professions like Corpse Collectors. With the intensifying mutation, Tang Qi could almost predict that areas like the Blank District might become a real no-go zone of horror. Before that, Tang Qi planned to do everything possible to strengthen his own power. Especially after discovering that ¡°shortcut¡±, Tang Qi planned to change his strategy. Circling back to the small diamond building, Tang Qi found that the first floor had been perfectly restored, showing no signs of destruction. Needless to say, the official police must have been this efficient because Chief Stanna had personally intervened. After sighing about how different it is to have connections in official places, Tang Qi seriously prepared dinner for himself. With top-quality ingredients combined with the culinary skills Tang Qi brought from Earth, the resulting deliciousness was captivating each time. After satisfying his appetite, he brewed a pot of volcanic rock coffee, placed the bulky volumes borrowed from the Messer Library on his desk, and finally, Tang Qi moved to his workbench. There was one task he had to complete every night before his meditation Cultivation. He should have tried last night, but was delayed due to a breakthrough in his Meditation Method. Now, he officially begins another attempt. Making bullets! After obtaining the Molten Furnace Bullets, Tang Qi understood that to create Transcendent Bullets that met the requirements, one principle needed to be maintained. That is, the materials must also be at the Transcendent Level. Moreover, they must be confirmed Transcendent by his special ability ¡°All-Knowing¡±. The Holy Water and rouge flower seeds bought that day were utterly useless. If it hadn¡¯t been for the battle with the Manatee Sea Demon, Tang Qi would only be able to use his own Extraordinary Blood to make bullets for his strongest weapon, ¡°Blood Python No.1¡±. To avoid anemia, Tang Qi planned to make another type of Transcendent Bullet. ¡°Snap¡± The only material was taken out by Tang Qi and placed on the workbench. Opening the small bag revealed diamond-like things flashing with deep blue light. With the experience of creating the Molten Furnace Bullet last time, Tang Qi acted swiftly without a trace of awkwardness. He first ignited an alcohol burner, and as the flames burst forth, a crucible was placed on top; once the bottom of the crucible turned slightly red, Tang Qi quickly picked up the tweezers with his other hand, reaching into the bag and emerging with a dazzling blue Sea Salt. With a clang, the Sea Salt fell into the crucible. This mesmerizing crystal, upon touching the red-hot part of the crucible, hissed, and a wisp of faintly salty blue smoke wafted out. In a trance, Tang Qi seemed to hear the surging sound of the ocean from the smoke, to see the splendid scenery of the sea bottom, and even a series of faintly discernible holy chants. Unfortunately, this bizarre scene quickly vanished as the smoke dissipated. When Tang Qi looked again, only the blue liquid inside the crucible was boiling with sounds of ¡°gurgle~ gurgle,¡± resembling sea water, initially occupying half of the crucible but quickly decreasing as the temperature rose. However, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t remove the alcohol burner; the special interface captured in his field of vision told him that once the flame was removed, the liquid inside would instantly solidify and revert to solid Sea Salt. At this moment, Tang Qi once again displayed terrifying speed. With one hand, he took a glass rod, vigorously stirring the blue liquid, while the other hand held tweezers, swiftly picking up a Brass Bullet and placing it into the crucible. The whirlpool seemingly armed with some bizarre Magic Power, as the bullet was put in, a blue luminescence along with the whirlpool instantly merged into it. ¡°Clang¡± Quickly inserted and taken out, Tang Qi didn¡¯t even have time to glance at the mutated bullet, immediately moving on to the second, then the third, fourth, fifth¡­ Tang Qi¡¯s one hand was evenly stirring, yet his other hand had already transformed into a blur. To avoid wasting even a bit of Sea Demon Magic, Tang Qi even employed the techniques of Chaga Fighting Skill. Inside the crucible, as the azure liquid rapidly disappeared, what appeared were the ever-increasing bullets in the wooden box on the workbench. Each one, not quite like an ordinary bullet. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Gifts Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Gifts Editor: Atlas Studios Late at night, at Saint Thorn High School, a small brick building on campus. Tang Qi stood before the workbench, forehead slightly sweaty, hands trembling a bit, with a cold coffee beside him. However, excitement filled his face as he stared at a wooden box on the workbench. Inside, about twenty or thirty bullets were piled up haphazardly. Each one was a yellowish-gold color, but upon closer inspection, one could vaguely see a deep blue light circulating within them. A special interface appeared in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. [Curio: Sea Demon Bullet.] [Attribute: Curse Breaking, Evil Exorcism.] [Information Fragment One: Bullets soaked in the Sea Demon¡¯s Tears. They have acquired a hint of Sea Demon Magic, transforming from ordinary to transcendent, and possess the attributes of breaking curses and dispelling evil.] [Information Fragment Two: Due to the special nature of Sea Demon Magic, these bullets also have a hidden attribute; if their wielder points the gun at themselves, there¡¯s a chance to trigger effects that heal injuries and break free from special states.] Tang Qi¡¯s breathing quickened immediately. Freshly made Sea Demon Bullets, their attributes were not beyond Tang Qi¡¯s expectations. It seemed to overlap somewhat with the Molten Furnace Bullet, the Evil Exorcism attribute, notably similar to the Furnace¡¯s ¡°Evil-breaking.¡± But there were differences too, such as Curse Breaking. This attribute was easy to understand, probably meaning to break evil curses. Although Tang Qi hadn¡¯t yet faced anyone who could cast curses, he was certain he would encounter them in the future, inevitably. The Samra family! This witchcraft family that migrated from the Saha Continent was still hanging over Tang Qi like the Sword of Damocles. Although they hadn¡¯t yet come for revenge, Tang Qi was well aware. It wasn¡¯t that they had given up, but because Tang Qi was stalling them. The elder known as the ¡°Black Snake Witch¡± was traveling abroad, and the remaining members seemed oblivious to the fact that Old Morgan had been burned to ashes and scattered in the sea. Ashes scattered at sea were indeed not the tradition of the Samra family; in fact, it was an insult. The tradition of the Samra family was to bury family members under a type of big tree called ¡°Baobab,¡± otherwise their souls couldn¡¯t rest peacefully. If the Samra family knew what Tang Qi had done, they would surely come seeking mad vengeance. Of course, if they knew that Old Morgan had been tricked by Tang Qi into becoming a ¡°Judgement Demon¡± to suffer endlessly on the Soul Swapping Balance. This family would kill Tang Qi at all costs. Even the mysterious powers of Saint Thorn High School couldn¡¯t stop them. From Old Morgan¡¯s journal, Tang Qi recognized this family¡¯s abnormal solidarity. Thus, Tang Qi had never thought of reconciliation. For both sides, it was a fight to the death. Otherwise, Tang Qi wouldn¡¯t be so eager to enhance his power. Despite possessing vast wealth, he had no intention of stopping to enjoy life. ¡°With these bullets, the first step of my plan will have a greater chance of success.¡± ¡°Next, I still need to enhance my fundamental power.¡± ¡°There seems to be a shortcut in front of me, so each step must be more stable; power can¡¯t mislead, only self-relaxation can.¡± Holding a Sea Demon Bullet, feeling the mild Magic Power flowing within, Tang Qi thought to himself. He finished the cold coffee in one gulp, cleared up the workbench carefully placing each Sea Demon Bullet, and then headed to the bedroom to start his daily ascetic practice. Ever since practicing the Golden Furnace Meditation, sleep had completely left Tang Qi. Although this was strange, the benefits of meditating through the night obviously far exceeded too much sleep, so Tang Qi did not hesitate to forsake sleep, a rest activity for ordinary humans. Sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet, Tang Qi entered a meditation state with a thought. ¡°Boom~¡± When his mind conjured up the image of a golden sun, Tang Qi once again entered that dark, nihility space, feeling the warmth and scorching heat coming from his own body while facing an endless surge of abnormalities emerging from an unknown rift, the abnormalities growing more intense. ¡­ The next morning, Tang Qi woke up without needing to check that special interface first. Tang Qi could feel on his own that his strength had grown slightly. His gaze fell on himself, confirming his premonition. It was still that Skill Bar; the progress behind the Meditation Method had jumped from 0.32% to 0.33% overnight, and the Molten Furnace Eye had also increased by 0.01%. However, the Chaga Fighting Technique showed no change; Tang Qi indeed needed to find another way. Feeling the warm power surging within his body, Tang Qi got up contentedly, prepared breakfast for himself, and after eating, he returned to the study, examined his desk for a moment, picked up a ¡°Monster Records,¡± and then took the ¡°Hundred-Year-old Strange.¡± He locked the iron door and walked towards the campus area, but before turning around, Tang Qi seemed to think of something and his gaze looked towards a quiet area not far from his temporary home. There, the most conspicuous building was an ancient clock tower. Originally, according to Pastor Sinbenny, it should have been the place called Ascetic Society. But now, the Ascetic Society had been disbanded, and it should be vacant inside. Based on the treasure map, corroborated by Old Morgan¡¯s diary and Tang Qi¡¯s initial exploration within the campus area on the first day, it was entirely reasonable to speculate that the legendary ¡°Confessor¡¯s Inheritance¡± might be within that clock tower area. If it had been the first day he knew about these things, Tang Qi might have risked scouting it out. But now, Tang Qi, who had already sensed a hint of conspiracy, naturally wouldn¡¯t be so rash. Pretending to glance inadvertently, Tang Qi turned around, reverting back to the ordinary Asian youth appearance, blending harmoniously into the student crowd. Saint Thorn High School, although known as a prestigious noble high school. This does not mean there are no diligent students here; in fact, the proportion of good students is very high. Even those with wealthy families, who learn everything they should, are academically well-rounded and comprehensively developed, exactly as their parents have planned for their future. Of course, there were also plenty of poor students. Such as those influential upperclassmen and upperclasswomen he met on the first day of school, who were definitely poor students. But being excessively wealthy and with identities like cheerleading captains and boxing club presidents, they could afford to ignore academic scores and even proudly declare, ¡°Even the most genius student will end up working for my family.¡± Besides them, Tang Qi was also a poor student. This was why his original parents had to pull strings to barely manage to send him here. If he wasn¡¯t a poor student, he could have entered like Sally, solely based on his scores, not only getting exempted from tuition but also receiving a scholarship. On the first day, Tang Xuezha showed a serious demeanor towards studying, discovering that he already understood enough common knowledge and didn¡¯t need to be so afterwards, he reverted back to his nature of being a poor student. Rightfully in the classroom, he started reading those ¡°weird books.¡± His level of immersion made Sally have to cover for him so as not to be discovered by the teachers. It wasn¡¯t until after school, with the principle of considering his first good friend, that Sally wanted to remind Tang Qi that Thorny High School conducts assessments at the end of the year for every grade, and failing results in expulsion. But she was worried that saying this would upset her good friend. Just as she hesitated to speak, Tang Qi gave a faint smile, suddenly took Sally, and walked out of the school, saying, ¡°To thank you for showing me the way last night, today I plan to give you a mysterious gift.¡± ¡°Trust me, you¡¯ll like it.¡± Tang Qi¡¯s voice seeped into Sally¡¯s ears. The girl¡¯s face had already blushed red, she passively followed him out of the school, the previous advice swallowed back, her mind completely blank, overtaken by the word ¡°gift.¡± Someone is giving me a gift? This voice echoed in the girl¡¯s mind. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Magic Girl Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Magic Girl Editor: Atlas Studios Midtown Avenue, a ready-to-wear store called ¡°Magic Girl.¡± The store is located in a bustling area, decorated with luxurious elegance, and the various garments that make a young girl¡¯s heart flutter hang in the window display. Floor-length dressing mirrors filled with magic power allow every girl to reveal her most beautiful posture in front of them. ¡°This is the best ready-to-wear store in Messer City. We create the most beautiful appearance for every girl, from the color of every strand of hair to the selection of ankle chains. We can provide you with the most suitable service for your needs. As long as you step into number five on Midtown Avenue Champs-Elys¨¦es, you will witness the transformation of Magic Girl.¡± As Sally behind him read from a beautifully crafted card, Tang Qi had already stepped ahead and pushed open the store¡¯s door made of glass and fine wood. Ding-dong! With the crisp and pleasant sound of the bell, Tang Qi and Sally both got a clear view of the interior layout. Apart from the dazzling array of clothes and various accessories, what undoubtedly caught the eye were the exquisite mirrors and the classical-style dressing rooms. Just a glance, and Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but admire them in his heart. After all, as a soul that had experienced the fashion explosion on Previous Earth, Tang Qi¡¯s aesthetic sense might not be extraordinarily strong, but being a little bit ahead of the current fashion on Origin Blue Star was no problem. But now, looking at this store, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t give any criticism. A store that so perfectly combines delicate classic charm with the gorgeousness of young girls! Tang Qi silently gave his evaluation. At this moment, he was not surprised that this store also had a considerable reputation in the upper echelons of Messer City. Of course, if this weren¡¯t the case, Tang Qi wouldn¡¯t have brought Sally here. The gift he intended to give to this silly and sweet young girl was a makeover service. With his now discerning eye, he could naturally tell that Sally¡¯s own conditions were not bad at all. The reason she was bullied by those mean girls was not only because of her reputation as ¡°Unlucky Sally¡± but also because of her unpolished and timid image. Boys didn¡¯t want to approach her, and mean girls seemed eager to bully her; she was a natural victim. Although Tang Qi was very confident in his own aesthetic, creating a new image for a young girl was something he wasn¡¯t suitable to do personally. Coming here was the right choice. Although Sally wasn¡¯t a person from high society and couldn¡¯t usually discuss fashion with other girls, she had also occasionally heard the name ¡°Magic Girl,¡± and added with the description on the elegantly crafted card in her hand. The service would be great here, and at the same time, the fees would also be frightening. The young girl thought quietly in her heart. ¡°Tang Qi, maybe we should~ just forget it.¡± Sally tugged at Tang Qi¡¯s sleeve, gathering her courage to speak. But since Tang Qi had already brought the girl here, it was impossible to give up halfway. Tang Qi smiled faintly at the girl and used a gentle gaze to help calm her a bit. As a store that was most favored by the young noble ladies of high society, this place naturally gathered many beautiful girls, each one fashionable and full of the splendor of youth. In comparison, Sally seemed like an ugly duckling. If it weren¡¯t for Tang Qi standing in front, the girl would probably have run away in a panic already. At this moment, a store attendant had already come to greet them. Surprisingly, the one who received them was not a young and beautiful sweet girl, but a very kind-looking old lady. The old lady was extremely well-maintained. Although she was dressed in a uniform, she exuded an air of dignified grace. Despite many wrinkles, her rosy complexion and still delicate features indicated she must have been a beauty in her youth. The old lady came over and smiled at Tang Qi and Sally, ¡°Two young customers, what can I help you with?¡± Tang Qi glanced at the warmly smiling old lady¡¯s name badge on her chest, not paying too much attention to the title of manager following her name, and replied with a smile, then pulled Sally, who was behind him, forward and said, ¡°Mrs. Hudson, this young girl needs help. She needs some external changes to make her more confident.¡± As Tang Qi spoke, Mrs. Hudson¡¯s gaze had already fallen on Sally. Her vision was naturally sharper than Tang Qi¡¯s. At once, Mrs. Hudson¡¯s eyes lit up with unparalleled joy as she grasped Sally¡¯s palm, her soothing voice relaxing Sally as it reached her ears. ¡°What a beautiful girl you are. Seeing you reminds this old lady of myself when I was young, equally unripe, equally endearing. Alas, poor Miss Hudson didn¡¯t have your good fortune back then, to have such a young gentleman to protect her.¡± ¡°Come now, lucky girl, relax a bit. You are my Magic Girl now.¡± ¡­ When it came to handling young girls, Mrs. Hudson clearly outclassed Tang Qi by a mile. A second ago, Sally was quite nervous, but she quickly followed the old lady into one of the individual dressing rooms. Tang Qi followed them in with a faint smile, experiencing another specialty of this store. The layout was surprisingly spacious, with each client having their own private dressing room complete with a real dressing area and a space for friends to chat and have snacks, fully furnished with seats and sofas. Having experienced his previous life on Earth, Tang Qi of course did not foolishly wait for the new Sally to appear but rather picked out a small sofa to sit down and started flipping through the ¡°Monster Records¡±. To others, this bulky tome was ridden with absurdities, but to Tang Qi, it held immense allure. Most of the file¡¯s content related to the Twelve Saints and the various Monsters they had slain. These were of the most interest to Tang Qi. He was soon fully immersed. Before he knew it, just as Tang Qi finished a page detailing one of the Twelve Saints, Lord Confessor Martin Sims, slaying the Double-headed Demon Eagle atop the Black Sand Mountain peaks, the exquisitely patterned door that had remained closed since shutting earlier suddenly creaked open. As Tang Qi looked up instinctively, an unbelievable figure emerged in his sight at that moment. It was Sally, cautiously moving in a pair of high heels. Her head slightly lowered, apparently completely unaware of the huge transformation she had undergone. Her messy, nest-like blonde hair somehow tamed into smooth locks by Mrs. Hudson, now cascading down with a floral crown on her head, revealing the nearly perfect face of a young girl. The baggy pants and loose sweater had vanished, replaced by a dress interwoven with gold and white that resembled Elf attire, with her almost glowing pale skin partially visible beneath the thin layer of fabric. Seemingly due to extreme shyness, a hint of crimson started to climb, reddening her cheeks and the clear lobes of her ears. Even Tang Qi, critical as he may be, could only express his amazement at this moment. He was certain that if Sally, as she was now, stepped into Saint Thorn High School, the entire school would erupt in excitement, and the cheerleading captain Angela, also a blonde girl, would likely go mad with jealousy. Mrs. Hudson, who was walking out behind Sally, seemed very satisfied as well, but her naturally discerning professional approach meant she didn¡¯t immediately finish her work. Instead, she helped Sally to the large floor-length mirror, awaiting with Sally to muster the courage to raise her head and admire her new self. Mrs. Hudson reached for Sally¡¯s face, towards the exaggerated black-framed glasses, seemingly to help Sally remove them to complete the final step of the transformation. Indeed, those black-framed glasses were the last obstacle. Once taken off, Tang Qi could envision an almost Elf-like young girl appearing before him. However, for some reason, as Tang Qi watched Mrs. Hudson¡¯s movements, his mind suddenly exploded with a ¡°thunderous roar,¡± his hair standing on end and scalp tingling with an intense premonition of danger that he had never felt before. ¡°Wait~¡± ¡°Ah~¡± As Tang Qi¡¯s words of obstruction were uttered, the black-framed glasses were already taken off by Mrs. Hudson. Buzz! A sudden change happened in an instant. Tang Qi and Sally¡¯s eyes met, no, to be precise, they met with Sally¡¯s reflection in the mirror. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Witch of Misfortune Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Witch of Misfortune Editor: Atlas Studios Panic, an unforeseen panic, completely occupied Tang Qi¡¯s mind in this moment. No reason, pure instinct. Just like how a fragile life feels in the presence of a higher-level creature. Reborn on Origin Blue Star, the moment Tang Qi awoke, he faced himself becoming the Devil, along with the evil Soul Swapping Ceremony, the Old Black Man who mastered witchcraft, and later Tang Qi even killed people, including slaying Extraordinary Monsters such as the Manatee Sea Demon, a creature of that caliber. But no matter what, Tang Qi had never had this kind of feeling before. When he locked eyes with Sally in the mirror, the surrounding environment drastically changed, just like a reversed reflection, a small changing room turned into numerous pieces of glass, moving rapidly, reassembling, and finally turning back into a real room. The only unreality was Mrs. Hudson, seemingly frozen at the moment she took off her glasses. She stood there, stunned, maintaining a faint smile, seemingly very pleased with her new creation, yet Tang Qi could no longer feel her heartbeat. Is she dead? Or is she no longer in this world? In that huge full-length mirror, the two are still staring at each other. It¡¯s just that Tang Qi can no longer see any trace of the original Sally in those eyes, as if she had completely¡­ become someone else. ¡°Who are you?¡± Tang Qi slowly placed the book in his hand down, speaking with some bitterness in his voice. Blood Python No.1, tucked behind at his back. In the left pocket of his shirt, there¡¯s a box of Molten Furnace Bullets. In the right pocket of his pants, there¡¯s a box of Sea Demon Bullets. In the lining of his chest, a red Sea Demon¡¯s Tear is placed. Even if facing the Manatee Sea Demon again, Tang Qi was confident that he could slay it in the fastest speed possible. But now, Tang Qi did not make any move. Not that he didn¡¯t dare, but he couldn¡¯t. A terrifying pressure was oppressing him at this moment, and the act of putting down the book almost exhausted all his strength. The only thing Tang Qi could do now was to keep his eyes open, allowing that terrifying pressure to wildly consume the strength within his body without any intention of falling down and conceding. When he asked that question, Tang Qi¡¯s eyes had already seen a scene completely different from reality, two special interfaces emerging at the base of his eyes at this moment. Sally had changed. She was still in the same body, but her previously timid, shy personality had vanished without a trace. In her eyes, staring at Tang Qi, there was unbridled arrogance, disdain for everything, and a kind of allure that made any man want to kneel to her. Stream after stream of grey-black mist, invisible to the naked eye, continued to pour out from Sally¡¯s body, turning the small changing room into an Exotic Realm, and her dress, intertwined with gold and white like an Elf¡¯s gown, gradually turned pitch black. The flower crown on her head, far from withering, instead bloomed with more and more intriguing black flowers of charm, enchanting, making it impossible to look away. If the previous Sally was an incredibly beautiful Elf maiden. Then the current Sally is an alluring Witch who irresistibly demands submission. Tang Qi¡¯s Special Ability confirmed his premonition. The first special interface to jump out came from that pair of exaggerated black-frame glasses. ¡°` [Curios: Glasses That Seal Misfortune.] [Information Fragment One: These are glasses that have acquired Extraordinary Power from the blessing of the Gypsy Witch Leader, capable of sealing the power of Misfortune and restoring a piteous girl to an ordinary life.] [Information Fragment Two: When the girl wears them, she will not be perceived by the Transcendent.] ¡°` The information contained in the black-framed glasses was straightforward and brutal, leaving Tang Qi utterly shaken. And the interface he saw from Sally made Tang Qi both amazed and regretful. He never would have thought the day would come when his kind deeds would turn out bad. The opponents he had faced in the past had the words ¡°Extraordinary Creatures¡± displayed in their interface. But this time was different. The first line of text Tang Qi saw contained, startlingly¡­ ¡°Divine.¡± [Exotic Realm Divine: Witch of Misfortune.] [State: secondary personality.] [Information Fragment One: The Misfortune Witch from a different plane, in an attempt to break through her limits, dispersed her Magic Power into an unknown number of parts, sending them to different worlds, and the baby Sally received the portion from Origin Blue Star.] [Information Fragment Two: Due to the power of the Doomsday Magic, all of Sally¡¯s relatives died, and in the final moment, the Gypsy Witch Leader who happened to be passing by infused her own power into the black-framed glasses left by Sally¡¯s father, capable of sealing the Doomsday Magic for at least a hundred years.] [Information Fragment Three: As the Spiritual Tide approaches, cracks have appeared in the seal of the glasses, and removing the glasses has given the Witch¡¯s alternate personality, conceived from that Magic Power, a chance to break free.] [Information Fragment Four: Since the Misfortune Witch¡¯s alternate personality shares the body with Sally, she needs the help of an external force to take full control of this body, and taking advantage of the return of the Spiritual Tide to help the original personality break through the Divine limit.] ¡°Hum¡± When Tang Qi saw the fourth Information Fragment, a Light of Hope almost spilled from his eyes, he used all his remaining strength at that instant to lower his head so as not to let the Witch¡¯s alternate personality, who was now in control of Sally¡¯s body, notice. Now Tang Qi understood, what had he done? He wanted to give Sally a gift, but inadvertently he let the biggest, most terrifying secret inside Sally leak out. Witch of Misfortune! These four words perfectly explained Sally¡¯s lifetime of misfortune and the reason why those affected by her suffered the same fate. The power of Misfortune, even though mostly sealed by those glasses, but the faint traces that leaked out were enough to create the reputation of ¡°Unlucky Sally.¡± If nothing unexpected happened, the glasses would continue to seal the Doomsday Magic until Sally¡¯s death a hundred years later, and that portion of Magic Power would return to the Misfortune Witch¡¯s plane, not causing any significant impact on Origin Blue Star. Of course, it is also possible that with the return of the Spiritual Tide, the glasses would lose their effect prematurely, and by then, the fully conceived Witch¡¯s alternate personality could emerge and take care of Sally¡¯s weak original personality, take control of the body, and add another Witch of Misfortune to this world on the brink of great change. What major events would happen then, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t predict. Nor did he need to predict anymore because all of this had been accidentally interrupted by Tang Qi. The glasses were taken off, and what Tang Qi was facing now was the still developing secondary personality¡­ the Witch of Misfortune. Tang Qi hung his head low, hiding the unusual color in his eyes, using all his strength to resist the Magic Power filling the small dressing room, although it was futile, Tang Qi could even feel that with just a thought from the Misfortune Witch, his fragile body would be completely disassembled, leaving no corpse intact. ¡°Tap-tap-tap¡± Previously, Sally had a hard time walking in high heels, but now, what Tang Qi saw from the corner of his eye was a figure exuding infinite charm, sashaying like a Dark Elf, slowly approaching Tang Qi, a pale finger gently lifting Tang Qi¡¯s chin. Then, Tang Qi saw that perfect face again, and a pair of blue eyes which gradually turned dark, the mysterious grey-black aura enveloping him, Tang Qi felt as if his soul was about to slip into a special world. ps1: Regarding the explanation of the glasses, I had annotated in a Chapter Say long ago, but it seems some readers do not read Chapter Says, so I¡¯ll add it here: In the setting, those are the Witch¡¯s glasses, which, together with Sally, are part of the sealing. She herself can take them off temporarily, accidental drops would leach some Magic Power but not trigger the alternate personality. From a young age, she was entrusted and would quickly put them back on, and before that time, the Spiritual Tide had not returned, and the alternate personality had not been born, unable to cause trouble. The disturbance in the Magic Girl shop was caused by the accidental appearance of both the Spiritual Tide and the alternate personality. It was also an incident that the Witch Leader hadn¡¯t foreseen with the Spiritual Tide; otherwise, she would not have left a loophole. ps2: It¡¯s Fat Fish¡¯s fault, so go easy on him. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Negotiation Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Negotiation Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi could see wisps of grey and black Magic Power, like mist, pouring out from that beautiful figure, then coiling around his soul, dragging him into that terrible world. It was a realm filled with foreboding, void of light or bright colors, all was dim and grim, with vortexes swirling, warping this realm into something even more sinister, akin to the most terrifying nightmare. Once trapped within, one would never be able to escape. The only way out was to submit. ¡°Submit to me, and you shall become the Child of Misfortune, and you shall possess the power of Misfortune.¡± In Tang Qi¡¯s mind, a dream-like voice echoed. A strong impulse, like poisonous vines, climbed up, wrapping around Tang Qi¡¯s mind, making him want to bow down, to kneel, offer eternal loyalty, and kiss the toes of the beautiful lady in front of him, becoming her most humble servant. In fact, Tang Qi¡¯s body was already bending under the suppression of the grey and black Magic Power. The completely changed Sally, her perfect face now wore a sneer that charmed all living beings, enough to drive countless men mad, to make them pay any price, as if she foresaw the scene of Tang Qi kissing her toes. Just a human youth who had just entered the Transcendent realm, if not for the recent return of the Spiritual Tide, she wouldn¡¯t have taken interest in him. However, from an angle she could not see, Tang Qi slowly closed his eyes, as streams of Information Fragments flowed before him, he activated a Skill, igniting a¡­ Sun. Encountering Doomsday Magic! Transforming into the Slave of Misfortune! Target: Extraordinary Human! Conducting Magic Power Level Assessment! Unique Magic Power [Melting Furnace Power] overflowing! Assessment Passed! Transformation failed! ¡­ ¡°Boom¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± Just like throwing a red-hot iron into deep snow, the snow didn¡¯t melt completely, but around Tang Qi, now transformed into a golden sun, the wisps of grey and black Misfortune Magic disappeared at an alarming speed, utterly vanishing. The dark elf-like girl, that ridiculous sneer solidified, then turned into a scream, the gentle grey mist instantly transformed into terrifying whips, and along with the girl¡¯s screams, whipped Tang Qi¡¯s body at a frequency that seemed to tear one¡¯s eardrums apart. Her scream carried an ominous tone, overpowering the Manatee Sea Demon. ¡°Son of the Melting Furnace, damn legacy of the Master of the Crucible, weren¡¯t you disgusting guys extinct in the Great Catastrophe of the last era?¡± ¡°Why? How can you, like rats, survive so early on the Origin Star, lurking beside me, also wanting to destroy one of my Avatars, I will not let you succeed.¡± ¡°Die, all die.¡± This sudden change left Tang Qi, the ¡®instigator¡¯, momentarily unable to react. However, it wasn¡¯t hard to extract some astonishing information from the words of the crazy girl, the Witch¡¯s alternate personality. The origin of the Golden Furnace Meditation is not simple! Holds a grudge against the Witches from the Exotic Realm! The Witch misunderstood his purposeful approach! In the end, she is afraid. Just like a wild beast displaying its full power when threatened, the Witch¡¯s alternate personality is not human. Yet at this moment, Tang Qi still felt her emotions, but regrettably, there was nothing he could do. He had to transform into the Golden Furnace and maintain a meditation state. Tang Qi couldn¡¯t be sure, if he broke his meditation, could he win against the Misfortune Witch¡¯s secondary personality by simply using Melting Furnace Power? He hadn¡¯t tried, but Tang Qi knew the chances of winning were not high. Perhaps the Melting Furnace Power and the Doomsday Magic were of the same Transcendent Level. But Tang Qi wasn¡¯t the so-called Son of the Melting Furnace, he only mastered the Meditation Method and did not possess other corresponding inheritances; moreover, he hadn¡¯t been practicing the Meditation Method for long. And his opponent was a pure Misfortune Witch, a Magic Power separated from the avatar of the Exotic Realm Gods, residing in Sally for over a decade, nurturing a Witch¡¯s secondary personality that perfectly wielded that portion of Doomsday Magic. If he left the ¡°Golden Furnace¡± state, Tang Qi doubted if he would be instantly dismembered. It was incredible, but both of them were indeed in a stalemate. Even more incredulously, Tang Qi knew that continuing the stalemate would lead him to regain the upper hand. From his Special Ability¡¯s vision of Information Fragment before entering meditation, there was such a prophecy: Just before the time limit arrives, if the Witch cannot capture a suitable Slave of Misfortune, she will face two choices: forced fusion with the primary personality to dismantle the Sealing but that would cause unpredictable consequences, or be resealed and wait for the next appropriate time. Time limit countdown: three minutes. This fragment of revealed information, after years, indicated that the main object sealing the Doomsday Magic was no longer that pair of spectacles, but Sally herself who acts as the ¡°container¡±. As a secondary personality, the Misfortune Witch only had two options: to break the container or merge with it. As a Goddess of the Exotic Realm, she would definitely not allow herself to be assimilated by a human girl, so her choice was self-evident. Indeed, Tang Qi¡¯s prophecy became reality. The frenzied Witch quickly calmed down, staring at Tang Qi, who was with closed eyes emitting Golden Light, her brow slightly furrowed, the crown on her head blooming even more enchanting Black Flowers, more ominous. At one side of them, Mrs. Hudson held the spectacles that were slightly trembling, seemingly about to fly back onto Sally¡¯s nose. The information Tang Qi knew, she knew even clearer. And what Tang Qi did not know, such as she had a third choice, which was to turn Mrs. Hudson next to her into a Slave of Misfortune. But that too had risks, as Mrs. Hudson was just an ordinary elderly lady and might simply die during the transformation process. Now, the Misfortune Witch was at a disadvantage. The first choice, merging with Sally, she would absolutely not do, as controlling this body for the first time as a secondary personality, a merge might lead her to be completely devoured by the main personality, Sally. By then, she would no longer be the Misfortune Witch but a Witch wielding powerful ominous Magic. But the second choice, even less likely. Returning to the Sealing meant Tang Qi could survive, and then dealing with a helpless young girl as a Transcendent Human would be imaginable. A strong secondary personality, nurtured by Magic Power from Exotic Realm Gods! Yet, falling into disadvantage during a standoff with a young man who had just entered the Extraordinary Domain not long ago? This, was unbelievable, but it became reality. ¡°Misfortune roams the same path, sometimes afflicting this person, sometimes another, but it always favors me, only when the Supreme Divinity Fate incarnates again can I escape their recoil, becoming the sole Fate Goddess.¡± ¡°Before escaping, since resistance is futile, let¡¯s compromise.¡± ¡°My main body could never imagine, I would choose to¡­ negotiate with the Son of the Melting Furnace.¡± Muttering some sort of parable, the grey-black mist that filled the entire fitting room suddenly surged, retracting back into Sally¡¯s body, and at this moment, the body controlled by the Witch¡¯s secondary personality suddenly stepped forward, her soft lips directly pressing onto Tang Qi¡¯s forehead. A circle of grey mist dispersed, filling Tang Qi¡¯s mind with an ominous Charm. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Destiny Contract Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Destiny Contract Editor: Atlas Studios In a space of darkness and nihility, Tang Qi transformed into a golden Sun, releasing endless light and heat, burning clean all the abnormalities seeping through the cracks. In the past, it was indeed abnormalities that he burnt. However, after entering meditation in front of the Witch of Misfortune, what he burned were strands of grayish-black whips. To be precise, the tips of the whips. Because their Transcendent Levels seemed to be the same. But Tang Qi didn¡¯t care, he still used his will to painstakingly sketch out the golden Sun. He was confident that, when those three minutes passed, that so-called Witch¡¯s alternate personality could only choose to succumb. Tang Qi¡¯s premonitions were always correct. But this time, it was slightly off course. ¡°Huh~¡± In the dark space, those grayish-black whips suddenly vanished without a trace, replaced by a familiar figure that appeared at that seemingly close yet infinitely distant crack. Sally? No, it should be the Witch of Misfortune. Compared to the external Sally¡¯s body, this figure at this moment is probably closer to the Witch of Misfortune. Some Gothic-style black dress reflected her overly pale skin, both mysterious and charming, while black flowers on her head continuously bloomed and withered. Though breathtakingly beautiful, they were filled with an ominous air. She stood at the crack, her grayish-black Magic Power of Misfortune unfolded a sea of fog, enveloping her inside. Their positioning completely ruled out the possibility of Tang Qi launching a surprise attack. The Witch¡¯s alternate personality, which entered Tang Qi¡¯s mind by some method, had none of the previous crazed girl¡¯s demeanor; it was just an illusion, and now, the Witch seemed like a mysterious and classic lady, directly extending a Contract invitation to Tang Qi. ¡°Young Son of the Melting Furnace, I will not apologize for the previous offense, but as compensation, I am willing to forge a fair Contract with you, allowing you to grow prematurely. This will grant you sufficient power when the Spiritual Tide reaches its peak, preventing you from becoming a lowly chess piece, easily exploited and then discarded or killed by those people.¡± Having said these, the Witch, as if remembering something, didn¡¯t give Tang Qi any chance to delay, and directly added: ¡°This is your only opportunity, if you refuse me, I will choose to exhaust most of my Doomsday Magic, extinguishing your newly ignited Melting Furnace in these ruins of darkness.¡± ¡°Perhaps I will be sealed again, but you will be thoroughly dead.¡± ¡°You have only three seconds to consider, surely that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Three!¡± ¡°Two!¡± Before the count of ¡°one¡±, from that seemingly eternal sun, Tang Qi¡¯s voice emerged. ¡°The contents of the Contract!¡± ¡°The cost I need to pay, and the benefits I can receive, I hope it¡¯s fair.¡± Hearing this voice, the Witch¡¯s face finally showed that heart-stopping smile again, and in the space between them, a ghostly light with a ¡°buzz¡± emerged, something resembling a Sheepskin Scroll appearing. The blank pages, under the Witch¡¯s gaze, seemed to conjure a Quill out of thin air, and lines of small text continuously appeared. Under the watch of the Supreme Divinity of Destiny, I shall forge a Contract with the human before me. The contents of the Contract are as follows: The human must shelter my body when I fall into Sealing, even at the risk of his life in times of crisis! He must help me transform this body, create Misfortune Potions for me, and support my cultivation of Misfortune Magic, making me more suitable for the full descent of Misfortune Magic Power! While I am asleep, he will temporarily become my eyes and ears, collecting information about the Transcendent Domain of the Origin Star for me! He shall establish the Church of Disaster for me, and find three suitable Believers! Within ten years, the human must retrieve the scattered Calamity Artifacts from various places of the Origin Star for me! Before I completely control this body, the human must periodically remove those glasses, allowing me to manifest! The human cannot take away the virginity of this body, nor defile or toy with her body. ¡­ Watching each demand appear one after another, Tang Qi believed, if he had a human face at this moment, it would definitely be covered in a black line. Is this Witch treating him as a nanny? It wasn¡¯t until the very last demand disappeared that the benefits Tang Qi could receive finally appeared. Simple and crude, comprised of two lines of small text: ¡°I guarantee that I will not kill this human in the future.¡± ¡°I will bestow upon this human a Curse Mark.¡± ¡°Done!¡± Tang Qi deliberately waited for a second but found no further changes in the Sheepskin Scroll. This was the final content. Although he couldn¡¯t express his emotions through facial expressions, as he had transformed into the Sun, conveying his emotions became simpler. The normally stable golden light flames suddenly surged, pulsing with anger. It was clear that the Witch of Misfortune was aware that such a contract was far from fair. To this end, she paused for a moment, her proud head slightly bowed, rarely making an explanation: ¡°After offending me, you still managed to preserve your life. Just by this feat, you would gain enormous fame in the Extraordinary World.¡± ¡°As for the Curse Mark, your subconscious, or perhaps deliberate approach to this body of mine, wasn¡¯t it to use the power of Doomsday Magic to attract those inferior Abnormalities to fuel your Melting Furnace?¡± ¡°I bestow upon you a mark that can directly spare you the troublesome process. You just need to activate the mark, and it will automatically attract those inferior monsters to you.¡± As soon as the Witch finished speaking, a voice still seemingly filled with anger emanated from the Sun. ¡°Compared to the price I¡¯ve paid, these benefits are far from enough.¡± ¡°I need more Extraordinary Methods, you need to serve as my temporary mentor. I want to understand more about the Extraordinary Domain, and I also need to complete the legacy of the Son of the Melting Furnace. As your main body is the enemy of the Master of the Crucible, you must know a lot¡­¡± ¡°All these, I cannot give you. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but I can¡¯t. I¡¯m just a secondary personality birthed from the Power of Disaster within a human body. There may be tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of beings like me. To accommodate as much Magic as possible, the main body only bestowed me with little information, which doesn¡¯t include what you seek.¡± ¡°As for the complete legacy of the Master of the Crucible, not even this alternate personality of mine, let alone the main body, has it.¡± ¡°Alright, this is the best condition I can offer. You must make your choice immediately.¡± After saying the last sentence, the Witch¡¯s alternate personality did not give Tang Qi any more time to think and issued the final ultimatum. Three minutes countdown, was about to end. Boom! Tang Qi immediately felt a surge of Magic much more terrifying than before beginning to pulsate. As soon as Tang Qi gives a negative response, the Witch¡¯s alternate personality would consume a large part of her magic to exterminate Tang Qi on the spot. The moment of life and death came unexpectedly. Despite being embodied as the Sun, Tang Qi felt a piercing cold, and the sinister magic aura, like a poisonous snake, frenziedly gnawing at Tang Qi¡¯s mind. In the final seconds of the countdown, Tang Qi automatically exited the meditation state, and the surrounding environment slowly began to stabilize. This special fitting room seemed about to return to the original world, and Tang Qi even saw Hudson¡¯s fingers trembling slightly. The Sheepskin Scroll floated before him, its content exactly the same as what appeared in the Dark Nihility space. Both ends had a blank line. One line, with an additional mark. Not a name but a mark, which was understandable, as the figure before him was not the real Witch of Misfortune but a Magic-infused alternate personality, naturally not entitled to sign a Divine name on the contract, a mark was sufficient. Beneath that mark, a gray thread slowly began to extend. On the other end of the blank space, there was another thread. Once Tang Qi signed his own name, the two threads would converge, sketching out the pattern of ¡°Destiny,¡± and the contract would be established. The violator would suffer unimaginable punishment. ¡°Sign it!¡± ¡°Otherwise, you will die.¡± Calm yet filled with a terrifying intent to kill, these words spilled from Sally¡¯s mouth. At this moment, she seemed to have returned to normal; the magic was gone, the black Flowers of Misfortune also had disappeared. If not for her still pitch-black eyes, one might think the Witch of Misfortune had been dragged back into the sealing. Unfortunately, the situation now was that a large part of the Misfortune Witch¡¯s secondary personality had returned to the ¡°container,¡± but it left a loophole. If Tang Qi did not immediately sign the contract, the next second would see a surge of misfortune magic power burst from that loophole, shredding Tang Qi, while the Witch¡¯s alternate personality would be severely wounded, returning to the sealing. In this final moment, Tang Qi looked up swiftly, gazing directly at the Witch, then his gaze fully focused on the Sheepskin Scroll. Phew! Perhaps due to humiliation, Tang Qi took a deep breath, quickly lowered his head, and muttered, ¡°I sign!¡± As the words fell, Tang Qi¡¯s finger suddenly extended, the Melting Furnace Power overflowing, and under the sketching of golden lines, the name Tang Qi gradually took shape. As the name was completed, and the two gray lines were about to intersect, suddenly a ¡°crack¡± sounded, akin to breaking glass, the fitting room originally submerged in an abnormal space booming back to reality, all anomalies disappearing, Sally¡¯s magic receding in her eyes, and Mrs. Hudson still maintained that smile. Just at this moment, Tang Qi abruptly lifted his head again, a brilliantly radiant smile emerging. Then, he moved. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Curse Mark Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Curse Mark Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi¡¯s special ability, temporarily named ¡°All-Knowing.¡± It enables him to directly perceive the essence and read the attached Information Fragments, whether it¡¯s of Extraordinary Creatures or inanimate objects in the Extraordinary Domain. The Sheepskin Scroll contract before him was naturally among them. If that weren¡¯t the case, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen to sign his own name. The trick to each successful deception lies in the asymmetry of information, and this time is no different. [Curios: Destiny Parchment.] [State: not in effect.] [Information Fragment One: This is a special sheepskin scroll, which records a contract of nearly the highest Level of binding. The parties involved are representatives of the Power of Disaster and the Melting Furnace Power, hoping that they will abide by the contract under the watch of Destiny, or else both will suffer unimaginable punishment.] [Information Fragment Two: The contract¡¯s activation method, capturing the Soul Breath of both parties. Once the lines of soul converge and jointly outline Destiny, the contract will take effect.] [Information Fragment Three: Before the contract takes effect, both parties have the right to modify its content.] This, is what Tang Qi saw. Those few Information Fragments, the Witch¡¯s alternate personality was also aware of, but what she didn¡¯t know was that there was a problem with Tang Qi¡¯s Soul Breath. The contract captures the soul that resonates most with the signatory¡¯s body, which would be the soul of the original host, but that is ineffective, having a breath but essentially a Blank soul, incapable of signing the contract. Inside the parchment, those two grey lines finally converged. Strangely though, they did not jointly sketch out ¡°Destiny.¡± The grey line representing Tang Qi was rapidly fading away, as if a Burning fuse of explosives was snuffed out just at the End Point. As a result, the grey line representing the Witch of Misfortune also retracted. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± ¡°Boom~¡± The original Sally, who was about to return to normal, her eyes retreating fast from the Doomsday Magic, at this moment, underwent a transformation again. The grey-black Ink was about to seep back in, the terrible tide of Magic Power about to burst forth. She realized she had been deceived. The power of Misfortune turned violent and ominous, and the fitting room that was about to be restored seemed destined for complete destruction. The Witch¡¯s alternate personality wanted to tear Tang Qi to pieces, not giving him any more chance to turn things around. Unfortunately, the poisonous snake that had shrunk back into its container needed a bit more Time to emerge again, especially at this moment when the Sealing was nearly restored. As the Witch¡¯s alternate personality struggled unsuccessfully, Tang Qi was one step ahead, taking Mrs. Hudson¡¯s black-framed glasses in one hand, placing them towards Sally¡¯s nose, while his other hand boomed, the last of the Melting Furnace Power turning into golden Light Flames, wrapping around his palm. Under the watchful gaze of the Witch¡¯s alternate personality, Tang Qi suddenly placed his palm on the Sheepskin Scroll. Below, in the blank space, two grey lines started anew, the true Soul Breath belonging to Tang Qi. New Information Fragments jumped into Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. Soul information invalid! Recapture! Capture complete! Destiny is being outlined! Contract about to take effect! ¡­ As this information flowed past, Tang Qi¡¯s palm, like a ¡°golden eraser,¡± slammed over the area where he was obliged to present a duty. Then with one strong effort, as the texts outlined by the Doomsday Magic touched the Melting Furnace Power, the scene that had once occurred happened again. In an instant, those lines of small print disappeared without a trace. On the Sheepskin Scroll, only those two short lines of text remained. Below, those two grey lines strikingly sketched out a symbol that was completely unclear to Tang Qi. The Sheepskin Scroll immediately caught fire, turning into two beams of grey light with a whoosh, one directly entering Tang Qi¡¯s palm, and the other merging into Sally¡¯s body. ¡°No~¡± ¡°Boom~¡± A shrill howl came from Sally¡¯s mouth, a terror-inducing, unprecedented Magic Power was about to erupt, until a fair finger pushed the exaggerated black-framed glasses up, completely concealing the pair of eyes that were about to be tainted by Ink. Everything returned to calm. ¡°It feels like closing Pandora¡¯s Box, not bad at all.¡± Tang Qi retracted his palm and silently mused as he watched the gradually disappearing Contract Mark. At the moment the glasses were put back on, those ominous, malicious auras vanished without a trace, and Sally¡¯s charming yet mystical eyes returned to their previous lively shyness, still resembling that of a gentle deer. Mrs. Hudson also came to her senses, somewhat dissatisfied, chiding Tang Qi for taking back the glasses. Believing that this unromantic boy lacked a sense of fashion. Or perhaps he was just stingy, unwilling to let his little girlfriend reveal such a beautiful appearance in public, maybe he wanted to keep it to himself. The latter reason made Sally¡¯s face flush with embarrassment, and she had no choice but to explain to Mrs. Hudson: ¡°Mrs. Hudson, the glasses are a legacy from my father, his dying wish was for me to wear them until I come of age. At that time, a distant aunt will come to preside over my coming-of-age ceremony, then I can take them off.¡± The explanation made Mrs. Hudson smile ambiguously. The old lady certainly understood, the young lady was explaining to her ¡°beloved¡± that after the coming-of-age ceremony, she could present her most beautiful self to him. Tang Qi, with his acute perception of human emotions, naturally understood everything and had no desire to clarify the misunderstanding with Mrs. Hudson. The thoughts of the young girl he attributed to gratitude and shyness towards her only good friend. At this moment, his attention was absorbed by that ¡°distant aunt.¡± Clearly, his father¡¯s dying wish was real. But that so-called distant aunt was undoubtedly the Gypsy Witch Leader who¡¯d helped Sally seal the Doomsday Magic. ¡°No one helps others without reason, unless there¡¯s profit to be made.¡± ¡°Helping baby Sally seal her Magic Power, after coming of age, could it be possible to harvest a witch with terrifying magical powers?¡± ¡°That would be a fine investment, and the other party has no right to refuse.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s been a change to this investment.¡± Tang Qi mused inwardly, unable to help but contemplate whether this encounter was a gain or a loss for him. He had originally intended to leverage the ¡°bad luck¡± on Sally¡¯s part to increase his chances of encountering Abnormalities as the Witch¡¯s alternate personality had said, adding Fuel, to rapidly grow his own strength. He hadn¡¯t expected to come across the host of Doomsday Magic on Origin Blue Star. This experience was like trying to fish for a small fish, but ending up hooking a prehistoric whale instead. Fortunately, Misfortune favored the latter, while Tang Qi, leveraging his Special Ability, turned the tables once more. ¡°Now, the harvest has come.¡± As Tang Qi silently mused, within his slightly lowered eyelids reflected a sudden and strange mutation between himself and Sally. Threads of grey-black viscous Magic Power struggled to seep out of Sally, their Source seemingly reluctant to part with them, but compelled by some irresistible force, they surrendered little by little, climbing onto Tang Qi¡¯s body. Finally, they all converged on the back of Tang Qi¡¯s left hand, slowly sketching out a special mark symbol: against a blood-red background, a pair of grey-black curved deer antlers. Ability activated, an interface pops up. [Curios: Curse Mark.] [State: Intact.] [Information Fragment One: It is the mark of the Exotic Realm Gods¡¯ Witch of Misfortune. Those who possess it mean they have garnered the Witch¡¯s favor, and Extraordinary Creatures of the same Camp as the Witch will have an unconditional basic fondness for the owner of the mark.] [Information Fragment Two: Activating it can attract Extraordinary Creatures belonging to ominous, negative, and Evil Camps within a certain range.] [Information Fragment Three: It could lead to the mark¡¯s owner encountering some misfortune, but it could also possibly bring more luck. No one can guess the Power of Destiny.] ¡°Receiving benefits without any cost, this feeling is really great.¡± Tang Qi looked at the mark on the back of his hand, his lips slightly curving upwards, contentedly. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Newton District Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Newton District Editor: Atlas Studios As the manager of ¡°Magic Girl¡± boutique, Mrs. Hudson¡¯s taste is indeed incredible. Even though the exaggerated glasses were still on, Sally still became the center of attention in the entire ready-to-wear store, with high society ladies and wealthy heiresses paling in comparison to her beauty. Yet Sally remained Sally, the young girl was scared away by the scrutinizing and astonished gazes. However, it was also because she was eager to leave with Tang Qi that she didn¡¯t notice the shocking figures on the bill in Tang Qi¡¯s hand. The reason this boutique, catering to young girls and ladies, could gain the favor of Messer City¡¯s high society, aside from Mrs. Hudson¡¯s astonishing taste, was another: its expensive service. However, compared to the Divine Eagle Gold Coins, which were of little use to Tang Qi, the Curse Mark that appeared on his hand was what he truly needed. The craving for power made Tang Qi very eager to use it. Thankfully, his rationale still prevailed, and he suppressed this impulse. Leaving Midtown Avenue, he sent the transformed Sally back home. He didn¡¯t go anywhere else but returned to the brick small building within the school district as fast as he could. There wasn¡¯t any change in Tang Qi¡¯s appearance, but inside he was extremely exhausted. His struggle with the Misfortune Witch¡¯s alternate personality occurred in a special space constructed by the Witch. Although it didn¡¯t drain his physical strength, the Melting Furnace Power he had accumulated over many days was completely used up, and the process of him turning the tables seemed to always be within Tang Qi¡¯s expectations. The poor Witch¡¯s alternate personality, as soon as she emerged, encountered Tang Qi, who was both cunning and cheating. Despite possessing tremendous magical power, she was duped by Tang Qi, a rookie who had just entered the Extraordinary Domain, because she hesitated to make a move. However, luck also played a part in this. Because if any part of the plan had gone wrong, Tang Qi would have paid a huge price even if he didn¡¯t die. Fortunately, he won. A single Curse Mark almost revealed a shortcut right before Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. And through the conversation with the Misfortune Witch¡¯s alternate personality, Tang Qi knew that the Golden Furnace Meditation he practiced had an extraordinary origin, and he himself had devised a method of burning those negative and evil Abnormal souls to add fuel to his own embodiment of the Melter. Likewise, he gained recognition from the Misfortune Witch¡¯s alternate personality. This was tantamount to giving Tang Qi a form of insurance, but his cautious nature still made him refrain from using it immediately and instead, he returned home. Standing in the small living room on the first floor, Tang Qi went straight into the kitchen and seriously prepared two dishes and one soup for himself. After eating, he felt some recovery in spirit but didn¡¯t go on to cultivate or leave the house. Instead, he went to the workbench and followed the last operation. Once again, he melted a piece of Blue Sea Salt. The result was thirty more Sea Demon Bullets. After storing the bullets one by one, Tang Qi then returned to the bedroom on the second floor, where he sat cross-legged on the Moon-patterned carpet as usual. When the first ray of moonlight shone on him, he entered into meditation as always. ¡°Boom~¡± The golden Sun appeared, maybe because Tang Qi had exhausted all his spiritual power, the Sun¡¯s Light Flames were somewhat weak compared to usual. But soon, when the Abnormality that surged through the cracks was burnt to a crisp, the Sun¡¯s Radiance once again flared intensely. ¡­ A night passed, and when Tang Qi carrying books stepped into the main school building, the gleam in his eyes indicated that the spiritual power he had exhausted was fully replenished, and even more abundant than before. This was in line with the setting of making progress after a battle. Tang Qi originally thought that today he would witness quite a lively scene. After all, Sally¡¯s image in the Magic Girl boutique last night made even him, who had experienced the bombardment of online beauties from Previous Earth, unable to help but marvel. It seemed that the hormone-driven visual creatures of Saint Thorn High School would definitely not be able to keep calm. But unfortunately and surprisingly, Sally did show up, yet she was still the same ¡°Unlucky Sally¡±. Messy blonde hair, baggy pants, a loose sweater, and an outdated knit hat to boot¡ªplain and unsophisticated. Sally, standing in front of Tang Qi, was feeling wronged and apologetic as she explained, ¡°It¡ªit was my mom; she said that before the coming-of-age ceremony, I must maintain that look. But I managed to keep that skirt. Let¡¯s return it after school.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sally. I understand your mom. But you¡¯ll also need to keep that skirt; it won¡¯t affect our relationship.¡± Tang Qi quickly reacted and started consoling Sally. Maintaining Sally¡¯s plain and unsophisticated appearance was clearly one of the few scenes that could give her mother a sense of security. Perhaps she didn¡¯t want Sally to be too eye-catching, so as to avoid spreading misfortune. Or maybe, it was just to protect Sally. Sally¡¯s mother must be an informer of the ¡°Witch of Misfortune,¡± but she chose not to tell Sally the truth, probably waiting for the day of the coming-of-age ceremony. Letting Sally know everything now would only make the girl anxious endlessly, without any other outcome. Since Sally¡¯s mother had made her choice, Tang Qi, who still had formidable enemies out there, certainly wouldn¡¯t reveal the truth. After consoling her with a few words, Tang Qi raised the ¡°Monster Records¡± in his hand, diverting Sally¡¯s attention, and said with a smile, ¡°If you feel sorry, maybe you could take some class notes for me. You know, I¡¯ve got other things to be busy with.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Sally immediately responded. ¡­ After school, Tang Qi received the class notes from Sally and said goodbye to the girl. He watched the girl walk toward her home and then Tang Qi too left the campus. However, he did not head back to the brick and stone building. Instead, he walked to the stop outside Thorny High School and, after watching the signpost for a moment, finally boarded a red bus that had just arrived. It happened to be evening, one of the most crowded times in Messer City. Tang Qi sat in his seat, looking silently through the glass at the various scenes of this strange yet familiar city. This seemed to be a bus with a long route, quickly passing through the damp, grimy Blank District, heading toward a larger district. Ultimately, the red bus stopped at an old and decrepit stop. As the bus departed, out from the stop emerged a young figure. Tang Qi slowly stepped out of the stop, his hands empty, looking curiously at the scenery before him. This place seemed to be a site of former glory. A row of old buildings, once bustling factories, extravagant bank buildings, a bustling market area¡­ Though they now looked mottled, they were filled with a kind of flashy, passionate flair of the city¡¯s early prosperity; yet after the decline, with the passage of time, it became a form of art that unavoidably evoked admiration. Tang Qi knew where he was¡ªthis was Newton District. Yes, Messer City too had its moment of glory, as one could say in Secret Phoenix State. And the starting point of that glory was in Newton District. Created by the glory of adventurers, gold miners, pioneers, and robbers at the beginning, they were also one of the contributors to the mystical and rugged style of Secret Phoenix State. But now, it has become a district with a very low presence, only favored by some nostalgic residents or artists who like to settle here, seeking inspiration or reminiscing the past. Because it once flourished, even though it is in decline, the rent here is not cheap at all. As a result, this place is spacious and solid, but far less densely populated than Blank District. This was one of the reasons Tang Qi had chosen this place for the evening¡ªhe intended to use the ¡°Curse Mark¡± here. For the first time, to avoid a terrible incident, Tang Qi deliberately avoided the Blank District, where too many people and rampant evil led to an outbreak of Abnormalities concentrating. ¡°I hope it won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Tang Qi gazed at the mark beginning to appear faintly on the back of his hand and silently thought to himself. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Freakishly Spicy Hot Dog Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Freakishly Spicy Hot Dog Editor: Atlas Studios Messer City is not well-known within the Federation, but it¡¯s quite something in Secret Phoenix State. Besides its long history, it is also because its several districts each have their unique characteristics. Naturally, there¡¯s no need to mention the prosperous Central District where the most famous banks and companies in the southern part of Secret Phoenix State are located, and Midtown Avenue is even known as the must-visit shopping paradise in the southern Secret Phoenix State. Then there is the Blank District, even though it is messy, filled with refugees, rampant with gangsters, and everywhere there are illegal constructions, the environment is layered like an ant nest, with a clearly defined law of the jungle, all giving it an oddly beautiful aesthetic. Thus, it became a favorite shooting location for many movie companies when making films with a dark style. But for the lower-class residents living in the Blank District, those so-called odd beauties are actually the most real and most cruel portrayal, barely hanging on by a thread, and one step further might even drop into the abyss. Fortunately, the current political and economic situations are quite stable, as long as no major chaos occurs, families like Sally¡¯s can still manage to get by. Following that is the Newton District that Tang Qi is currently looking at. Favored by various artists, not prominent in fame, but substantial in the art domain out of the public eye. Tang Qi slowly walked along the street, the old buildings on both sides were covered in various graffiti, some of which indeed approached the standard of art, and the decoration level of each shop along the street was also very good. However, with nightfall, it¡¯s impossible for this place to be as brightly lit as Midtown Avenue; shops started closing, and darkness began rapidly devouring the area. Tang Qi did not show any signs of panic, still wandering around curiously like a high school student. During this, Tang Qi quickly built up his understanding of Newton District, and his mind also silently noted the directions of various streets, gradually forming a map. Different from the kind on paper, Tang Qi personally measured these paths, making it more convenient for him to escape in the event of an emergency. This is not a game! In the real world, a hunter might instantly become the prey. This lesson Tang Qi learned from an encounter with the ¡°Witch of Misfortune.¡± For a rookie who had just stepped into the Transcendent realm, being careful is never too much. Soon, before Newton District plunged into the deep of night, Tang Qi passed through a small square where people were dispersing. Skateboarding teenagers were leaving, chatteringly with bags on their backs, couples walked away whispering arm in arm, and chess-playing old men also packed up their tea sets and chessboards, heading home. Those remaining included a scruffy street painter finishing a portrait for the last customer, an old lady packing up her stall of art trinkets, a young girl playing the violin, and a down-and-out Magician trying to earn a few extra Wei Lei from a couple¡­ The atmosphere was very harmonious. Tang Qi quickened his pace and purchased an ¡°Insanely Spicy Black Forest Hot Dog¡± from a red food truck called ¡°Mexican Fire Dragon¡± that was about to leave. He hurried towards the alley across the small square, quickly biting into the hot dog while still steaming. Ha~! The terrifying spiciness, mixing with the salty taste of Black Forest Ham, the softness of the poached egg, plus caramel, onion, and sage blended together. Like surging magma, it directly bombarded Tang Qi¡¯s taste buds, the chill of the early night hadn¡¯t even settled on Tang Qi yet as it was driven away by this burst of intense heat. ¡°So refreshing, I¡¯ve heard that the hot dogs in Newton District are delicious, and it truly lives up to its reputation; this ninety-nine Wei Lei was totally worth it.¡± Holding a hot dog and feasting on it, Tang Qi muttered as he quickly stepped into a somewhat dim alley, resembling a high school student remembering to head home after a leisurely stroll, except the path he chose seemed a bit poor. But here, it seemed no one cared. Until the moment he stepped into the alley, Tang Qi swallowed the last bite of the hot dog, burped or let out a faint sigh, and finally touched there with his mind. On the back of Tang Qi¡¯s hand, a sensation as if the skin was being scorched flashed quickly and then disappeared. But at that time, looking at it, an eerie mark was slowly emerging on the skin which should have been pale; grayish-black lines were being outlined under the skin, resembling a bloody background, with a pair of curved deer antlers¡­ An ominous aura hit him in the face. Whew! A chill wind blew from all directions, the sudden change in weather made the small plaza even more desolate. The food truck zipped away, making use of the couple¡¯s eagerness to finally earn fifty Wei Les from the magician, quickly packed up and left, the young girl with the violin remained graceful, only her pace quickened a bit, even lending a hand to the old lady at the stall. And the painter quickly tore down the sketch portrait from the easel, handed it over to the brunette beauty in front of him, and after taking the money, hurriedly left as well. That sketch portrait was very attractive, showing the painter¡¯s good craftsmanship, but the brunette beauty was very disappointed, looking at the painter¡¯s departing figure, her heart somewhat reluctant, she thought: ¡°Did he not catch my hint? I even gave him my phone number, my God, he¡¯s really charming, a perfect one-night stand.¡± The regret behind him, the painter clearly felt it. But he did not have much sentimentality, on the contrary, he was even more eager for the figure that had disappeared, almost roaring in his heart: ¡°That aura, so alluring, I must get it, I can become stronger.¡± The painter¡¯s appearance was good, handsome face, dressed with an artist¡¯s flair, no wonder he had such a great allure for women. But at this moment, his steps were disordered, due to too much eagerness, even his good-looking facial features began to twist. Clang! As he chased quickly into the alley, a small knife flashing with silver light also appeared in the painter¡¯s hand, judging by the dried bloodstains on the handle, it was clearly not the first time it had drawn blood. Holding the small knife, the painter raced into the alley at almost a jogging speed, his eyes flashing with excitement. He seemed to have already seen himself plunging the knife into that high schooler¡¯s back, in the spray of blood, he obtained that object emitting an alluring aura, and embarked on a stronger path. ¡°Normally you wouldn¡¯t be my target, but killing you, after I become stronger, I¡¯ll get to enjoy more beautiful bodies, no need to painstakingly dodge those pursuing uniformed rats. Come on, hand over the treasure.¡± ¡°Ah~¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The painter saw the high schooler¡¯s face, but it was not as he had imagined, at least not like this moment, his hands were instantly twisted by another pair of hands, a hard knee brutally slammed into his abdomen. The immense impact made his abdomen spasm, the ¡°crack¡± sound indicated his hands were broken. What made his eyes widen, revealing a mix of horror and disbelief, was those powerful hands directly grasping his own, smeared the small knife across his neck. With a ¡°snap¡±, his body was thrown on the ground, the cut on his throat and the movement of breathing caused blood to burble out, quickly creating a large pool of blood on the ground, amid the mess, the painter clutched his throat, like a fish struggling on the shore. ¡°So weak?¡± Tang Qi frowned, looking at the painter on the ground nearing death, puzzled. If it weren¡¯t for the special interface that popped up in his eyes the next moment, Tang Qi would even doubt he had killed a person, rather than the inferior abnormality he wanted. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 The Light That Attracts Moths Chapter 38: Chapter 38 The Light That Attracts Moths Editor: Atlas Studios [Extraordinary Creature: Desire Slave.] [State: Dying.] [Information Fragment One: There are many humans with weak wills who, upon encountering an extraordinary item from the Evil Camp, become enslaved to the item due to an overpowering desire. They are gradually corroded, twisted, and everything they do serves to nourish that extraordinary item to satisfy their own cravings. They are collectively referred to as Desire Slaves.] [Information Fragment Two: His desire is lust; by nourishing the extraordinary item, he acquired an abnormally potent reproductive organ and a high base favorability with the opposite sex.] [Information Fragment Three: In order to nourish that extraordinary item, he lured and murdered more than seven women, devouring their essence. He is the serial killer known as the Withered Flower, who has recently disturbed the peace of women in Blue Deer City next door.] ¡­ As the Information Fragments flowed past his eyes, Tang Qi, still a child in this world, watched somewhat speechlessly. However, he understood why this painter¡¯s combat ability was so weak; not to mention Tang Qi, who knew Chaga Fighting Technique, even a somewhat stronger man might have finished him off. Perhaps, this guy had allocated his attributes in all the wrong places. In the interface mentioned, Tang Qi had some impression of the Withered Flower. Recently, a serial killer had appeared in Blue Deer City next to Messer City, specifically targeting beautiful women. The crime scenes always left behind a withered flower, which led the nosy media to dub him ¡°Withered Flower.¡± A poetically titled, yet unfortunately just a disgusting person. He briefly recalled that report, noting that the reward amount for this guy was quite substantial. However, unfortunately, Tang Qi had no intention of claiming the reward. ¡°Cough~cough cough¡± ¡°Crackling¡± Compared to the ground in Bronk District, this place was obviously much cleaner, but now it was also a complete mess. Amidst blood stains, the painter was struggling; he tried to cover his separated windpipe with his palms, but his broken hands obviously couldn¡¯t manage this. His neatly dressed clothes were already filthy beyond recognition. Seeing that he was not going to live much longer, he finally remembered something, gave up struggling, and suddenly started crawling towards some clothes dropped nearby, aiming for a particular sketch among that stack. His twisted, blood-stained palms weakly reached out, seemingly about to touch it. Then, a flash of silvery blade light swished past. With a ¡°pfft,¡± the sharp blade pierced through his palm, pinning it in place, and intense pain surged through him. But with his windpipe cut, instead of being able to scream, he could only emit a ¡°heh~heh heh¡± sound, like the pumping of a bellows, as blood spurted out even faster. Tang Qi made no other move but merely gathered up the stack of sketches, not pulling out the particular sketch that seemed to be the extraordinary item, and stuffed it all into the painter¡¯s bag. After packing up, the painter had breathed his last, ending his life in agony. Tang Qi turned around, watching a pink misty Spiritual Body slowly seep from the corpse. A strong sensation of lust emanated from it, though his expression was extremely pained and his body twisted, it still gave off a strangely repulsive yet tantalizing feeling. Without mocking or scolding, Tang Qi simply snorted coldly, his palm wrapped in Light Flames, violently grabbed the Resentful Soul¡¯s cranium. Amid a sizzling sound, the Resentful Soul vanished into thin air. Feeling within his mind, a stream of golden light points flowed in, and only then did Tang Qi¡¯s lips curl into a smile. Added another fuel! After silently speaking in his heart, Tang Qi didn¡¯t bother with the corpse on the ground, picked up the bag, and turned to leave. The painter was a fool twisted by desire; during his struggle, Tang Qi had even seen some women¡¯s undergarments sticking out from his pocket, undoubtedly, after committing the crimes, this guy didn¡¯t just leave behind Withered Flowers, he probably also took some ¡°souvenirs.¡± ¡°The first one to discover the body hit a small jackpot.¡± Tang Qi muttered to himself, his foot already stepping out of the alley. But just at that moment, in the Spirit Space within his mind, the golden light points surged and roiled, the strong premonition of danger once again causing Tang Qi to feel a needle-prick-like pain. Almost instinctively, before his back heel could touch the ground, Tang Qi followed the principles of Fighting Skill, like a hunting cheetah, sharply pointing his toes, swiftly shifting direction, and pouncing back into the alley. It was at this moment that, in mid-air, Tang Qi saw the figure of the ¡°attacker.¡± It was unmistakably a wolf-dog-like shadow that darted over with a speed that completely exceeded that of a human. It missed Tang Qi¡¯s foot and continued into the alley, then pushed off the wall and lunged directly at Tang Qi¡¯s neck. The foul wind hit his face, Tang Qi could even see the huge wolf-dog¡¯s mouth, where oddly placed stark white teeth interspersed together, the gaps between teeth harboring fresh meat strips and one or two black hairs. Human flesh! Tang Qi¡¯s heart tightened, and his killing intent surged, ready to make a move in mid-air to deal with this evil hound. Yet, at this moment, a series of howling sounds came from outside the alley. Following that, several wolf-like shadows, illuminated under the street lamps, fast approached, and then Tang Qi saw seven or eight huge wolf-dogs identical to the one that had pounced towards him, baring their teeth and with fur around their mouths still stained with fresh blood, pairs of ghastly green eyes shined with a terrifying light. These horrifying things charged at Tang Qi all at once. ¡°Did I just stir up a wolf¡¯s den?¡± ¡°Bang~Bang Bang Bang¡± As this thought flashed through Tang Qi¡¯s mind, an exaggerated, cannon-like pistol was already in his hands. The first one to ¡°taste¡± it, was naturally the alpha wolf that almost bit Tang Qi¡¯s neck. With a muffled sound, as the smell of gunpowder spread, the most ferocious giant wolf¡¯s head, as if struck by a heavy hammer, instantly deformed. Its skull, hard enough to withstand the close-range firing of a rifle, couldn¡¯t withstand the bullet wrapped in golden light flames. Like a smashed rotten watermelon, it burst open. The rest of the giant wolves also couldn¡¯t avoid the fate of having their heads blown off. Although Tang Qi hadn¡¯t specifically trained in gun skills and couldn¡¯t achieve the perfect accuracy of a Sharpshooter, When Tang Qi pulled the trigger of Blood Python No.1, this Extraordinary Gun would automatically adjust its aim, and that kind of oppression, like a dragon chant, could make monsters enter a Shock state, even if it¡¯s just an imperceptible half-second, it was enough to turn them into cold corpses. ¡°Whew~¡± In the alley, Tang Qi holding the Blood Python No.1, his breath somewhat rapid, looked at the ground full of corpses resembling but much larger and more monstrous than Salurus Wolf Dogs, his expression a bit grave, not because the killing was too heavy, but because Tang Qi finally realized. He had made a not insignificant mistake. ¡°Buzz¡± Tang Qi¡¯s gaze fell on the back of his hand, where the Curse Mark emitted a chilling air, almost freezing his hand. An unimaginable sense of crisis, at this moment, like a bursting mountain torrent, swept over. At this moment, he felt malice, similar to the malice he faced before with that painter and these giant wolf monsters. But it was more intense, more dangerous, and the numbers also¡­ unimaginable. ¡°Lit a lamp to attract moths, but failed to turn it off in time.¡± ¡°Or should I say, I underestimated the power of misfortune?¡± As he murmured, Tang Qi¡¯s thoughts, like a fiercely Burning flame, heavily enveloped the mark on the back of his hand, with a ¡°sizzle¡±, the mark¡¯s Radiance rapidly dimmed amidst rising grey-black cold smoke, and it was finally shut off. But by this time, Tang Qi looked towards the blood-stained entrance of the alley, his expression even graver. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Devil Dog and the Tall Man Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Devil Dog and the Tall Man Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Gulp~ Thud thud thud¡± On the quiet street, at the mouth of a dimly lit alley dripping with dark red blood, an object resembling a bowling ball was slowly rolling, gradually entering the alley from the shadows, and then came to a stop by Tang Qi¡¯s feet. Tang Qi didn¡¯t move, nor did he kick it away. He simply glanced at it silently, and then followed the curved trail of blood with his eyes to the dark area ahead. There, stood a tall figure, and at his feet lay a headless body. Without a doubt, the head that belonged to the body was now lying at Tang Qi¡¯s feet. It was a rugged head with lion¡¯s mane-like messy hair and a thick beard, exuding a wild aura; however, the face with bulging flesh showed a mixture of terror and unwillingness, perhaps because he saw the murderer, or perhaps the sight of his beloved pet being killed. At this time, Tang Qi certainly didn¡¯t have the time to pick up the decapitated head and return it to its owner. In his eyes, several special interfaces appeared. The first thing he saw was the seven giant wolfhounds. [Extraordinary Creature: Crossbreed Devil Dog.] [State: Dead.] [Information Fragment One: Mr. Skana was obsessed with the novel ¡°Devil Dog,¡± believing that the terrifying wolfhounds from the novel could be created in reality through crossbreeding and hybridization. He sacrificed everything for this, his efforts were meant to fail, but the return of the Spiritual Tide changed the outcome.] [Information Fragment Two: These crossbred wolfhounds possessed extraordinary strength, speed, and a bloodthirsty nature. To feed them, Mr. Skana eventually became a devil-like person, taking his pets out for predation every night, preying on innocent passersby or homeless people.] ¡­ Just like the first impression, these giant wolfhounds were indeed extraordinary creatures. Unfortunately, the extraordinary strength and speed they possessed did not save them from the slaughter of firearms. Their master, the brawny man named Mr. Skana, was now decapitated, with his torso on the opposite side and his head on this side. He didn¡¯t have a special interface, probably because Skana had turned into a devil-like evildoer but did not gain Transcendent recognition. But all of these were unimportant, because what caused Tang Qi to tense up and his hair to stand on end was the looming figure slowly emerging from the shadows on the opposite side. This was a tall man, very skinny, with a body and limbs out of proportion, wearing some kind of dirty and smelly cleaner¡¯s clothes. What drew attention was the pair of shiny kitchen knives in his hands that hung down past his knees. Malice, the kind of malice that nearly made Tang Qi erupt, enveloped him. Among the malicious intents he had felt before shutting down the Curse Mark, this one was the most intense. So, the answer became clear. ¡°On the plains, many predators eyed the same plump prey, but only the strongest could step forward to make the initial kill?¡± ¡°Are you, the strongest among these monsters?¡± As Tang Qi spoke, both his hands moved simultaneously, one reached into his pocket and swiftly pulled out something, while the other shook No.1 Bloodline to open, changing the magazine in a phantom-like movement in half a breath. At this moment, the tall figure had yet to make a move, only tilting a dirty, indistinguishable face, watching Tang Qi with an amused expression. That look was akin to you standing in a crammed restroom, a cockroach slowly crawling beneath your feet, you had no intention of letting it go, merely contemplating which foot to use, at what angle, and with how much force to crush it to death. And in the surrounding darkness, the peering gazes did not affect him. In this area, he was not the king who ruled over all, but he could feel that, with each passing day, his power was growing stronger, far outpacing any ¡°kindred¡± in the darkness. Maybe one day! I can come out during the day, take off all those human heads, pile them up, make a mountain? Or perhaps a castle? Hmmm, everything sounds quite good. ¡°Bang¡± While he was still pondering, an explosion erupted in the air ahead. As the sulfur-scented sparks bloomed in the darkness, a brass bullet coated with a faint golden light flame headed towards his skull, followed by ¡°bang bang bang¡± ¨C five dull sounds in succession, five more golden streamers bursting forth. The bullet that easily killed the crossbreed Devil Dogs, with its automatic adjustment of firing rate and angle, completely sealed off all escape routes for the abnormally tall figure. Since it¡¯s an Abnormality, it will certainly be severely damaged by contact with the Melting Furnace Power. This was something Tang Qi had already confirmed on the Witch of Misfortune; since the Melting Furnace Power is a Transcendent Level force comparable to Doomsday Magic, then this ¡°Abnormality¡± born within the city should not be able to withstand it. After firing all the bullets, Tang Qi¡¯s hands did not pause for a moment, applying the Chaga Fighting Technique skills to reloading his weapon. This time, he loaded Blood Python No.1 with Sea Demon Bullets. His forehead, the back of his neck, and his armpits were all bursting with sweat. Because of the Meditation Method, Tang Qi was not only sensitive to human emotions but also had a clear perception of crisis. Just now, killing the painter and Devil Dog didn¡¯t make him too nervous. But now it was different; he could feel terrifying malice engulfing him from all around, as if his back was being pricked by numerous needles. ¡°Although the lights have gone out, the moths refuse to leave.¡± ¡°Killing the biggest one might shock the rest.¡± In Tang Qi¡¯s mind, thoughts rose and fell swiftly, and as Blood Python No.1 was reloaded and raised again, ready to fire flames from the barrel. ¡°Ding~ Ding Ding¡± ¡°Buzz~ Bang¡± Brilliant knife lights flashed six times, shattering all the bullets, and then a phantom bridged the distance between them in an instant, using a method almost akin to ¡°Instant Teleportation¡± to appear in front of Tang Qi. Tang Qi barely had time to raise an arm when he was hit as if struck by a high-speed car. His body hit the wall at an excessive speed, bricks and debris flying, and the recoil pain struck Tang Qi¡¯s back sharply, stirring his chest and abdomen like turbulent waters. Spurt! Without a doubt, he spat blood. At the same time, he realized that this opponent was far stronger than he had imagined. Tang Qi struggled to raise his head, staring at the tall figure approaching step by step. Now this tall person had changed from the beginning. From his back and below his ribs, ¡°puff puff¡± sounds were heard, as two pairs of overly long arms broke through the flesh and stretched out, shockingly each hand was holding the same style of kitchen knife. Drips of fresh blood fell, its head turned counterclockwise with a creaking sound, a normal face contorting into a ferocious smile. A mouth began to slowly crack open, then continued all the way to the ears, revealing saw-like teeth and a dark throat¡­ As it stepped towards Tang Qi, passing by the corpses of Devil Dogs that had been shot in the head, they suddenly seemed to have been sliced open like fabric. ¡°Shhh¡± ¡°Rip~¡± They splattered apart, blood spurting wildly, turning a sinister alleyway into a scene like hell. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Or just a pure love for mutilating corpses? Tang Qi squinted his eyes, watching the tall humanoid Monster approaching, and finally, a familiar special interface popped up in the depths of his eyes. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Forcible Kill Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Forcible Kill Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°` [Extraordinary Creature: Serland¡¯s Dual Blades Man.] [State: Growing.] [Information Fragment One: A terrifying urban legend from the Divine Eagle Federation¡¯s homeland: A young man named Serland, known for his unusually long arms, became an exceptional sewer repairman, but his filthy job repulsed his wife and distanced his children. Eventually, after his wife¡¯s affair, he chopped her and their children to death with a pair of kitchen knives. The enraged mob lynched him and slit open his mouth as an act of retribution.] [Information Fragment Two: Of course, the legend is false, but as one of the horrors exported by the Federation, the sense of fear from people all around the world gave birth to a transcendent monster, whose only obsession besides killing is nonexistent.] [Information Fragment Three: It possesses terrifying speed, immense strength, and ghostly swordsmanship; its only weakness is¡­] When the flowing Information Fragments passed through his eyes, Tang Qi swiftly lifted his head, a warm sensation circulating through his body, easing the pain within, and the remaining power quickly gathered together, Tang Qi once again lifted his arms. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger. ¡°Bang¡± ¡°Roar~¡± The tall, dual blades man, who had just walked past a pile of corpses, with a grimacing smile stretching to his ears, was met with the extravagant handgun once again. This time was slightly different from the last; the brilliance bursting from the muzzle was no longer golden but rippled a deep blue like water. Simultaneously, a sound akin to a dragon¡¯s chant thundered into the dual blades man¡¯s ears. Extraordinary Power: Dragon Power! Buzz! Even if it was merely a ¡°pseudo¡± Dragon Power, it still had its due might. Imperceptibly, his body froze for a split second. Though it was an exceedingly brief moment, it was enough. By the time he came to his senses due to the first bullet embedding in his forehead, his ghostly speed was significantly affected; despite his six arms waving simultaneously, easily slicing all the remaining Sea Demon Bullets into pieces. But the sole bullet lodged in his forehead, its attribute also erupted. Curse Breaking! Evil Exorcism! A vast swathe of deep blue water ripples burst forth, the holy power surged, starting to break the curse, dispersing the evil. ¡°No¡± ¡°Hiss~ Hiss¡± The dual blades man screamed pitifully, his skull visibly corroding at a rate discernible to the naked eye, no blood flowed out, only the flesh turned fragile, rotten, his originally grotesque head now resembled a thoroughly spoiled avocado. The effect of a single bullet soon passed, and it broke free from the pain. The eyes that once reveled in toying with ¡°roaches¡± were now entirely consumed by the desire to kill, ready to swing all six arms at once in the next moment. With its bizarre speed and terrifying strength, the lurking ¡°monsters¡± in the darkness had no doubt it would shred the pitiable human into mincemeat. Until the next moment, a crisp sound suddenly rang out. Snap! What was crushed? Without time to ponder further, behind Tang Qi, a stunningly beautiful silhouette emerged, casting the shadow of a female creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish, blue hair, and gemstone-like eyes. This image resembled that of the legendary Sirens, known for their enchantingly beautiful songs. However, at this moment, she brought not a delightful song. ¡°Hiss~ Ya¡± Soundwaves, visible circles of soundwaves echoed through the alley as the Sea Demon opened her mouth to howl. As the initiator, Tang Qi was immune to the Sea Demon Howl. But other lives inside the alley couldn¡¯t do the same. The dual blades man¡¯s enraged expression lasted only half a second, then he was forced to painfully crouch, attempting to cover his ears; finding it futile, he could only crash around like a headless fly. At this moment, its fearsome strength and speed caused terrible destruction to this alley. ¡°` Fortunately, Tang Qi was the source of the sound and was subconsciously avoided by it. But other places were not so lucky, such as the Desire Slave Painter whose throat Tang Qi had cut; his body was directly minced into a pulp. The level of Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man was evidently not low; the effect accompanying the Sea Demon Howl was either chaos or death. It fell into chaos, but it could not possibly die. As the sound wave started to fade, it was gradually regaining consciousness. At this moment, Tang Qi helped it. He did not use Blood Python One; perhaps due to special attributes, Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man¡¯s resistance to Extraordinary Guns was too high. A peculiar excitement suddenly appeared on Tang Qi¡¯s face, a flush of color climbing up, and his whole body leapt violently like an angry lion, pouncing toward the tall Dual Blade Man. But as he got close, Tang Qi¡¯s figure transformed into a cunning hyena, avoiding the six arms swinging machetes with an unsightly but extremely practical posture. Whoosh! The two quickly closed in. ¡°Chaga!¡± With an angry roar from Tang Qi, the Dual Blade Man, still caught in the aftermath of confusion, instinctively turned its head, only to see a pair of horrifying hands forming a strange shape, fiercely digging into its rotting avocado-like head. ¡°Splat~¡± Juices splattered everywhere, and the blood mixed with flesh even splashed onto Tang Qi¡¯s face. But at this moment, Tang Qi did not even blink an eye, just glared with his eyes and roared again, ¡°Look into my eyes!¡± ¡°Hum¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± The Dual Blade Man¡¯s head, just engulfed in pain, looked over again not so intelligently. Then, it saw a world filled with endless golden Flames. Molten Furnace Eye! Shock effect, triggered! The Dual Blade Man fell into a stupor, offering no resistance to Tang Qi¡¯s subsequent actions. Hanging onto its body, one hand penetrated the rotting flesh and grasped its now brittle skull, while the other hand pulled back quickly, clenching into a fist as light golden flames surged forth. And then, with a ¡°bang,¡± it shattered. Another head burst open in front of Tang Qi. Brain pulp and blood mixed together, splattered in the air as the tall and thin body fell, six monstrous arms drooping down, and the machetes clanging to the ground. In the Newton District within the Dark World, the strongest Abnormality to recently emerge, just died like this? It was indeed dead. The interface in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes, at the moment of the head¡¯s explosion, the state bar changed to [Death]. And in the dark, in the eager eyes of the lurking Abnormalities, a hazy Resentful Soul slowly rose from the corpse of Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man. It was the shadow of a tall and thin young man, quite different from the physical terror, the only similarity being the madness in a pair of eyes. This was its Resentful Soul, the source of its Extraordinary Power, the thing that could gather the force of horror. The monsters in the dark were utterly horrified by the scene. Even though the newly-formed ¡°Hunting Order¡± was imperfect, Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man still occupied the throne with its terrifying power; typically, the prey it eyed would lead other monsters to retreat. The creatures attracted by Doomsday Magic could never have imagined it would die here. After the shock, came boundless excitement. The strongest ¡°Moth¡± was dead, without the deterrence and constraint, the other moths would no longer heed anything and would swarm forth to divide and consume. Tang Qi felt the intentions of those monsters, the source of the malice. So at this moment, he let out a cold snort. A pair of hands covered in brain pulp and fresh blood ¡°ch-chi¡± forcibly withdrew from the Dual Blade Man¡¯s head, then amid the horrified gaze of all the monsters, he violently grasped the Resentful Soul about to dissipate. ¡°Boom~¡± In the moment when the golden flames started Burning, the moths lurking in the shadows lost their impulse to fly into the flames but scattered and fled in Fear. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Growth of Strength Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Growth of Strength Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi had thus far encountered bizarre entities such as the Blank Dog-faced Man and the Corpse-eating Nightingale ¨C insane monsters devoid of rationality. Yet there were also beings like the Manatee Sea Demon and the Desire Slave Painter who still possessed the capacity for thought, proving that aberrations weren¡¯t necessarily incapable of communication. Naturally, these creatures could also experience fear. If that weren¡¯t the case, the Dual Blade Man wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold the apex position within the Hunting Order. At this moment, the fear Tang Qi instilled within them far surpassed that inspired by Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man. Not because Tang Qi had managed a turnaround by slaying the Dual Blade Man, but rather due to the pair of hands he extended in the last moment, hands filled with Golden Light Flames. A primal fear swept through the deepest recesses of their minds. Tang Qi even heard a series of shrill screams emanating from the shadows around him. If the Curse Mark could still exude the alluring magic that it once did, perhaps some of the crazed aberrations would have remained, but now, the mark had been sealed. The enticing ¡°light¡± was gone, but the terror of scorching heat had arrived. The aberrations fled in all directions. Fortunately, at this time, Tang Qi was too preoccupied to pay them any mind. His mind was being battered by a sudden influx of golden light points. In the Spirit Space, the golden light points flooded in like a torrential landslide into the hazy space within Tang Qi¡¯s head. ¡°Boom¡± It was like a slowly burning fireplace that suddenly had a large bucket of gasoline poured into it, resulting in an explosive noise. At that instant, Tang Qi even felt like his head was about to burst. ¡°Did I just add a lot of fuel to the Melter within myself?¡± ¡°A pleasant gain!¡± Watching the Resentful Soul of the Dual Blade Man dissipate into blue smoke, Tang Qi murmured. At the same time, enduring the throbbing pain in his head, he opened his eyes which shone with Golden Light and swept over the darkness around him. The monsters attracted by the Doomsday Magic had all dispersed. The crisis was over, both unlucky and fortunate. If Tang Qi had not extinguished the Curse Mark in time, even if he had counterattacked and killed Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man, he might not have been able to deter the rest of the monsters. If he was not mistaken, those monsters that had hidden in the shadows all lurked within the Newton District. And they weren¡¯t likely all the aberrations within the entire district. If more time had passed, the beings atop the Order Pyramid would have appeared one after another. Then, it would be Bronk District next to Newton, followed by other districts, and soon the entire Messer City would follow. Whether the scope could continue to expand depended on Tang Qi¡¯s control over the mark. ¡°Dangerous bait, must be used with even more caution next time.¡± After uttering this sentence, Tang Qi glanced at the alley that he could no longer face. In a district like Newton filled with artistic ambiance, even a small alley usually met basic standards of cleanliness and order. But now, the scene in front of him was one that couldn¡¯t be matched even if you searched the entire Bronk District. There was hardly a clean tile to be found, and the walls were smeared with blood and flesh. Tang Qi had neither the desire nor the duty to clean up, but he didn¡¯t leave either. His spoils were still waiting to be collected. Quickly, Tang Qi rummaged through the scattered remains on the bloody ground without caring about the bloodied mud. With his special ability to cheat, Tang Qi didn¡¯t need to scrutinize closely ¨C simply picking up items was enough. Seconds later, Tang Qi dashed out of the alley. His coat was now worn inside out, hiding the bloodstains well, and his figure quickly dissolved into the shadows of the street, leaving the ¡°crime scene¡± at the greatest speed. The first discoverer of that alley was probably going to suffer nightmares for several months. Perhaps their expected lottery prize was gone too. After all, the Desire Slave Painter, who had committed heinous crimes, no longer retained any human form at this time. Even if the most skilled forensic reconstructionist arrived, it would be impossible to piece him back together. Inside, it was simply ¡°Blood Plasma Hell.¡± ¡­ Tang Qi left the scene and did not immediately return to the brick-and-stone building, but forcefully suppressed the ¡°Abnormal Movement¡± within himself, navigating through the streets until he was sure no trace of any following Abnormality was behind him, then he followed the route he had already planned to return to Thorny High School. Bang! Back in the building, Tang Qi immediately locked the door. He rushed to the second floor with almost no delay, and without even properly storing his spoils, he collapsed onto the carpet that bore the pattern of the moon. With a buzz, he entered the Meditation State. His body at this moment was truly like a furnace. Golden flames were on the verge of spilling out from within. His originally clear head was now throbbingly painful as if it were about to explode, various chaotic thoughts bubbling up, some negative impulses even curling around like poisonous snakes, like vines, trying to take over his mind ¨C a sign of Demonization. Fortunately, at this moment, he activated a Skill. If it were someone else, practicing the Golden Furnace Meditation would perhaps require a long mental sketching before entering the Meditation State. But not for Tang Qi. With just a thought, that golden sun quickly appeared, helping Tang Qi tame those golden light points that surged into his mind, those essence of the power of Resentful Souls. Time, swiftly flowed by. As the light and heat gradually became gentler, all the chaos and negativity in Tang Qi¡¯s mind completely vanished. ¡°Phew~¡± He opened his eyes again and subconsciously glanced at the wall clock. Three hours, a rare meditation session had passed, with not a single adjustment in between by Tang Qi. And at this moment, his feeling¡­ was better than it had ever been. He surveyed his bedroom and immediately felt a difference. His vision seemed sharper, more acute. Some things that had previously appeared blurry were now incredibly clear. He seemed to see the dust in the air, the intricate texture of the desk, the tiny numbers in the corners of book covers, and even the distorted appearance of the faint purple moonlight as it penetrated the curtains and streamed in ¨C everything was crystal clear. Yet, these images, like illusions, quickly vanished. The next moment, Tang Qi looked at himself. The interface, which could only be seen with Special Ability, once again showed significant change and popped out. He looked at the Skill Bar first. There were still only three sub-sections. But each one had changed. [Golden Furnace Meditation: An ancient meditation method¡­ Realm: Beginner; Progress: 1%.] Just seeing the first one made Tang Qi raise his eyebrows. If he remembered correctly, the progress of the Meditation Method was previously only 0.33%, but now it had jumped threefold, directly entering the 1% progress range. The leap in progress resulted in a spiritual power that was much more expansive, full, and several times larger than before nestled in Tang Qi¡¯s mind. How much time would it have taken for normal meditation to reach this state, Tang Qi wondered. A month? Or a year? Although the increase wasn¡¯t as amazing as that of the meditation method, the other two also brought a smile to Tang Qi¡¯s face. [Molten Furnace Eye: A derivative skill, triggered by the eyes, with Shock and Calming Spirit effects, which can be further enhanced, Realm: Beginner, Progress: 0.3%.] [Chaga Fighting Technique: An ancient Fighting Skill, Realm: Beginner, Progress: 0.2%.] After examining himself, Tang Qi did not immediately get up, but continued to sit cross-legged, slowly closing his eyes, silently feeling and adapting to the changes in his body ¨C a transformation from spirit to flesh, and continually replaying the completed combat sequences in his mind. That dark, dangerous alley, the terrifying enemy, reinserting himself into the scene, simulating over and over again. ¡°Buzz~Hoo¡± After a short while, Tang Qi opened his eyes again and then got up. At this moment, the fierce and intense aura that had been on him had dissipated and he was back to normal. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: 42nd Chapter: The Strange Drawing Chapter 42: 42nd Chapter: The Strange Drawing Editor: Atlas Studios After nightfall, Tang Qi usually makes bullets as part of his cultivation routine, then spends about an hour practicing Fighting Skill, and finally engages in a whole night of meditation. However, today is obviously a bit special. Tang Qi digested the spiritual power gained from devouring the resentful soul of Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man, and the saturated feeling in his head tells him that there is no need to meditate tonight, as it would be pointless and might even invite danger. Fortunately, aside from meditation and Fighting Skill, Tang Qi has other things to do. After adjusting his state, Tang Qi heads to his workbench and replenishes the two types of bullets he used tonight. Once everything is packed away, Tang Qi heads down to the first floor. At this moment, he has an unusually large parcel in his hands. Inside, are his spoils of the night. The simple yet sturdy parcel slowly opens, and the items inside begin to reveal themselves. They are a stack of messy drawings, a dozen or so snow-white dog teeth, an old notebook, and two rusty kitchen knives. Each item emits a faint glow. Tang Qi understands the meaning of this glow¡ªthe traces of the Extraordinary. Only Extraordinary items can emit a faint glow under Tang Qi¡¯s gaze. Tang Qi doesn¡¯t immediately look into the Information Fragment of these Extraordinary items; instead, he first takes the notebook. This notebook came from Mr. Skana, the dog breeder who was killed by the Dual Blade Man. [Curios: Skana¡¯s Manuscript.] [State: Complete.] [Information Fragment One: It is the life¡¯s work of Mr. Skana, detailing how to breed a crossbreed Crossbreed Devil Dog. The experiments might have been cruel and unforgivable, but it indeed can breed a fearsome wolf with a trace of the Devil Dog¡¯s bloodline.] [Information Fragment Two: If it is handed over to a high-level Beast Tamer, it might be possible to perfect the manuscript and breed a real Devil Dog.] After glancing at the information fragments that fleetingly crossed his view, Tang Qi flips through the manuscript briefly before setting it aside. As the fragment mentioned, the experimental process is indeed cruel. Anyone with the slightest moral scruple would burn it upon reading. Tang Qi does not do so, but he also has no interest in studying it in-depth. Not because of morals, but because it is unnecessary. ¡°Beast Tamer?¡± ¡°Managed to breed a Crossbreed Devil Dog, yet still failing to enter the ranks of the Professionals. This path seems very difficult to traverse, and the combat style isn¡¯t suitable for me either.¡± Mumbling, Tang Qi reveals a little secret of the Extraordinary Domain. Though the Mysterious Side had been silent for a century due to the ¡°Mysterious Meteor¡±. Some faint Extraordinary powers still exist, which are also the foundation for the revival of the Mysterious Side, the return of the Spiritual Tide, and the reestablishment of Order. In the future Extraordinary Order, various ¡°Professionals¡± who shone in the ancient era will inevitably return to the stage of the Mysterious Side. ¡°Professionals¡± are essentially a collective term for those who have harnessed Extraordinary powers and can continue to advance. For example, Old Witch Black Snake Witch Samra, Old Morgan¡¯s mother, who Tang Qi has not yet met. She, indeed, is a Professional. Tang Qi cannot determine her level, but she is definitely a ¡°Witch,¡± a witch who has mastered a vast amount of Black Witchcraft. With the return of the Spiritual Tide, those Professionals with complete inheritances will only grow stronger. Other people stepping into the Extraordinary Domain can only passively catch up, with little hope. For instance, a young man who accidentally obtains the[Skana¡¯s Manuscript]would have the potential to become a ¡°Beast Tamer¡± Professional, but to actually enter that echelon is likely as difficult as reaching the sky. This knowledge is what Tang Qi inferred from Old Morgan¡¯s manuscript and extensive reading of materials like¡±Monster Records¡±,¡±Federation Hundred Years of Strange Phenomena¡±,¡±Mystical Study Secret Examination Overview¡±¡­ these peculiar books. Perhaps, it might not be completely accurate, or perhaps other terms are used within the Mysterious Side, but within the old Order, there is some precision. Because of this, Tang Qi has already made some plans for his future path, and Skana¡¯s Manuscript is not among them. Setting the manuscript aside, Tang Qi immediately takes another glance at those dog teeth. [Curios: Devil Dog¡¯s teeth] [State: Complete.] [Information Fragment: Originating from a crossbreed devil dog, these teeth possess strong, sharp, and some other mysterious attributes. They can be used to concoct secret medicines and create other extraordinary items, such as weapons.] There¡¯s no surprise that the teeth are extraordinary materials, versatile in their usage. However, to actually make practical use of them still requires considerable exploration. Unlike the next two kitchen knives, which are directly extraordinary weapons. [Curios: Serland¡¯s Dual Blades.] [State: Intact.] [Information Fragment One: These are the two kitchen knives Serland used to kill his wife and daughter. Stained by the power of mad resentful spirits, they have transformed into extraordinary weapons. They don¡¯t require decryption; one automatically learns the Madness Blade Skill upon grasping them, but it also leads to a state of chaotic madness.] [Information Fragment Two: Those with fragile wills will quickly use them to commit suicide.] ¡°Dangerous weapons!¡± Muttering a description, then Tang Qi set the dual blades aside. Spoils of war, one last item remains. Mixed among a pile of drafts, a certain drawing that turns its possessor into a slave of desires. That painter, after acquiring ¡°it,¡± changed from a human to a desire slave. This implies it is a dangerous item. Tang Qi didn¡¯t want to become a desire slave, so he did not extract ¡°it¡± immediately after killing the painter, but instead returned here. Thorny High School is always enveloped by a mysterious divine power. Although Tang Qi has not identified the source of that power, even now. But that doesn¡¯t deter Tang Qi from making use of it, whereby black witchcraft treasures like the Soul Swapping Balance are quickly weakened. Likewise, this unknown drawing should be manageable. Even so, before starting to peruse the drawing, the power of Tang Qi¡¯s already greatly expanded Melting Furnace has begun to subtly flow out, gathering in the palm of his hand, poised for action. Simultaneously, Tang Qi also took a cup of deep blue ¡°salt water.¡± Blue Sea Salt, prepared to prevent any incidents, Tang Qi melted another piece, not to make bullets but to hold in his mouth at this moment. Break the curse! Purify evil! Although it sounds less potent compared to the ¡°Red Sea Salt¡± that Tang Qi has already used up, blue sea salt is obviously more suitable against such a sinister evil presence. Of course, also because Tang Qi has only one piece of red sea salt left while blue sea salt is more plentiful. Holding the salt water in his mouth, enduring the salty taste, Tang Qi finally began to flip through the many incriminating drafts left by the bloodstained painter. Rustle, rustle, rustle! The first drawing, a spoiled portrait of a guest. The second, an apple, likely a practice piece. The third, depicts a woman with a curvaceous figure but without any clothes, in a seductive pose. The fourth, shows a couple intertwined, the man being the painter himself. ¡­ In the quiet room, all other sounds disappeared, only the sound of flipping drawings remained. However, as the drawings were being browsed through, no special interface popped up in sight, nor did any reactions emerge in his mind. Although the blue sea salt solution had the effect of dispelling evil, it was indeed still just salt water. Tang Qi only felt as if his tongue was losing its sense of taste. Suddenly! Without thinking, Tang Qi flipped open another drawing. Just about to continue to the next one as before. ¡°Boom~¡± Without giving Tang Qi any time to react, from that drawing, numerous black tentacles suddenly burst out, instantly about to wrap around Tang Qi¡¯s body to drag him into the world within the drawing. ps: Chapter forty-three has been harmonized; restoration pending in seven days, everyone can join the group (number 726582990) to read it. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 The Marvelous Hair Knot Chapter 43: Chapter 43 The Marvelous Hair Knot Editor: Atlas Studios A sloppy, cheap draft of a painting, who could have imagined it would be so dangerous. Those pitch-black tentacles had swift speed and inhuman strength, even a healthy adult couldn¡¯t resist this sudden assault. Unfortunately for them, they encountered the well-prepared Tang Qi. The moment the draft appeared and the faint light could be seen in the depths of his eyes, Tang Qi almost subconsciously spat out all the Salt Water in his mouth, while his pale hands fired a ¡°boom,¡± with golden Light Flames surging forth. The Melting Furnace Power, harmless to normal paper, but if it¡¯s of the Extraordinary Sequence and belongs to the Evil Camp, then apologies are in order. Hiss, hiss, hiss! The sound of corrosion, the black tentacles immediately started reacting violently upon touching the azure Salt Water, quickly corroding into gray spots and retreating into the draft, but this did not allow them to escape because the next moment, the entire draft began to burn. Just like paper nearing Flames, the scorching heat turned it yellow, slowly curling it, and then it started to blacken. The next step might be burning to complete ashes. ¡°No~¡± At the critical moment, a scream actually came from within the draft. A magnetic voice came out, pink and filled with a strange aura, the light rose around the painting, struggling to fend off the burning of the golden flames. At this moment, Tang Qi finally saw the painting¡¯s true face. It was a portrait, the main character a middle-aged man in a properly tailored but oddly styled black robe, his complexion pale, long hair tied behind his head, his chin covered in disheveled beard, eyes with a hint of red possessing an extraordinary attraction. It was this man pleading, with a pained face, his hands open, shouting towards Tang Qi: ¡°Young wizard, please don¡¯t hurt me. I am willing to offer all of my Knowledge, and become one of your collectibles, can you let me go?¡± What a professional performance! Tang Qi mentally praised, but the flames flowing from his palms not only didn¡¯t disappear but became even more intense. Eyes slightly lowered, a special interface popped up. [Curios: Gregory¡¯s Self-portrait.] [State: In the process of destruction.] [Information Fragment One: A self-portrait of the legendary demon monk Gregory from the Slavic countries, which gained some Transcendent abilities due to being tainted with its master¡¯s Magic Power, such as bestowing slaves with unimaginably reproductive organs or controlling people¡¯s minds.] [Information Fragment Two: To sustain it, a virgin Resentful Soul must be presented every so often.] ¡°Gregory?¡± Seeing that name, Tang Qi¡¯s brow furrowed for a moment, then he recalled a legend he had once read. Before the Slavic countries joined the Europe Alliance, there had been a legendary Monk, who with his powerful witchcraft and the ability to disrupt women¡¯s souls with his sexual performance, corrupted the entire court, and was eventually killed by a Prince using his wife¡¯s body as bait. According to Tang Qi¡¯s speculation, this Gregory was a ¡°Monk¡± Professional and possessed a very high Transcendent Level. The small self-portrait in front of him also proved this point. And like what was mentioned in Information Fragment, it was very good at controlling people¡¯s hearts. After pleading to him, many murmurs appeared in Tang Qi¡¯s mind, as if countless people whispering in his ear, some threatening him, some tempting, others advising¡­ In the depths of Tang Qi¡¯s heart, the urge to release the painting began to grow. Hmph! A cold snort came from the bottom of Tang Qi¡¯s heart, a golden stream flowed out from inside his head. Whoo! Whoo! Flames, the golden flames more intense than before completely swept over the painting, Tang Qi indeed let go of the draft, but at that moment, it had already turned into a clump of pitch-black ashes, drifting towards the ground, midway it was declared disintegrated, leaving a pile of black ash. An Extraordinary Item was destroyed by Tang Qi. But he didn¡¯t feel the slightest pity; if he hadn¡¯t opened the painting, it might have been worthy of collection. Unfortunately, he did open it. Very dangerous stuff, if he didn¡¯t destroy it, Tang Qi would have to contend with it, preventing himself from being controlled, this did not match Tang Qi¡¯s psychological expectations, best to completely destroy it. Tang Qi shook his head, picked up a broom, and prepared to clean up the ashes. Just then, Tang Qi let out a light exclamation and reached into the pile of black ash to pull out a clump of something. Hair? Indeed, it was a tangled mass of dozens of strands of hair. With a gentle shake, the black ash fell away, revealing the true nature of these hairs ¨C they were not all black but a complicated mix of black, red, green, purple, looking like a complex rope knot. Oddly enough, this hair did not disgust Tang Qi as those hair clumps commonly found in sewers; instead, it gave him a sense of purity. A faint ghost light flickered, and an interface appeared before Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. [Curios: Mysterious Hair Tie.] [State: Intact.] [Information Fragment One: Gregory¡¯s Self-portrait had had many slaves, each of whom had killed a pure virgin girl, offering the virgin souls to the self-portrait for ravage; their souls entwined together, ultimately forming this mysterious hair knot.] [Information Fragment Two: Each time you unravel a hair knot, you may receive the gratitude of a virgin soul or acquire some special knowledge.] [Information Fragment Three: Unraveling method: Use Magic Power to patiently guide and break one strand, causing the entire hair knot to vanish.] ¡°Interesting!¡± Holding the colorful hair knot in his hand, Tang Qi became intrigued. He could vaguely guess the origin of the hair knot. In the books he had read, which described the legendary monk, it was mentioned that he liked to collect virgin hair as spoils of war. Obviously, Gregory¡¯s Self-portrait also picked up its subject¡¯s habits, and by some mix-up, it had turned into another extraordinary item. Since he could not practice cultivation at the moment, and he had not yet thought of the best way to handle other extraordinary items, Tang Qi placed all of tonight¡¯s loot ¨C the fourteen dog teeth, Skana¡¯s Manuscript, and Serland¡¯s Dual Blades ¨C into the safe. Then, Tang Qi brewed a pot of strong coffee for himself, took out a small piece of cake from the fridge, returned to the bedroom upstairs, and sat cross-legged on the carpet. Holding the mysterious hair knot in his hand, he started to unravel it according to the instructions in the fragment. He could not use violence; he had to use Magic Power and patiently guide it. Recalling those instructions, Tang Qi focused on the first hair knot¡ªa simple entanglement of one black and one red strand. He slowly fed the Melting Furnace Power into it, the Magic Power capable of burning Gregory¡¯s painting, yet it did not harm the hairs. Instead, it made them appear softer, even seemingly coming to life. In Tang Qi¡¯s mind, suddenly he heard some giggling and frolicking sounds of young girls. Reflected in reality, as Tang Qi attempted to unravel the first hair knot, the other tangled hairs would twist and turn to mess with him, just like a group of mischievous girls. Tang Qi was very patient, his fair and slender fingers were dexterous, guiding the Magic Power and separating the hairs one by one, then smoothly unraveling the first hair knot. ¡°Hum¡± As the hair knot came undone, the two hairs burned at once, disappearing within the hair ball, but in front of Tang Qi, two young girl apparitions appeared. One wore a Court Lady Dress with red hair and a black mole on her nose, smiling gratefully at Tang Qi. The other looked like a country girl with black hair, plump figure, and fair skin, also smiling. Seeing Tang Qi look over, they both curtsied, then gradually faded away in the bedroom. ¡°Sigh~¡± A long breath was exhaled from Tang Qi¡¯s mouth. He stood up with a faint smile on his face, giving a gentlemanly bow to the vanishing figures. Clearly, by unraveling the first hair knot, Tang Qi did not receive knowledge but instead the gratitude of two virgin souls. However, Tang Qi was quite satisfied with this gain. He sat back down, took a sip of the coffee he had next to him, and picked up the hair ball again, preparing to start unraveling the second hair knot. At this moment, there was some noise from downstairs. Ding-ding-ding! The doorbell rang, and Tang Qi instinctively glanced outside the window. It was still deep into the night; at this hour, who would come looking for him? Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Messer Police Stations Letter of Appointment (Please collect!) Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Messer Police Station¡¯s Letter of Appointment (Please collect!) Editor: Atlas Studios No hostility! And not a stranger! Tang Qi thought to himself as he walked downstairs towards the door. The power of the Melter, or let¡¯s say the further ability of enhanced spiritual power, is not only highly sensitive to human emotions but also to changes in the environment. He didn¡¯t immediately open the door, but peered through the peephole and saw an unexpected figure. ¡°Chief Stanna you¡­¡± ¡°Rustle¡± Tang Qi hadn¡¯t even finished greeting her when a document resembling a contract appeared in front of him. The contract was handed over by Chief Stanna herself, a tall female police chief. Even though it was late at night, her attire had a sense of having traveled a long distance: a long black coat, black pants, a chiffon shirt up top, and shoes smeared with mud that hadn¡¯t been cleaned off. Had she come from far away? Tang Qi took the contract, and before he could look at it closely, Stanna began to explain it to him. ¡°Mr. Tang, I am now officially hiring you as a special consultant for the Messer Police Station.¡± ¡°Please do not refuse, this matter is very important.¡± ¡°Since the case with the Sea Demon, more and more bizarre incidents have been occurring in Messer City. Initially, there were just some horrifying cases of animals injuring people, but then people started to disappear, and ghost sightings were reported.¡± ¡°The police station only has regular policemen, completely incapable of dealing with those eerie creatures. After reporting to the higher-ups, the response we got was that unless there are casualties of hundreds, they will not dispatch special people to help.¡± ¡°The police station has maintained restraint so far, but now there comes a major case that normal people cannot handle.¡± ¡°Inside Messer University, starting from seven days ago, one person has died each day. The first day it was a janitor, the second day a gardener, the third day a security guard, and on the fourth, fifth, and sixth days respectively two students and an intern teacher.¡± ¡°And today, a very famous honorary professor has died.¡± ¡°This case has been ongoing for a while, but only today, after the death of that professor, it has almost reached an uncontrollable state. It¡¯s only a matter of time before the entire Messer City finds out and as usual, the police will be condemned for their incompetence.¡± ¡°But what really troubles the police station is¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t stop people from dying!¡± Hearing this, Tang Qi finally interjected. At this moment, he also somewhat understood Stanna¡¯s intent. This female police chief, with a travel-worn and exhausted face, probably just came back from Messer University. Unlike Saint Thorn High School, although Messer University is one of the city¡¯s landmarks, it is located in the suburbs with mature supporting facilities. It forms a small town affiliated with the university, beautiful scenery, and a strong cultural atmosphere, ranking among the top three universities in Secret Phoenix State. In the case of the Manatee Sea Demon, Tang Qi and the chief had a little agreement not to pull her into that extraordinary world. With the chief¡¯s mature and proud disposition, she wouldn¡¯t have sought Tang Qi unless it was a critical moment. Tang Qi glanced at the so-called ¡°appointment contract¡±, vaguely understanding that the atmosphere in Messer University right now is probably even tenser than at Saint Thorn High School a few days ago. Otherwise, Stanna wouldn¡¯t have resorted to using a fake appointment letter to deceive Tang Qi. That¡¯s right, the appointment letter was fake. Perhaps it was too rushed, as the contract carried by Stanna revealed problems in various details. If Tang Qi were a poor boy, he probably wouldn¡¯t have noticed. However, whether it be his original self or Tang Qi himself, neither lacked insight, and now with his exceptionally sharp senses, Stanna¡¯s eagerly suppressed heartbeat could not deceive Tang Qi¡¯s ears. If it were Tang Qi who had just arrived in this world, faced with this ¡°big trouble¡± at his door, his first instinct would be to refuse. But now, the scene before him was actually within Tang Qi¡¯s expectations. Knowing that the return of the Spiritual Tide had become inevitable and the mysterious side was about to stir up tremendous waves in this world again, Tang Qi understood that hiding and silently enduring hardship was impossible. The most important reason is that he lacks a complete inheritance. The Golden Furnace Meditation undoubtedly has a significant origin, but apart from the meditation method, there is nothing else. Tang Qi must go out on his own, intentionally seek trouble, resolve it, and incidentally gain benefits. Realizing these, Tang Qi stealthily prepared a few strategic moves. If things go smoothly, perhaps several growth plans can be created for Tang Qi to choose from. The huge gains of tonight prove Tang Qi¡¯s plan is effective. With big risks come big rewards. Especially now that Saint Thorn High School, a powerful temporary shelter, exists, Tang Qi has significant advantages. And now, with the appearance of Chief Stanna, another plan has emerged. Police Station Consultant! This is an excellent identity; compared to ¡°Thorns Apprentice,¡± even though it can¡¯t provide the protection of the mysterious powers within the high school, once outside the school, this identity can help leverage the official power, albeit only ordinary police. But at times, their role cannot be ignored. If it wasn¡¯t for that particular skin, Chief Stanna would not have ¡°cleverly¡± taken those two Melter bullets from him previously. Now, the return has come. Although what is currently at hand is only a fake appointment contract, Tang Qi is confident he can turn it into a real one. And also, take this opportunity to ask for more benefits. Thinking this, Tang Qi reached out and accepted the fake appointment letter. It seems he took a bit long to consider, and Chief Stanna, worried that this Transcendent power-possessing, seemingly knowledgeable high school student wouldn¡¯t agree, transformed from a cool beauty into a chatterbox, starting to persuade, ¡°I know you now possess a considerable fortune, but after all, you¡¯re still young; you can¡¯t afford to sit back and eat away your fortune, right?¡± ¡°A job with generous remuneration, and moreover, it allows you to continue exploring the Mysterious Domain ¨C it¡¯s simply perfect for you, see¡­¡± Before Chief Stanna could finish, Tang Qi suddenly raised three fingers. ¡°Three conditions, add them to the contract, and I¡¯ll agree,¡± he said. ¡°First, any item that appears during a mysterious case I encounter, I have the right to deal with; only what I don¡¯t want can go to the police.¡± ¡°Second, I don¡¯t participate in combat, only serve as a case consultant, providing advice.¡± ¡°Third, double the salary.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± As soon as Tang Qi finished stating his conditions, Chief Stanna almost immediately agreed. After Chief Stanna swiftly added the freshly coined three conditions into the contract, the two shook hands, both smiling. Watching Tang Qi solemnly put the ¡°fake appointment letter¡± into his backpack, Chief Stanna, the cool beauty, finally showed a radiant smile, the corners of her mouth carrying a hint of slyness and pride from a long-plotted plan finally succeeding. During the contract modification, she added Tang Qi¡¯s second condition along with several subsidiary conditions, addressing Tang Qi¡¯s excuse of still being in his growth phase and not suitable for combat, saying she could step in, but Tang Qi must provide those Transcendent Bullets and, if necessary, perform special training on her. Tang Qi agreed to these minor conditions with a smiling face. Chief Stanna was excited; since that night, her desire for the Mysterious Domain had somewhat tormented her. Now, she was about to succeed. However, one final step remained. Chief Stanna knew this was a fake appointment letter; she couldn¡¯t persuade her superiors to hire a high school student as a consultant before resolving the homicide case at Messer University. So, she hurriedly took this ¡°little guy¡± to Messer University to resolve the case. Facing the urgent demands of the hurried Chief Stanna, Tang Qi agreed to everything, quickly packed up, and got into Chief Stanna¡¯s police car, heading towards Messer Town in the suburbs. The anxious Chief Stanna completely failed to notice the high school student on the passenger seat, whose lips were also curled up in a subtle, cunning smile. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Messer University (Vote for recommendation!) Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Messer University (Vote for recommendation!) Editor: Atlas Studios The blood case at Messer University, as Stanna said, necessitated daily deaths, regardless of how tightly secured the school was. Hence, Stanna rushed over by night and was about to take Tang Qi back with her overnight. After all, when morning arrives, it would be the eighth day, and another person would die. Police cars wailed as they left Meiser City; coincidentally, these two days were rest days for Thorny High School, and Tang Qi had two days off to solve the murders at Messer University. If the case was not solved within two days, he would have to take leave. Messer Town was situated on the outskirts of the city, on the other side of Messer City, right at the foot of the Sheep Horn Mountain. Unlike the industrial and bustling atmosphere of Meiser City, Messer Town was breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, once out of the city, the scenic contrast on the road to the town was striking, and even Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but let down his hair knot and look out the window from time to time, admiring the primitive and natural scenery. But Stanna had no mood for such things. Speeding furiously, she did not ask whether Tang Qi wanted to listen or not; she just started to explain the case straight away. ¡°Seven days ago, the first dead ¡ª an old janitor ¡ª appeared at Messer University. His entire body seemed soaked in some highly corrosive liquid; his clothes and skin were all corroded, and so was most of his body to the extent that even his hard skull had several large holes eaten away.¡± ¡°After the report, the town police thought it was an accident and didn¡¯t pay much attention, just investigated whether any dangerous liquid had leaked in the university¡¯s chemistry building.¡± ¡°Then, on the second and third days, another gardener and security guard died, both in the exact same manner, and that¡¯s when they reported to the police station.¡± ¡°The colleagues from the police station went to investigate and issued an alert on the same day, requiring everyone on campus not to be alone, and organized patrols at night, but sadly another student still died.¡± ¡°Then, another student died after that, and an intern teacher.¡± ¡°I was there on the day the teacher died, also participating in the investigation and patrolling, but still, right under our noses, an honorary professor died.¡± ¡°This is abnormal, that kind of horrifying death, is definitely not something an ordinary serial killer can do. And that aura, that smell, it¡¯s certainly not human, at least not a normal human.¡± ¡­ At this moment, Stanna bore no resemblance to her typically aloof and composed demeanor, as she rapidly briefed Tang Qi on the case details. She also felt her persuasive power was not enough, gripping the steering wheel hard to make a turn, executing an extreme drift around a wide curve, while not forgetting to reach down and pull a file bag to hand over to Tang Qi. Fortunately, Tang Qi did not get carsick; otherwise, with Stanna¡¯s driving, he would have been terribly sick already. After receiving the file bag, opening it, and drawing out a stack of documents, the first thing he saw was a startling stack of crime scene photos. This¡­! Just the first picture made Tang Qi¡¯s pupils contract slightly. What entered his sight seemed to be a hidden thicket, under a lush big tree, where a horrifying corpse was lying. It was an old man with graying hair, wearing sturdy janitorial clothes, but now they were pockmarked from corrosion, and most of his flesh had dissolved, the melted fat turning a disgusting yellow-white color. His corroded chest cavity was mostly liquidated organs, with more than half of the ribcage melted away, only a few remaining stained and hollowed, but the most shocking was his skull, half of the cranium gone, exposing all the murky brain pulp inside. Just a normal person witnessing this scene would likely feel nauseous. To some extent, this crime scene was even more terrifying than the skinning cases caused by the Manatee Sea Demon before. The dozen follow-up photos were also pretty much the same. Different were the crime scenes, and the victims varied as well. But if it were just these, how could it prove that those committing these brutal crimes were from the Extraordinary Domain, or some Monster? After all, anyone who masters chemistry or possesses dangerous liquids like sulfuric acid can achieve the same results with careful preparation. Tang Qi was not at the scene, so he could not feel the kind of aura that Stanna spoke of. But as Tang Qi flipped to a certain photo, his head nodded imperceptibly, affirming Stanna¡¯s guess¡ªthere indeed were signs of the Transcendent. The photo in his hand depicted the last victim, an aged honor professor who died in his office amidst a horrific and chaotic scene, where in an inconspicuous corner of a flower pot, there was a cluster of withered plants that seemed very abnormal. Relying on Stanna¡¯s terrifying driving skills, the two arrived in Messer Town in the wee hours of the morning, and before Tang Qi had the chance to appreciate the cultural small town, Stanna had already dragged him straight into the university. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we meet with the chief first? He is my immediate superior after all. I should pay him a visit first, right?¡± Facing Stanna¡¯s suggestion to go directly to the crime scene for investigation, Tang Qi patted the bag containing the freshly signed Fake Appointment Letter. However, this big sister of a police chief was no ordinary person. She unflinchingly said, ¡°Greetings can wait; solving the case is urgent. Catching the criminal sooner may save more innocent lives.¡± ¡°Well then, let¡¯s go here!¡± Tang Qi was just teasing the female police chief casually. Seeing Stanna change the subject, he directly raised the photo in his hand. The place he pointed to was precisely the office of the honor professor. ¡°The professor¡¯s name is Rick Cassel. Not only is he a lifetime honor professor at Messer University, but he is also a well-known historical scholar at Secret Phoenix State University, and even has a considerable reputation within the Federation. His death has caused the case¡¯s impact to spiral out of control.¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t solve this case, the repercussions will be severe. Our Messer Police Station will be the first to bear the brunt.¡± ¡°The crime scene investigation team has already thoroughly checked and found no extra footprints or fingerprints. It¡¯s so clean it¡¯s as if the crime wasn¡¯t committed by a human, similar to the way that previous monster handled it, and that disgusting aura I felt, I¡¯m certain it was those ghostly things that did it.¡± ¡°Are those two bullets still around?¡± Stanna was speaking when she suddenly heard Tang Qi turn around to ask. By now, the two were already standing outside the office door. ¡°Ah~ yes, they are.¡± The female police chief subconsciously reached into her bosom, seemingly taking out two yellowish bullets from the inner lining and handing them to Tang Qi. As the bullets touched his hand, a warm sensation washed over him. It was unclear whether it was the heat from the Melting Furnace Power or Stanna¡¯s body temperature. This body is just a teenager! Muttering to himself, Tang Qi then dismissed the possibility of body heat and began to feel the changes in the two Molten Furnace Bullets. The Melting Furnace Power had diminished somewhat. It had only been a few days since Tang Qi gave the bullets to Stanna; the decay of the Melting Furnace Power should not have been so fast. This left only one possibility¡ªStanna had brief contact with negative, evil forces, or she had been in the same environment as those Evil Camp monsters. With a bit of enlightenment in his heart, Tang Qi handed the bullets back to Stanna who once again tucked them preciously into her bosom. Tang Qi¡¯s lips twitched slightly, but still, he turned and opened the office door with understanding. However, just as he stepped one foot in, Tang Qi¡¯s movement abruptly froze, and he shouted directly, ¡°Who are you?¡± After speaking, Tang Qi immediately stepped out of the office, shamelessly taking cover behind Stanna. The movement was swift and smooth, executed all in one breath. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Bounty Hunters and the Demon Spider Witch Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Bounty Hunters and the Demon Spider Witch Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Who are you?¡± This time, the one shouting was Stanna. The tall figure stepped into the deceased professor¡¯s office, glaring at the several additional silhouettes inside. Invaders! Anyone who wasn¡¯t blind could tell that the bunch rummaging through the professor¡¯s office were definitely not police officers, nor did they resemble university staff. This was a serial murder scene, Stanna immediately pulled out her internal intercom, without giving the group any time to react, she began calling for police reinforcement. The group stopped in their tracks, attempting to stop the female police chief, but were intimidated by the black police handgun, staying put, daring not to move; only one who appeared to be the leader, a young man, kept calling out, urging Stanna to calm down. They were here to help. At this moment, Tang Qi found the opportunity to take a good look at the group. A total of six people, four men and two women. The leading blond youth was tall and ruggedly handsome with short, spirited hair, dressed in cowboy style, The other three men, one an unkempt old man with a messy beard, one a muscular youth, and one a skinny nerd. The two women were somewhat more normal in appearance, one a buxom lady, and the other a sweet-looking brown-haired girl who seemed to come from a well-to-do family. ¡°A sizable team!¡± Tang Qi noted the somewhat chaotic office to himself. This group was clearly not police, but they were all armed, bulges at their waists indicating they each carried a handgun, and the old man even had a large-caliber hunting shotgun slung over his shoulder, while the buxom lady carried a shotgun. If it weren¡¯t for their lack of a fierce aura, Tang Qi might have thought they were about to rob a bank. Perhaps this was also the reason for Stanna¡¯s tension, after all, she only had a police handgun on her. Fortunately, these people didn¡¯t seem to intend to clash with the police; even with Stanna pointing a gun at them, they were just constantly trying to explain themselves. Soon, other officers from the school hurried over, and the spacious office immediately became crowded. In the chaos, Tang Qi ¡°wished¡± to meet the chief of Messer Police Station. For ordinary cases, of course, it wasn¡¯t necessary to bother the chief. Even during the ¡°Skinning Case¡± at Saint Thorny High School, the chief did not appear. But this serial murder case inside Messer University was obviously different. Concerned about her own position, this sharp-looking African-American woman, the chief of Messer Police Station, made her appearance here. She naturally took over command from Stanna and confiscated the weapons from the group. It seemed they were about to be escorted back to the station for a preliminary investigation when the cowboy youth couldn¡¯t help it any longer, and shouted directly at the African-American female chief: ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, we are not the killers, we are just a Bounty Hunters team.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here for the reward, and I already know what the killer is.¡± Once the cowboy youth shouted out, the reactions of the crowd varied. ¡°Reward?¡± This was the African-American female chief. ¡°Thing?¡± That was Stanna, and Tang Qi. ¡°What do you mean by reward? Where does this reward come from?¡± Using the opportunity, the cowboy youth quickly explained. ¡°` Their party was actually a team of Bounty Hunters, who rushed over to investigate upon seeing the reward posted jointly by several trustees of Messer University. Although they were very dissatisfied with the reward posting, it was a clear sign that those so-called trustees did not trust the capabilities of the Police Department. But as the Police Chief, the black woman still forcefully restrained the impulse to throw these so-called Bounty Hunters into jail, and asked solemnly, ¡°You just said, you know who the killer is?¡± As soon as the Chief finished speaking, the cowboy youth immediately corrected, ¡°Not who. The killer should be some kind of¡­ Demon.¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± The moment the cowboy youth finished speaking, the room fell silent all at once. Most of the police officers looked at the cowboy youth and his party as if they were looking at a group of lunatics. But the facial expressions of several people, including the female Chief, changed abruptly. With the return of the Spiritual Tide, the resurgence of the Mysterious Side, along with various Extraordinary Powers, came the Abnormalities of various Mysterious Domains. However, ordinary people at the bottom of society, unless they have some special chance or unfortunate luck, cannot see another world at this juncture. Most of the police officers present were of this sort. But Stanna and the female Chief were not. Stanna was lucky yet unlucky, accidentally or rather deliberately pulled into the Mysterious World by Tang Qi. The female Chief, on the other hand, had received some hints from above because of her special position. Both had some understanding of the Mysterious Side. But this situation would not last long; soon, ordinary people would also faintly become aware of the existence of the Mysterious Side. After all, the number of Extraordinary People is actually far fewer than those Abnormalities, once the Spiritual Tide peaks, those Abnormalities can no longer be concealed. By then, the world will undergo massive changes. Of course, all this is still far off, what needs to be resolved now is an extremely tricky murder case. The female Chief waved her hand, ordering the officers to release the restraints on the party, and had most officers evacuate, making the office spacious once again. The black woman, whose face usually seemed to be full of affinity, was now extremely serious, focusing on the so-called Bounty Hunter Team leader, the cowboy youth, with a look of waiting for an explanation. Stanna, behind her, seeing this sudden turn of events, seemed to want to step forward and say something, but at this moment, Tang Qi held her back, shook his head, signaling her not to elevate him yet, and just listen to what the cowboy youth had to say. Given the chance to explain, the cowboy youth did not disappoint. He knew that people with high enough status could already know some things about the Mysterious Side. Therefore, with no obstacles, he quickly took out a thick, worn atlas from his backpack. Holding it with one hand, he quickly flipped through it with the other. At the same time, he didn¡¯t stop talking, speaking at an extremely fast pace. ¡°We are Bounty Hunters, but our team only takes on rewards related to the Mysterious Domain, just like this one. Initially, we didn¡¯t know what had happened here, and naturally, we couldn¡¯t be sure it was something we could handle.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t until I saw a photo from the crime scene, the manner of death of the dead, that State, which completely matched the characteristics of the Demon I knew.¡± ¡°Wham~snap¡± In the midst of speaking, the cowboy youth suddenly slapped his palm onto a page in the atlas. Everyone looked over, only to see that the page displayed an incredibly ugly, ferocious looking Monster. It was a Spider Monster, covered in black hair, with a plump abdomen and an upper body very similar to that of a human¡¯s, showing very distinct female characteristics, a Blood Bowl of a mouth, with a sunken nose above it, and three Ruby-like eyes. As everyone was slightly shocked, the cowboy youth¡¯s accompanying explanation also rang out. ¡°The Demon Spider Witch is a vicious and special type of Monster that enjoys the taste of human flesh, but will not eat all of it. Instead, it swallows humans into its stomach and then regurgitates them at midnight, exposing the half-eaten human body to spread Fear, which they can smell, and they adore this scent.¡± ¡°My ancestors once killed a Banshee, so I know the method, and that bounty is mine.¡± The handsome, charming blond youth, who was also the leader of the Bounty Hunter Team, pointed at the Spider Beldam in the atlas, asserting firmly. ¡°` Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Farce (1st update, please add to collection!) Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Farce (1st update, please add to collection!) Editor: Atlas Studios Bounty Hunter Team, ancient tattered atlas, ancestors who had killed demons, handsome blond young man¡­ These elements combined together inevitably give rise to the belief. For instance, at this moment, the black female chief, after listening to the story, immediately made a decision: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you a chance. If you really can catch or kill the so-called demon or the murderer, I will not pursue your fault of trespassing the crime scene.¡± ¡°That bounty¡­¡± ¡°Whoever issued the bounty, go to them to claim it, it has nothing to do with Messer Police Station.¡± Though a glimmer of hope was placed on this suddenly appeared Hunter Team, the police personnel still did not relax; they continued investigating and collecting evidence. Most officers still diligently performed their duty. The mystical atmosphere of Origin Blue Star might be dense, but centuries of dilution have kept most ordinary people far from the Extraordinary World. The permitted team, however, was very excited. They obtained an item of evidence from the police officers: a tube of pus, seemingly the product of melted fat or internal organs, viscous and disgusting. Then they took over the vacant auditorium within the school, cleared all the clutter, and began setting up traps. At this time, the function of the team was evident. The sloppy old man seemed to be a firearms expert, busy tuning guns for everyone. The strong young man procured an exaggerated axe from somewhere, and the skinny geeky stick-like guy turned out to be a mysterious pharmacist, his pack opened to reveal numerous herbs. The two girls, the one with the plunging neckline didn¡¯t change much, still holding a shotgun, but the other sweet brunette girl suddenly emerged from a corner wielding a slender short sword, casually demonstrating decent swordsmanship. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do anything?¡± In a corner of the auditorium, Chief Stanna came over helplessly. The female chief felt very frustrated at this moment; she resorted to creating a fake appointment letter to deceive Tang Qi here. Originally, she thought this could close the homicide case and take the opportunity to pull Tang Qi into Messer Police Station, fulfilling her desire to enter the Mysterious Domain. Unexpectedly, an unknown Bounty Hunter Team appeared, and they seemed very confident. Stanna had mixed feelings, uncertain whether to hope for their success or failure. Tang Qi, on the other hand, should have been as anxious as Stanna, yet he appeared unconcerned, sitting in a corner engrossed in a stack of documents. Hearing Stanna¡¯s words, he looked up to observe the Hunter Team setting traps in the auditorium. Perhaps treating the ¡°demon¡± as just a beast, their setup involved no cover. The main focus seemed to be the concoction being made by the skinny pharmacist, as the hunters mentioned it was a special herb that could attract the demon. The rest of the team was busy enhancing their weapons with various effects, such as soaking in Holy Water, engraving Runes, or applying special ointment. They seemed professional. Unfortunately, whether weapons or other items, Tang Qi showed no reaction. ¡°This could very well be their first Transcendent hunt.¡± ¡°Of course, it might also be their last.¡± Tang Qi silently offered his commentary, then bowed his head again to continue reading the documents, about seven victims. However, compared to the others, Tang Qi¡¯s attention mostly rested on the seventh. ¡°Rick Cassel, a well-known historical scholar within the Federation, a lifetime honorary professor at Messer University, who had always taught at Secret Phoenix State University but suddenly resigned a while ago due to illness and returned to his hometown Messer City to recuperate.¡± ¡°As an active historian, Professor Cassel often traveled and researched around the world, with profound expertise in Mysticism and pharmacology. Before resigning, he had just concluded an expedition to a 3000-year-old temple on Saha Continent.¡± ¡°Wow~¡± Tang Qi quickly reached the last page of the document, which included a¡­ medical diagnosis. ¡°Interesting!¡± ¡°What¡¯s interesting?¡± Hearing Tang Qi¡¯s murmur, Stanna instinctively responded. ¡°Nothing much, Chief Stanna, do you believe in eternal life?¡± Tang Qi put away the documents, and uttered nonchalantly. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it~ I don¡¯t know.¡± Just as Chief Stanna was about to shake her head in disbelief, she was reminded of her encounter a few days ago. The appearance of the Sea Demon, a creature of legend, right before her eyes had already severely challenged her worldview, so all she could say was she didn¡¯t know. In her confusion, Chief Stanna completely failed to notice Tang Qi watching her with an interested expression. Tang Qi could fully understand Chief Stanna¡¯s experience and emotions. After all, on his first day after arriving on Origin Blue Star, he was tied to a Cross, constantly enduring the pain of being a Devil, an ordeal far more intense than what Stanna faced. Time flew by swiftly, and the atmosphere inside Messer University became exceptionally tense. The past seven days had convinced everyone in the university that someone would definitely die today. Nobody wanted the curse to fall upon them, especially with such a vile and horrifying manner of death. Tang Qi hadn¡¯t left the hall, nor did he need to; his keen senses easily discerned the current atmosphere in the university. Tension, doubt, fear¡­ especially fear, spreading among every student and teacher. If a few more people died, Tang Qi suspected the university might shut down, as these people were not trapped animals. Reaching the breaking point, they would flee. It seemed others sensed this too, as the Bounty Hunter Team began their hunt almost at the onset of nightfall to prevent the eighth victim from appearing. More accurately, it was a trapping operation. In the hall, enveloped in darkness, and before a blazing fire pit, the blonde youth Ryan stood upright. The fire pit seemed to contain a combination of herbs, emitting a weirdly sweet fragrance without any smoke. Ryan held the worn atlas in one hand and a test tube in the other. He murmured to himself according to the atlas: Great Mother of Shadows! Embodiment of Chaos and Evil! Empress of the Dark Domain! Please allow your most devout Believer to offer you this sweet sacrifice! ¡­ In his murmur, Ryan flicked the test tube open and slowly poured out its pus-like contents. ¡°Hiss~ Hiss¡± When the bizarre sound came, a scent ten times stronger than before instantly wafted out of the hall and, carried by the night wind, began to permeate the entire university. In various corners of the hall, hidden police officers and others unconsciously began to swallow their saliva. This anomaly brought a hint of confidence to the Chief¡¯s eyes, while some police officers who had initially looked down on the Hunter Team began to doubt themselves. Unfortunately, this doubt vanished quickly. The trapping ritual had just started when Ryan loudly shouted, ¡°Get ready¡±, followed by a waiting period that lasted for two hours. In the meantime, the ¡°pharmacist¡± added a few more herbs to the fire pit. However, the expected Demon Spider Witch never appeared. When the first instructor to break down walked out of a corner shouting, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough, I¡¯m leaving,¡± the scene immediately spiraled out of control. Other instructors and some guards assisting there decided to leave as well. To leave meant, presumably, to resign. Police officers came out too, but they questioned the so-called professionalism of the Bounty Hunter Team, suspecting them to be frauds or lunatics¡ªbest to lock them up first. Chief Stanna¡¯s face darkened as her already slim hope was dashed; she now had to consider not just reporting her merits but whether she could even keep her position, having missed the best opportunity to request assistance from higher-ups. The Hunter Team also became disorganized, with leader Ryan utterly speechless, continuously mumbling, ¡°This can¡¯t be possible. Grandfather¡¯s Demon Hunting Atlas can¡¯t be ineffective; remember the Resentful Soul we killed? That proves the atlas works.¡± The chaotic scene before her compelled the efficient Chief Stanna to take action. Just then, Tang Qi suddenly grabbed Stanna, slipping something into the Chief¡¯s hand and whispering a few words to her. Ignoring the strange look on Stanna¡¯s face, he walked straight towards the center of the hall. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Death Gods Rant (2nd update, please add to collection!) Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Death God¡¯s Rant (2nd update, please add to collection!) Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Sorry, you mentioned that you once killed a Resentful Soul; could you tell me which Spell you used?¡± Tang Qi walked up to the blond youth, who was in a state of self-doubt, maintaining a polite distance, and asked with a curious expression. Under other circumstances or at any other time, this blond youth named Ryan would have promptly tucked the album in his hands away, not allowing anyone to pry into it. In his view, it was his future security. Ever since an accident led him to encounter the Mysterious World and discover that the ancient album left by his grandfather contained drawings of various kinds of Monsters, complete with numerous Demon Hunting Spells, he had embarked on the path of a Bounty Hunter. He even pulled together several others with similar ¡°interests¡± to form a team. Moreover, the one time he used a Spell from the album to vanquish a Resentful Soul and received a substantial reward, success had also brought some cohesion to the team. But now, another test had come. Perhaps it was due to Tang Qi¡¯s deceiving appearance and the distance he kept that made him likable, plus the fact that all eyes were on them at the moment, and with his thoughts in disarray, Ryan began flipping through the album subconsciously upon hearing Tang Qi¡¯s words. The entire album, in fact, was roughly made, bound together with a material similar to linen ropes, each page rarely repeating in texture, and the depicted Monsters or Ghosts not particularly uncommon. At least, they could be found anywhere within the ¡°Monster Records.¡± Quickly, Ryan turned to that page. Unlike the others, the paper of this page was exceedingly thin and nearly transparent. Depicted there was an image of the Death God, with a ghostly figure shrouded in a wide black cloak, two red lights flickering, and a fearsome scythe that seemed ready to fall at any moment. Beneath the illustration was a line of extremely complex and Abnormal Spells. ¡°Hum¡± At that moment, indeed, a faint glow appeared in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. [Curio: Death God¡¯s Rant.] [State: fragment.] [Information Fragment One: In the ancient times, a fortunate yet unfortunate young man accidentally entered a state of suspended animation, during which he overheard the Death God¡¯s rants repeatedly over three years, and upon awakening, he recorded them, thus creating a monumental Transcendent tome, ¡°Death God¡¯s Rant.¡±] [Information Fragment Two: The actions of the young man angered the Death God, and after writing down the last rant, he was taken by the Death God, while the rants became indistinct due to the Death God¡¯s curse, with only a few pages remaining.] [Information Fragment Three: Using the fragments, one can practice the ¡°Spirit Medium¡± Profession, but there is a risk of angering the Death God again.] Initially shocked by the sheer amount of Information Fragments that flowed before his eyes, Tang Qi understood upon reading the content. Generally speaking, the higher the Transcendent Level of a Curio, the more Information Fragments it contains. Of course, this isn¡¯t absolute but rather a minor pattern. ¡°Turns out it¡¯s a Curio that can lead one into the domain of Professionals, and judging by the description, its Transcendent Level must be quite high.¡± ¡°This does explain why he was able to kill the Resentful Soul; living beings that hear the Death God¡¯s rants tend to meet with Misfortune, and a Resentful Soul that is not particularly powerful can only expect Death as an outcome.¡± ¡°So it seems, this youth indeed has the potential to become a Spirit Medium, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to learn the Death God¡¯s Rant.¡± Tang Qi casually glanced over the Spell on that fragment, just to understand it without any intent to practice it. He had already offended the Witch of Misfortune from an Exotic Realm and didn¡¯t want to provoke a Death God from some unknown Plane. Moreover, compared to Spells, Tang Qi believed that his Melting Furnace Power would be far more terrifying to a Resentful Soul. These thoughts concluded as soon as Ryan flipped to that page. Mind returning to the matter at hand, the tense, chaotic, and horror-filled atmosphere inside the hall spread out again, attempting to engulf Tang Qi as well. Tang Qi signaled Ryan to put away the album, then walked to the center of the auditorium, in front of the brazier. Because of the burning of many herbs and things like ointments, and the addition of that disgusting pus, there was now a puddle of black and yellow liquid in the brazier that looked nasty, but it emitted a sweet fragrance so enticing that it made people involuntarily swallow their saliva. And it was extremely strong. Tang Qi, under the astonished gazes of everyone, slowly squatted down, his hands lifting the brazier. During this process, his voice rang out. ¡°Moon Wheel Flower, egg-holding orchids, Thornless Grass with Euphorbia Poison Ivy Juice, and a human fat solution, burned together, can indeed exude a sweet aroma that is lethal to spider-type abnormalities, but this method has overlooked one possibility.¡± ¡°Such traps can only work on wild demons, but what if the demon hiding within Messer University is¡­ a transformed human?¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± No sooner had Tang Qi finished speaking than a commotion immediately broke out in the auditorium, and before the crowd could react to the news, Tang Qi suddenly took a few steps forward and flung the basin of liquid towards a relatively secluded corner of the auditorium. There stood two people. A slender, professionally dressed beautiful lady and a muscular man with a physique like a bodybuilder. The two, one was Professor Rick Cassel¡¯s assistant, and the other a guard at the school. As soon as they saw Tang Qi throw the basin of liquid at them, they subconsciously showed terror on their faces, but the female teaching assistant seemed to quickly react, grabbing the guard who was about to dodge and then yelled out sharply, ¡°It¡¯s okay, we are not¡­¡± ¡°Sizzle¡± Before the beautiful assistant could finish her words, her entire body seemed to be splashed with strong acid, with a ghastly sound coming forth, followed by the melting of her skin, like an iron pressed into cheese, yellow and sticky liquid bubbling out. The guard next to her suffered the same fate. However, everyone had no time to feel sympathy, as they were immediately petrified by the terrifying scene that appeared next. While the teaching assistant and the guard screamed, their lower bodies began to swell, and long, thick black hair grew out, with the swollen belly of a spider emerging. Their upper bodies also began to twist, the beautiful face transforming into a Blood Bowl with a flat nose, and three Ruby eyes that were now stained with filth appeared utterly evil. ¡°Hiss~¡± ¡°Hiss hiss¡± The two transformed spider demons, now with a total of six eyeballs, all fixed on Tang Qi. It was this little thing that had exposed them. Their first thought was to tear this youth into two and devour him. But as they wailed and looked over, Tang Qi mysteriously smiled at them, then sidestepped with a move to reveal Stanna, who had long since raised her handgun behind him. Bang! Bang! Accompanied by the sound of gunfire, two azure lights pierced into the heads of the two demons, their tough skulls rendered fragile by the power of the Sea Demon Bullet, and before everyone¡¯s eyes, their skulls were blown open, their brain pulp exploding outward. Their bodies, far superior to humans, also thudded to the ground. Dead! Although everyone couldn¡¯t believe it and felt everything before them was like a dream because it happened too fast, too fast for anyone to react. They just saw a youth come up, explain something, and then suddenly throw the disgusting yet super fragrant liquid towards the female teaching assistant and the head of the guards, followed by the appearance of two spider demons, and then instantly their heads were blown off by the domineering police chief. But dead was dead, corpses don¡¯t lie. Everyone had no choice but to accept this fact, and then after a moment of being stunned, they burst into cheers together. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Plant (3rd update, please recommend!) Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Plant (3rd update, please recommend!) Editor: Atlas Studios The serial killings that had tormented Messer University and the Messer Police Station for seven long days, or to be more precise, the Demon slaying incidents, were resolved by a high school student. This seems downright unbelievable. But the real corpses, as well as the multitude of eyewitnesses, were sufficient proof. When the dust settled, and the female chief had received Tang Qi¡¯s assurance that ¡°all Demons are dead,¡± she notified her superiors to come collect the Demon corpses with remarkable efficiency. Even before the officials arrived, the chief had already written her report and submitted it on the spot. Despite the fact that Stanna, the female chief, played a major role on the scene, When it comes to political maneuvers and efficiency, the chief truly exerted great effort. At the same time, due to the ¡°Mutant¡± situation of the female teaching assistant and the head of security, Messer University was forced to conduct a self-examination. Multiple reports from the scene, as well as follow-ups, were subsequently released. In these reports, Tang Qi, the high school student, is described as a supremely intelligent, knowledge-rich genius. As for the Mysterious Side abilities? The answer is, none. The credit for killing the Demons largely went to Stanna, the female chief. Of course, this was a deliberate outcome by Tang Qi, not because he wanted to shirk his responsibility. He simply wanted to craft a ¡°persona¡± for himself, a genius boy who may have no combat power but possesses robust knowledge and is also very smart. Such a persona might miss out on some spotlight and some credit. But in critical moments, it could exert a tremendous influence. Moreover, aside from the majority of the credit being allocated elsewhere, Tang Qi wasn¡¯t without benefits. In fact, the real benefits all fell into his pocket. After killing the two Demons, while explaining to the bewildered audience, Tang Qi devoured the two Resentful Souls. And the Fake Appointment Letter was officially stamped on the spot by the chief. From this day forward, Tang Qi would be regarded as a special consultant for the Messer Police Station, not only with formal employment but also a substantial salary. Besides these, when Tang Qi and Stanna returned to Thorny High School, he took along some items, things moved out of Professor Rick Cassel¡¯s office, which Tang Qi, under the pretext of a fondness for history, moved all of Professor Cassel¡¯s notes back to his own home. Before leaving, Tang Qi gave a little piece of advice to the shortchanged Hunter Team, especially to Ryan, the leader. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to risk your own and others¡¯ lives in the not-too-distant future, the best choice would be to put away that atlas, and only study the page on gibberish. You might become a great Spirit Medium in the future; you have the potential for it.¡± After dropping that remark, Tang Qi got into the police car, unconcerned about the potential consequences, and drove away. ¡­ After resolving a bloody case, naturally, there would be many troublesome follow-ups, but none of that concerned Tang Qi. At this moment, he only wanted to return home to his brick and stone bungalow with his spoils. Compared to her speed when arriving, Stanna drove much slower, perhaps embarrassed by the fake appointment, she remained silent, not initiating a conversation with Tang Qi, even though she had a belly full of questions. But Stanna was still that decisive and efficient Stanna, only silent for half the journey. As they approached Meiser City, the chief could not help but speak up. ¡°That thing that made those two Demons materialize¡­?¡± The first question prompted Tang Qi, who was using Magic Power to untie the Mysterious Hair Tie, to look up at her involuntarily. He had thought Stanna¡¯s first question would be about how those two became Demons? Yet he didn¡¯t expect Stanna¡¯s Insight to be so sharp. Tang Qi had no intention of hiding it and directly said, ¡°It¡¯s my blood, mixed into that Potion when you weren¡¯t paying attention.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t deceive that guy named Ryan. Their so-called team, aside from him having some Spirit Medium potential, the others are just average people. If they don¡¯t come across a special opportunity, they better not enter the Extraordinary Domain.¡± ¡°Their potions and firearms are all useless.¡± Stanna nodded in understanding, then asked, ¡°What about those bullets, are they the ones from last time¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, they¡¯re the new bullets I made using that bag of Sea Salt, called Sea Demon Bullets. Their effect is to break curses and disperse evil. They¡¯re not as powerful as the Molten Furnace Bullets, but they pose a greater threat to monsters associated with curses.¡± Seeing that Tang Qi didn¡¯t mind the fake appointment letter, Stanna quickly regained her dominant lady¡¯s demeanor, attempting to use her age and status to overpower Tang Qi. Because the female police chief suddenly made a terrifying discovery while interacting with Tang Qi, a high school student. Between them, it was she who was at a disadvantage. Facing the mass of muscular Big Men in the police academy and station, as well as smart colleagues and deceitful criminals, the domineering police chief never admitted defeat, so how could she be suppressed by a high school student? Especially now, with Tang Qi sitting in the passenger seat, casually resolving the mysterious hair knot, looking like he is the boss, while she, Stanna, the well-known female police chief in Secret Phoenix State, appears to be just the driver. This was intolerable for Stanna. Her past training and natural genius told her that she should be more aloof to overpower someone like Tang Qi, not like now where she seems like a curious baby, continuously asking questions. But for Stanna, who had just stepped into the Mysterious Side, it was indeed hard to resist. Tang Qi saw this and so he deliberately waited for Stanna¡¯s questions even though he could have been proactive in sharing information. That leisurely attitude of his made Stanna¡¯s teeth itch with irritation. At that moment, the female police chief recalled their initial contact, where she thought this little guy was a good and shy genius of the Mysterious Side. Now it seemed she had been deceived; he was actually a high school student with a nasty character and scheming nature. Stanna saw through Tang Qi¡¯s teasing ways, and in order not to be tricked, she forced herself to suppress the urge to ask questions again and again, while speeding up the car to its maximum, hurrying to return Tang Qi to Thorny High School before the first light of dawn. When Tang Qi was about to get out of the car, holding a pile of notes and manuscripts, with a pot of withered and strange plant in his arms, Stanna, unable to contain herself any longer, asked with a complex tone, ¡°Are those ghostly things going to get more and more frequent?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Qi paused, didn¡¯t turn around, and simply walked towards his own small building. His faint voice reached her ears. ¡°It won¡¯t just be more and more, but also stronger and stronger, a kind of powerful beyond your imagination.¡± ¡°The world is about to change.¡± ¡­ ¡°Click¡± Without a word of asking Lady Stanna if she wanted to come in, Tang Qi closed the door behind him. The timing, wasn¡¯t right. Moreover, at this time, both of them, especially Stanna, needed some good rest. Today she had felt the impact of an Extraordinary Monster once again, and this time, being responsible for the headshot, the power of the two Sea Demon Bullets not only instantaneously killed the Spider Demon but also let Stanna, the gunbearer, feel something special about them. But knowing her temperament, even if she went home, she probably wouldn¡¯t really rest, but rather think wildly for a while before simply going to practice shooting. Actually, she still had some questions she hadn¡¯t asked. However, Tang Qi had already guessed her following questions, even if she asked, Tang Qi was not planning to answer. Tang Qi carelessly placed the potted withered plant on the coffee table in front of the sofa, and then, treating the manuscripts and notes with much more importance, placed them aside, brewed himself a pot of coffee, took out some snacks, and started reading a notebook from Professor Cassel researching on some tribal site. Judging by his demeanor, he might be planning to read through the night. Unfortunately, perhaps due to exhaustion, he fell asleep on the couch after reading only a small portion of that thick notebook. One minute! Half an hour! An hour passed, and there were no signs of him waking up; it seemed he was really dead asleep. Was it an illusion or not, at that moment, the plant that Tang Qi had carelessly placed on the coffee table¡­suddenly moved a bit? Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Essos Ghost Grass Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Essos Ghost Grass Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°` The coffee table was nearly filled with various manuscripts and notes, a gap held a cup of cooled coffee, a plate of crumbled pastries, and in the corner, a small pot. Inside the pot, the plant was pitch-black with hints of purple, its shape resembling a sunflower that had withered, been dipped in ink, dried out, and then upended and placed there, extremely inconspicuous. Hoo! A gust of night wind blew open the curtains, swept across the living room, and rustled the withered leaves and branches of the plant. Was it the wind that moved them? The night wind was gentle, but occasionally there was a stronger gust, which made the lamp beside Tang Qi sway slightly, as well as the light with it. In the creaking noise, another sound was mixed in. ¡°Pfft~¡± The withered plant in the pot suddenly leapt out, just like a bizarre insect, lunging at Tang Qi¡¯s face with extreme precision. In his sleep, disturbed by the noise, a high school student would have virtually no defense at all. Could one even notice it? Hiss! In that instant, a bright silver glow abruptly appeared, and a sharp dagger plunged into the dry and seemingly slimy ¡°plant.¡± Then, with a ¡°bang¡±, the tip of the dagger went through the wooden coffee table, nailing the plant onto it. ¡°Squeak~ Squeak squeak¡± A sound like a mouse¡¯s squeak immediately came from inside the plant, shrill and piercing. ¡°Hmm? Just as noted in the records, the legendary dark plant that can temporarily host souls¡­ Shadow Cage Mushroom!¡± ¡°Hum¡± As Tang Qi uttered those five words, the struggling and screaming weird plant on the coffee table, the Shadow Cage Mushroom, suddenly stopped. Although it was still twisting slightly to relieve the pain, it indeed quieted down. Just a few pitch-black, slimy tentacles were shaking randomly, as if trying to convey something. Seeing this scene, Tang Qi hardly found it strange. Quietly turning around, he went to the kitchen and fetched a cup of clear water. Then, he placed it in front of the nailed plant¡¯s tentacles and began to speak the kind of words one would find terrifying. ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Professor Cassel. You may call me Tang Qi.¡± During the introduction, Tang Qi didn¡¯t extend his hand, probably because it wasn¡¯t necessary, since his conversational partner was a plant. Barely, one might say it¡¯s a plant. At least the interface that was now visible to Tang Qi didn¡¯t deny it. [Extraordinary Creature: Shadow Cage Mushroom.] [State: Activated.] [Information Fragment One: One of the oldest and rarest plants on the Saha Continent, it is known to Black Wizards and Shamans as ¡°Essos Ghost Grass¡±. Its true name is Shadow Cage Mushroom. After special treatment, it can allow a soul that has lost its body to temporarily reside in it, maintaining an activated state, to help the hosting soul find a new body.] [Information Fragment Two: Although it is activated, it¡¯s also very fragile, fragile enough that an adult human could easily kill it along with the soul inside.] These pieces of information were the reason why Tang Qi had specifically brought it back with him. Now, Tang Qi was entertaining the visitor inside. It¡¯s just that the method, evidently, was not to the guest¡¯s liking. ¡°` Tang Qi blinked, looking at the tentacles that had ceased their struggle, not bothering with trivial chatter, and simply began, as if telling a story, ¡°There was a history professor who, in his youth, traveled extensively and studied diligently. Eventually, in his old age, he achieved a high status, income, and oh yes, fame.¡± ¡°Alas, just when he should have been enjoying all that, he was stricken with incurable cancer. His dying body couldn¡¯t even satisfy his young and beautiful teaching assistant. Unable to endure seeing her voluptuous body unattended, she dallied with the charming captain of the school¡¯s security guards.¡± ¡°The old professor couldn¡¯t bear all this and recalled the knowledge he possessed, the mysterious realms, the strange secret medicines. He concocted two doses of Curse Potion, arranging for the teaching assistant and her lover to drink them.¡± ¡°Soon, two Spider Demons appeared in the school, unable to restrain their desire to kill. After successively killing six people and tasting enough human fear, they gathered the courage to seek out the professor and succeeded in killing him.¡± ¡°Regrettably, they did not know that the professor had anticipated all this, and at that very moment, his soul transferred into the Essos Ghost Grass. The old professor planned to wait for everything to pass, and after finding a suitable body, would start a new life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? Professor Rick Cassel!¡± After Tang Qi finished, he asked and then fell silent. After a moment of waiting, a slimy tentacle of the strange plant moved, slowly lifting to dip into a cup of water and began writing on a coffee table. So you can hear but not speak? Truly fascinating. Tang Qi was inwardly impressed as he watched the crooked characters form. Although it was the first time writing with tentacles, Professor Cassel¡¯s control wasn¡¯t bad; the line of text was clearly visible. ¡°What do you want?¡± Seeing the question, Tang Qi was not surprised. After all, this was a professor nearing the end of his life, not truly like those in stereotypical novels with high intelligence but low social intelligence. He didn¡¯t ask Tang Qi what he was going to do, but directly what Tang Qi wanted. Clearly, the old professor also knew that in his current condition, falling into the hands of Tang Qi, who was clearly an ¡°Extraordinary Person,¡± he didn¡¯t have many chips to bargain with. Tang Qi did not immediately state his demands but glanced at it, as if stabbing another knife into its wounded heart, only to hear Tang Qi continue to say, ¡°Before I tell you my conditions, I have to inform you of a cruel reality: your recent attempt at Parasitism was very impolite, and even if I didn¡¯t resist, your efforts would be in vain.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where you got the idea that after transferring your soul into the Essos Ghost Grass, you could rely on an Activated state to freely parasite on human bodies, but I regret to tell you that is not possible.¡± ¡°The Essos Ghost Grass can indeed be used for soul transfer, but that requires extremely stringent conditions, including finding a suitable vessel. Believe me, the word suitable rejects most of the humans on Blue Star. Plus, you need someone to help you perform the ritual, such as chanting a Spell.¡± ¡°If these conditions are not met, you can only maintain this status until, after ten days, you wither and die.¡± As soon as Tang Qi finished speaking, a ¡°plop¡± was heard from the coffee table; the water cup was knocked over by a tentacle, and seven or eight slimy tentacles twisted crazily, obviously shaken. Lines of crooked text were subconsciously inscribed. Damn Wizard, how dare you deceive me? I gave them half of my funds! I will kill them! ¡­ For a full half-minute, it expressed its Anger, yet it still couldn¡¯t escape that dagger. Finally, a tentacle lifted again, and in front of Tang Qi, it slowly wrote the following words. Would you be willing to help me? Seeing this sentence, Tang Qi¡¯s eyelids dropped slightly, his gaze deep, and a slow smile curled on his lips. ¡°Of course!¡± Tang Qi put down his coffee, smiling as he spoke. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Secret Medicine (2nd update, please add to collection!) Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Secret Medicine (2nd update, please add to collection!) Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°` The quiet living room, the dim yellow light spilled from beneath the lampshade, illuminating the central area. There, Tang Qi had already cleared the small table. Only a dagger remained on it, pinning down the Essos Ghost Grass, or rather Professor Rick Cassel, next to it was a cup of clear water. The two were engaged in a bizarre conversation. Tang Qi had discerned the cause behind the serial tragedies at Messer University, and subsequently brought back the real ¡°culprit,¡± Professor Cassel in his activated state of the Shadow Cage Mushroom; certainly not out of sympathy for his plight. This old professor doesn¡¯t deserve sympathy on either a legal or moral level. The reason for bringing him back was naturally because he possessed something Tang Qi needed. And not just one thing. Tang Qi¡¯s gaze slowly retracted from the pile of note manuscripts, then he looked at the mushroom and asked, ¡°Where did you obtain your secret medicine knowledge from?¡± If Professor Cassel were still human, upon hearing this question, he would likely immediately show a look of horror. This was his biggest secret, being pointed out bluntly, he would naturally change color. Regrettably, he was now just a bizarre plant. He could only unconsciously twitch the black, slick tentacles, then realizing his current predicament, he decided against any concealment, wetted his tentacle in the water, and wrote his answer on the table. ¡°I was inspecting an Old Calendar Thirteenth Century shipwreck when I stumbled upon some books that wouldn¡¯t rot, containing a great deal of secret medicine knowledge. Since it was stormy that day, and besides me, everyone else went to rest, no one else was willing to clean up those things.¡± ¡°I found the knowledge very interesting, so I studied it all night, but unfortunately, the next day was a scorching sunny day. When those books were exposed to sunlight, they burned up in an instant, and that knowledge vanished completely except for a portion in my memory.¡± ¡°Based on my later research, those books likely came from one of the mysterious tribes that were enemies of the Ancient Maya Civilization, and the owner of that shipwreck was not simple. However, due to the passage of time, I couldn¡¯t clarify further.¡± Compared to Tang Qi¡¯s concise questions, Professor Cassel¡¯s answers were very detailed. Without much contemplation, Tang Qi asked again, ¡°Besides secret medicine knowledge, do you possess any other mysticism knowledge?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Other than that accident, the rest of my life¡¯s explorations, although I have encountered some weird, mysterious events, they were all resolved by firearms in the end. I didn¡¯t acquire more related knowledge, even though I had perceived the existence of the Mysterious Domain.¡± ¡°However, I couldn¡¯t bear to lose my status and reputation, so I never exposed my knowledge of secret medicine, nor ventured into that unknown world.¡± A reasonable explanation, Tang Qi silently noted. The following question, however, Tang Qi did not voice out loud. He wanted to know to what level Professor Cassel had advanced his knowledge of secret medicine, for instance, whether he had successfully become a professional, as promotion to a profession required the successful compounding of those secret medicines to be granted professional certification. The profession corresponding to secret medicine knowledge, as Tang Qi knew, should start with a ¡°Secret Medicine Apprentice,¡± followed by a formal ¡°Secret Alchemist.¡± But since Professor Cassel had not truly entered the Mysterious Side, those questions were unnecessary. Tang Qi sat on the sofa, pondering silently. Professor Cassel¡¯s words should be true, at this juncture, he had no reason to deceive himself, and considering that he recklessly used Curse Secret Medicine, turning the female assistant and the head of the security into Spider Demons, it was clear he wasn¡¯t a person from the Mysterious Side. Anyone with even a slight connection to the Mysterious Side would know that in terms of Extraordinary Power, the official forces were the truly fearsome party. In fact, even without Tang Qi¡¯s intervention. The serial bloodbath within Messer University would eventually be smoothly resolved. It¡¯s just that by that time, the aftermath would certainly have escalated to some extent, drawing official intervention. ¡°` By then, Cassel, the main culprit, would likely meet a grim end. From this aspect, Tang Qi seemed to be Cassel¡¯s savior. Upon this thought, Tang Qi suddenly rose slowly to his feet, stood before the desk, reached out, and grasped the dagger, then drew it out directly. But he heard a light ¡°sizzle¡± as several droplets of black liquid shot out from the activated cage mushroom along with Tang Qi¡¯s motion, splattering onto the desk. However, the freed Rick Cassel didn¡¯t move, just like a black Big Octopus sprawled on the desk, waiting for Tang Qi¡¯s decision. Smart man! Tang Qi silently gave his assessment, then without delay, he spoke the terms of the trade he initiated. ¡°Professor Cassel, I can find you a body that perfectly meets your requirements, and oversee the ritual for you, reciting the spell, giving you a chance to start anew in life.¡± Upon hearing these words, Cassel did not exhibit an excited demeanor. Instead, he quietly waited, and sure enough, Tang Qi¡¯s voice continued to carry over. ¡°In exchange, you need to pay a price, the only thing you have to trade now, your¡­ Knowledge!¡± ¡°Secret medicine knowledge, you have to trade all the secret medicine knowledge that you¡¯ve stumbled upon to me.¡± ¡°Since you could acquire the Essos Ghost Grass from the wizards of the Saha Continent, then you should also know how to cut your own soul. As long as you inject all your secret medicine knowledge into a Soul Fragment and cut it off, our trade will be considered complete.¡± ¡°Of course, you can choose to refuse, and I will send you on your way, killing the real murderer of a serial killing case, I will bear no burden.¡± ¡°Or, you could choose to deceive me during the cutting, but if I find out, I will still kill you.¡± Having said that, Tang Qi then stood aside, silently waiting for it to make a choice. On the surface, Tang Qi showed no signs of excitement or any other affect. It seemed that the secret medicine knowledge was not important to Tang Qi; the trade was just a casual undertaking for him. Because from the very beginning of their contact, Tang Qi had held an absolute advantage. Although Professor Cassel was smart, in his eyes, this high school student, Tang Qi, might be a seasoned personage of the Mysterious Side. The most crucial point was that it actually had no room for choice. On one side was complete death! On the other, exchange secret medicine knowledge for a new life! Anyone who wasn¡¯t a fool or a madman would make the ¡°correct¡± choice. Indeed, as Tang Qi¡¯s mental countdown reached three, the Black Octopus on the desk moved. Under Tang Qi¡¯s gaze, it slowly lifted its smallest tentacle. ¡°Squeak~Squeak Squeak¡± The simple action seemed to bring immense pain, and it began to emit the desperate squeals similar to that of a dying rat being crushed. Gradually, under Tang Qi¡¯s watch, that short black tentacle began to redden, threads of red light incessantly pouring into it, glowing as if it were a red-hot iron. At the same time, a special interface popped up at the bottom of Tang Qi¡¯s eye. Streams of Information Fragments flowed past. When the last fragment passed by, that black tentacle was so red it glowed, and Cassel¡¯s shrieks probably led people to believe that the resident of this small building was a pervert who took pleasure in torturing rats. ¡°Shssh~¡± Tang Qi made his move, the sharp dagger slicing through the air, and at the same time, cutting through that tenacious tentacle. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Surprise (3rd update, please recommend!) Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Surprise (3rd update, please recommend!) Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Slap~¡± ¡°Slap slap¡± Before Tang Qi, something resembling octopus tentacles was writhing, looking incredibly ¡°fresh,¡± while nearby, Professor Rick Cassel was temporarily in a state of wailing, utterly unable to attend to anything else. It¡¯s easy to understand, anyone who did what he did would fall into such a state. Infusing the knowledge one possesses into a small piece of limb and then forcefully severing it to use as a bargaining chip in a trade. Such an act would only occur under very special circumstances. For instance, here it happened because of the special ¡°activated¡± state of the Shadow Cage Mushroom, coupled with Cassel being in a soul-infused state. To prevent Professor Cassel, who was in a state of frenzied pain, from acting irrationally, Tang Qi disregarded the strange feeling in his heart and reached out to grab the frantically squirming ¡°octopus tentacle.¡± Perhaps due to the secret medicine knowledge contained within or the impact of the soul power. Unlike the other pitch-black tentacles, this one was bright red, looking much like one that had been cooked. Although it was the shortest one, its length still exceeded half of Tang Qi¡¯s palm. At the bottom, there were indeed a number of small suction cups. Tang Qi grasped it and looked earnestly, the special interface that had flashed by before slowly appeared. [Curios: Essos Fragment.] [State: Incomplete.] [Information Fragment: A fragment cut from the activated Essos Ghost Grass, infused with some soul power, and some memory information related to secret medicine. Memory acquisition method: Ingestion or concoction of corresponding secret medicine.] ¡°Indeed!¡± Tang Qi now understood what the odd premonition in his heart was, having faintly guessed it when Professor Cassel began separating the secret medicine knowledge. To acquire that knowledge, Tang Qi either had to swallow the Ghost Grass Fragments containing the memory information. Or, he had to concoct the corresponding secret medicine. The latter was clearly the better method, helping Tang Qi absorb the knowledge to the fullest extent without wasting it. Unfortunately, Tang Qi himself needed to plunder to gain secret medicine knowledge, and naturally, he couldn¡¯t concoct the secret medicine until after he had succeeded in the plundering. And Professor Cassel was even more pitiable. He voluntarily stripped away that knowledge; this was a one-time, irreversible process. Once that ¡°octopus tentacle¡± was severed, it meant Professor Cassel would forever lose the secret medicine knowledge he had learned with such difficulty. Once he became sober, that part of his memory would vanish. Thus, Tang Qi really had no second choice. He knew this, so after looking, he didn¡¯t hesitate at all. With a lift of his hand, he decisively stuffed the reddish, yet still slimy, octopus tentacle into his mouth. The silver-white teeth instinctively began to chew, but at that moment, the octopus tentacle seemed to come to life, gurgling as it breached the barrier of teeth, then surged towards Tang Qi¡¯s stomach. Boom! An indescribable sensation erupted at that moment. Tang Qi started retching violently, his eyes bulging, and horrifying visions emerged in his mind, as if he were looking at an extremely dark world. At his feet, a small stream was flowing slowly, but oddly so. Upon closer inspection, he realized what was flowing wasn¡¯t water, but rows of pitch-black, slimy creatures resembling snakes, pushing and shoving to move forward. It was an indescribable yet utterly terrifying feeling, especially when Tang Qi became distracted and looked again, he was horrified to find himself at the end of the black stream ¡ª all those disgusting creatures were surging into his mouth¡­ At this moment, Tang Qi suddenly remembered something he had read in some mystical books. Secret Medicine is an incredibly magical yet horrifying power. Some friendly Secret Medicine Schools produce elixirs that create delightful illusions upon ingestion. Some of the less friendly ones would only produce horrific illusions. Or perhaps, they are not illusions but curses that act upon the soul. The most critical point is that secret medicine isn¡¯t defined as the liquid shaking inside a test tube; it¡¯s rather an Extraordinary Power that isn¡¯t restricted to any form. That ¡°octopus tentacle¡±, which contained all of Professor Cassel¡¯s secret medicine knowledge, might have transformed into some kind of secret medicine the moment it was severed. In other words, Tang Qi is indeed acquiring knowledge in secret medicine now. However, at the same time, he is also under an unknown attack. It¡¯s not necessarily Professor Cassel¡¯s doing, it could more likely be the source of this knowledge. Could it be that this unknown School of Secret Medicine is testing Tang Qi? Or directly aiming to eradicate any leaks? ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°I guessed as much, obtaining the mysterious knowledge that leads to a profession wouldn¡¯t be so simple.¡± While resisting the hallucinations in his mind, Tang Qi retches and his whole body is tear-stained and in a sorry state. In such a state, he suddenly steps forward and with a ¡°swoosh¡± of his dagger, he nails Professor Cassel, who is still wailing, to the desk again. He then has no more time to waste and sits down directly on the ground. ¡°Humm¡± ¡°Melter!¡± Without any hesitation, he activates the Golden Furnace Meditation. The golden Sun is instantly conjured by Tang Qi. When he opens his eyes again, the illusion remains the same; the black stream composed of countless disgusting creatures is continuously flowing towards his mouth, seemingly not noticing that Tang Qi has already become a blazing Sun. These disgusting creatures burn up silently, much like the abnormalities that rush from the dark crevices during his cultivation; they disintegrate into dust-like golden light points merging¡­ No change? Nor retreat? So, could it just be a passive negative effect attached by the Essos Fragment or the knowledge of secret medicine within it? Huff! Huff, huff! Such slick, disgusting illusions might have a terrible effect on ordinary people, likely torturing them into madness, but it¡¯s clear that they can no longer harm Tang Qi, who has transformed into the golden Melter. Soon, the meditation ends. The illusions disappear! The strange sensation in his stomach also recedes! No more retching! Tang Qi slowly opens his eyes, and a very special feeling surges forth at this moment. His head feels a bit swollen, his mind filled with many strange, special pieces of knowledge, waiting for him to comb through them. ¡°Humm¡± Subconsciously, Tang Qi suddenly looks at himself. His eyes narrow, and a special interface about himself slowly emerges. ¡°Hmm?¡± This surprised sound comes because he sees significant changes. ¡°I¡¯ve succeeded!¡± Upon seeing a new line of small text suddenly appear in the Skill section, a flash of joy immediately surfaces in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Sharing Breakfast Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Sharing Breakfast Editor: Atlas Studios Tang Qi¡¯s delight came from the addition of a new skill in his skill bar. Skill: Secret Medicine (Not Entered!) After Meditation Method, Molten Furnace Eye, and Chaga Fighting Technique, Tang Qi gained yet another skill, despite not having entered the field. At the slight stirring of a thought, behind Secret Medicine, a series of information fragments emerged belatedly. [Information Fragment One: The uninitiated Secret Medicine, stemming from a part of the knowledge of the Original Secret Medicine School, they were once active in the Old Calendar Thirteenth Century and were the main rivals of the Maya Secret Medicine School. They pursued the replication and reenactment of nature and the primitive, as well as benign transformations, finally mysteriously vanished.] [Information Fragment Two: Digesting this part of knowledge and formulating three basic original secret medicines, you will be promoted to ¡°Secret Medicine Apprentice¡±.] ¡°Three kinds?¡± Seeing this, Tang Qi silently immersed his mind into the depths of his memories, soon locating those three original secret medicines which are [Rubber Man Secret Medicine], [Wind¡¯s Secret Medicine], and [Spirit Communication Secret Medicine]. The formulas for the three secret medicines unfolded one by one. At the same time, the meaning represented by the secret medicines also surfaced. The Original Secret Medicine School seems to have originated from a tribe living in the jungle area, which ultimately established a prosperous civilization, but this tribe was ultimately defeated by the Maya Civilization due to vastly different levels of war preparation. Much like the philosophy of the Secret Medicine School, that civilization, simply did not excel at war. Even though it was only part of the knowledge, Tang Qi discovered that most of the secret medicine formulas within had little to do with combat; at least, they couldn¡¯t directly enhance combat strength, except for a few that could be advanced and strengthened, as well as some curse-type secret medicines. And the Rubber Man Secret Medicine is one of the rare ones aimed at body enhancement, but what it enhances is not combat power, but rather the ability to withstand blows; after taking this secret medicine, your body will be as tough as rubber, allowing you to perform many difficult maneuvers. Perhaps the people of that civilization used this secret medicine to harvest fruit from the canopy layer? And after consuming the Wind¡¯s Secret Medicine, you can clearly hear the messages contained in the wind, swiftly gaining insight into the environment around you. The Spirit Communication Secret Medicine represents the sorrow for the dead; after consumption, you can meet the Dead Spirits for a short time and bid them farewell. ¡°So, this is a friendly type of Secret Medicine School?¡± ¡°However, this does explain why Professor Cassel, who held this knowledge, couldn¡¯t escape the torment of cancer, because this school doesn¡¯t encourage eternal life, and thus lacks a corresponding series of secret medicines to extend lifespan.¡± ¡°Out of desperation for survival and revenge, he had to concoct the highly difficult and uncontrollable Spider Demon Secret Medicine.¡± ¡°Pop, pop~¡± Restored from the pain of the soul being cut, Professor Cassel on the desk waved a tentacle in a slapping motion, seemingly responding to Tang Qi¡¯s words. It had forgotten the secret medicine knowledge, but the deeds it had done were not forgotten. Feeling Tang Qi¡¯s gaze upon it, Cassel didn¡¯t dare to delay. Its slimy tentacle reached back into the water cup, moistened it, and wrote on the desk: ¡°When will you fulfill the trade, so that I can have a new body?¡± Professor Cassel¡¯s fear was keenly felt by Tang Qi. At this moment, it is probably in a state filled with fear and panic with nowhere to turn. The activated state of the Shadow Cage Mushroom barely allows it to move like an octopus, but that does not change the fact that it is very fragile. Moreover, in ten days, if it doesn¡¯t succeed in transferring to a new body, it will dry up and die. Compared to these, falling into Tang Qi¡¯s hands might actually be considered its luck. After offering the biggest stakes and paying the price, it also obtained a ¡°promise¡± from Tang Qi. Although it can¡¯t be sure whether this cunning-looking high school student will fulfill the trade. If it had a human body right now, and a pair of eyes, it would see Tang Qi, who had already risen to his feet at some point, watching it with an odd expression, before finally bursting out laughing: ¡°Professor Cassel, perhaps you don¡¯t know, but I am famously known as the most contract-abiding person.¡± ¡°In fact, I¡¯ve already found an incredibly strong body for you, almost ready-made; it just needs a little preparation and definitely won¡¯t take ten days.¡± As Tang Qi spoke, he took a glass bottle off the shelf next to him. Opening the lid of the bottle, he placed it in front of Professor Cassel and continued, ¡°Before that, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to stay inside, Professor. I¡¯ll make sure to add water regularly for you.¡± Hearing Tang Qi¡¯s words, Cassel tapped on the object in front of him with a tentacle and quickly realized what it was. A glass bottle, a very thick kind. Though quite reluctant, it knew it couldn¡¯t go against Tang Qi¡¯s wishes, so it wriggled like a real octopus into the bottle and, quite considerately, screwed the lid on itself. ¡°You really are the best collaborator, Mr. Cassel.¡± With a compliment, Tang Qi then moved the glass bottle back to the shelf and casually covered it with a black cloth. He tidied up the desk, pulled open the curtains at the nearby window, and the warm sunshine poured in, filling the previously dim room with light. It was the sunlight of early morning, falling on Tang Qi¡¯s face, slightly dazzling and a little itchy. Stanna had brought Tang Qi back at dawn. It was only to trick Cassel into entering an activated state that Tang Qi had pretended it was still deep into the night. Another sleepless night! Tang Qi felt his spirit was still full, but deep down he wondered if substituting sleep this way was too crude, whether perhaps he should relax once in a while, forget all meditation methods, the Samra family, the mysterious side, and just sleep deeply for one night, letting go of himself. The moment the thought arose, Tang Qi shook his head and suppressed it. Now was not the time for games. Life-and-death enemies could show up at any moment, seizing every opportunity to enhance his own strength was the better strategy. Relax? It wasn¡¯t time for that yet. Today was a day off; there were no classes, so maybe he should go to Midtown Avenue for a walk, gather some materials. It was about time to prepare my first batch of secret medicine. As Tang Qi thought about this, he was also preparing breakfast for himself. He kept it simple today, with French toast and a strong black rice coffee, and a small bowl of fresh blueberries, marking the perfect start of a new day. However, just as he finished making breakfast and was about to enjoy it, the doorbell rang once again. Despite being far from the door, his excellent perception still informed him who the visitor was. An impressively tall figure, still wearing a long overcoat, concealing her explosive curves but adding an air of valor, and her red hair, like a flame impacting the mind in the misty morning. If she could put on leather armor, take up a long sword, she could totally pass as a Valkyrie, perhaps even more captivating. ¡°Stanna, visiting so early, what¡¯s happened again?¡± With such thoughts running through his head, Tang Qi opened the door and directly asked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major. However, today is your first day on the job, so I thought I¡¯d take you to meet some¡­ Eh? What is that smell? It¡¯s so fragrant!¡± Watching the mature and beautiful police chief whose conversation was abruptly interrupted as she sniffed the air, Tang Qi was somewhat speechless, silently turning around to let Stanna into the house. At the same time, he made an invitation. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please join me for breakfast~¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Before she could finish speaking, the police chief had already pulled out a chair and sat down first. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Artifact Forger and Red Rhino (2nd Update, Please Collect) Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Artifact Forger and Red Rhino (2nd Update, Please Collect) Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, please enjoy.¡± Tang Qi placed a portion of breakfast in front of Stanna, then said. Her mature and considerate demeanor almost made Stanna believe she was in the presence of a gentleman her age, and it took a moment for her to realize that there were no peers of hers here, only a high school student with a somewhat nasty character, though he did seem quite the young gentleman at the moment. Stanna stole a glance at Tang Qi and then started her meal cheerfully. This was breakfast personally prepared by a ¡°Mysterious Side¡± individual; it had to taste unique. That¡¯s what Stanna thought in her heart. And indeed, the flavors that burst forth in her mouth did not disappoint her anticipation. Although Tang Qi¡¯s cooking didn¡¯t reach the level of glowing dishes or bursting garments, the culinary skills he brought from Previous Earth allowed his cooking to surpass many on Origin Blue Star. If it weren¡¯t for the existence of the Mysterious Side, Tang Qi could even consider opening a specialty restaurant. Chef and owner, not a bad profession at all. Tang Qi quickly finished his own breakfast and then looked somewhat surprised at Stanna who was eating gracefully. Her elegant manner and tasteful, though not expensive, outfit suggested that this striking police chief came from a decent background. Pondering silently, Tang Qi wiped the corner of his mouth and said, ¡°Wait a moment,¡± before going upstairs. When he came back down, he placed a wooden box in front of Stanna. Opened, there lay a total of twelve bullets inside. Most of them were Molten Furnace Bullets, emitting a faint red glow, totaling eight. And four bullets shimmering with a deep blue luster were Sea Demon Bullets. Tang Qi explained the effects while also giving the reasons for the different quantities of the two types of bullets. In terms of power, the Molten Furnace Bullets were stronger. And the Sea Demon Bullets were more about lifting curses. Used in combination, they could elevate Stanna¡¯s combat abilities from those of an ordinary person to within the Transcendent range. And quite the formidable kind at that. A regular detective was almost powerless against Extraordinary Creatures. But Stanna posed a terrifying threat. For lower-level Transcendent beings like Blank Dog-faced Man, Corpse-eating Nightingale, and Spider Demon, if they weren¡¯t planning a sneak attack, they simply couldn¡¯t withstand a few shots from Stanna. ¡°Use them sparingly; I can¡¯t supply them endlessly.¡± Tang Qi specifically added this, fearing Stanna might get overly excited with the Extraordinary Bullets. In fact, aside from the Sea Demon Bullets decreasing in number with each use, Tang Qi could indeed continue to replenish the Molten Furnace Bullets. After all, made from his own blood, he¡¯d face no pressure as long as he wasn¡¯t supplying an entire special agent team. And as compensation, Tang Qi could leverage official power and also harvest the spoils of war at the first opportunity, with Messer Police Station only picking up what was left, making it an exceedingly fair trade. Stanna was indeed excited to receive the bullets, but couldn¡¯t help asking a question, looking very serious, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Extraordinary Bullets be fired from an Extraordinary Gun to maximize their effectiveness?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Tang Qi was about to continue when he saw Stanna suddenly act bashfully, seeming a bit embarrassed, but still she reached into her bosom to pull out a large object and placed it on the table with a snap. A voice full of charm and magnetism sounded at that moment. ¡°Mr. Advisor, this is my treasured object; can you transform it as well?¡± ¡°I can offer compensation that will satisfy you.¡± Even without relying on his keen perception, Tang Qi could feel Stanna¡¯s anticipation and her slightly mischievous mindset. At the same time, he was also speechless. Right there on the table, Stanna¡¯s so-called treasured object was an extravagant handgun whose design sparred no effort in competing with Blood Python One. Tang Qi knew from that crude and wild style alone. The pistol named ¡°Red Rhino¡± definitely came from the Monster Gun Company. This was why their bullets could be used interchangeably ¨C the same company, the same caliber. ¡°No wonder they went bankrupt. Going all out producing these pistols that normal people simply couldn¡¯t use, oh no, they should be called hand cannons. How on earth were they supposed to make money? It would be weirder if they didn¡¯t disband.¡± Tang Qi silently complained in his heart, then glanced over at the Red Rhino. Decisively, he refused: ¡°I regret to say I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°The transformation of bullets is a very simple power I possess. In fact, anyone who has a slight grasp of mysterious abilities can do the same. The only difference is in the power of the modified bullet.¡± ¡°But firearms are too complicated. I can¡¯t manage that. That¡¯s probably a skill for Artifact Forgers.¡± After hearing Tang Qi¡¯s explanation, although disappointed, Stanna nevertheless put away the Red Rhino. She elegantly yet swiftly finished breakfast, and then the two left Saint Thorn High School, got into the police car, and headed straight to the borderland at the intersection of Blank District and Central District. That¡¯s where the Messer Police Station was. A building with an air of classic grandeur, nestled between two major districts. To the right was the bustling Central District, and to the left was the dirty, backward Blank District ¨C a stark and intriguing contrast wrapped up in this one structure. Under Stanna¡¯s guidance, Tang Qi smoothly joined the force, filled out his paperwork, and received his own badge, ID, and weapon ¡ª a police pistol with very little firepower. Indeed, an ordinary police pistol. Not everyone had the privilege or ability to keep the peace with a ¡°Red Rhino.¡± Fortunately, Tang Qi wasn¡¯t picky. No matter how weak a pistol¡¯s firepower, it¡¯s still a gun, isn¡¯t it? Inside the police station, the atmosphere was as Tang Qi had anticipated: bustling and tense. Whether in the lobby, the office area, the interrogation room, the corridors, or even the elevators, the passing police officers, the criminals being escorted¡­ together, they formed a stern and serious scene that made one instinctively put on a grave face. Luckily, upon reaching the area of Stanna¡¯s homicide unit, the atmosphere wasn¡¯t so lively or tense anymore. Upon entering the area, the two immediately felt several gazes of ¡°whoosh whoosh whoosh¡± flying over. Stanna¡¯s subordinates: a white detective who seemed to like wearing sweaters, a black man with a broad white smile and slightly curly hair, and what seemed to be an old predecessor who always maintained a cheery demeanor. There were also two women: one with such a curvaceous figure that she was relegated to doing clerical work in the back, a brunette bombshell in professional attire, her walk so wobbly that one feared she¡¯d fall at any moment, face forward. The other was a black woman with ordinary looks and a gentle temperament, a forensic specialist. As for the addition of Tang Qi, the ¡°Special Advisor,¡± the team expressed their welcome, especially when they realized that Stanna, the formidable and beautiful police chief of Messer Police Station, who everyone feared, did not seem to have much authority over Tang Qi, but actually seemed to be trying to please him. The mood suddenly warmed, and everyone extended their welcomes even more, starting to pry with various sideways questions, trying to guess the nature of the relationship and reasons behind it. Clearly, unlike Stanna, they had not yet been exposed to that world. This team also seemed to have been recently assembled. The reason was simple. Their predecessors, Stanna¡¯s former subordinates, had all died in an accidental incident¡­ a wail of a Manatee Sea Demon. ¡°Once more I¡¯ll witness the expressions of the ordinary people upon encountering the mysterious side, it must be interesting.¡± While Tang Qi chatted and laughed with everyone, part of him felt somewhat malicious. Just when he was wondering if he had become a bit nasty, his jinx seemed to kick in again. ¡°Click~¡± ¡°Huff huff huff huff¡± Suddenly the elevator opened, and a black policeman hurried out, seemingly in a rush, his breathing hurried. He spotted the team and made a beeline toward them. Tang Qi¡¯s gaze drifted over, immediately sensing the officer¡¯s emotions. Fear! A strong sense of fear! ¡°Something has happened!¡± Tang Qi thought, saying nothing. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Tulip Street Murder Case Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Tulip Street Murder Case Editor: Atlas Studios The black police officer was a young man of rather portly stature, with a naive-looking face that probably beamed with infectious cheer when he smiled. But at this moment, he was likely incapable of any such expression, as he lumbered and quavered towards them, drenched in sweat with his back, armpits, and chest all soaked through. It was a bright, sunlit day, yet he appeared as if caught in the direst chill of winter, his entire body trembling. Even the slowest to catch on could tell he was in the throes of intense fear. ¡°Ronnie, what happened? Didn¡¯t you and Nade just go out on fieldwork, to a murder scene?¡± Nathan, the white detective in the sweater, stepped forward to greet him and asked. Everyone in the office sensed that something was amiss and gathered around. Ronnie the officer, clearly past the point of pleasantries, looked straight at Stanna, his lips trembling as he began to speak and fervently handed over a photograph he was clutching tight. ¡°This morning, we received a report. Number 18 on Tulip Street, an old house there reeked of intense blood and stench, suggesting a murder might¡¯ve occurred. Nade and I rushed to investigate, but after entering, we saw¡ªsaw these¡­¡± ¡°I think, this kind of case, should¡ªshould be for your team.¡± ¡°Buzz¡± Listening to his description, everyone turned their attention to the crumpled photograph in his hand. Then, a collective hiss escaped from their lips, their breaths held, pupils constricting sharply, even the seasoned, perceptive, and wise old detective Gideon couldn¡¯t help but frown, a look of horror crossing his face. Even Reine the forensic girl showed a shocked expression after seeing it. It was clear they had never seen such a sight before. Tang Qi, not far away, glanced at the photograph and frowned as well. The photo depicted the interior of an old house; the photographer was either an old man or someone shaking terribly from overwhelming fear, resulting in a somewhat blurred image. Yet, everyone who saw the photo could surely sympathize with the photographer¡¯s state of mind. The cramped living room, the narrow staircase, the faintly-visible d¨¦cor from decades ago¡ªnone of these were the issue. What horrified everyone were the things that covered these items. Blood! Whether it was the staircase, walls, or even the floor, up to the chandeliers on the ceiling, everything within sight was slathered in sticky blood, with bits of flesh, curled hair, shattered teeth, chunks of organs¡­ even one or two toes. As their eyes fixed on this dreadful scene, a bone-chilling air, like slowly writhing strands of hair, tangled around them, bringing an icy shudder, an unconscious response emerged in everyone, driving them to look away in desperation. Yet bizarrely, it required tremendous willpower to do so. Just one glance at the photograph resulted in this? No wonder Ronnie, upon returning from the scene, was this terrified. This must be, no, this was certainly a scene straight out of hell? Everyone fell into silence. ¡°Let¡¯s go, right now.¡± Stanna¡¯s sharp words suddenly broke the silence; she swiftly snatched the photograph from the black officer¡¯s hand, began gathering her gear, clipped on her holster with the Red Rhino, stuffed her badge into her pocket, donned her overcoat, and headed for the door. Nathan and the slightly curly-haired black detective Havier, also responsible for fieldwork, snapped out of their shock and scrambled to follow. The old man Gideon went to contact the on-site forensics team, among them the forensic girl. Before them, however, Tang Qi¡¯s figure had already moved alongside Stanna. ¡°Tang Qi, it¡¯s your first day on the job, and this case hasn¡¯t even been confirmed to be within your consulting scope. You don¡¯t need to come.¡± Tang Qi was somewhat surprised that Stanna actually stopped him from following. Glancing at the lingering horror on Stanna¡¯s face, Tang Qi smiled faintly, a scholarly smile that quickly dissipated the tension in Stanna¡¯s heart. He touched his glasses with his finger and said, ¡°You went to the trouble of forging a Fake Appointment Letter just to have me come; isn¡¯t it for now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go; I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what spoils I¡¯ll get this time.¡± After speaking, Tang Qi took the photograph from Stanna¡¯s hand and slowly walked out of the police station and got into the police car. This time, he chose the back seat. ¡°Interesting scent!¡± Tang Qi quietly muttered as he looked at the scene in his hands portrayed by the photograph. Although his ability wasn¡¯t able to discern the truth through the photograph, something piqued his interest within it. Right in the center of that cramped living room, where a small table had once been, was an empty space. Despite the large areas covered in blood and flesh, Tang Qi could still spot some strange symbols, burned-out candles, and a bloodstained dagger through the sparse gaps. These traces all pointed to an event that had transpired in the living room. A ritual, someone had conducted a negative, Evil ritual there. The only question was whether they did it deliberately knowing what would happen or out of sheer folly, not anticipating a successful outcome. The crime scene at 18 Tulip Street sat on the edges of the Central District, a place of decline behind the bustle. The residents of these streets were those whose economic situation was much better than those from Blank District but still couldn¡¯t afford a decent life, desperately squeezing towards the Central District. The police car did not sound its siren, but quietly drove for a while and soon entered Tulip Street after passing through the bustling avenue. There were no tulips here. Just a series of old houses and gnarled trees that had lost their leaves, looking somewhat desolate due to lack of maintenance. It was uncertain whether it was the atmosphere or a psychological effect. As Tang Qi and his colleagues got out of the police car and walked towards the house with its police tape, the air suddenly turned cold. It was as if an invisible, chilly wind was creeping in, bit by bit, penetrating the flesh and scraping against their bones. ¡°Why has it suddenly become so cold? Have I got a bad feeling about this? If I¡¯d known, I should have listened to my grandma and worn that protective charm.¡± Havier, who usually had a big, bright smile, was muttering to himself, but now he could hardly smile, so his big white teeth were not visible. Next to him, Nathan let out a hollow laugh to change the subject. It was then that several detectives who had been guarding the police tape came over together, led by a heavyset black man who was presumably Detective Vid. He had clearly received a call earlier, and as he quickly approached the group, his face was as pale as death. With a funeral-like expression, he said, ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re finally here. I¡¯ll leave this to you; I¡ªI¡¯m leaving.¡± After speaking, he turned to summon his subordinates to leave. But just at that moment, his face changed, and he suddenly asked, ¡°James? He¡¯s not going to¡­ has he?¡± ¡°Shhhh~¡± Hearing his query, his subordinates almost simultaneously looked towards the sealed-up old house. It was at this moment that a piercing, horrifying scream erupted from inside the house. ps: The next chapter has been censored. The recovery date is to be determined. Everyone can join the group (number 726582990) to catch up. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Mistaken Edition of Magic Book Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Mistaken Edition of Magic Book Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°No~¡± A beautiful yet seductive Evil Spirit revealed its true form amidst wails. It was a twisted soul with a ferocious face and blurred flesh, its flesh bubbling and body elongating, trying to break free from the bindings of Tang Qi¡¯s hands. But after a burst of golden light, it slowly dissipated like a wisp of green smoke. ¡°Boom¡± When Tang Qi, gasping for breath, retract his hands, the Magic Book floating in front of him immediately fell to the ground. Everyone heaved a huge sigh of relief and then, without any pretense, collapsed onto the ground, not minding the scattered flesh and blood. ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°Did we, survive?¡± Most of the officers on the scene were tough as nails, but at this moment, they looked utterly shaken, clearly terrified. Especially the black chief, Vid, who had rushed forward fastest to save his subordinate, and thus was closest to the spot where his subordinate self-destructed. Now, his body was still covered in his ¡°subordinate¡±. Although the Evil Spirit had disappeared, the color of fear on his face was not going to recover anytime soon. The rest weren¡¯t much better off. The only ones who could remain calm were, aside from Tang Qi, the hero who successfully performed the exorcism, and Stanna. After all, it wasn¡¯t her first time; she was used to it. Stanna packed up the Red Rhino and walked to the center of the living room, where Tang Qi had already picked up the thick Magic Book, frowning and looking at it with an odd expression. The slowly recovering officers also turned their gaze towards it. If what they had just seen wasn¡¯t an illusion, then everyone realized. They had glimpsed a Mysterious World. Witnessed a Mysterious Event! Confronted an Evil Spirit! In front of them, was there really a Magic Book that could summon Evil Spirits? It¡¯s a good thing the officers weren¡¯t hormone-driven teenagers, otherwise they would all be extremely excited and crowding around by now. Still, curious glances were unavoidable. Stanna, of course, knew about the contract signed between Messer Police Station and Tang Qi, that all ¡°spoils¡± must first be chosen by Tang Qi and then the police station could claim theirs. So at this moment, she took the initiative to ask: ¡°What exactly happened here? Are you going to take this Magic Book back and destroy it?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Just as Stanna finished speaking, she saw Tang Qi hand the Magic Book to her. She instinctively took it, and before she could ask why, she herself noticed something was off. At first glance, judging by its cover, she thought it was an ancient, mysterious Magic Book, capable of summoning Evil Spirits. But now, she clearly saw that the cover of the Magic Book seemed deliberately aged, the pages inside were clearly of the newest type, thin and delicate, and had nothing ancient about them. The most outrageous part was a small corner beneath the cover of the Magic Book. It was stamped with a date of manufacture. Divine Eagle Calendar, year 102, May 1st! Looking at the name of the Magic Book, it was clear it was perfunctory. Evil Spirit and Evil God Summoning Spell Compendium¡­ Collector¡¯s Edition? At this moment, Stanna felt strange. She wordlessly handed the Magic Book to the other approaching detectives. However, there was still a trace of perplexity on her face. ¡°If this isn¡¯t a real Magic Book, then why could it summon Evil Spirits?¡± Tang Qi heard the words but did not reply immediately; instead, he walked to the small kitchen located to the side of the living room, turned on the tap, and washed himself. Having been embraced by an Evil Spirit covered in blood, Tang Qi inevitably had some flesh and blood fragments on him too. He really disliked that smell. After cleaning himself, Tang Qi slowly said while walking out of the house, ¡°This might¡­ just be a coincidence.¡± ¡°Coincidence?¡± ¡°Yes, if you look carefully, you will find that this is a mistaken edition of magic books, most of the spells in it are ineffective. But due to some printing errors, a few effective spells were created, yet the targets summoned by the spells underwent unpredictable changes.¡± ¡°For instance, the housekeeper Miss here originally intended to summon a red Banshee that could grant her beauty but ended up summoning a Blood Flower Evil Spirit instead.¡± Hearing Tang Qi¡¯s explanation, Stanna, among others, showed an expression of subtlety. Can the world of the Mysterious Side be explained in such a manner? ¡°A wrong spell summoned the wrong Evil Spirit, then what spell did you use to drive her away?¡± Stanna grabbed back the Magic Book, caught up with Tang Qi, and curiously asked. ¡°Just take a closer look, each incorrect spell has a corresponding reversal spell; you just need to quickly find them, combine them into a new exorcism spell, and that¡¯s it.¡± Tang Qi casually pointed to a spot in the book, then said. That was exactly on the second page, the third line of spells, clearly writing several lines on how to summon a red Banshee, and the notes behind were the corresponding reversal spells. ¡°How did you manage that in such a short time?¡± Stanna asked again. A very reasonable question; however, Tang Qi, already seated in the back of the car, did not even lift his eyelids as he gave a brutally simple answer. ¡°I am a genius!¡± Upon hearing this answer while just started driving the police car, Stanna almost mistook the accelerator for the brake. Well, no chance to rebut! Stanna muttered internally, with more questions rising in her heart. Yet, she held back. She only glanced at the ¡°mistaken edition of magic books,¡± already packed in an evidence bag, placed on the co-driver¡¯s seat. With an uncertain tone, she asked, ¡°So, are you planning to hand this book over to the police station?¡± After finishing that sentence, Stanna¡¯s eyes flickered with a thoughtful shade, and she silently added, ¡°Just like¡­ the treasure map last time?¡± Her latter statement finally made Tang Qi lift his gaze. Looking at Stanna with an appreciative view, his mouth curved into a subtle smile, and then he lightly said, ¡°Exactly!¡± After speaking, both of them tacitly fell silent. Together with other officers, they turned back to the police station. Just after stepping down from the police car, Tang Qi could feel the excitement on the faces of the officers behind him, including his own colleagues Havier and Nathan, who after having gone through fear, were all exhilarated now. It could be anticipated that soon the story of their encounter with the Evil Spirit, where the officer named James was even sacrificed by the Evil Spirit, would spread throughout the entire Messer Police Station and even faster across other jurisdictions. In fact, before this, the encounter inside Messer University had already left a deep impression of Tang Qi in some officers¡¯ eyes. The events that had just passed might deepen those impressions. Tang Qi seemed to have already thought of what would follow, so once back with his team, he asked Stanna for a quiet room, excusing himself to rest for an hour. Of course, rest was just a pretext. What he really needed was to digest. After all, having just burned an Evil Spirit, Tang Qi wanted to timely transform those massive spiritual powers into his own progress. Simultaneously, he also silently pondered about leaving that ¡°mistaken edition of magic books¡± to the police station. Was this action right or wrong? Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Special Response Team Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Special Response Team Editor: Atlas Studios In the break room of the Messer Police Station. Tang Qi silently checked the room. Although it was a police station, being cautious was never a mistake. At the same time, several thoughts arose in his mind. The Wrong Magic Book! Completely worthless? Of course, not. In fact, if Tang Qi were willing to strive for the professions of ¡°Evil Spirit Summoner¡± or ¡°Evil God Servant,¡± that would be an extremely valuable magic book. It indeed was not ancient, as it had been mass-printed. But that doesn¡¯t mean all the spells in it are fake¡ªthe so-called ¡°wrong version¡± was actually intentionally done by someone with a purpose. There are a large number of ineffective spells within it, yet it contains some that are entirely effective. Whether summoning evil spirits or evil gods, there would be no problems. It¡¯s just that whichever spell one uses, there are strict requirements. For example, that nanny who killed everyone, she actually possessed a certain special lineage, which is why she could successfully summon the ¡°Blood Flower Evil Spirit.¡± If another person was to use the same wrong spell, the outcome would only be to summon a cold wind that extinguishes the candles. However, it is precisely because of these factors that Tang Qi resolutely decided to give up. Just like the treasure map of the past. The reason is quite simple. The scent of conspiracy! And it¡¯s a very strong scent of conspiracy. The seemingly ancient treasure map pointing to the treasure of one of the mighty Divine Saints, specifically Lord Confessor, had strange codings on it. The seemingly coincidental Wrong Magic Book contained a number of spells that could successfully summon evil spirits and evil gods, but to successfully summon them required strict lineages, or other conditions, and whoever succeeded would pay with their life as the price. This seems to be some kind of selection mechanism. ¡°A force related to evil gods and evil spirits, using this method, to let evil spirits and evil gods descend back to Earth en masse?¡± Tang Qi came up with a wild idea and felt the terrible malice within it. Such a huge trouble, Tang Qi expressed his inability to provoke it. Therefore, he left it all to the official channels. However, to Tang Qi¡¯s surprise, Stanna had vaguely perceived this. That was also good, at least it saved him some trouble. In case Stanna was too curious and insisted on learning the summoning spells, Tang Qi would still have a headache, questioning whether he should give up this ¡°shield¡± that was his public fac?ade? Yes, Tang Qi indeed treated Stanna as a shield for his created persona. Whether it was the cases within Messer University or today¡¯s blood incident with the evil spirit, the real attacking power had always been Stanna, with Tang Qi always acting as a youth advisor who was powerless but knowledgeable. Apart from being able to slack off, it seemed like there wasn¡¯t any other benefit? But, it was only temporary, how could he sweep all the issues at once and avoid future troubles without hiding his power? Lost in thought, Tang Qi sat down cross-legged and then activated his skill without hesitation. Meditation Method! ¡°Om~Hoo¡± As usual, the Sun was sketched out in gold, and Tang Qi once again entered that dark and void space, the golden light points he obtained from burning evil spirits flowed like a ¡°stream of golden sand¡± from the void and slowly integrated into the Melter. Warm, scorching sensations enveloped Tang Qi once more. Half an hour later, Tang Qi came back to his senses. All the fuel had been digested; he didn¡¯t even have time to feel the piercing pain when Cultivation reached its peak. His eyelids drooped slightly, resting on himself. It was still the Skill Bar, and currently, there were four sub-items listed. Skill: Golden Furnace Meditation, Molten Furnace Eye, Chaga Fighting Technique, Secret Medicine. Besides the last skill, Secret Medicine, Tang Qi had yet to begin learning. The rest of the three skills, he had already entered the beginner level, with only slight variations in progress. Tang Qi¡¯s first thought was to focus on the Meditation Method, which is the foundation and source of his current strength. [Golden Furnace Meditation: This is an ancient meditation method, Realm: Beginner; Progress: 1.5%.] [Molten Furnace Eye: Derived skill, Realm: Beginner; Progress: 0.4%.] [Chaga Fighting Technique: An ancient fighting skill from the Saha Continent, Realm: Beginner; Progress: 0.3%.] Each sub-item had increased significantly compared to before. This was Tang Qi¡¯s progress over the last few days. However, looking at those slowly increasing numbers, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but sigh over the slow progress. ¡°No wonder professionals from the Mysterious Side World are so rare; it seems that even the weakest of professionals encounter numerous difficulties during cultivation.¡± ¡°But given the origin of the Melter Meditation, if one day I become a professional, maybe its power¡­¡± Before his fantasy could take flight, Tang Qi shook his head and dismissed the thought. Indeed, if there is no imminent danger, one¡¯s mind tends to relax. He was still dawdling at one percent progress, yet he was already thinking about becoming a professional. Sigh! Suppressing those thoughts, Tang Qi stood up, checked his appearance, and then pushed open the door of the rest room. ¡°Swish¡± ¡°Swish swish¡± What it meant to be the center of attention ¡ª Tang Qi was experiencing it now. In the office area, everyone was casting their glances his way. The rare and mysterious advisor! Tang Qi easily understood the meaning in everyone¡¯s eyes and revealed a helpless smile. Clearly, the members of the newly established team knew of Tang Qi¡¯s identity. The ones responsible for spreading the word were probably Havier and Nathan. Especially Havier, the outgoing black young man with curly hair, who was still in a state of fear on Tulip Street, thus becoming quiet and reticent; but after resting back at the police station, he quickly regained his vitality, and along with Nathan, began to recount the magical experiences they had just had. In fact, the term ¡°Mysterious Side¡± has never been far from the various nations of Origin Blue Star. It was just that a hundred years of dilution and blockade made people begin to forget it. But now, Tang Qi¡¯s presence had evoked those memories in their minds, and he had even personally validated some for the two of them. The most incredible thing was that they were about to become members of the Mysterious Side. Although, the reality was not like this, but it didn¡¯t prevent them from thinking so. After all, the ¡°Special Response Team,¡± set up by Messer Police Station to deal specifically with mysterious and supernatural events, just happened to include everyone in this office area. In this sense, they really were stepping halfway into the Mysterious Side. The reason it was only halfway was fundamentally because this response team was established for Tang Qi and Stanna. And rather cruelly put, the two were also considered backups. If an incident with heavy casualties and extreme horror occurred, Messer Police Station would definitely report it immediately, letting the real ¡°heavy troops¡± come to suppress it. It was only for cases like the one an hour ago on Tulip Street that the Special Response Team would step in to handle. Of course, for the rest of the team, this was already thrilling enough. And after seeing Stanna¡¯s performance, both Havier and Nathan, who had been out in the field together, simultaneously displayed an unusual look. While Stanna had always been a prominent figure in the police station, with superior gun skills, case-solving efficiency, and other abilities that outshone these gentlemen, Until not long ago, Stanna had still been within the bounds of an ordinary person. At the very least, she certainly couldn¡¯t have used a gun to ¡°blow the head off¡± a terrifying Evil Spirit. Undoubtedly, it was Tang Qi, the enigmatic advisor who had brought about this change in Stanna. Tang Qi still understood the look in their eyes, the unmistakable look. Aspiration! Aspiration for Extraordinary Power! Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Mohawk Language Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Mohawk Language Editor: Atlas Studios Intense desires are the easiest to exploit. If Tang Qi wanted to build a force and have some subordinates at his disposal, the people within the team, especially Nathan and Havier who had seen him dispel Evil Spirits, would definitely be good candidates. Even Tang Qi could distribute some cursed Secret Medicines, or find similar tools to control them as slaves. Unfortunately, that was not in line with Tang Qi¡¯s future plans. Therefore, facing everyone¡¯s gaze, Tang Qi could only respond with a helpless smile, while lightly saying, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I am just a consultant, a weak consultant without combat power, and incapable of turning people into Transcendents.¡± ¡°The special bullets that Chief Stanna has are also accidentally obtained. Using one means losing one; they are limited in number and can only be fired by the Chief¡¯s Red Rhino.¡± ¡°And just now, that was just a dangerous accident. I definitely won¡¯t take such a risk a second time. If I hadn¡¯t found the Spell, I would already be dead by now.¡± ¡°Officer James is a very good example of that.¡± The last sentence from Tang Qi finally poured a bucket of cold water over Nathan and Havier. The two of them simultaneously recalled the scene that had occurred an hour earlier. Although James was quite unpleasant, he truly was a member of the Messer Police Station. Nathan and Havier had known him for several years, and seeing an acquaintance explode into a brilliant flesh and blood Firework right before their eyes, the lingering impact would not fade away so quickly. Thanks to Tang Qi¡¯s reminder, everyone in the office recalled everything that had happened in that cramped house. Apart from the big-chested girl handling logistics, the field agents, and those who performed the onsite autopsies, all of their faces turned white, and the atmosphere immediately sank into silence. Ordinary people, when facing Transcendents, Evil Spirits, Devils, Evil Gods¡­ The combination of such factors mostly elicit two reactions. Excitement and Fear! Once the excitement is extinguished, what emerges is fear. At this moment, they finally recalled why the pay and benefits for this newly established team were excessively high. It now seemed like some sort of ¡°consolation payment¡± in advance. If every case in the future is like the Tulip Street massacre, and they have to deal with terrifying entities like Evil Spirits, then could their sacrifices be as quick and terrifying as that of James? When cruel reality strikes, aside from the old detective Gideon who seemed to have seen through life and death, hesitation appeared on everyone else¡¯s face. The atmosphere turned sharply downhill. When this scene occurred, as the leader, Chief Stanna did not step forward to offer comfort. This was anticipated, in fact, within this team, apart from Tang Qi who had already signed the contract, and Stanna who was resolved, everyone else had the opportunity to regret and resign. It was originally a rough way to cope, a makeshift lineup put together by the Messer Police Station when there were no other solutions available. Perhaps other cities would have a formal, official Extraordinary Organization to eliminate ¡°Abnormalities.¡± But Messer City, did not enjoy such a high status. In fact, being able to bring Tang Qi in as a consultant was already beyond the expectations of that black woman who was the Chief. Otherwise, would she have signed that contract which anyone could see would put the police station at a loss? But this silence did not last too long. Before the first person to quit emerged, a sudden turn of events broke the atmosphere. The telephone rang, instantly reverberating continuously. On every desk in the office, the phone rang. People reflexively entered work mode, picking up the receiver, talking to the other end, hanging up, and then making the same motion: leaving their desks, standing up as if to get something? Seeing the same actions, everyone exchanged glances, as if they all understood something, and a bitter smile appeared on their faces together. However, there was no delay; they quickly left together. Then, they quickly came back. However, this time, each of them was holding at least several file boxes in their arms. ¡°Guess what all these are?¡± Havier, carrying a total of four file boxes, poked his head out helplessly. ¡°Abnormal cases, or rather, suspected abnormal cases, and this is just the first batch, coming from the recent few jurisdictions.¡± Nathan, wearing an elephant sweater, also smiled bitterly. The others were still okay; after all, they had only witnessed the horror of the scene and were left with some shadows, without too much concrete concept. But these two had actually faced Evil Spirits, and if these cases were real, they felt they wouldn¡¯t live many days. Without a doubt, the scene before them was the impact after Tang Qi had solved the blood case on Tulip Street. Messer City is a not-so-small metropolis, and it is natural for all sorts of abnormalities to resurface and for various cases to occur at the time of the Spiritual Tide Return. Before this team was formed, the respective jurisdictions had to handle it on their own. But now, naturally, it would be taken over by the ¡°professionals.¡± If it were real murder cases, neither Nathan nor Havier would feel fear. Unfortunately, the murders are real, but the murderer isn¡¯t a real Human. And they are not professionals, at least not yet. Fortunately, at this moment, their consultant Tang Qi shook his head seriously and said, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for all of these to be real. If Messer City had so many abnormalities, it would have been chaotic by now. Abnormalities continue to emerge, but they are still within controllable limits, at least¡­ for now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s establish a screening mechanism then, to pick out the most urgent and necessary cases to handle. The rest can be delayed.¡± At a crucial moment, it¡¯s Chief Stanna¡¯s experience that speaks. She quickly discussed a screening process with Tang Qi, published a few guidelines, and then everyone began to take action. The guidelines set out by Tang Qi were simple and crude, two in total. First, continuous deaths. Second, clear signs that are not like those of Humans. For a time, the office area was filled with the sound of ¡°rustling¡± paper turning. Tang Qi didn¡¯t participate; he was just a consultant, wasn¡¯t he? So he poured himself a cup of Police Station coffee, and while sipping the legendarily awful drink, he returned to the break room, locked it behind him, and took out the ¡°Mysterious Hair Tie¡± to continue unlocking it with his Spiritual Power. About an hour later, Tang Qi¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, watching the two separate strands of black hair in front of him slowly Burning, at the same time two seemingly twin beautiful girls appeared in front of him. Both were wearing somewhat strange dresses and had Oil Paint on their faces, looking like they belonged to some minority ethnicity. As the strands of hair burned to ashes and the twin girls were about to disappear, Suddenly at this moment, their misty soul forms leaned in together, one from each side, and kissed Tang Qi¡¯s cheeks. Simultaneously, two cold breaths surged into Tang Qi¡¯s mind, merged together, and ultimately became a pure Information Fragment, which was absorbed by Tang Qi without any impediment. [You have gained a piece of Knowledge!] [You have learned the Mohawk Language!] ¡­ As Tang Qi subconsciously digested the additional language knowledge in his mind, the two girls performed a special gesture to him and then, like the two from before, faded slowly into the air with smiles of relief on their faces. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Weirdo Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Weirdo Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Thank you, I really like this language.¡± Tang Qi stood up, and likewise gave his respects back to the two Mohawk girls. He wasn¡¯t lying; he truly liked this newly learned language, especially since he acquired the memory related to it in just a few seconds, by cheating. The Mohawk Language! It refers to the language of the Mohawk people, who are one of the oldest species within the Divine Eagle Federation, and before the foundation of the Federation, or rather before those ¡°new immigrants¡± arrived, the Mohawk people dominated the southeastern part of the continent. They are a brave and good-at-fighting species, known as ¡°Guardians of the Eastern Gateway.¡± They believe that all things have spirits and advocate for nature and the universe. Due to the rapid development of the Divine Eagle Federation, the Mohawk people are now considered a minority group, and most have integrated into the Federation, intermarrying with other species. Pure Mohawk people are becoming increasingly rare, and their language is gradually disappearing, being replaced by the official language of the Federation. If Tang Qi wanted to learn, it would likely require a lot of resources and effort, and he might not even be able to learn it completely and authentically. But now, Tang Qi has learned it. A gift from the two young girls! Although the use of the Mohawk language is not immediately apparent, understanding an ancient language is always a good thing. Wizards, their favorite thing is the accumulation of knowledge. Tang Qi silently thought to himself, then rubbed his slightly throbbing brow, pondering whether to continue unraveling the Mysterious Hair Tie when the door of the resting room was knocked. He glanced at the wall clock, silently put away the hair knot. He stood up and opened the door. Naturally, it was Stanna standing there, her face also wearing a trace of fatigue, she raised the several files in her hand, greeted him, then turned and walked to the conference room. Tang Qi followed her, and soon saw the spread out files on the conference room table. Stanna¡¯s mature magnetic voice rang out at this time. ¡°The nearest few districts to the police station, filtered out, the most urgent cases.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the consultant, you decide the order of precedence.¡± After speaking, seeing Tang Qi nodded, she began to introduce them one by one. ¡°The first case, in the Blank District, the death rate has sharply increased in recent days, so the police station had to dispatch another Corpse Collection Vehicle. In addition to the usual gang and robbery-related deaths, there are also some oddly gnawed corpses, seemingly done by some beast.¡± The first file was the Blank District, Tang Qi showed no surprise, it¡¯s a place residents of Messer City dubbed as the district of chaos. And the description of the case sounded familiar, as if done by a Blank Dog-faced Man, but Tang Qi wasn¡¯t certain because there are many abnormal creatures similar to the Dog-faced Man. While Tang Qi was still considering, Stanna¡¯s voice continued. ¡°Still the Blank District, a newly risen small gang, wiped out overnight, a grisly scene, and there were traces left that suggest a cult ritual.¡± ¡°Blank District, ongoing reports from landlords about a large number of mysteriously disappearing tenants, reasons unknown yet.¡± Three consecutive serious cases from the Blank District made Stanna and others can¡¯t help but shake their heads. This historic city of Messer, if this biggest ¡°tumor¡± is not removed, it¡¯s unlikely to return to its peak. Luckily, the next moment, the cases finally moved away from the Blank District. ¡°Rach District, a serial killer has appeared, already at least three families have been victimized, the scenes are dealt with very cleanly, leaving no biological materials behind.¡± The sudden jump to Rach District immediately sparked a bit of memory for Tang Qi, he still owns a villa there. Stanna glanced at Tang Qi, having done her research on this somewhat unpleasant character and naturally knowing where he came from. However, seeing no particular reaction from him, she set aside the file and continued with the next one. ¡°Newton District, in recent days, at least a dozen bodies have been found, mostly homeless people and travelers. The bodies were similarly gnawed, with most of the flesh gone, and the damage was clearly caused by canine animals.¡± ¡°Central District, in Central Park, some of the dead have been found, all wealthy people who were running at night, completely drained of blood.¡± ¡°The last case, at the border of Newton District and Lopez Region, has already had at least seven bodies discovered, with victims dressed in old theatrical costumes, all cold and stiff, and with weird smiles on their faces.¡± After Stanna finished the briefing, she and the others turned to look at Tang Qi. There were seven major cases selected from a large number of files. Each one looked very serious. They also met the two screening criteria set by Tang Qi, but since the team was just formed, the only ones who could handle the Extraordinary Power were Tang Qi, the ¡°non-combat¡± consultant, and Stanna, who was in charge of combat. Thus, they could only resolve one at a time. And the choice was in Tang Qi¡¯s hands. Indeed, Tang Qi was pondering, and his first exclusion was the one in Newton District because he had already cracked that case to some extent. After all, the description of the case sounded just like something Mr. Skana would do. An ordinary person with wild ideas, yet accidentally bred a species such as the Devil Dog, and had to feed them human flesh, pitying the homeless and travelers of Newton District. Fortunately, Mr. Skana was already dead, and those Devil Dogs, too. The manuscript became one of Tang Qi¡¯s collections, presumably with no tragic follow-ups. Next, Tang Qi deferred the three cases in Blank District, simply because since they were in the same district, it was better to find a spacious time to investigate them together. If manageable, handle it; if too dangerous, quickly evacuation and let the chief apply for support. The case in Rach District seemed like the work of some powerful serial killer; classified as an Extraordinary case but lacking sufficient evidence, it was temporarily excluded. By this process, only the last two remained. Tang Qi silently pondered for a while, and finally, his gaze settled on the last file. ¡­ Messer Police Station, overseeing all districts including Newton District and Lopez Region. When Tang Qi, Stanna, and their party arrived at the ¡°scene,¡± the officers deployed from the two district stations, an overweight white officer and a young officer with excessive body hair, both flashed bright smiles, then stared at each other for a moment, and finally approached together. Seeing this, neither Tang Qi nor Stanna showed any surprise. They already knew before coming that, as this case occurred on the border of two districts and involved horrific characteristics, both sides thought of offloading the responsibility onto each other. For a while, both stations stood their ground, eventually not even retrieving the bodies, leaving them all inside a church. Styled as: Temporary Office. The people who came this time included Tang Qi and Stanna, as well as Nathan Havier, the elderly Gideon, and the forensic girl. The latter two gave reasons that were hard to refuse. Gideon said he had lived for decades, solved many human-committed blood crimes, and now wanted to see what Evil Spirits and Evil Gods really looked like. While the forensic girl was more straightforward; she was tired of dissecting human bodies and wanted to try dissecting an Extraordinary Monster¡¯s body to see how it differed from humans. Hearing their reasons, Tang Qi understood why they joined this team. Among normal people, this group would be considered ¡°weirdos.¡± And when Tang Qi entered the temporary office, a small church, and saw the seven bodies lying there dressed in strange theatrical costumes, he silently thought to himself: ¡°Your wishes might just come true.¡± Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Confusing Times Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Confusing Times Under the guidance of two reception officers, a group of people entered the church. This was a small church that appeared to have nearly a hundred years of history, with old chairs, mottled aisles, and stained glass windows inlaid on two walls. There was also the Mother of Light statue placed on a white stone platform at the front, exuding a comforting aura. Unfortunately, this was quickly overshadowed by the corpses strewn across the ground. There were seven in total, covered with white cloths, not fully concealed¡ªrevealing clothing clearly out of step with current trends. The forensic expert, a young woman, was the first to express her dissatisfaction upon seeing the corpses. As she bent down to examine a body, following her professional instincts, she questioned the two reception officers, ¡°Why are the dead bodies placed here? Shouldn¡¯t they be in the morgue? Have you disregarded basic professional ethics just to shirk responsibility?¡± Forensic expert Reine, normally mild-mannered, became serious when it came to her field, and her demeanor immediately shifted. Both reception officers, clearly of lower rank, instinctively shrank as they were chided by the headquarters staff. The officer from Lopez Region was the first to respond in defense, ¡°We were planning to send them to the morgue, but later discovered that these bodies have been maintaining a state of cold rigidity, showing no change. To facilitate your investigation, we brought them all here.¡± ¡°How could this be¡­ Eh?¡± Reine¡¯s questioning was cut short as she noticed something off. She took a small hammer from her toolkit and gently tapped the arm of the first corpse, immediately hearing a ¡°thump thump¡± sound, as if she had struck ice. ¡°Try the scalpel.¡± Tang Qi¡¯s voice suddenly interrupted. ¡°Hmm?¡± Spurred by Tang Qi¡¯s hint, Reine and the others realized that none of the seven bodies had been autopsied. This was inconceivable, considering autopsy is an inevitable step in multiple homicide cases. But here, that step was missing. As the scrutiny of the headquarters seemed to sweep their way again, and with the presence of the well-known female police chief, the two reception officers quickly explained in unison, ¡°We tried, we tried every method, but autopsies are impossible. That¡¯s also why we reported the case.¡± Soon, everyone understood what they meant. Reine took out a surgical knife and tried to make an incision along the chest of the first corpse. No matter how hard she tried, the sharp blade couldn¡¯t penetrate the rigid skin¡¯s defense, emitting only a grating noise. As if it were the sound of metal scraping metal. Human skin should not be able to do this, should it? For the first time encountering such an anomaly, Reine, as if she hadn¡¯t heard the officers¡¯ earlier warning, stubbornly laid out other tools from her kit¡ªsaws, axes, and the like¡ªin vain attempt, torturing everyone with the persistent, piercing noise for several minutes. To no avail, the bodies remained untouched, the tools just tools. ¡°This is impossible!¡± Reine had come full of confidence, yet found it hard to accept this supernatural phenomenon. If it were not for Stanna¡¯s persuasion, she might have even requested more powerful weapons to forcibly breach the defense. Everyone instinctively turned to Tang Qi¡ªafter all, he was the consultant of the Mysterious Side, right? Faced with this supernatural scene, he should be able to do something. At this moment, Tang Qi indeed became interested. His eyes slightly narrowed as he took a leisurely stroll to one of the bodies. In his eyes, he saw a faint glimmer. In fact, the moment he set foot in the church, he had seen it. A faint radiance emanated from all seven corpses. This was astounding. For humans killed by Extraordinary Creatures should remain merely human, incapable of triggering Tang Qi¡¯s Special Ability. This scene now suggested that these bodies¡­ had undergone some sort of unknown change. ¡°Humm¡± Thoughts coalesced, and in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes, that special interface finally took shape slowly. [Curio: Alcohol Corpse.] [State: Intact.] [Information Fragment One: This is a sorrowful tale of a lost soul, clutching a cursed flagon, searching for her perfect lover. Upon finding one, she drips onto their body a drop of Eternal Wine, longing for their resurrection, but finds herself heartbroken every time.] [Information Fragment Two: The bodies contaminated by ¡°Eternal Wine¡± are exceedingly tough, nearly impervious to sharp weapons. Their flesh can be used as material for certain Secret Medicines or other Mystical purposes.] ¡°Eternal Wine?¡± Tang Qi¡¯s heartstrings were plucked in an instant. Judging the power of a Curio by its name may sound unscientific, but it¡¯s a common human flaw, and Tang Qi was no exception. Previously not so concerned, Tang Qi suddenly became very serious. It was in that moment that he suddenly noticed the clothing on these seven corpses. They appeared to be gentlemen¡¯s styles popular decades earlier, with a slightly different aspect: a neatly folded white handkerchief poking out of the top pocket. Then, several terms simultaneously leaped in Tang Qi¡¯s mind. ¡°Perfect lover?¡± ¡°Eternal Wine?¡± Tang Qi seemed to have realized something, enlightened somewhat, but the curiosity that flashed in his eyes only grew more intense. Everyone saw the change in Tang Qi¡¯s expression and was about to ask something. But Tang Qi slowly stood up, exhaled, and then directly said, ¡°I think I know who the killer is, or rather, what it is. However, to find her, we will need to enlist the help of a handsome man ¨C not just any handsome man, but the kind who could be adored by the masses in an era of chaos.¡± ¡°An era of chaos?¡± Everyone paused, taken aback by his remark. The quickest to react was Gideon, the elderly man. As a seasoned detective who had solved many cases, Gideon caught on to Tang Qi¡¯s hint as soon as he heard it, subconsciously glancing at the seven corpses on the ground and their attire. His expression changed as if he too had come to an understanding. Yet, his face couldn¡¯t help but show a trace of surprise, as if seeking confirmation, as if muttering, ¡°Does our young consultant imply that the entity that killed these seven unfortunate individuals still indulges in the aesthetics of the chaotic era?¡± ¡°The era of chaos?¡± Those four words evidently had a high recognition factor. At least, everyone present understood what kind of era it referred to. The Divine Eagle Federation, as one of the strongest political entities on Blue Star, had seldom faced defeat in war since its inception. However, decades ago, they unexpectedly lost to another equally powerful nation. The defeat, coupled with the Federation¡¯s economic downturn, triggered a nationwide economic crisis. The depression of most industries paradoxically allowed for the flourishment of the movie industry. Many splendid films emerged, through which people nowadays can accurately understand the aesthetics of that era. Given the same hint, everyone then realized that, besides the obviously era-specific clothing on the seven corpses, what truly felt Abnormal were their faces. Despite the diversity in race and age, their faces had distinct, sharp features as if chiseled by a craftsman, radiant with an edge. A typical aesthetic of the chaotic era. Quite different from the current movie stars. Seeing this, everyone became slightly excited. However, Tang Qi¡¯s reaction was to first nod, then shake his head. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Love of Dionysus Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Love of Dionysus ¡°She was indeed indulged in the aesthetics of a confusing era, but more precisely, she was obsessed with the first guide, a profoundly influential film that ultimately made this type of man popular nationwide¡­¡± ¡°Film?¡± Tang Qi didn¡¯t play coy and pointed to the similar facial features of the seven unfortunate people, then revealed the mystery. The confusing era was an extremely abnormal yet brief period, but its influence still lingered in various sectors or other details of the Federation. However, it was somewhat ancient, and aside from Gideon, others had only heard snippets and were far from understanding or mastering it. In fact, although Tang Qi was diligently studying the history of the Federation and even the entire Origin Blue Star, it was definitely a long-term project, and Tang Qi was not yet at the stage where he could readily cite various historical anecdotes. The reason he knew something about that confusing era was due to its frequent appearance in various ¡°strange books.¡± From several voluminous books borrowed from Messer Library, he often found anecdotes about that era. For instance, in ¡°Federation Hundred Years of Strange, Absurd and Real,¡± it mentioned the confusing era when the Federation Government once issued a federally-enforced decree that lasted only about half a year¡ªthe Prohibition Order and its origins. In the anecdotes related to this decree, a movie made a fleeting impression. Tang Qi did not explain that anecdote, because by this time, Gideon, who was born right at the end of the confusing era, had already guessed the name of the movie. ¡°Love of Dionysus!¡± Gideon¡¯s aged face shifted slightly as he spoke the name excitedly. Tang Qi nodded, affirming Gideon¡¯s guess. He continued: ¡°According to what I¡¯ve seen, the movie tells a very strange love story. A young, wealthy, and charming doctor husband, who often cheats, is eventually impulsively killed by his beautiful yet insane wife.¡± ¡°To resurrect her lover, the wife brewed a wine, dripped it on her husband, and he truly came back to life, turning into a perfect lover; not only did he have a handsome appearance and a robust physique, but also elegant speech and complete obedience to her commands.¡± ¡°Regrettably, the husband quickly died again, his state was just like these bodies, cold and stiff, and they wouldn¡¯t decay. In order to be with her perfect lover, the wife had to repeatedly brew this wine, named after the ancient Wine God, until she finally died exhausted.¡± ¡°At the end of the movie, the husband¡¯s body remains unchanged eternally, but the wife quickly rotted into a pile of bones.¡± As Tang Qi narrated, everyone gradually caught on. Their gazes fell upon the bodies on the ground. What had been inconspicuous clues were now utterly transparent. ¡°This facial type? It¡¯s because of the film¡¯s main actor, Robert Gable; ¡®Love of Dionysus¡¯ was indeed his breakout role, and it was also the beginning of his fame across the Federation.¡± ¡°These clothes, because Robert portrayed a doctor in the movie, and in that era, many doctors would place a white handkerchief in their coat pocket.¡± ¡°This way of death, is it also a tribute to ¡®Love of Dionysus¡¯?¡± Almost every clue corresponded with what Tang Qi had said. Of course, this made things even more bizarre. Because this means that right now at the border between Newton District and Lopez Region, there¡¯s a monster from the Mysterious Side searching around for people who resemble Robert Gable, the top male star of the confusing era, then killing them to turn into zombies. If this wasn¡¯t about the Extraordinary Domain, but rather a serial killer deliberately pursuing this effect, then this case would look unbelievably enticing. Gideon was getting excited, he was writing a book recently, and getting involved in such serial murder cases would definitely add some brilliant content to his book. No, if it¡¯s about the Mysterious Side, then it¡¯s even more thrilling. Gideon suddenly felt very fortunate; if he had previously thought about leaving the team, now he was thoroughly without such thoughts. At this moment, he was an old man pursuing thrill, completing the life¡¯s work he dedicated his heart to. His excited mood made him catch on to Tang Qi¡¯s line of thinking, in the tone of a veteran detective he said: ¡°So you want to find someone who resembles Gable to lure the monster out and then kill it. But there are some problems, like how to ensure the safety of the bait, do you know what kind of existence that monster is? How does she kill? Can Stanna kill her?¡± Upon hearing these questions, Tang Qi pondered for a moment, then fulfilled his role as a consultant. ¡°If there¡¯s a suitable bait, I can lend him one of my collections, I can¡¯t guarantee absolute safety, but it should be enough to defend for a bit.¡± ¡°That monster is probably a resentful spirit, a female spirit who sees herself in the role of a wife, we don¡¯t know her method of killing yet.¡± ¡°As for whether Stanna can kill her, you should ask Stanna.¡± ¡°Click¡± Right as Tang Qi finished speaking, he and Gideon heard a strange noise together, they turned their heads just in time to see Stanna pulling out her prized weapon from her arms, with a slight flick, the extravagant design of the Red Rhino began to shake the hearts of everyone else on scene. As the owner of Blood Python One, Tang Qi was very calm. But the others were all showing looks of envy, jealousy, and hatred. Every man loves this kind of monster made of steel and sulfur. Unfortunately, throughout the entire Messer Police Station, there was only one Red Rhino. It was one of Stanna¡¯s few privileges that she brought with her from Secret Phoenix State to Messer City. Without including the extraordinary factors, the rarity of the Red Rhino would even exceed that of Blood Python One in some respects. Despite holding the Red Rhino, Stanna was not a rash person. She pondered over the ¡°plan¡± Tang Qi and Gideon had formulated word by word and facing Tang Qi, she asked: ¡°If the resentful spirit that appears has a threat level exceeding the sea~ levels of the two bullets you gave me, can you detect and warn us in real-time?¡± This sister-like female sheriff once again showed her decent emotional intelligence and did not ask Tang Qi if he would join the fight according to the plan, but whether he could provide an early warning. Compared to anticipating Tang Qi¡¯s participation, an early warning was more reliable. Tang Qi understood easily and replied directly: ¡°Yes!¡± After speaking, he glanced again at Nathan and Havier who were somewhat confused and added solemnly: ¡°If the resentful spirit¡¯s threat level is such that she can ignore your bullets, and you still cannot escape even with my early warning, there is a high chance that I¡­ might also die.¡± ¡°Humph¡± Stanna, who had been hoping to hear ¡°I will also join the battle,¡± almost bit her tongue due to Tang Qi¡¯s twist. Her beautiful eyes fiercely glared at Tang Qi, silently thinking: ¡°Wretched high schooler, I really shouldn¡¯t have had any expectations of him.¡± Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Silent Film (First update, please add to collection!) Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Silent Film (First update, please add to collection!) After receiving Tang Qi¡¯s ¡°unconventional guarantee,¡± a seemingly unreliable plan was approved. At the key point of the plan, a handsome man whose face must resemble Robert Gable was needed; Gideon took on this task with just one phone call, indicating that everything was set. While waiting, they also discussed the case details with the two reception officers, such as the areas where the seven victims were killed, all within a narrow region at the border of Newton District and Lopez. The residents here were all economically disadvantaged young people, such as laborers, wandering painters, market vendors¡­ or writers. This was probably why this case wasn¡¯t given as much attention as the trivia in the Central District. About half an hour later, Gideon left the church, and shortly thereafter came back with a young man dressed in a black vintage suit, his hair slicked back. As soon as he entered everyone¡¯s field of vision, their eyes lit up. ¡°He looks so much like him!¡± The one who exclaimed was the forensic expert Reine. She clearly wasn¡¯t a fan of old movies, but she was definitely a fan of handsome men. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the young man. The young man who followed Gideon did, indeed, bear a strong resemblance to a young Robert Gable, with distinct facial features that exuded a sharp presence while simultaneously giving off an elegantly charming vibe, certainly the perfect lover in many women¡¯s hearts. ¡°This is Chris; he¡¯s an actor with the Messer City Crystal Theater, volunteering to help,¡± introduced Gideon, and while everyone was getting acquainted, he walked over to Tang Qi and whispered: ¡°Chris is auditioning for the male lead in a fantasy movie and wants to use this opportunity to break into the Holy Eagle Nest City¡¯s acting circle, hence his recent interest in Mysterious Side events. Involving him this time also prevents him from taking any life-threatening risks.¡± ¡°You and him are¡­?¡± Tang Qi was just about to ask when Stanna interjected. ¡°Gideon is the honorary troop leader of the Crystal Theater, according to him, if it weren¡¯t for his job as a detective, the person who received the Eagle Heart Cup, symbolizing the highest honor for an actor a few days ago, should have been him, not that little guy Hopkins.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha~¡± After Stanna finished, everyone laughed, and Gideon, the butt of the joke, blinked and raised an eyebrow, indicating that Stanna was right; he was that confident. After the pleasantries, the atmosphere once again became solemn. Time was pressing with nightfall approaching; if they were to set a trap, it was best to start now. The trap was actually both simple and crude. The resentful spirit committing the murders seemed to lack much intelligence, or maybe was too deeply obsessed, or could not leave a certain area, always wandering within the range of a few streets. The plan was to have Chris walk around the area, resembling Robert Gable, while the others, or mainly Stanna, would follow behind. Once the resentful spirit appeared, they would strike it down without hesitation. In this, the most in danger, without a doubt, was Chris himself, the bait. Therefore, he was both excited and afraid. Excited because he could use this opportunity to get in touch with the Mysterious Side, and naturally afraid because one moment of carelessness could lead to death; he was even startled by the corpses on the floor as soon as he arrived at the church. Before Chris set off, Tang Qi walked over to him. While marveling at the ¡°crazy method actor,¡± he handed a white handkerchief to Chris and whispered a few words in his ear. After speaking, Tang Qi walked away leisurely without minding Chris¡¯s bizarre reaction. All the preparations were done, and everyone¡¯s silhouettes gradually concealed themselves. Only Chris alone dashed out of the church, turned a few corners, and then his figure appeared on a street called Ryan Street. It was just the beginning of the night, the chill of the night was starting to spread, and this street, already deserted from the continuous homicides over the past few days, made Chris¡¯s figure all the more conspicuous. After all, at night, a slender man wearing a retro suit, exhaling white breaths in the cold air, walking all alone, perfectly mirrored the scenes from those old romantic movies. Any woman who still had romantic notions in her heart would probably find it hard to resist the urge to approach and strike up a conversation. In fact, in the movie called ¡°Love of Dionysus¡±, there indeed was such a segment: a husband, just resurrected, bursting out the door, running around in confusion, and then¡­ ¡°Hey, is that a person?¡± The observers in the back all suddenly saw it. At the other end of the street, a woman appeared, running towards Chris, waving her hands as if to drive something away while she did. The woman appeared to be young as well, with black hair in big waves, her lips painted with bright red lipstick, very eye-catching under the nighttime lights. ¡°Looks like a local resident, is she warning Chris to leave this place?¡± ¡°Possibly, people here should all know about the appearance of the dead, it¡¯s only natural that a kind-hearted person would risk warning Chris due to his charm.¡± ¡°Especially since it¡¯s a woman.¡± While Reine and Nathan were making comments, Tang Qi suddenly furrowed his brows. He abruptly stood up, yelling towards the front: ¡°Stanna, take action.¡± Logically, in such a quiet environment, his roar should have been heard down the whole street. But weirdly, apart from Reine and a few others who were startled, whether it was Chris himself or the concealed Stanna, none showed any reaction, it was as if Tang Qi¡¯s voice had not reached their ears at all. Instead, at that moment, the woman with the red lipstick who was running, slightly turned her head, and fiercely looked towards the group. ¡°Hiss~¡± In an instant, it seemed as if everyone¡¯s bodies were frozen stiff, a terrifying chill spreading from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads. Then, they all realized at the same time, the resentful spirit had shown up, this woman. They finally noticed that the woman was wearing a vintage dress, her big waves, the strangely colored lipstick, all were the typical aesthetics of a confused era, even the overly wide and pallid face of this woman belonged to that time. ¡°Not good, Chris.¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Stanna, take action!¡± Having realized the situation, the group shook off their fear, all shouting out together. Sadly, their voices were all for naught. It was as if the area in front had been enveloped by a silence field, all sound blocked off, as if in a scene from a silent movie. Yes, a silent movie. ¡°Love of Dionysus¡± was the last brilliant silent movie. The group¡¯s shouts only brought out a sinister smile on the woman¡¯s face. Watching as she opens her arms, about to embrace Chris. Another victim was about to be claimed, and right under the watch of these detectives. And they, being too far away, combined with that weird ¡°silence field¡±, were utterly powerless, even if they set off warning shots or shot Chris directly, it was all in vain. Just when everyone was about to fall into despair, an unexpected and sudden turn occurred. Just as the woman was about to hold Chris in her arms, she was fiercely pushed away by Chris, not only that, but a powerful shout infused with a certain force came from Chris¡¯s mouth. ¡°Get! Away!¡± Finally, a voice appeared. And the woman who was supposed to have ghostly powers capable of instantly killing Chris, actually heeded Chris¡¯s shout, and was pushed away from him. Then, a terrifying explosion suddenly resounded. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Actress and the Silver Wine Jug Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Actress and the Silver Wine Jug ¡°Bang~¡± Like the sound of artillery fire, everyone saw in a dark corner of Ryan Street a fleeting flash of light, followed by the appearance of the woman pushed away by Chris, her seemingly frail body being shot. An incredibly, astonishing image. There was a loud ¡°boom¡± and the woman seemed to have been struck forcefully. She flew backwards, and while her body was still mid-air she burst into flames as if hit by an incendiary round, with a tinge of golden flames swiftly enveloping her whole body. Screams and wails were incessant. Evidently, Stanna chose the Molten Furnace Bullet, and that resentful spirit had the misfortune of triggering both the Burning and Evil-breaking properties. Tang Qi¡¯s figure, even before Stanna fired her gun, had already charged forward like a cheetah. Of course, he wasn¡¯t rushing to save Chris, at least that wasn¡¯t his primary objective. As he was running, a special interface popped up at the bottom of his eye regarding that woman. [Extraordinary Creatures: resentful spirit.] [State: Dying.] [Information Fragment One: What¡¯s more regrettable than a beauty whose time has passed is a beauty who is out of her time. Her looks would have been sought after in a certain era, but in this age, she couldn¡¯t find the place she desired, and after her dreams were shattered, it wasn¡¯t so difficult to give up her soul.] [Information Fragment Two: Her obsession was to find a perfect partner to navigate the entertainment industry with her, but unfortunately, just like the perfect lover, that is nonexistence.] ¡­ ¡°Huh¡± ¡°Snap~ Snap¡± As the beautiful resentful spirit disappeared amidst wailing, a fair hand reached out, catching two things that fell from the sky. A card. A silver lady¡¯s flask. Tang Qi first glanced at the card and to his surprise, it was an actor¡¯s guild card. It had a name, a photo, and some brief introductions. Her name was Tita Scodia, an actress who was also willing to accept invitations for comedic drama performances, even striptease acts, or invitations from adult-themed magazines, but what she hoped for most was an audition for a classical movie. Just from the actor¡¯s guild card alone, it was clear that this actress didn¡¯t get what she wanted. Because, she was dead. This photo was indeed of the resentful spirit that had just dispersed. She had a somewhat broad face with curved eyebrows, black wavy curls, fair skin, deep eyeshadow, and seductive red lips¡ªalmost every feature perfectly matched the aesthetic of the confusing era. In Tang Qi¡¯s mind, a poster image of the Love of Dionysus he had previously seen flashed past, where apart from Robert Gable, there was also an actress playing the role of a mad wife. If he remembered correctly, that actress eventually earned accolades that were no less than Robert Gable¡¯s, and even made achievements in other domains. Most crucially, the two would often collaborate and were the most famous golden pairing of the confusing era. Understanding a bit now, Tang Qi thought. This was probably a story of being out of her time and failing to achieve what she sought. This actress named Tina had a face from the confusing era and the potential to captivate the Federation, but now was obviously not the confusing era, so her dreams of navigating the entertainment industry were undoubtedly crushed. Returning to her hometown, she chose suicide. And then, under the enchantment of an Extraordinary Artifact, she became a resentful spirit. As for why it was the movie Love of Dionysus, it was probably because it was her favorite movie, and she also collected original props from the film. ¡°` ¡°Buzz¡± Amidst flickering thoughts, Tang Qi¡¯s gaze fell upon the second item. An exquisite lady¡¯s flask! Although well-preserved, it was clearly an object from several decades ago. However, these were not what Tang Qi cared about. What truly caught his attention was the faint glow emanating from the flask. A unique radiance belonging to an Extraordinary Artifact. A hint of excitement surfaced in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. Simultaneously, that familiar interface appeared. [Curios: Eternal Wine.] [State: Intact.] [Information Fragment One: It was once an original prop from the movie ¡®Love of Dionysus¡¯, which swept across the Federation. While the other flasks were destroyed, it was fortunate enough to survive and over time, under unknown influences, it developed transcendent powers.] [Information Fragment Two: Every seven days, it produces a drop of liquor, which can be used to create Alcohol Corpse, serve as a component in certain secret medicine recipes, or have other mysterious effects.] [Information Fragment Three: Each time a soul is added, a drop of liquor can immediately be created.] ¡°An¡­ indescribable spoils.¡± Tang Qi murmured to himself, holding the flask. The apparent functions of this Curios left Tang Qi not knowing how to deal with it. A drop of liquor every seven days could create an Alcohol Corpse or become an ingredient in secret medicine. Tang Qi couldn¡¯t yet see a use for an Alcohol Corpse, and as for the ingredients, after searching through his knowledge of secret medicine, he regretfully found no relevant recipes. This wasn¡¯t surprising; the field of Secret Medicine is an incredibly complex and vast domain. There are numerous schools, and even if all schools combined their knowledge, they would not be able to exhaustively deduce all secret medicine recipes. New formulas will continue to appear as long as the Mysterious Side exists. ¡°Am I to deduce the formula myself?¡± Tang Qi muttered to himself, then proceeded to help Chris, who had collapsed on the ground from excessive fear, to his feet. When Chris rose, a white handkerchief from his jacket pocket fell to the ground, and the last trace of a peculiar fragrance slowly dissipated. The handkerchief and its fragrance were actually the secret to Chris¡¯s timely escape from the resentful spirit and his ability to rebuff her. The handkerchief was dabbed with a soybean-sized portion of¡­ Human Skin Ointment. One of its properties is to gain brief control over creatures with a weak will within the area of the scent. As it happened, Tita Scodia, the actress turned resentful spirit, was deemed to have a weak will. Although the effect was short-lived, Chris¡¯s rebuff was enough to save his own life. In fact, that was exactly what Tang Qi had whispered to him before: if something felt off, no matter what it was, just tell it to scram. Once the two stood firm, the rest arrived in haste. Chris immediately felt the care from the forensic girl, as well as inquiries from Nathan, Havier, and even Gideon¡ªvery detailed ones, like whether the embrace of the female resentful spirit felt warm or cold?¡­ and so on. And Stanna, received an actor¡¯s certificate handed to her by Tang Qi. And this guy, in a rather malicious fashion, revealed the answer without explaining his reasoning process. ¡°The resentful spirit is her, Tita Scodia. With a face that bewitched an era, she yearned for recognition like Eva Gardner, yet, unfortunately, chose to end her life in unfulfilled longing. After turning into a resentful spirit, her excessive obsession with that movie led her to seek out her Robert Gable¡ªthose seven unfortunate individuals were killed because of this.¡± ¡°According to the address on this actor¡¯s certificate, we should be able to find her suicide site. The condition will probably be similar to those seven.¡± ¡°Alright, everything¡¯s resolved, we¡¯re done here.¡± Having said that, Tang Qi stuffed the actor¡¯s certificate into Stanna¡¯s hand, turned, and casually walked toward the church, where the police car was still parked. ¡°` Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Evening Market at Blue Bear Park Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Evening Market at Blue Bear Park Messer City at night presents a different scenery in each of its districts. Midtown Avenue remains brightly lit, truly living up to its reputation as the ¡°Calling Card of Messer,¡± while Blank District remains as cold and chaotic as ever, emitting an aura that says ¡®strangers are not welcome.¡¯ The Newton District still exudes a sense of historic depth, with a touch of artistic flair¡­ Together, they sketch out a vivid tapestry. A police car is smoothly navigating the stone-paved streets between Newton District and Lopez Region, not sounding its siren, simply maintaining a steady pace under the illumination of streetlights, slightly jolting due to the cobblestones. Driving is Stanna. It¡¯s not that Tang Qi is deliberately being pretentious, demanding to be chauffeured by the most beautiful police chief at Messer Police Station. Rather, it was Stanna who insisted on doing the driving, when in fact Tang Qi¡¯s preferred choice was Gideon. After all, Gideon is an older gentleman with presumably plenty of experience; Tang Qi believed he could have a good conversation with him. However, since Stanna got ahead, Gideon could only step back. At this moment, Tang Qi is sitting in the back seat, toying with a silver flask while wondering to himself if he should also buy a car? This thought was quickly dismissed by Tang Qi himself. Why buy a car when one can be chauffeured? He is a consultant, isn¡¯t he? And a highly sought-after one at that from the Mysterious Side. Isn¡¯t it nice to enjoy being chauffeured by an older sister-type police chief? Although at this moment, the older sister herself isn¡¯t doing that well. Stanna is driving the car, but her peripheral vision frequently steals glances at Tang Qi. Her gaze is filled with an unmistakable curiosity, the source of course being the flask in Tang Qi¡¯s hands. She suspects it¡¯s the spoil he obtained after the death of the resentful spirit. What she is curious about is probably the function of the flask ¨C why has a prop from a movie turned into an Extraordinary Artifact? Yet, out of reserve, she does not ask. Tang Qi is of course aware of this, but he has no intention of providing Stanna with an answer. The reason is not just because of his unpleasant personality. There¡¯s also the fact that Tang Qi isn¡¯t sure whether he should allow Stanna, this older sister-type police chief, to get too deeply involved in the Mysterious Side, considering she¡¯s even more of a novice than Tang Qi is. One common affliction of novices is curiosity, curiosity about everything to do with the Mysterious Side. However, even if Stanna truly wished to enter this world, should Tang Qi be the one to usher her in? After several days of interaction, Tang Qi has grown quite fond of this older sister-type police chief. She is a warm woman beneath her cool exterior, and most importantly, she is very beautiful. Especially that expression of hers, full of irritation towards Tang Qi yet having no choice but to follow his lead, is a small pleasure Tang Qi gets to enjoy amidst the stress of planning out that ¡°plan¡± in his heart. So, perhaps it¡¯s because of his nasty personality after all. The final decision, of course, is not to answer. He is not Stanna¡¯s mentor, and he currently does not have the leisure to be one. Tang Qi completely ignores Stanna¡¯s curious gaze, flips his hand, and tucks the ¡°Eternal Wine¡± away, then leisurely takes out a tangled clump of hair from another pocket and begins to patiently unravel it. The Mysterious Hair Tie! This artifact has now become one of the regular features in Tang Qi¡¯s daily life. Every time a hair knot is undone, it not only liberates the entangled soul of a young girl but also presents the chance to acquire a certain knowledge. Although the opportunities to obtain knowledge aren¡¯t many, to date, there has only been once¡ªTang Qi received the Mohawk Language from a pair of twins from the Mohawk Tribe before their liberation, which enabled him to quickly master this ancient language. Nonetheless, Tang Qi still enjoyed the process, and it also allowed him to practice controlling his spiritual power within his body. Regrettably, before he could untie the next hair knot, the leisurely pace of the car suddenly began to accelerate. No, it would be more accurate to say it finally returned to normal. Tang Qi always thought that once Stanna took hold of the steering wheel, she resembled less a police chief and more a race car driver. That slow pace earlier was probably Stanna¡¯s effort at restraint. Seeing she couldn¡¯t get an answer from Tang Qi, Stanna immediately resumed her normal demeanor, and the police car, with its headlights shining, streaked through the streets like lightning, coming to a stop at the entrance of a dark street a few minutes later. The car door opened, and Tang Qi¡¯s figure stepped out. Stanna, still in the driver¡¯s seat, glanced at the dark street behind Tang Qi, a trace of concern flashing across her face as she was about to ask why Tang Qi was here so late and if he needed protection. However, she quickly remembered the night Tang Qi fought the Manatee Sea Demon. Because of the advisory contract she had signed with Tang Qi, which stipulated that he didn¡¯t need to intervene personally, she almost believed today that Tang Qi was a frail high school student without the strength to truss a chicken. Who would have thought? That night, this Little Guy was incredibly fierce. With this thought, Stanna couldn¡¯t help but give Tang Qi a wry look and drove off without another word, the police car roaring away. ¡°What a petty woman!¡± Tang Qi quietly shifted the blame to Stanna and muttered to himself. Then, Tang Qi turned around and walked into the dark street. It was a short street that didn¡¯t require streetlights, and after a few steps, he emerged into an open space. What appeared before Tang Qi was a park. At the entrance stood two dimly lit lamp posts, their shaky light revealing the words ¡°Blue Bear Park.¡± Although Messer City was a city with a strong industrial atmosphere, with steel mills, oil refineries, and such located in the suburbs, the green environment within the city was actually very good. For example, Midtown Park, the most popular for Messer City residents, was no different from a small forest. In comparison, Blue Bear Park was a much smaller, less noticeable place, even more desolate than the even smaller but more refined Rach Park. Especially at night, there were hardly any visitors. Due to its proximity to the Blank District, joggers, vagrants, and dating couples all deliberately avoided this area. After all, no one wants to be robbed or encounter other misfortunes, and a careless mistake could even lead to death. Tang Qi glanced at his watch, calculated the time, and murmured, ¡°Every second rest day of the week, starting late at night and ending in the early morning hours, at the central area of Blue Bear Park. Currency is accepted, as well as bartering.¡± ¡°Most goods are herbs and food collected or manufactured by mountain folk, and furs from wild beasts. Some independent artists and vagabonds who can¡¯t afford meals also sell their works or earn some reward from performances at the gathering. Quite a few old citizens or collectors who are struggling to get by choose to sell and exchange antiques from various eras¡­¡± ¡°A unique style of night market, or perhaps it could be called an early morning market.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if I can find the thing I need?¡± Tang Qi mused over the information from Professor Cassel, who had turned into a plant, as he gradually disappeared into the depths of the park. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Mountain People and the Black Goat Eye (Requesting Votes!) Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Mountain People and the Black Goat Eye (Requesting Votes!) As a resident of Messer City, Tang Qi had visited Midtown Park. The park was well planned, blending forests with modern conveniences. One could enjoy a raw, natural scenery while eating extremely spicy hot dogs. However, this Blue Bear Park clearly retained only its primitive charm without any sensible planning. It seemed they had simply enclosed a forest, a hillock, and a small lake to call it a park. Tang Qi thought it would take quite some time to find that night market. Apparently, he had overestimated the size of the park. Just by crossing a dense forest and a steep slope, Tang Qi saw his destination. Before him was a scene that brought joy, though it would appear peculiar to an ordinary person. In the central area of the park was a reasonably large lawn. At this moment, it was brightly lit. Tang Qi saw various tents, each with its unique features. There were tents obviously used as stalls, some were cooking food, and others set up for gatherings. The most extravagant was undoubtedly the largest tent. From the hanging sign outside, it might have been a circus. Among these various tents, there were private stalls, utilizing the lights surrounding the lawn to conduct their small trades. It should have been a quiet time at night, but this place was bustling with people. While not crowded, it was definitely lively. Tang Qi, not being too close, could already faintly hear a mix of human voices and some music, not very formal but quite soulful. ¡°Well, it seems Mr. Cassel didn¡¯t deceive me. Blue Bear Park indeed has an interesting night market.¡± ¡°Since Cassel could find Activated Eso Ghost Grass and ingredients for Spider Demon Secret Medicine here, I should be able to find what I need as well, even if in larger quantities, but¡­ I have money.¡± While talking, Tang Qi reached into his coat and pulled out a small cloth bag, jingling it slightly¡ªinside were Divine Eagle Gold Coins. Although the bag was not large, given Tang Qi¡¯s knowledge of the purchasing power of Divine Eagle Gold Coins, he was certain he could satisfy the seller if the market indeed had what he needed. Muttering to himself, Tang Qi pocketed the bag and then went down a rather inconspicuous path off the steep slope, smoothly stepping onto the main thoroughfare of the market. Perhaps the market had just started not long ago; people with similar or different purposes as Tang Qi were converging from all directions. Sellers or performers had entered the scene in advance, and those hurrying over now were mostly buyers and extremely bored spectators. Tang Qi saw hippies with homemade musical instruments, impeccably dressed fur merchants, and some elderly gentlemen, probably antique collectors. Most were young people, those who admire self and a mysterious atmosphere. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be too far off to call them nerds or oddities. Normal teenagers, if they were out late at night to enjoy themselves, should be in bars, not this eerie park. Soon Tang Qi stepped into the market. No one stopped him, and as he stepped onto the lawn, he was immediately surrounded by a myriad of tents and stalls, and the atmosphere instantly became lively. Tang Qi played the part of a neatly dressed young gentleman, with a face clearly expressing curiosity and excitement. If there were experienced traders around, they would recognize him as a ¡°little fat sheep,¡± ready to be slightly manipulated and thoroughly fleeced. However, here, it seemed no one actively invited customers, nor were there any calling out. In the air, most of what was floating around were the wandering songs and some off-key, cracked voices of the hippies. Tang Qi curled his lips into an arc, his steps becoming light and natural, quickly blending into the crowd so completely that even with close scrutiny, his figure couldn¡¯t be distinguished among the group. As a buyer, Tang Qi didn¡¯t immediately seek out what he needed. Instead, he followed the crowd, first stopping in front of a tent that was half-open, where a band was performing. Their instruments looked rough and primitive, obviously homemade; even their songs were original but not well-honed, carrying a rugged charm. Tang Qi watched for a moment, then ultimately rewarded them with a silver coin. Unexpectedly, the next tent was a ¡°Spiritual Cultivation Room,¡± hosted by a thin old man with white hair and beard, sporting white little braids and clothing made from tanned animal hide. A sign outside the tent explained that anyone could join for free. This so-called Spiritual Cultivation was similar to Tang Qi¡¯s Meditation Method, aiming for self-spirit purification, enhancement, and transcendence, to reach a peaceful Realm where all things are harmonious. However, this Spiritual Cultivation didn¡¯t produce any Extraordinary Power. Thus, Tang Qi glanced at it and moved to the next tent, which was finally a proper stall. The owner was a hill dweller named Thorne, accompanied by a very cute little girl, selling various animal hides and herbs, along with some beautiful stones, likely added by the little girl herself. Tang Qi looked around; the crowd began to disperse¡ªnot to leave, but because the market had been ongoing for half an hour, and most people had started heading towards the tents or stalls they were interested in, with not many just wandering around. This time, Tang Qi didn¡¯t leave quickly but decided to start his shopping journey for the evening from this stall. Because, he saw something from his shopping list. ¡°Hello, I am Thorne, what do you need?¡± Perhaps because Tang Qi had stopped for a little longer, the stall owner, Thorne the hill dweller, greeted him politely after serving another customer. ¡°I want to know, how much of this herb do you have?¡± Hearing this, Tang Qi didn¡¯t hide his interest, directly pointing to a bunch of peculiar plants spread across the animal skin in front of him. It was a pitch-black herb, its roots long dried, with thumb-sized leaves that had some white outlines, making it look seemingly like eyes due to the overall color theme. ¡°This is Black Goat Eye; this herb can treat eye diseases. It is said that for thousands of years, the indigenous people of The Bobol Tribe have used its crushed powder to create smoke for treating injured or infected eyes through fumigation.¡± ¡°This time I¡¯ve brought maybe a dozen plants. If the demand is high, you could come back next week, and I can bring more.¡± ¡°Would you like me to package these for you now?¡± Admittedly, the seemingly simple hill dweller was quite an effective salesman. Tang Qi had only made a casual inquiry, and it ended with him needing to pay. However, his description of the herb was only half correct; it catered to ordinary people. But in the Extraordinary Domain, although still called Black Goat Eye, it was also a vital ingredient in many Secret Medicine formulas. Like one of the basic Secret Medicines Tang Qi planned to concoct, the Spirit Communication Secret Medicine. Black Goat Eye was an important material in the formula. Thus, after his initial surprise, Tang Qi immediately smiled and said, ¡°Sure!¡± Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 The Charm of Gold Coins Chapter 67: Chapter 67 The Charm of Gold Coins Spirit Communication Secret Medicine only requires one Black Goat Eye in its formula, but Tang Qi is not naive enough to believe that he is a super genius who can succeed on his first attempt, despite having fully acquired all of Professor Cassel¡¯s knowledge in secret medicine. But theory is one thing, and practice is another. Thus, he bought up all the Black Goat Eyes at Thorne¡¯s stall and even arranged for next week¡¯s stock. Before leaving, he spent a Wei Lei to buy a pretty pebble from little loli Claire, playing with it in his hand as he walked towards the next stall. Meanwhile, in his mind, he silently calculated the most important materials in this shopping list. Secret medicine, unlike other professions. In some ways, secret medicine is closely linked to ordinary people. Many herbs that ordinary people use to treat diseases or poisons can be materials for some secret medicine formulas. Because of this, Tang Qi¡¯s special ability wasn¡¯t very powerful here. It meant that many of the materials Tang Qi needed could not be classified into the Extraordinary Domain, thus failing to trigger Tang Qi¡¯s abilities and unable to be identified in the shortest time. This time, however, Tang Qi was rather ambitious. His knowledge of this place came from the intelligence of Professor Rick Cassel, who had found the materials for the Spider Demon Secret Medicine in this market, turning his female assistant and captain of the guard into a giant spider. But Professor Cassel¡¯s target was simple, only one type of secret medicine and he had plenty of time. But Tang Qi was different, the secret medicine he wanted to craft was not just one, but at least¡­ five. Go to ????????????????????.co If Professor Cassel were here now, he would bluntly criticize: ¡°Greedy little guy, arrogant high school student, you are trampling on my intelligence, you will definitely fail, ending in complete failure.¡± Indeed, Tang Qi¡¯s behavior seemed somewhat presumptuous. Professor Cassel had mastered secret medicine for a long time, though he only started to truly value it after he was diagnosed with cancer, probably also because the Spiritual Tide began to return at that time, and the secret medicine, he thought ineffective, started working. Even so, his accomplishment in secret medicine should be close to an apprentice, definitely stronger than Tang Qi who had just mastered the theoretical knowledge. But even him, he wouldn¡¯t dare to attempt crafting five different secret medicines at once. For this, Tang Qi had a reasonable explanation; if it were only secret medicine knowledge, he would not be so impudent and would practice in order. But for Tang Qi, secret medicine was not just knowledge, it was¡­ a skill. That reason was enough. Perhaps in the beginning, due to lack of proficiency, he might fail, but once started, everything would be different. While other beginners in secret medicine might struggle to gather a large amount of materials, spending a fortune, and possibly end up crafting nothing, resulting in total failure. In fact, crafting Spider Demon Secret Medicine nearly exhausted Professor Cassel¡¯s salary for several years. He was a distinguished university professor, that amount was enormous. But such things, in Tang Qi¡¯s case, were absolutely impossible. ¡­ ¡°The main materials for the Spirit Communication Secret Medicine, besides Black Goat Eye, also need a powder of Black Crystal, some White Pine Needles, and a dozen or so non-difficult-to-obtain auxiliary materials; gathering a dozen portions of the corresponding materials isn¡¯t too difficult.¡± ¡°But the other four kinds of secret medicine will be much more troublesome, with less than three hours, is that enough to gather everything?¡± Tang Qi suddenly slowed his pace a bit, his brows slightly furrowed. This gathering takes place once a week. If Tang Qi had plenty of time, there would be no urgency; if not this time, then the next would do. But Tang Qi always had a strong sense of urgency, driving him to speed up the process time and again. Currently, most of his combat ability comes from the Meditation Method and Blood Python No.1, with the Chaga Fighting Technique also contributing. Against Resentful Souls and Evil Spirits, these means wield tremendous deterrent power. However, if the opponent were similarly a person from the Mysterious Side, Tang Qi could not predict the outcome. The emergence of secret medicine knowledge was a huge surprise for Tang Qi. Achieving a rapid surge in combat power might be difficult for other Extraordinary Professions, but it was possible with Secret Medicine. Tang Qi initially wanted to tackle the ¡°Rubber Man Secret Medicine¡± directly. According to Professor Cassel¡¯s memories, of the three foundational secret medicines, the other two ¨C ¡°Wind¡¯s Language¡± and ¡°Spirit Communication Secret Medicine¡± ¨C were true foundations, with mastery attainable through diligent practice. However, the difficulty of the Rubber Man Secret Medicine was unimaginably high. But with high difficulty came high yield. Once the concoction of the Rubber Man Secret Medicine was successful, it meant laying the foundation for the highest combat secret medicine within the Original Secret Medicine School. The Original Secret Medicine School, due to its veneration of nature, didn¡¯t possess combat capabilities as potent as the Maya School, thus it had long disappeared into the stream of history. But upon accessing the memories, Tang Qi realized that this was a misconception. At least within the school, there was a secret medicine of terrifying complexity. If it could be concocted, the individual consuming the secret medicine could achieve combat powers that, if not comparable to the Divine, would certainly surpass several among the so-called Twelve Saints that Tang Qi had witnessed. That secret medicine was actually a series, starting with the Rubber Man Secret Medicine, followed by Rubber Warrior, Rubber Demon, and finally the ultimate Rubber God Secret Medicine. Once ingested, one achieved near immortality as well as horrendous attack power. Regrettably, the difficulty of this series of secret medicines was so great that the entire school perished without having able to create the final Rubber God. Knowing this, Tang Qi had no choice but to switch to another series. Below the level of Secret Medicine Apprentice, he could concoct a different strengthening series. Of course, this was also because Tang Qi had no other choice: besides the Rubber Man series, the Original Secret Medicine School had only two other strengthening series available, and Tang Qi chose this one. Starting with the ¡°Swift Secret Medicine,¡± advancing to Phantom Secret Medicine, then Mist Secret Medicine, and finally the series¡¯ endpoint, the ¡°Fog Body Secret Medicine.¡± A total of four types; although the materials were inherited from the same lineage, strictly speaking, not one was duplicated. Thus, accumulating them became a massive project. Even though Tang Qi, on this trip, only needed to gather the main ingredients¡ªthose auxiliary components could be bought in bulk from both Herbal Medicine Street and Ore Street on Midtown Avenue¡ªit still proved quite challenging. But soon, Tang Qi thought of a solution. ¡°Hum.¡± His gaze suddenly fell on the central tent at the gathering, which occupied the largest plot of land. Since the gathering had no organizer, Tang Qi had no place to hire helpers. Yet in a wandering circus, there would surely be numerous errand apprentices willing to work for Tang Qi, and the circus leader would likely not refuse this windfall from heaven; after all, it was just lending out a few apprentices while he waited to collect money. What Tang Qi needed to do was draw up the materials needed, distribute them, and then pay. With this thought, Tang Qi leisurely entered the wandering circus, which was bustling with various scents, and everything proceeded just as smoothly as Tang Qi had imagined. The rotund circus leader simply could not refuse the charm of ¡°Divine Grace.¡± He quickly lent Tang Qi five apprentices. After delegating the tasks and promising a generous tip upon completion, the five apprentices, only a few years older than Tang Qi, thanked him profusely and cheerfully set off. Tang Qi, originally pressed for time, suddenly found himself with spare moments. Muttering to himself about ¡°the charm of gold coins,¡± the somewhat idle Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but begin wandering around aimlessly. With the pressure of collecting secret medicine materials gone, Tang Qi soon discovered many interesting spots hidden within the gathering. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Soul Comforter and the Mysterious Tent Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Soul Comforter and the Mysterious Tent A gathering taking place from midnight to early morning, this clearly cannot be a normal meeting. From the main merchandise sold¡ªherbs, furs, and an assortment of strange things¡ªit is evident that those who find and come to this gathering are considered rather eccentric in the eyes of ordinary people. Yet among these, there are even more peculiar sights to be found at the gathering. Right now, one such sight is before Tang Qi. It is a small, old tent seemingly made from stitching together various pieces of animal hides. Inside, there is a tiny altar, and behind it in an open space, an elder dressed in indigenous attire, his head adorned with feathers, is dancing exuberantly as if performing some bizarre dance. In front of the altar, an old mountain man clasps a wooden box to his chest, his face filled with sorrow. Tang Qi did not need to ask deliberately, the low murmurs of the crowd around him were enough to give away the story. The elder is a ¡°Soul Comforter.¡± He is currently performing a soul calming ritual for a deceased dog, a hound that supposedly accompanied the mountain man for over a decade. Many mountain dwellers and pioneers believe that the elder from the Nuca Tribe is a respectable Soul Comforter whose dance can provide peace to any soul. To Tang Qi¡¯s surprise, they were correct. Because as Tang Qi¡¯s gaze fixed upon the Nuca elder, particularly while he was dancing, a familiar interface took shape slowly. [Extraordinary Creatures: Soul Comforter.] [State: Normal.] Go to ????????????????????.co [Information Fragment One: A Soul Comforter from the Nuca Tribe, his soul calming dance can bring rest to some weaker souls, but it¡¯s ineffective against stronger souls such as resentful spirits and evil spirits.] [Information Fragment Two: Apart from the soul calming dance, the elder doesn¡¯t possess any other mysterious powers, and any adult could kill him.] ¡°A Transcendent!¡± A gleam of excitement flashed across Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. Strictly speaking, the dancing elder before him was the first living person from the Mysterious Side that Tang Qi had encountered. Old Morgan is in a soul state, and is now suffering as Judgement Demon. And the Dog-faced Man, Manatee Sea Demon, Corpse-eating Nightingale, Desire Slave Painter, Dual Blade Man¡­ none of these can be counted as human. But this elder is clearly human. If possible, Tang Qi would really like to communicate with him. However, the elder seems busy with rituals, various mountaineers bringing their pets, partners, or even the urns of their loved ones to him, so that he could perform the soul calming dance, leaving him no time to pay attention to Tang Qi, who also has no need to tranquilize any souls. Therefore, he could only give up the idea. Tang Qi didn¡¯t pay it much mind, considering the information passed on from his special ability, the so-called Soul Comforter, whose function is similar to that of a Priest and unless promoted to Professional Level, their combat power is almost non-existent. After observing for a short while, Tang Qi silently left and wandered elsewhere. Because of the first discovery, Tang Qi was looking forward to seeing other individuals from the Mysterious Side. Unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed. During nearly an hour of leisurely stroll through the gathering, Tang Qi saw divination masters before crystal balls, illusionists playing with strange visual tricks, and monster shows directly from the circus to recruit customers. They were all very abnormal, but none bore any trace of the Mysterious Side. He checked on the progress of collecting secret medicine materials, and Divine Grace Coins flowed out like water. Soon, the bag that could supply an ordinary Messer City family¡¯s expenses for ten years would be depleted. Tang Qi also planned to return with satisfaction. It was at this time that Tang Qi discovered another special place. It was a medium-sized tent in an inconspicuous corner on the lawn. Two formidable big men guarded in front of the tent, and those who entered, whether they were middle-aged men in suits and leather shoes or disheveled otaku, all wore a face full of mystery. This scene immediately piqued Tang Qi¡¯s interest. He approached, and the two ¡°gatekeepers¡± merely sized him up but did not stop him from entering. Tang Qi noticed a hint of mocking anticipation flashing through their eyes, as if they were expecting something to happen. As soon as Tang Qi stepped into the tent and saw the layout inside and the ¡°goods¡± on display, he immediately understood what the two outside were expecting. They were anticipating the scene of Tang Qi being so frightened that he¡¯d flee for the exit. Inside the tent, a small exhibition and sale were being held. And the exhibited goods, without exception, all related to serial killers. If an ordinary high schooler had come in, they indeed would have been scared out of their wits because the owner of this tent had ¡°thoughtfully¡± displayed the serial killers¡¯ deeds, crime scene photos, murder weapons, and even some fragments of corpses. Right in front of him, it could be described as a feast for the eyes, and with the somber light setting the mood, those of faint heart might be feeling their scalp tingle, body hairs stand on end, before turning to run. Especially at the table at the entrance, there was a small special section set up for one of the most infamous serial killers in the history of the Divine Eagle Federation, Dennis Red. The centerpiece was his personal profile, the number of victims, and various clippings. And the goods¡ªprobably that black briefcase¡ªcontained various torture tools, such as handguns, ropes, handcuffs, and daggers. Besides that, there were several yellowed letters, introduced below as provocation letters Red had personally written to the police department. Their prices also far surpassed Tang Qi¡¯s expectations, with each item priced in Divine Grace Coins. ¡°It¡¯s so expensive; looks like it¡¯s quite popular.¡± Tang Qi silently observed the frightening scene photos. Aside from a hint of disgust, there was not much feeling. Serial killers were terrifying entities like monsters to ordinary people, but apparently, they couldn¡¯t move someone like Tang Qi, an Extraordinary Person. After all, the previously encountered Manatee Sea Demon could also be counted among the ranks of serial killers. Compared to these deranged humans, it was the true monster of perversion. Not to mention the scenes of the Corpse-eating Nightingale feeding or the Blood Flower Evil Spirit blowing up bodies that Tang Qi had witnessed. The atmosphere deliberately created within the tent was probably to cater to those ¡°freaks¡± who loved dark charm¡ªpeople who seemed very ordinary on the outside but harbored dark corners in their hearts, like those in the tent at the moment. From the well-dressed middle-aged men, to otaku, housewives, and even some young girls, they were everywhere in the city. But now, they gathered here, looking excitedly at these items related to the serial killer. Some wealthy ones would even opt to purchase. And no doubt, the most popular items were those associated with the bodies of the serial killers, like a piece of clothing, a pair of glasses, or a tooth. After scanning around, Tang Qi twitched his mouth and was about to leave. It was at the moment he turned around that, out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to glimpse something¡ªa faint eerie glow flashing by. ¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, Tang Qi came to an abrupt halt. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Black Blade Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Black Blade Tang Qi could only think of one possibility that would make him stamp his feet at this moment¡ªhe had found¡­ something good. His special ability had come into play once again. After pausing for a moment, Tang Qi naturally turned around and walked towards the deeper part of the tent, where there was another wooden table, displaying another serial killer¡¯s artifacts. Jeffrey Hegg, an active serial killer from year 10 to 23 of the Divine Eagle Calendar, claimed to have been called by a demon, killing for faith. Over the span of more than a decade, he brutally murdered nearly a hundred people, encompassing almost every race and age group¡­ Eventually, he died of illness inside the prison. The overzealous Federation media had dubbed him the ¡°Devil Disciple,¡± despite the opposition from the police. The display was extremely rich in items, including Hegg¡¯s clothing worn during the murders, the murder weapons, crime scene photos, oil paintings created while serving time in prison¡­ and an item that truly caught Tang Qi¡¯s attention. A small knife! To be more precise, it was a bone blade. Roughly made, with a wooden handle and a yellowing blade, it gave off an unpleasant, nauseating aura. The description below stated that the bone blade, made from Jeffrey Hegg¡¯s rib, was priced at a full fifteen hundred Divine Grace. Seeing that price, Tang Qi immediately frowned slightly. That price tag had actually surpassed what Tang Qi paid for Blood Python One. Pondering, Tang Qi¡¯s gaze focused and he looked earnestly at the bone blade. Glimmers of light twinkled, and a special interface popped up. Go to ????????????????????.co [Curio: Black Blade.] [State: Undeciphered.] [Information Fragment One: Affected by a demon¡¯s influence, the madness of Jeffrey Hegg, the human who relentlessly killed nearly a hundred of his own kind. The spurting blood, sharp screams, twisted souls¡­ they created a demon-like body. All of the demonic nature, along with Hegg¡¯s soul, converged in this bone blade. It is sealed and can be decrypted.] [Information Fragment Two: Decryption method one, at midnight, hold the bone blade and silently chant Hegg¡¯s name three times to summon his soul and acknowledge his achievements to receive a Demon Blade. Decryption method two, find a way to destroy Hegg¡¯s soul to obtain an unknown bone blade.] ¡°Two decryption methods?¡± The information about the bone blade made Tang Qi surprised as well. He had seen sealed items, like the Meditation Method or Bloodline One. But it was the first time he had seen one with two decryption methods. After pondering on the spot for a few seconds, Tang Qi quickly made up his mind. Buy it! The price was steep, requiring a lot of Divine Eagle Gold Coins, but compared to Tang Qi¡¯s fortune, it was still manageable. Most crucially, compared to the curio, the Gold Coins seemed far less significant. ¡°Swipe the card!¡± Once again, Tang Qi uttered these words, then handed his Gold Card to the sleazy merchant who had somehow closed in. A few seconds later, under the strange stares of the two gatekeepers, Tang Qi, the youth who appeared rather refined, left the mysterious and disgusting tent with a cloth bag in hand. He headed straight back to the circus, where the apprentices had already successfully completed their tasks. Tang Qi checked and confirmed that all the materials he needed had been purchased, gladly gave a tip, and then took a ride in something specially arranged by the circus¡­ a horse-drawn carriage. Yes, a horse-drawn carriage. Fortunately, Messer City, besides its fine modernization, also catered to some historical culture. During the day, one could occasionally see nostalgic residents who enjoyed riding in horse-drawn carriages, which turned out to be a fine revenue-generating industry. ¡°` It was just the wee hours of the morning, slightly strange, that¡¯s all. However, Tang Qi was in a great mood at the time, the night market at Blue Bear Park had yielded a very satisfying haul. While concocting Secret Medicine did not necessitate the inclusion of Curios, and even most low-end Secret Medicines didn¡¯t require Extraordinary Artifacts, on the other hand, they did need a plethora of not-so-common materials. The role of the Secret Medicine recipes was probably to extract unusual elements from these materials. Eventually, they turned into Secret Medicines imbued with Extraordinary Powers. Those materials, had Tang Qi been collecting them on Midtown Avenue, would probably have taken him at least a year and a half to gather fully. But that night market, it was different. Those mountain folk, indigenous people, from various deep mountains, swamps, canyons¡­ brought all kinds of rare materials, perfectly fulfilling Tang Qi¡¯s needs. Amidst the ¡°clippity-clop¡± and the unique bell sounds hanging from circus carriages, Tang Qi quickly returned to Thorns Campus. After giving the coachman a few silver coins, this man named Larry, a burly bearded man briskly locked the carriage and then helped Tang Qi, carrying bags large and small of materials into the campus. Opening the iron gate, letting Larry carry the materials into the first-floor living room, Tang Qi himself went outside, out of habit to retrieve all sorts of newspapers and magazines from the mailbox. After moving into Thorns Campus, it was a custom Tang Qi had always maintained. Even though the information was filtered, in this era, there was no more convenient way to stay informed about the outside world than subscribing to newspapers and magazines. Tang Qi¡¯s favorites were the stoically styled, objective ¡°Messer Evening News¡±, the mystery-loving ¡°Purple Moonlight Newspaper¡±, and ¡°Universal Wrench Magazine¡± which introduced all kinds of technology. As usual, Tang Qi took out a stack of newspapers. Just as he was about to step back into the house, this time, something that had never appeared before fell out from among the newspapers. It was an envelope! Clearly, the seal was not very tight, and with Tang Qi¡¯s movements, the contents of the envelope¡ªa stack of photographs, simultaneously slid out. With the light reflected from inside the house, Tang Qi immediately saw the content on those photos. Black people, the photos showed several different black people. It looked like¡­ a family! ¡­ ¡°Creak¡± Tang Qi¡¯s hands suddenly tensed, the veins bulging as he gripped the stack of newspapers tightly, his face showing a strange expression, quickly adjusted his demeanor, then put the newspapers and magazines back into the mailbox, and afterward bent down to pick up each photograph, reinserting them into the envelope. After that, he paid Larry with his usual expression and bid the coachman farewell. Following the routine, Tang Qi brewed himself a pot of coffee, prepared some snacks, and then sat down on the sofa, reopening the envelope. The first photo was a group portrait. The photographer seemed to be on the right side of the scene, at some distance, and the image on the photo was of a sealed-off villa. Outside the villa¡¯s large iron gate stood eight black people, both men and women, all with somewhat gloomy expressions. That villa belonged to Tang Qi. And the appearance of these photos was a small foreshadowing before Tang Qi left. He had asked a neighbor who was about to sell his villa due to income not covering expenses for a bit of emergency cash, only asking for a small favor in return. To set up a camera in the villa room by the window, so that if any ¡°visitors¡± appeared outside his villa, they would be photographed and the pictures sent to him. Having stayed in Thorns Campus for a while, Tang Qi had not yet received them. He thought he might have some more time to stall, but on his first day as ¡°Police Station Consultant,¡± the surprise had come. ¡°` Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Uluu Puppet Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Uluu Puppet On the case table, photographs were spread out, each a portrait, photographed very clearly, worth the emergency funds paid by Tang Qi. Suddenly receiving these, Tang Qi did not show any surprise in his eyes but calmly picked out a group photo and individual ones, repeatedly making sure no one was missed out, and then gently exhaled a sigh, murmuring, ¡°As expected, that old thing is not in them, this indeed is a surprise.¡± As his words finished, Tang Qi began to look seriously at the photos in front of him. This was a black family, a family bestowed with the name ¡°the Samra family.¡± Although the Clan Leader Samra was not there, and the acting Clan Leader was being tortured on the Soul Swapping Balance by Tang Qi. All the other members were on the photos. The most noticeable person in the photo was a tall man like a small giant, with a face full of fleshy slabs, dressed in butcher attire, with small eyes, but a fierce, indifferent aura that was visible even through the photo. ¡°Balagon, Samra¡¯s second son, his current profession is a butcher.¡± Tang Qi took out a charcoal pencil and marked on the photo. In a strict sense, they hadn¡¯t met face-to-face yet, and Tang Qi¡¯s mark was based on Old Morgan¡¯s diary and the half-devoured soul. Then, his gaze moved to the second person, a middle-aged woman, skinny, expressionless, with perpetually wide-open eyes that showed an indifference identical to that of Balagon. ¡°Georgina, Balagon¡¯s wife, her profession is a maid.¡± Marking her, Tang Qi looked towards the third and fourth persons, a pair of ordinary-looking, plump twin sisters with dirty braids and fierce expressions on their faces. Go to ?????????????????.co ¡°Harria Sisters, the daughters of Balagon and Georgina, unemployed.¡± After marking these two, Tang Qi directly skipped the next two people. According to Old Morgan¡¯s diary, they were just tribal slaves who followed them leaving the Saha Continent, responsible for menial labor, unimportant existence. What truly made Tang Qi take seriously were the last two photos. The first photo displayed a thin and tall black man, his face was the same, as if shriveled from a severe illness, his age seemed to be between youth and middle age, with bizarre tattoos covering his body, even on his eyelids. He wore a garment that appeared to be made from a single piece of dark red cotton cloth, standing silently like a ghost behind a young man, silent and motionless. The second photo was of that young man, frail in build and ugly in appearance, who was actually the leader of this group, standing at the center, looking gloomily at the sealed villa. ¡°Fosca!¡± ¡°Abu!¡± In Tang Qi¡¯s mouth, two names spilled out. Different from the previous gaze, in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes now, was an undisguisable wariness. The source of his wariness stemmed from the description in Old Morgan¡¯s diary. In the diary, it recorded a very malicious and terrifying witchcraft called ¡°Uluu Puppet.¡± And among the Samra family, there was such a puppet, the Samra¡¯s third son Fosca. He was born with intellectual disabilities, and after siring his only son with a slave, he was turned into a puppet by his biological mother Samra. After modification, he became a true killing monster, possessing the power to destroy everything, terrifying speed, nearly inexhaustible stamina, and some constant strange Black Witchcraft on his body. However, compared to a puppet, the second person made Tang Qi feel more troubled. That ugly-faced, weak black man was named Abu, Fosca¡¯s only son, and also the most beloved grandson of Samra. Old Morgan¡¯s diary mentioned that Samra had almost decided that Abu would become the inheritor of the ¡°Black Snake Witch.¡± The next in line will no longer be the Black Snake Witch Samra, but the Black Snake Wizard Abu. After marking the two, Tang Qi fell into contemplation. He was calculating the power he currently held, to see if he could confront the family now lacking Samra. Merely seconds later, Tang Qi shook his head, the answer was no. Old Morgan¡¯s diary could not possibly depict the full strength of these individuals, but even the parts that were revealed, had already posed a considerable challenge to Tang Qi. ¡°Unless, I can get official powers to intervene¡­¡± This thought had barely arisen before Tang Qi dismissed it. He was just a Police Station Consultant for now, and getting official powers to help him deal with the Samra family was difficult. Especially since during their settling in the Federation, the Samra family, learning from past lessons, had become extremely cautious, hardly leaving any vulnerabilities for Tang Qi to exploit and frame them. ¡°The most critical point is, if I cannot kill with one strike, I must not take any action, as I can¡¯t afford the consequences of letting one escape and then invoking Samra¡¯s wrath.¡± ¡°Samra is definitely a Professional of a very high Transcendent Level, especially after the return of the Spiritual Tide, her power¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush now, I still have time. Apart from Samra, Old Morgan didn¡¯t tell anyone about the Soul Swapping Ceremony, and Samra left Messer City right after saying goodbye to Old Morgan to travel, which means¡­¡± ¡°Hu~¡± Tang Qi quickly sorted out his thoughts. As he exhaled breath, his gaze fell upon a large pile of Secret Medicine Materials in the center of the living room and he almost immediately made a decision. Tang Qi reached for the phone and made calls first to the school¡¯s counselor and then to Stanna, securing a day off, and he also wanted to inform Sally, but remembering that this girl¡¯s family did not have such a luxury, he had to let it go. After settling everything, Tang Qi made himself a delicious dinner as usual, compromising on other matters, but always maintaining a sense of ritual when it came to eating, just as on Earth. After a full meal, Tang Qi did not begin immediately but instead entered into the cultivation of the Meditation Method. But this time, in addition to cultivation, what was more important was to adjust his state. Before entering ¡°closed-door meditation,¡± he wanted to bring his body and mind into the best possible condition. About an hour later, Tang Qi awoke. He rose slowly, feeling a warm sensation as both his body and mind entered an unprecedented state of fullness. ¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± Murmuring to himself, Tang Qi approached his workbench. Previously, that was where he made Extraordinary Bullets. But now, it would be where he attempted to craft Secret Medicine. ¡°One day and one night, with a Beginner¡¯s realm in Secret Medicine, to challenge the crafting of Fog Body Secret Medicine series¡ªalthough I have all the materials, if other Secret Alchemists knew, they would probably laugh at me as a madman.¡± ¡°Such a short time, even the most basic Swift Secret Medicine might not be successfully concocted, and yet to ambitiously attempt Fog Body Secret Medicine?¡± ¡­ ¡°If others couldn¡¯t, why couldn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°As for curios that can increase combat power in a short time, and are within my reach, besides Secret Medicine, there is nothing else.¡± ¡°So, in fact, I don¡¯t really have any other option.¡± Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71 The Effects of Swift Secret Medicine Chapter 71: Chapter 71 The Effects of Swift Secret Medicine ¡°Gugug~Gugug¡± At the workbench, sounds were emanating from the crucible. Tang Qi¡¯s eyes were filled with intense seriousness as his hands continuously picked up various materials beside him, patiently adding them bit by bit, while a stream of information naturally flowed through his mind. Now, he was in the activated state of the skill ¡°Secret Medicine¡±. ¡°Swift Secret Medicine recipe, the main ingredients are a dried Two-tailed hunting lizard, a bag of explosive earth star spores, and a small cup of Yellow-eyed Rattlesnake venom¡­ Precautions, strictly follow the order and nodes to add the materials, if the Extraordinary Power is not effectively extracted, it may cause explosions or other unforeseen consequences.¡± When this piece of information passed, Tang Qi¡¯s mind simultaneously recalled the first and second trials he conducted seconds and tens of seconds ago. Both attempts ended in failure. The first attempt had no abnormalities, but the second one exploded, splattering him with a mushy substance. Now, this was the third attempt. After compiling various strange materials in the crucible, it once again turned mushy, the colors swirling as if it was a pot of overcooked wilderness mushroom porridge, the pungent odor continuously drifting out and constantly stimulating Tang Qi¡¯s nostrils. Tang Qi, restraining the urge to sneeze, slowly picked up a cup of yellow Rattlesnake venom and poured it into the crucible. The timing, the node, seemed to be just right. ¡°Gududu~Bo¡± As the venom was poured in, a marvelous reaction occurred inside the crucible. Go to ????????????????????.co The filthy mush suddenly became clear at a speed visible to the naked eye, disgusting bubbles formed and then shattered with a popping sound. Each time one burst, the liquid became clearer, and when the last bubble burst, what appeared in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes was a pot of liquid as clear as water. Curiously, even though there was no wind in the room, the liquid in the crucible began to ripple on its own, wave after wave, as if it had its own life. ¡°Success!¡± This awe-inspiring scene also stirred excitement in Tang Qi. Almost immediately, his gaze focused on the liquid. Sure enough, a familiar interface popped up. [Curios: Swift Secret Medicine.] [Quality: Common.] [Information Fragment One: It is a complete Secret Medicine, consuming it can grant faster speed, the amplification effect is limited by the consumer¡¯s physical condition and spiritual power.] [Information Fragment Two: It is also the starting point of the Phantom Secret Medicine series from the Original Secret Medicine School.] ¡°The third attempt succeeded, consistent with my speculation.¡± Delighted, Tang Qi transferred the Secret Medicine inside the crucible into a pre-customized glass bottle. Simultaneously, his gaze inadvertently shifted to himself. The skill column, as anticipated, had undergone changes. [Secret Medicine: Knowledge from the Original Secret Medicine School, Realm: Beginner; Progress: 1%.] ¡°Hmm?¡± While the front part was normal, the progress rate at the back made Tang Qi involuntarily reveal a surprised expression. His skills, including the Meditation Method practiced daily, all had very slow progress. When he just began, it even started from tenths of a percent. Unexpectedly, upon beginning Secret Medicine, it started from one percent. ¡°Perhaps, Secret Medicine is somewhat different, or perhaps, the increase later will not be as much?¡± Tang Qi speculated briefly, opting not to continue with the fourth trial immediately, but instead looked at the Secret Medicine in his hand with eagerness. ¡°Try it?¡± With that thought, Tang Qi had no hesitation, directly unplugging the bottle stopper. Tilting his head back, he guzzled down the clear liquid with a gulp. Cool! Abdominal swelling! The reaction came abnormally fast. After drinking the Secret Medicine, Tang Qi first felt a cool sensation enveloping him, then his abdomen began to swell, but when Tang Qi looked down, he saw his abdomen was still flat, unchanged. It was as if the swelling was just an illusion, or something happening on another level. The swelling increased, and began to involve his entire body; Tang Qi felt like a balloon being gradually inflated. Even his thoughts began to spread and expand. This was not a pleasant experience; it reminded him of the Blood Flower Evil Spirit. Just as Tang Qi was struggling to do something, suddenly, a ¡°hiss¡± came from the void, as if something had punctured the balloon. Everything returned to normal. Tang Qi once again felt his body, this time, it was different. He felt lighter, the air seemed less resistant, his feet slightly itchy, a strange impulse emerging at the bottom of his heart. ¡°This light feeling is quite marvelous.¡± ¡°Bang~¡± Suddenly, Tang Qi moved, adopting a pose from the Chaga Fighting Technique, and charged out like a cheetah. ¡°Whoosh~¡± Initially, Tang Qi seemed to hear the sound of the wind. Then he opened his eyes and saw his home¡¯s doorway. This? The terrifying speed might have already surpassed that of the Blank Dog-faced Man. In such a short time, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t quantify the difference in speed before and after taking the Secret Medicine, but from that moment, Tang Qi reckoned, if he were to race with the Dog-faced Man again, he wouldn¡¯t need to sacrifice a hand to decrypt Blood Python No.1. Within the snug living room, Tang Qi began to practice Chaga Fighting Techniques, some previously difficult moves now done with ease, the Swift Secret Medicine not just simply enhancing speed but also seemingly reconstructing his body, tiny but significant adjustments. If he were to face the Dog-faced Man again, Tang Qi wouldn¡¯t even need to sacrifice an arm; just relying on the miraculous boost from the Secret Medicine and his Fighting Skills would be enough to kill the Dog-faced Man. After a good fifteen minutes, Tang Qi adapted to his new body and once again approached the workbench, a smile on his lips, saying: ¡°I am now very much looking forward to the Phantom Secret Medicine of the Second Sequence.¡± Though he mentioned looking forward to the Phantom, Tang Qi still started to prepare the Swift Secret Medicine. The effects of the medicine had been tested, but others still needed experimenting. Fifteen seconds later, Tang Qi had another bottle resembling clear water in his hand, looking at the progress turned into 1.1%, he muttered: ¡°It seems, it¡¯s because of the bonus from first-time success? I¡¯ll prepare some more, then aim for the next stage.¡± ¡°Gurgle~gurgle¡± ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s almost certain, it was a first-time success bonus, perhaps there¡¯s one every time a recipe succeeds?¡± Looking at ten bottles of Swift Secret Medicine neatly lined up in front of him, and the progress now at 2.1%, Tang Qi muttered to himself. After thinking for a while, without delay, he stored the ten bottles of medicine. Then, inwardly he declared: ¡°Begin, the Second Sequence!¡± The materials on the workbench were all used up, so he just needed to arrange the ingredients for the Phantom Secret Medicine. Soon, the brand new materials were neatly placed on the bench. Tang Qi didn¡¯t hesitate, simply activating the ¡°Secret Medicine School¡± Skill in his mind. ¡°Buzz~¡± A flurry of Information Fragments suddenly flowed past at that moment. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Mist Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Mist ¡°Ten, nine, eight, seven¡­¡± Inside the brick and stone building, standing before the workbench, Tang Qi watched the Crucible that had already been lidded, his voice muttering the countdown. It was quite rare that even when in the midst of activating a Skill, a trace of nervousness could still be seen on his face. Perhaps because the results of several previous attempts had all ended in failure. ¡°One!¡± As he uttered this word, Tang Qi¡¯s hands swiftly removed the Lid. Bang! Another familiar sound of explosion shook Tang Qi¡¯s heartstrings. The outcomes of his earlier potion mixing attempts were all the same due to some small, subtle mistake. Unfinished secret medicine would explode, bringing Tang Qi many bad experiences. In order to extract Extraordinary Power, once the mixing starts, the ingredients would undergo strange mutations. If successful, all is good, but failure often resulted in consequences akin to a cruel prank. For example, during one explosion, the liquids smelled as foul as the legendary surstr?mming can. If it were not for the fact that Tang Qi had previously taken the Second Sequence ¡°Phantom Secret Medicine¡±, the repercussions could have been quite dire; at the very least, he would not have been able to attend class for several days. Even so, the floor of his home had taken a beating. So, upon hearing the sound of the explosion once more, Tang Qi was inevitably nervous. His gaze swept over quickly, ready to instantly flee from the spot at the first sign of trouble. However, this time what occurred was not an accident but a very unusual sight. Go to ????????????????????.co After the explosion, streams of black liquid surged from within the Crucible, seemingly poised to splash out and stain the entire workbench black, but the moment this liquid overfilled the borders of the Crucible, as if drawn by some force, it was pulled back. Whoosh! Suddenly, all the liquids rapidly contracted back and then transformed into an odd ¡°Pupa¡± at the bottom of the Crucible. A black Pupa that appeared to be forever changing shapes. ¡°Did we succeed?¡± ¡°Hum¡± As ghost light began to appear before his eyes, and when the familiar interface was about to pop up, Tang Qi quickly picked up a glass bottle and placed it next to the Pupa. With a gentle scoop, it indeed slowly entered the bottle, and a brand-new secret medicine was born. [Curios: Mist Secret Medicine.] [Quality: Excellent.] [Information Fragment One: It is an excellent secret medicine that, upon consumption, will grant the consumer a Mist Body. The amplification effect is limited by the consumer¡¯s physical condition and spiritual power.] [Information Fragment Two: It is part of the Third Sequence of the Original Secret Medicine School¡¯s Fog Body series.] [Information Fragment Three: Before taking it, one must have first consumed the Second Sequence¡¯s Phantom Secret Medicine, or unknown consequences will occur.] ¡°Phew¡± Holding the glass bottle, Tang Qi exhaled turbidly. At this moment, he looked somewhat fatigued and was covered in grime, with quite a few bloodshot veins appearing in his eyes. After carefully placing the newly born ¡°Mist Secret Medicine¡±, he did not immediately consume it but instead silently glanced at the wall clock. 8:15 PM. ¡°Has a whole day passed?¡± Tang Qi felt somewhat disoriented as he glanced through the gap in the curtains at the sky outside. Nightfall had already enveloped everything. Despite being supported by Meditation Method, and having long ago transcended the scope of an ordinary person, after having worked at the workbench for a whole day, Tang Qi still felt very fatigued, especially after the joy brought on by the success of the Mist Secret Medicine. As he relaxed just a bit, every part of his body protested. Now, Tang Qi somewhat understands why the Schools possessing knowledge of secret medicine had perished. After all, according to the effects of the various secret medicines, one could easily arm a powerful extraordinary army. Today, after trying his hand at concoction, he realized that mass production of secret medicines is nonexistent. He has a special ability, allowing him to use secret medicine knowledge as a skill, and his success rate in concocting secret medicines far exceeds that of ordinary Secret Alchemists. Yet even so, as the number of concoctions increases, the success rate seems to stabilize at a certain value. Even if Tang Qi disregards the consumption of spiritual power, he would still need to incur additional costs to produce more secret medicines. Moreover, this is just for the First Sequence secret medicines. With each subsequent increase in Sequence, the success rate would drop again, and the costs would soar dramatically. The mass production he envisioned is difficult to achieve. Additionally, there are limitations to the consumption of secret medicines. The same secret medicine can only be used once, and repeated use does not stack the effects. Furthermore, to consume higher Sequence secret medicines, one must have already consumed the previous Sequence. For instance, the prerequisite for the ¡°Mist Secret Medicine¡± before Tang Qi¡¯s eyes is that he must have already consumed the Phantom Secret Medicine, which in turn requires prior consumption of the Swift Secret Medicine. Besides these, there are other subtle restrictions; it¡¯s clear that there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Of course, this doesn¡¯t affect Tang Qi¡¯s progress. He did not immediately consume the Mist Secret Medicine, but instead washed up and cooked himself a pot of nutritious and sweetly fragranced shrimp brain vegetable porridge. After comforting his stomach, Tang Qi entered a Meditation State right in front of his workbench. Compared to sleep, meditation is more efficient and effective. Whew! The golden Sun, having been completely outlined, emerged in the midst of darkness and nihility¡­ ¡­ An hour later, Tang Qi awoke, full of energy. His previous fatigue had vanished. Tang Qi returned to his workbench and glanced over the rows of secret medicines in the freezer, the pupa-like Mist Secret Medicine being the most conspicuous. He took another look at his Skill Bar, and there was a significant change in the progress of his secret medicine knowledge. [Secret Medicine: Knowledge of the Original Secret Medicine School, Realm: Beginner; Progress: 15.8%.] Tang Qi himself probably didn¡¯t expect that the skill of secret medicine knowledge, which he had only begun to learn the day before, would suddenly advance faster than his other skills. This seems surprising, but the process is not complicated. Before concocting the Second Sequence Phantom Secret Medicine, the progress was 2.1%. After the successful concoction, it immediately jumped to 4.1%. Additionally, Tang Qi spent materials to concoct several bottles of Phantom Secret Medicine, and the progress shot up to 7.8%. The current progress is clearly due to the recent successful concoction of the Mist Secret Medicine. A single bottle of Mist Secret Medicine took the progress past the ten percent mark. ¡°Higher Sequence secret medicines bring more progression?¡± ¡°That makes sense, it makes me even more eager to see, after the success of the Fourth Tier Fog Body Secret Medicine, which is the endpoint of this enhancement series, what will the progress look like?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start!¡± Unexpectedly, Tang Qi didn¡¯t consume the Mist Secret Medicine straight away like before, but instead quickly cleared the workbench and brought over the materials needed for the last Sequence. His plan was to make a full-on effort to hit the ¡°Fog Body¡± Secret Medicine. As the final Sequence of secret medicine, the materials Tang Qi brought over were surprisingly few. Not to mention the main ingredient, the auxiliary ingredients were pitifully scarce, merely a dozen or so types. However, what was even scarcer were the three main ingredients, which were particularly eye-catching. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73 The Terrifying Ability Chapter 73: Chapter 73 The Terrifying Ability During the hundred years when the Mysterious Side ¡°disappeared,¡± most people in the Federation embraced a more scientific and convenient life, yet there were still many who chose a different way of living. For example, the first stall owner Tang Qi encountered in Blue Bear Park, the mountain dweller Thorne, as well as the elderly practitioner of Spiritual Cultivation, not to mention the Soul Comforters still engaged in ¡°superstitious work.¡± These people fled the cities to embark on different journeys of life in the wilderness or within tribes. Unlike the city dwellers, their acceptance of the Mysterious Side was evidently stronger, and sometimes they would even take the initiative to make contact and collect relevant materials. Eventually, they brought these materials to the night market for sale, where they ended up in Tang Qi¡¯s hands. Three peculiar ingredients were in his possession: a mushroom covered with grey spots, a pair of still fresh eyeballs, and a bag of black blood. ¡°Mysterious Grey Spotted Mushroom, a mushroom that only appears and grows in canyons, swamps, or other concealed places when the mist rises. It causes hallucinations when consumed by ordinary people and is used by some hippies as a substitute for expensive morphine.¡± ¡°Eyeballs of a Ghost Shadow Owl, a very horrifying bird of prey that only appears at night.¡± ¡°Black Water Salamander¡¯s fresh blood, which can only be preserved for three days before turning into a deadly poison.¡± As Tang Qi muttered to himself, his hands had already begun to move. The formula for the Fog Body Secret Medicine flowed through his mind. The dozen or so ingredients were added one by one into the Crucible by Tang Qi, quickly turning into a boiling liquid, along with some bones and chunks of meat tumbling inside. If the odor wafting out were not somewhat revolting, one might think Tang Qi was cooking a pot of meat soup. ¡°The real challenge has arrived.¡± Enduring the strange smell, Tang Qi silently picked up the grey-spotted mushroom, without hesitation, and tossed it in. Go to ????????????????????.co A bizarre scene unfolded, the sizeable Mysterious Grey Spotted Mushroom silently dissolved upon contact with the ¡°meat soup,¡± subsequently causing the entire pot of liquid to ¡°bubble¡± fiercely, emitting a stench at least ten times more intense than before. What was more terrifying, as grey gasses drifted out, Tang Qi¡¯s head trembled, and the scene before his eyes started to violently shift; the ceiling began to fall, the ground twisted and parted, the corner cabinet sprouted limbs, and the stirring rod in his other hand suddenly grew a mouth, ¡°crunching¡± and nibbling at Tang Qi¡¯s palm¡­ Huff! Here it comes! The reason why Fog Body is a High Sequence power-enhancing Secret Medicine is not only due to its potency but also because of the difficulty in concocting it. Even the most experienced Secret Alchemists must proceed amidst hallucinations. The illusions will not dissipate until the potion is successfully concocted. Imagine, in such conditions, could a Secret Alchemist, who isn¡¯t even of the apprentice Profession, successfully concoct the high-level Secret Medicine, Fog Body? In truth, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t even find where the Crucible was now. ¡°No wonder Professor Cassel would rather concoct Demon Secret Medicine, going to great lengths to change his body, rather than challenge this power-enhancing series. It¡¯s known that Fog Body Secret Medicine can potentially solve cancer. But well¡­ I¡¯m not a Secret Alchemist who plays by the rules, am I?¡± Murmuring, Tang Qi suddenly closed his eyes, and then¡­ he activated another skill. Molten Furnace Eye! Boom! In just one second, a mere second, the golden light in Tang Qi¡¯s eyes disappeared. But it was also in that second, the triggered effect: Calming Spirit! All illusions vanished without a trace under Tang Qi¡¯s gaze. Afterward, Tang Qi re-entering into his Secret Medicine skill. With both hands, he grabbed the eyeballs and black blood, stuffing the Ghost Shadow Owl eyeballs into the bag of blood. Upon contact, a reaction immediately occurred. The black blood, as if finding its source, desperately burrowed into the eyeballs. Shortly, the bag of blood vanished, replaced by two stark black eyeballs, shiny like black pearls. But they were unstable, jostling violently in Tang Qi¡¯s hand as if they might explode at any moment. At this moment, as the Hallucinogenic Gas was about to take effect, before a tide-like surge of hallucinations began, Tang Qi let out a low shout, clutching the two black eyeballs and aggressively tossing them into the Crucible. Plop! The newly emerged illusions vanished, and the nauseating smell dissipated. Tang Qi immediately looked down to find that the revolting meat soup in the Crucible had also disappeared, replaced by a bubble that was expanding at a visible rate. On the surface of the bubble, there were multicolored, dazzling streams of light. Inside, however, was a wisp of gray mist, continuously transforming into irregular shapes. The ghost light that delighted Tang Qi was faintly twinkling. In the depths of his eyes, a special interface was slowly forming. ¡°Did it work? Just like that¡­¡± ¡°Hu!¡± Before there was time to express joy, or even to clearly see the Information Fragment attached to the Fog Body Secret Medicine, Tang Qi seemed to have already thought through the process. As the bubble gradually swelled, he suddenly stepped forward, took out the ¡°Mist Secret Medicine¡± from the freezer, and without hesitation, popped the cap and gulped down an entire bottle of the secret medicine. Boom~ Bang bang! With a feeling entirely different from the previous swift and phantom sensations, this time, Tang Qi felt the world changing before his eyes, with every detail and shadow emerging, giving him the impression that if he wished, he could even erase all traces of his presence in the environment. ¡°This is the effect of the Mist Secret Medicine, a truly terrifying concealment power. This kind of power is probably what every assassin dreams of, but¡­ it¡¯s still not enough.¡± With a flash of thought, Tang Qi suddenly appeared in front of the Crucible. Reaching out with his palm, with a ¡°pop,¡± he burst the bubble. The wisp of gray smoke inside seemed to sense something and tried to twist away in an instant. But in the direction it chose, Tang Qi¡¯s face appeared without warning, and without any politeness, he opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the wisp of gray mist into his belly. Buzz! The gray mist entered his stomach, seemingly the final reaction. A strange transformation was taking place within Tang Qi¡¯s body. Starting from the head, buzzing and trembling, it then gradually extended to his whole body. With an indescribable sensation, he felt every part of his body disassembling and reassembling. Slowly, he raised his hands. To his astonishment, his fair skin was suddenly tinged with gray, then with a ¡°whoosh,¡± it disintegrated into two twisting wisps of gray smoke. He looked down and saw the same phenomenon in his lower body. As if sensing something, he turned to look at the side of the small living room, where there was a full-length floor mirror. Then, he saw it. His entire body disintegrated in an instant, turning into a wisp of gray mist. At first, it barely maintained a human shape, but a second later, Tang Qi realized he could control it all. Hu! He moved, the gray mist no longer restricted to a human shape, stretching and twisting irregularly, shifting and swarming around the room, unhindered by anything¡ªevery gap was easy to pass through, even¡­ a wall. Like a child who just got a new toy, Tang Qi kept trying the transformation between his body and the mist in the living room, also attempting to integrate other skills into the process, considering that it wasn¡¯t quite appropriate to fire a gun in the middle of the night. Naturally, he chose the Chaga Fighting Technique. If anyone were there, they would have witnessed a scene that was incredibly eerie and terrifying. In the cramped small living room, a wisp of inconspicuous gray smoke drifted. But suddenly, the smoke transformed into fists and feet, unleashing attacks of terrifying destructive power. After a full half-hour, Tang Qi began to tire of playing, confirming that he had adapted to the changes. ¡°Hu~ Buzz¡± Before the floor mirror, a wisp of smoke drifted over and finally slowly turned back into Tang Qi. Even Tang Qi himself couldn¡¯t help but marvel as he watched the transformation process, and the joy in his eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden. He said, ¡°Terrifying power¡­ My combat strength now¡­¡± With a thought, a strong impulse emerged from Tang Qi¡¯s heart: to go out immediately, use the Curse Mark, and feel the changes of this newfound power. But after glimpsing the rising sun through the gap in the curtains, Tang Qi had to temporarily suppress this idea. His gaze unconsciously drifted to the pile of photos on the sofa. He calmly said, ¡°A new day has begun.¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Opening the Box Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Opening the Box In the early morning, the deep part of the Thorns Campus began to bustle, and Tang Qi had already eaten breakfast inside a small brick and stone building. The incredibly sweet and soft red-hearted sweet potatoes, after a turn in the oven and peeled off their skin, filled the entire building with a rich aroma. Paired with a cup of yogurt, it was simply too satisfying; after all, those from the Mysterious Side don¡¯t need to worry about being overweight, right? After tidying up everything and picking up the textbooks and today¡¯s ¡°extracurricular materials,¡± Tang Qi, like the other students already gathering on campus, hurried to class. However, as he walked into the living room, Tang Qi paused, walked to a shelf, lifted the black cloth covering a glass bottle, and greeted, ¡°Good morning, Professor Cassel.¡± He also opened the lid and poured a bit of clean water inside for Rick Cassel, the Professor. Then, after closing the lid but not covering it with a black cloth again, he waited for Professor Cassel to wave his tentacles in response and then chuckled, ¡°As my tenant, Professor Cassel also needs to pay rent. But considering your current state, I¡¯ll trouble you to watch over the house in lieu of paying rent.¡± Hearing Tang Qi¡¯s words, the Rick Cassel soaking in the clean water seemed a bit slow to react. A second later, he stiffly lifted his tentacles to tap the glass bottle twice, indicating his agreement. Receiving an affirmative response, Tang Qi courteously waved his hand and then locked the door, quickly blending into the student tide. Letting Professor Cassel watch over the house was just a whimsical action by Tang Qi. If someone really infiltrated Tang Qi¡¯s home, they would most likely be from the Mysterious Side. With the little trick Professor Cassel had up his sleeve, it was hardly likely to trouble anybody. The truly secure things were still the setups made by Tang Qi himself. His collections, the most precious nowadays, naturally were the Secret Medicines he had prepared over a day and night. The rest, such as Human Skin Ointment and Devil Dog Hybrid Manuscript, were not as important; if an intruder recklessly opened Tang Qi¡¯s safe, they were likely greeted by an explosive reception. The truly useful items for Tang Qi, such as the Mysterious Hair Tie, Black Blade, or Blood Python No.1, were all carried with him. Go to ????????????????????.co If his fellow students or his teachers knew that this guy was carrying such a powerful cannon, what would their expressions be? However, it seemed unnecessary to worry about this, as during this time, no one cared about Tang Qi or Sally. Although it was a noble high school, besides some second-generation rich kids, most students were still diligently studying, especially in such a competitive city where middle-class children actually worked harder than those from the lower or upper echelons. The lower echelon students, unless they were geniuses like Sally, had no chance to step into this high school. As for the upper echelon second-generation rich kids, there seemed to have been an incident or something brewing, leading them to collectively take leave recently. This would be impossible in other schools. But here, power and money were the true Sovereigns, especially since the parents of those second-generation kids on leave were mostly school board members, which made privilege quite normal. With the most troublesome second-generation kids absent, ordinary students avoided Tang Qi or Sally as if terribly afraid. The two of them could not be more leisurely. Sally remained in her sloppy otaku look, listening attentively to class and taking detailed notes, even jotting down notes for Tang Qi as well. Meanwhile, Tang Qi seriously delved into those thick volumes, whether it was ¡°Federation Hundred Years of Strange, Absurd and Real¡± or ¡°Monster Records,¡± or other various books Tang Qi had borrowed, their content was complicated and messy, headache-inducing. Only Tang Qi could spend a whole day engrossed without feeling tired. Regarding that privilege to take leave anytime and skip classes, Tang Qi actually had it too. Recently acquired through the coordination between Messer Police Station and Thorny High School, Tang Qi, as a ¡°Police Station Consultant,¡± can attend classes flexibly and leave whenever he wishes. This was, of course, to facilitate Tang Qi in fulfilling his consulting duties, but the reception director of Thorny High School might not see it that way. Probably just marveling in their mind, thinking that behind this student, whose parents are both deceased, there must be some big shot, yet this big shot has a rather wicked sense of humor, to grant a student such privileges and even confer him the title of a police station consultant. Yesterday, after taking a day off with Stanna, Tang Qi was supposed to go to the police station today. The news of him successfully handling the ¡°Tulip Street Homicide¡± and ¡°Ice Corpse Case¡± the day before yesterday had fermented for a whole day, and one could almost imagine the mountainous pile of case files accumulated within the Messer Police Station, with each jurisdiction frantically tossing cases involving transcendental and mysterious aspects over to them. Regrettably, due to some reason, Tang Qi had to postpone it by another day. He spent the entire day within the campus, reading books while seemingly waiting for something. But by evening, when all students had left and he had said goodbye to Sally, he had not yet received what he was waiting for. Before night fell, Tang Qi returned to his small building, preparing dinner while he couldn¡¯t help but speculate. ¡°The photos were sent the day before yesterday; two days should be enough time for that family to come looking for me, shouldn¡¯t they? With Samra traveling abroad and no trace of Old Morgan, the acting clan leader, aren¡¯t they curious? Aren¡¯t they worried?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not right. Since they have already found the villa, they must be aware of my identity, or rather of the original owner¡¯s identity, they might even have heard of Old Morgan¡¯s death already.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not really a death. According to their tribal customs, the disappearance of the soul is a true death, which is why Samra has not yet come looking, considering I only cremated Old Morgan¡¯s body, his soul is still well and existing on the scale.¡± ¡°So, why hasn¡¯t the family, now under Abu¡¯s control, come to find me?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know about the Soul Swapping Ceremony, but with Old Morgan who always took care of them and supplied money having disappeared, as the young master, I should be the most likely to know the truth. They¡¯d have to come to ask me if they want to know everything, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Could something have happened in the meantime? Something that has held them back?¡± As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Tang Qi stopped; there was too little information, and baseless speculations were futile. After quickly finishing dinner, Tang Qi did not continue to wait or enter the Meditation Method for cultivation as usual. Instead, he once again approached the workbench. Tonight, he planned to do something, but before that, he intended to add a weapon to his arsenal. Chaga Fighting Technique involved more than just punches and kicks. But what kind of weapon it would be specifically, even Tang Qi couldn¡¯t predict. ¡°This feeling, it¡¯s a bit like opening boxes in my previous life as a gamer.¡± ¡°My luck shouldn¡¯t be too bad, right?¡± Mumbling to himself, Tang Qi then reached into his pocket and pulled out a bone blade that, regardless of shape, craftsmanship, or other aspects, was extremely crude and poor. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Power of Pain Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Power of Pain ¡°Black Blade¡± Tang Qi read out the name of the item he had purchased for a full fifteen hundred Divine Graces from the gathering at Blue Bear Park¡ªan illegal artifact made from the rib bone of Jeffrey Hegg, one of the most notorious serial killers. Tang Qi found the rough, primitive design convincing. The trade of serial killer-related items was, in fact, a mature industry chain that began with the capture of each serial killer. Despite repeated denunciations by the police, this did not deter the daring black market merchants. After all, it was a highly profitable business with little risk. This Bone Blade was likely obtained after some merchant sent people to directly excavate Hegg¡¯s grave, choosing the hardest rib to craft this Small Knife. As for the whereabouts of the rest of the skeleton, who knows? Who cares? By chance, a Curio was born. In a century when the Mysterious Side was diminished to the extreme, most Curios came to be in this manner and often existed in a special State, requiring someone with Extraordinary Knowledge to decipher. However, for Tang Qi, there was no need to have so much knowledge; the method to decode it appeared in his mind at that moment. What Tang Qi needed to do now was wait. He placed the Bone Blade on the workbench and gently sat down, taking out the Mysterious Hair Tie and slowly combing through it. Time passed quickly, ticking away with the ¡°click-clack, click-clack¡± of the wall clock. Uninterrupted, Tang Qi worked with high efficiency. Before the hands of the clock pointed to midnight, he had already liberated two young girls, who appeared to be ordinary civilians with common clothes but were both beautiful. The two blond girls gave Tang Qi a cheeky smile before gradually dissipating. At the same time, the wall clock chimed a significantly louder sound. Go to ????????????????????.co Midnight had arrived. Tang Qi swiftly stuffed the hair knot into his pocket and abruptly grasped the Black Blade with both hands. Suppressing the nauseating discomfort in his heart, he silently invoked: ¡°Jeffrey Hegg!¡± ¡°Jeffrey¡­ Hegg!¡± ¡°Jeff-ery Hegg!¡± Three times, with a different intonation each time, Tang Qi felt some resistance as though something was trying to stop him from pronouncing that name. But when he broke through the resistance and finished reciting the name three times, the Bone Blade in his hand suddenly became slick, the yellowed blade streaked with lines of blood, rapidly turning the entire Small Knife blood-red, then spreading along Tang Qi¡¯s palm toward his whole body. Buzz! Tang Qi¡¯s vision was suddenly pulled into a blood-red World as he saw a motel, streets, dark alleys, luxurious villas, and the restrooms of gas stations¡­ All scenes became stained with blood, with twisted souls wailing, begging for mercy, and cursing¡­ These were Memory Fragments, the visions of all those who had been tortured by Jeffrey Hegg. The revolting sensation mingled with a released sense of relief, like numerous red tentacles, attempted to wrap around Tang Qi¡¯s Mind. A magnetic, seductive voice whispered in Tang Qi¡¯s ear: ¡°Fun, isn¡¯t it? Beautiful, right? Don¡¯t you also want to personally feel it, to experience it? Such a wonderful World, you are the Sovereign, you are their king, you¡­¡± ¡°Your blathering is truly excessive!¡± The abrupt retort spit out by Tang Qi stunned the Floating vague silhouette on the workbench. This was a gaunt man, with black curly hair, high cheekbones, and deeply sunken eye sockets. His blue eyes were not clear but twisted with Madness, a bloodthirsty look that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. A faint ghost light converged into a special image. [Extraordinary Creature: The resentful spirit of Jeffrey Hegg.] [State: Complete.] ¡°` [Information Fragment One: Legendary serial killer Jeffrey Hegg¡¯s soul, a psychopath who tortured and killed nearly a hundred people. He did so to gain the power of demons, but after his deed was complete, the promising demon was already banished back to a different plane. He felt deceived, thus he became a resentful spirit.] [Information Fragment Two: Acknowledge his legend, and Bone Blade will become a powerful weapon; kill it, and Bone Blade will undergo unknown transformations.] ¡°My favorite thing is the unknown surprise.¡± While muttering this, Tang Qi¡¯s choice was self-evident. Jeffrey Hegg¡¯s resentful spirit was still pondering why this human was immune to his enchantment when suddenly, a terrifying sense of danger filled its mind. It instinctively looked up, just in time to see a palm wrapped in golden light flames. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Ah~¡± The scream lasted less than a second. The Melting Furnace Power¡¯s restraint against entities like resentful spirits and evil spirits was beyond imagination. Tang Qi watched with his own eyes as the soul of a legendary serial killer turned to ashes in his hand. Then, a ¡°Black Mud¡±-like substance burst out from the Bone Blade he was holding in his other hand, as if it wanted to quickly escape from the blade into an unknown world. That Black Mud was viscous and filthy. Seeing it invoked a sense of revulsion and discomfort that was more than tenfold worse than before. As the Black Mud was about to flee, nearly a hundred white light points flew out from the Bone Blade, entwining and forcefully dragging it back. The Bone Blade underwent a transformation. Still rough in appearance, but the once yellowish blade began to turn white as church stones, with a black line running through the center. Unlike before, a new image converged beneath Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. [Curios: Black Blade¡¯s Resentment.] [Quality: Excellent.] [Information Fragment One: You killed Hegg¡¯s soul, and in its dying moments, filled with resentment towards you, it released all its demonic energy. But without its control, the delicate balance within the Bone Blade was disrupted, and now it has become a weapon leaning towards order and justice.] [Information Fragment Two: Its Extraordinary Power¡ªPower of Pain; any evil creature that is cut or killed by it will suffer extreme pain and die wailing.] ¡°I like this name!¡± Tang Qi, holding the renewed Bone Blade, said with a smile. For him, from the beginning, there was only one way to decrypt this weapon. And the conclusion was very satisfying. He had obtained new Fuel, and at the same time, a satisfying close-combat weapon. ¡°The Power of Pain sounds¡­ interesting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± After uttering this, Tang Qi glanced at the completely darkened sky. Without any further delay, he quickly prepared Blood Python One, bullets, and Sea Demon¡¯s Tears, then changed into a set of black clothes, similar to the kind with many pockets for carrying various items. Taking advantage of the cover of night, he quickly left the brick building, followed the secluded tree-lined paths within the campus in a very ¡°anxious¡± manner and sneakily ran out of the school area. It looked as if he was eagerly responding to a friend¡¯s invitation to go out and enjoy an exciting nightlife. In a normal high school, this scene would not likely occur. But this is Thorny High School, where such scenes are all too common, groups of students scaling the walls to leave is not strange at all. However, just as this ¡°eager¡± high school student¡¯s figure left the campus and entered a gloomy street in one swift moment. ¡°Buzz¡± Without any warning, his body abruptly disintegrated into a mist of gray fog, naturally blending into the night and shadows. ¡°` Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Ghoul and Trap Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Ghoul and Trap Messer City, suburbs, outside Georgeway Village. Tang Qi slightly lowered his head, hurriedly walking under the dim moonlight, with eerie woods on both sides, those thick, densely leafed trees that might look lovely during the day but seemed ominous at night, as if monstrous creatures could leap out at any moment. Especially towards the direction he was heading, straight ahead where a grayish, cold, moist mist spread, revealing only vaguely seen patches of pitch-black woods and a series of gentle slopes, where tombstone-like objects scattered across slopesides, road sides, and some hollows. In fact, these were indeed tombstones. Georgeway Village was built by the first generation of pioneers and gold miners, naturally becoming the resting place for the first batch of the dead. But as the Messer Cemetery later came into use, this place had long ceased to host new guests. Living residents had also moved away one after another, thus turning it desolate, visited only by homeless wanderers, solitary elderly folks, and some young thrill-seekers, basically, those courting death. Especially at such a time. Tang Qi came here to test and experience his new abilities. In the city, the number of abnormalities might be higher, even more powerful, serving as stronger fuel, but obviously, it wasn¡¯t good for Tang Qi to fully unleash himself; certain methods were not advisable to use, but here, he didn¡¯t have so many reservations. Soon, Tang Qi stepped into the messy cemetery, with most tombstones merely block-shaped steles embedded in the ground; only a few lavish ones used several more stones. However, these brave souls of the first generation mostly left no descendants to tend and lay flowers at their resting places. Occasionally one could spot some withered fresh flowers. About ten minutes after walking, Tang Qi saw a small wooden house, already abandoned, probably once lived in by the Tomb Guardian. He didn¡¯t go in, merely glanced inside through the broken window. The owner had left in such a hurry that many belongings were still there; even the bed had a pillow and quilt, albeit all moulded and rotten, and on the disorderly floor lay a shovel and a small iron pot containing black clumps, possibly potatoes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°This place will do, I hope it¡¯s not too terrifying, I really dislike horror movies.¡± Tang Qi made a cold joke to himself, then turned his gaze to the back of his left hand. Buzz! A burst of thought touched it. The familiar scene reappeared ¨C the Curse Mark slowly emerged, ominous breath began to drift away. Letting his arm hang, Tang Qi allowed the Omen Breath to spread, making his rounds around the wooden house, surveying the terrain while quietly timing himself; last time in Newton District, he had made a significant blunder. He had grossly underestimated the power of misfortune, attracting too much ¡°abnormality¡± ¨C if it wasn¡¯t for the appearance of Serland¡¯s Dual Blade Man, Tang Qi would have definitely faced being overwhelmed. This time, Tang Qi strictly controlled the time. One minute! Soon, the time was up. Tang Qi¡¯s mind spread out, wanting to shut off the mark. But right then, a sudden strange noise came from behind. Behind? Inside the wooden house? Tang Qi quickly shut off the mark, his body tightening as he swiftly turned around. His gaze pierced through the broken window, instantly spotting the source of the noise. The floor of the wooden house suddenly shattered, black earth turned over, a hunched, aged figure crawled out from underground. Its clothes were long rotted, and the skin all over its body was shriveled, clinging tightly to the bones with a rubber-like feel; its hair half decayed, still hanging on the skull. Under the moonlight, Tang Qi saw it had a face like a dog, hooved feet, a pair of sharp claws, greenish eyes staring back at him, emitting a fine, dense cry-like sound that was unsettling and nauseating. ¡°Is this¡­ a Ghoul?¡± As Tang Qi spoke to himself, a faint ghost light converged, rapidly forming an image in his eyes. [Extraordinary Artifact: Ghoul.] ¡°` [State: Hungry.] [Information Fragment One: It is so ugly and disgusting, making people uneasy and repulsive. Who could have imagined that it was once a member of humanity, a respected Tomb Guardian, until the day it completely abandoned its dignity and finally consumed its first bite of expired human flesh?] [Information Fragment Two: Due to the decline of Georgeway, it has been in a state of hunger for decades. With the return of the Spiritual Tide, it has regained some strength and is currently preparing to move.] As the Information Fragments flowed, Tang Qi¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. If I remember correctly, aren¡¯t Ghouls supposed to be social creatures? Following Tang Qi¡¯s thought, centered around the wooden house, those surrounding graveyards, or simply the open grounds, suddenly erupted with ¡°bang~bang bang¡± sounds. The dirt splashed as humanoid monsters crawled out from the ground, looking exactly like the Tomb Guardian Ghoul that was currently struggling to break through the wooden house, trying to pounce on Tang Qi. Pairs of greasy green eyes quickly surrounded Tang Qi. Moreover, in this area, various odd noises and strange figures were rapidly approaching from all directions. Whoosh! In the air, the repulsive aroma became increasingly intense. The hairs on the back of Tang Qi¡¯s neck stood on end, a sign of impending danger. The ¡°Abnormal ones,¡± lured by the Curse Mark aura, finally hurried over. The most anxious, undoubtedly, was the Tomb Guardian Ghoul in front of him. The first feast should be its own. No, it should own it all. Just as the Tomb Guardian Ghoul was calculating which part of Tang Qi¡¯s body to devour first, it did not notice his lips slightly curling upwards, muttering, ¡°Although it looks disgusting, it should suffice as a trap.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Qi abruptly stepped forward and took the initiative to open the door of the wooden house, walking inside before the stale smell could waft out. ¡°Ah~¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, help me.¡± ¡°Get away from me, you damn monster.¡± ¡­ Hearing the sound of the ¡°feast starting¡±, the rest of the Ghouls that had just emerged from the soil hurried over, their movements akin to those of the notoriously repulsive, loathsome packs of hyenas of Saha Continent feasting together. But as their rubber-covered brains crowded in front of the dilapidated wooden house, what they saw was a drooling, confused comrade, while the ¡°feast¡± had disappeared without a trace. Starving for decades, their brains were nearly non-existent, so they made no inference about the scene before them. They acted instinctively, sensing the incredibly tempting aroma still lingering in their comrade¡¯s body. Comrade, what is that? Is it edible? The answer is, yes. ¡°Wu~¡± ¡°Wu wu¡± Precise cries rose one after another. Under the moonlight, in front of the dilapidated wooden house, Ghouls scrambled to get inside. Their stinking mouths wide open, encompassing nearly all parts of the Tomb Guardian Ghoul. And from around the land, various monsters drifted over, equally eager. The feast was about to begin. ¡°` Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Annihilation Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Annihilation A group of ghouls that had lost their reason quickly devoured the former Tomb Guardian. Although the flesh of their own kind did not taste good at all, and there was hardly any flesh on it, mostly gelatinous skin and bones, it tasted like eating paper and chewing stones, incomparable to the delicious human flesh. However, due to the extreme temptation, the ghouls still bit down. However, one ghoul was clearly not enough to share, and those who were late could only stare helplessly. Until the first latecomer ghoul suddenly let out a low roar, its head, similar to that of a hyena, swung violently, and its foul-smelling mouth bit into the neck of another ghoul that had received some flesh. A brawl instantly ignited. All ghouls, like hyenas infected with the ¡°Rabies Virus,¡± began to attack each other frantically. Consequently, a tall, bizarre creature wearing tattered clothes, a ¡°Scarecrow,¡± actually had no chance to do anything before it was pounced upon by more than a dozen ghouls. Its towering stature couldn¡¯t help it fend off the ghouls¡¯ Big Mouths. Even though it released deadly poison gas before being dismembered, it still lost its body except for the head. Similarly unlucky was a giant ¡°bat¡± that came next, though calling it a bat wasn¡¯t quite right. It looked more like a flying Pig being, but with a human face, two rows of black nipples on its belly, and toxic milk continuously leaking out, dripping down. It also had a pair of eerie red glowing eyes. It flew in, originally heading towards the ghouls, but the Scarecrow¡¯s poison gas knocked it down directly. As soon as it crashed to the ground, its pair of fiery red Demon Eyes petrified all the approaching ghouls. A terrifying ability, probably that of some sort of demon. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t enjoy its victory for long. A humanoid monster wrapped in mud suddenly appeared, grabbed it, and violently smashed it down, attempting to crush it into pulp. The power of Petrification that the Demon Eyes emitted, however, was helpless against the monster wrapped in multiple layers of mud, and both battled fiercely. Huh! Huh huh! A dozen ferocious and disgusting Evil Spirits, composed of men and women, both old and young, transformed into cold breezes shuttling through the battlefield. Though they had no substantial bodies, after a delicate, faint strange fragrance wafted out, these dozen Evil Spirits also began to slaughter each other, with screaming howls echoing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co If a stranger passed by here at this moment, the scene alone would be enough to drive him mad. What is this, a monster banquet? The chaotic battle lasted several seconds, but apart from a few ghouls that were flattened by the Mud Monster, no other casualties occurred. That Scarecrow who liked to chop humans into pieces and then use them to decorate itself was still desperately piecing itself together. The fight between the demon and the Mud Monster was the most ferocious, but the Mud Monster only lost layers upon layers of outer clothing, while the wings of the demon were broken. Most boring were those Evil Spirits; their brawl made a lot of noise, but not a single Evil Spirit fell for ages. In such a chaotic scene, no one noticed the first ¡°dead one¡±. The ghoul that was dismembered, from its place of death, a Resentful Soul slowly ascended. At first, it was in its original form, appearing as a kind and elderly man dressed in blue work clothes, wearing a straw hat, and then, witnessing with wide eyes, his face transformed into a Hyena-like one, his entire body began to shrivel, and claws faintly emerged¡­ Do ghouls also have souls, seemingly intending to return to the embrace of an Evil God? Unfortunately, at this time, an accident occurred. A gray, murky fog, appearing out of nowhere behind it, a wisp of gray mist drifted over, abruptly turning into a pale human hand. Huh~ Golden Light Flames suddenly ignited without warning, fiercely grasped the Resentful Soul like a straw meeting fire, instantly burning it into black ash, vanishing without a trace. It didn¡¯t even have time to let out a mournful howl. The same fate awaited the petrified ghouls; the gray mist drifted over, fists and feet swiftly striking, and amid the ¡°bang bang bang¡± sounds, streaks of Resentful Souls emerged, then turned into flakes of black ash falling down. The remaining ghouls, due to mutual slaughter and Severe Injuries, quickly followed suit. The first to discover all this were the Evil Spirits battling in the night sky. When they saw the gray fog passing, the Resentful Souls were silently burnt to death, and when the golden Light Flames spilled out, the Evil Spirits all let out roars of Fear, following their instincts, wanting to scatter and flee. But at this moment, they suddenly found that they could not do so. Their intangible bodies seemed to be fixed in place. They could only watch helplessly as the gray fog rose, and amidst the surging golden Light Flames, they became Fuel, just like the Ghouls. Although Tang Qi¡¯s actions were very subtle, the battlefield was only so big, and the remaining three big ¡°Abnormalities¡± still noticed him. Whether it was the Scarecrow, the Mud Monster, or the ugly Demon, in this suburban territory, they were all tyrant-level Monsters, usually having their own territories divided, and any Humans stepping into them would encounter terrible treatment. Death, that would be a luxury. But at this moment, in their eyes, a color of ¡°Fear¡± appeared. ¡°Buzz¡± In front of the wooden house, a clump of gray fog drifted back, turning from Nihility into True, and Tang Qi¡¯s figure slowly appeared. ¡°Young wizard, let it end here.¡± ¡°The death of these disgusting creatures is already enough to demonstrate your glory.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to make enemies with us.¡± The three Abnormalities were actually standing together at this time, although the scene looked rather disharmonious. Tang Qi silently took out Blood Python No.1, a faint smile on his face, if not for the overly exaggerated design of the hand cannon, his image at this moment would be a young gentleman who involuntarily draws fondness, completely unrecognizable as the one who had just annihilated Ghouls and Evil Spirits. He was loading the Molten Furnace Bullets into Blood Python No.1 while walking towards the three Monsters. His face had a seemingly shy smile, and a calm voice came from his mouth, drifting in the night wind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I cannot agree to your request.¡± ¡­ ¡°Hu~¡± Tang Qi slowly retracted his palm, and the last Monster, the Scarecrow¡¯s Resentful Soul, turned to ash in his palm. The Scarecrow lasted the longest not because it was the most powerful. In fact, among the three Monsters, the strongest should be the Demon, as it not only had the Petrification Magic Eye but also could Spit Venom. Unfortunately, these were ineffective against Tang Qi, who possessed the ability of Fogging. The Scarecrow was lucky to be the last one because Tang Qi needed it to act as a sparring partner to improve his Chaga Fighting Skills. From the results, it was a very qualified sparring partner. Tang Qi could almost anticipate that the progress of Chaga Fighting Technique should have made an unexpected increase. However, at this moment, Tang Qi obviously did not have time to check. His head, the swelling feeling nearly made Tang Qi pass out, his brow seeming to ¡°throb¡± with beating, as if something was about to explode. ¡°Fuel, seems to have been added a bit too much.¡± ¡°Buzz¡± As soon as the words fell, Tang Qi¡¯s body immediately collapsed, turning into a clump of gray fog, instantly blending into the night, rushing towards Thorns Campus. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Nightmare Octopus (Vote for Recommendations!) Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Nightmare Octopus (Vote for Recommendations!) On campus, a small brick and stone building, the second-floor bedroom. Tang Qi is sitting cross-legged on the carpet, his clothes not yet changed. At this moment, he has already entered into meditation. The familiar ruins of darkness, a golden sun slowly taking shape, ancient patterns bit by bit sketched out; the moment it forms, streams composed of golden light points flow from all directions, some thick, some as thin as smoke. These are Tang Qi¡¯s harvest tonight, contributed by a group of Ghouls, Evil Spirits, and three large Abnormalities. As they quickly become a part of Tang Qi¡¯s spiritual power, the feeling of swelling and annoyance rapidly disappears, replaced by a strong, warm sensation that makes Tang Qi feel as though he now needs neither Fog Body, nor Blood Python No.1, nor even Fighting Skill; a single punch could kill those previously encountered monsters. This, of course, is an illusion, a pleasant illusion. However, he can look forward to seeing the increase in his skills when he wakes up. Just as he is about to indulge in this anticipation, an unexpected accident suddenly occurs. ¡°Roar~¡± A deep roar bursts forth. The source is unmistakably outside the gap. With each session of Melter Meditation Cultivation, Tang Qi has grown somewhat accustomed to these encounters with Abnormalities, sometimes even able to look at them with appreciation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co But this time, it¡¯s different. Outside the gap is an endlessly strange universe, but what Tang Qi usually sees are things like twisted auroras, flowing dark mists, nebulous shadows, alluring whispers¡­ abstract existences; but this time, what flashed by looked distinctly like some vast Biological entity. It seems to be rapidly devouring the Abnormalities that should be flowing into the gap, capturing both mist and auroras with tentacles covered in meat tumors. Then, they enter a layered Big Mouth, its white teeth growing crisscrossed, making it impossible to see the final layer. Boom! A rumbling boom! Terrible malice, with no warning, surges forth like steel needles, piercing Tang Qi¡¯s skull and beginning to stir up the brain pulp. ¡°Bang~Bang!¡± The golden sun Tang Qi conjured in his meditation starts to wobble due to the malice, becoming unclear; outside that gap, suddenly, two meaty tentacles probe in, a huge deep red eyeball appearing at the gap, larger than the golden sun. Inside, Tang Qi sees malice and greed. Am I being regarded as tempting food? After murmuring this sentence, his head starts buzzing. In the outside world, his entire body has already collapsed onto the bedroom carpet, as if someone is holding a hammer, continuously pounding his skull. At the same time, countless madmen are pulling on his ears, shouting something into them; madness and chaos abound, every syllable distinctly foreign, and trying to listen only makes the trembling in his skull even more intense. Tang Qi does not wish to listen clearly; he is now fully concentrating his spirit. His experience from last time keeps him from falling into chaos, and in his mind, another round of meditation begins. This time, Tang Qi is bolder. In his mind, he paints a desolate earth, a dark universe, a Primitive Man youth holding a stick, sketching a vast pattern on the dim land, every stroke arduous, yet his steps are exceedingly steadfast. He¡¯s bowing his head, as if the pattern forming beneath his feet is the whole world, his entire belief. As he sketches the final stroke, that strange Monster again extends a tentacle, while its other limbs, too vast, seem stuck at the gap. Boom~Boom boom! Three black meat tumor-covered tentacles surge towards the golden sun that Tang Qi has transformed into, until¡­ Buzz! Just as suddenly, the previously unsteady sun that seemed about to dissipate, in that moment, explosively grows several times in size filling the already cramped space entirely with Light Flames; the three tentacles instantly evaporate and disappear, the remnants flowing silently into Tang Qi¡¯s mind as three thick streams of golden light points. And that deep red eyeball, in the moment the golden sun surged, starts to retreat but is still a step too late; the sweeping Light Flames blacken most of the eyeball. Roar! A roar filled with horror and anger came from the crack, forcibly breaking Tang Qi¡¯s meditation state. ¡°Whoo~ Whoo¡± On the soft carpet with moon patterns, Tang Qi suddenly awoke. At this moment, his clothes were all soaked with sweat, and he was feeling a mix of fulfillment and exhaustion. A smile formed at the corners of his mouth as he suddenly relaxed and collapsed onto the carpet, laughing heartily. ¡°I won!¡± Tang Qi¡¯s lips moved slightly, whispering silently. Before breaking out of meditation, he saw the last scene outside the crack: a monster engulfed in a vast shadow fleeing away. Some Information Fragments were also captured by Tang Qi. Exotic Realm Demon¡ªNightmare Octopus! Nightmare Octopus fleeing! Marked as¡­ inedible! This mark can be recognized by other Nightmare Demons! ¡­ ¡°So, I was really seen as food?¡± Tang Qi slowly stood up, his mind still filled with the unexpected scenes he experienced during meditation. He was just using the Meditation Method to digest the ¡°fuel,¡± but he encountered a terrifying demon, which, according to the Information Fragment, was accidentally attracted by the golden Sun formed by Tang Qi and then faced a setback before marking Tang Qi as inedible. And this mark is recognized by its kin. ¡°This is turning a misfortune into a blessing, gaining more than expected.¡± Tang Qi murmured, a hint of joy on his face. Indeed, the experience just now was worth celebrating. Perhaps initially, Tang Qi wouldn¡¯t have been eaten by the octopus, as its body was too large to pass through the narrow crack, but if Tang Qi hadn¡¯t erupted, injury was certain. Successfully counterattacking and intercepting spoils far beyond expectation. Now, Tang Qi clearly felt the changes inside his body, his eyelids dropped, and his gaze swept over himself. Under Special Ability, that interface resembling personal attributes appeared again. Ignoring everything else, he directly focused on Skills. Each Skill had undergone unimaginable changes. The first to pop up was the Golden Furnace Meditation. [Golden Furnace Meditation: An incredibly ancient meditation method, it can grant you unimaginable power, Realm: Beginner; Progress: 9%.] ¡°Nine percent!¡± A look of surprise flashed through Tang Qi¡¯s eyes. If he remembered correctly, the progress of this meditation method was previously just over one percent. Was the gain this time that frightening? ¡°No, this might be the unexpected gain, those three tentacles of the Nightmare Octopus, each should have contributed around two percent, and Georgeway¡¯s gains at most brought my progress to three percent.¡± ¡°If I reach ten percent, some wondrous changes will occur.¡± The second thought was somewhat inexplicable. But for some reason, Tang Qi had a premonition that it was true. Just like the progress in Secret Medicine, crossing higher percentages allowed one to prepare subsequent sequences of Secret Medicine, and the meditation method would also undergo some changes, though those changes were unknown for now. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: 79 No content Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80 McGraw and the Harria Sisters No content Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Melting Corpse No content Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Incubating Juveniles (Please Add to Collection) Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Incubating Juveniles (Please Add to Collection) ¡°` Central District, Central Park. As the favorite park of the residents of Messer City, its size is indeed a bit exaggerated, occupying a central position in Messer City. Except for the far-off Rach District, the remaining major districts all have direct access to the park with no need for any transfers. And within the park, there are paths leading to the various major districts. Tang Qi and Stanna entered the park from the Central District, arriving precisely at the park¡¯s Eastern Region. The environment here was better than in other areas; after all, it¡¯s an exclusive residential area that¡¯s tranquil and peaceful, indeed the most ideal place for night running. However, with the continuous occurrence of violent crimes recently, the number of nighttime joggers has been rapidly decreasing. They either switched to going to the gym, or simply quit the habit altogether, the latter most likely being the more common scenario, after all, exercising is quite tiring. The two quickly reached the scene, a swamp. After passing through an avenue with fresh air, they suddenly came to a swampy area with a pungent odor, which Tang Qi and Stanna both found somewhat uncomfortable. Guided by a detective, Tang Qi quickly saw the location where the body was found. Right at the edge of the swamp was a sizeable pit. The black sludge had been pushed aside, and polluted water had backflowed into it. Pus was visible on the surface of the water and weeds, which did not look like the result of biological fats melting but rather like some creature¡¯s bodily fluids. There were no signs of dragging or struggle at the scene; it was unknown whether the victim died in pain, but they likely had no power to resist. After observing silently for a while, Tang Qi failed to discover any clues and was about to shake his head at Stanna, who was looking at him expectantly. But at that moment, out of the corner of his eye, Tang Qi seemed to notice something. Walking over a few steps and squatting quietly by the pit, he finally saw it clearly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï There were a few mosquitoes that seemed to have been squashed, fallen into the sludge, some fragmented while a few others were intact. These mosquitoes differed from the common ones; they had bigger bodies, and their abdomens were round and bulging, resembling red crystals, only covered by the sludge, easily overlooked by most people. Tang Qi could see them because, as his gaze passed over, faint ghostly lights suddenly twinkled. A unique image slowly emerged in front of Tang Qi¡¯s astonished face. [Extraordinary Creatures: Ogre Mosquito.] [State: Dead juvenile.] [Information Fragment One: A dead juvenile Ogre Mosquito, it lagged behind its siblings by just a tenth of a second, failing to suck enough blood to develop a hard body and was flattened by the frail human palm.] [Information Fragment Two: Hatching Ogre Mosquitoes requires a humid environment and clear water bodies.] ¡°Hmm?¡± As the second information fragment flowed past, Tang Qi¡¯s brows slightly raised. Calling over a detective on the scene, he went straight to the point: ¡°Central Park, which area has the clearest bodies of water?¡± This was a young detective with curly hair, who was startled by the question at first, then pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°It should be Lake Heart Island. There are also some villas over there, it¡¯s a small affluent residential area.¡± ¡­ Tang Qi and Stanna quickly arrived at Lake Heart Island. As mentioned by the detective, this place was indeed an affluent residential area. Lake Heart Island was not just one island; in fact, it was comprised of many small islands, each with a single-family villa, accessible to each other by small boats. ¡°` Tang Qi glanced around and finally set his eyes on the villa at the very center, which was actually a bit farther away from the other villas. The water in the middle of the lake seemed clearer as well. The two found a small boat and rowed towards it. Although it was no longer early morning, the area was still shrouded in mist. The clear lake water, when looked at through the fog, had a grayish-black texture that made it impossible to discern the true nature of what was underneath. ¡°Ding-a-ling~¡± The crisp sound of a bell had barely rung out when there was a ¡°click,¡± and the white gate was pulled open, revealing a young man in front of the two. He was a tall man, dressed in a proper suit, handsome with finely groomed hair; only the dark circles under his eyes belied that he was a wealthy gentleman. ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± The young man did not let them in but asked from behind the half-open door. ¡°Hello, sir, I am Stanna, the Chief of Messer Police Station, and this is Tang Qi, our consultant. We have come here to investigate a few recent cases. There are some questions we would like to ask you, and perhaps you would be willing to cooperate.¡± Stanna flashed her credentials in front of the man. Though it was a request, it came across as indisputable. The man seemed inclined to refuse but after hesitating for a moment, he replied, ¡°Alright, please come in.¡± All three walked into the foyer. The man attempted to lead Tang Qi and Stanna toward the sofa area, but they had to pass by a large glass tank bubbling with air on the way. At the bottom of the tank, attached to the sides and floating in the water, were several yellow glass ball-like objects. Because of the bubbles, the two of them couldn¡¯t clearly see. Anticipating their curiosity, the man explained on his own initiative: ¡°Those are amber. I¡¯m actually an Amber Merchant. This method of nourishing in water is my exclusive secret formula; it makes the amber more lustrous and full, allowing it to command a higher price.¡± ¡°If the two detectives are interested, I could personally give you a few pieces as a gift when you leave.¡± The man seemed more relaxed talking about his ¡°Profession,¡± appearing elegant and charming, engendering involuntary favor from others. Unfortunately, Stanna still wore her impassive expression, evidently not much interested in amber. She had taken out a pen and paper as she walked in, seemingly prepared to interrogate the man who managed to earn a villa with just amber at such a young age. Tang Qi, on the other hand, gave a faint smile, feigning surprise: ¡°Really amber? So much of it¡ª I¡¯m quite interested in amber too. Such unique biological fossils are indeed marvelous. To gather so many, may I take a closer look?¡± Tang Qi spoke as if he never expected any objections, and directly approached the glass tank. After quickly advancing a few steps, he was less than a meter away from the tank. Although the bubbles were still churning, it was enough for Tang Qi to clearly see the scene inside: each piece of deep yellow ¡°amber¡± was translucent, sticking to the sides of the tank, gleaming with an enticing luster, and each one encased a coiled mosquito. Each one was the same. Countless pieces, reflecting into Tang Qi¡¯s eyes, were all familiar mosquitoes. A myriad of ghostly lights converged, and in the depth of Tang Qi¡¯s vision, a special interface popped up. ¡°Extraordinary Creatures: Ogre Mosquitoes.¡± ¡°State: Incubating¡­ larvae.¡± As this scene emerged, Tang Qi instinctively turned around, about to shout something, but then he saw a face¡ªa twisted, slightly eerie, handsome face smiling. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Evil God Seed Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Evil God Seed ¡°Have you had enough?¡± In front of Tang Qi, the young man¡¯s face was too close, so close that Tang Qi could clearly see the slight distortions on his face and the strong murderous intent in his eyes that could no longer be concealed. His originally blue pupils began to undergo unbelievable changes. Layers upon layers of primarily yellow illusionary light gushed out, rapidly altering the structure of the man¡¯s eyes. A special kind of eyes that humans would definitely not possess was about to appear. ¡°Compound eyes, the compound eyes of a mosquito.¡± Tang Qi didn¡¯t have time to observe the ghostly light that emerged as the young man transformed. He scoffed at the young man, then suddenly ducked down in an unsightly manner and left his spot, a loud shout erupting within the villa. ¡°Red Rhino!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The two had already agreed on this secret code; when Tang Qi uttered those words, Stanna reached into her bosom without hesitation and drew the hand cannon-like ¡°Red Rhino,¡± firing a shot at the young man who still retained a human form. After a thunderous roar, a terrifying golden light burst from the gun barrel, aimed at the young man¡¯s head. Stanna¡¯s gun skills remained terrifyingly precise. However, the young man, using the compound eyes that had grown, judged the bullet¡¯s trajectory with a perception speed surpassing that of humans. His strength and agility also started to advance beyond human, and he flipped over to dodge the bullet. But when he realized he had unconsciously hidden behind a glass tank, intense sorrow overwhelmed his mind. ¡°No!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Buzz~¡± A strange scream erupted from the man¡¯s mouth, reminiscent of the sound of millions of mosquitoes buzzing by your ear, continuous and detailed, filled with an overwhelming malice that almost made one want to scoop out their own brain. However, none of these changed the trajectory of the golden bullet. Crack! Bang! After a loud explosion, the glass tank shattered, and the ¡°amber¡± inside didn¡¯t even have time to fall to the ground with the water flow before being struck by surging golden flames, igniting a chain reaction where all the amber was incinerated in an instant. ¡°No, my children, my children!¡± Weird and nauseating words spilled from the man¡¯s mouth as he showed an extremely sorrowful expression. He lay on the ground trying to gather the mosquito eggs that had turned to charred remains, but upon touch, they were just black ash, mixing with lake water to form a black, sticky sludge. The man seemed to enter a dazed state, lying on the ground, continuously muttering, ¡°Why, why kill my children, they hadn¡¯t even opened their eyes to see this filthy world, they hadn¡¯t even tasted the delicious human blood.¡± ¡°Oh right, it doesn¡¯t matter, this batch is dead, but I still have the next batch, I can still breed, continue breeding¡­¡± Listening to his subsequent words, both Tang Qi and Stanna had a bad premonition. The next second, the premonition turned into reality. With a ¡°crack,¡± two bony structures mixed with bloody mucus extended from the man¡¯s back, translucent wings slowly unfurled, and his abdomen began to swell. His originally white skin turned pitch black, covered with blood-red veins underneath, his head also started to change, skin turning rough and gray-yellow, several stiff black hairs bursting out, and his eyes moved towards the top of his head, his mouth elongating¡­ ¡°Buzz¡± In Tang Qi¡¯s eyes, the ghostly light of transcendent characteristics surged. Just as he was about to access Information Fragment, the man ¡°whooshed¡± into the air, his abdominal sac, swollen to its limits, abruptly bent, and its mucus-covered opening first trickled down a silk thread attached to the clear yellow mosquito eggs. Gurgle! Gurgle! His abdominal sac began to undulate violently, and the same image emerged in the minds of Tang Qi and Stanna: a man, who had become a ¡°Demon,¡± suddenly opened his abdominal sac and shot a large number of mosquito eggs, which were sticky and filled with highly toxic pus. These disgusting mosquito eggs, with even more sinister intent, once enveloped¡­ Bang! Bang bang! Without needing Tang Qi¡¯s reminder, Stanna¡¯s fingers had already pulled the trigger. It exploded! After several Molten Furnace Bullets hit the man who had transformed into a Demon, his disgustingly grotesque body was instantly swept up in golden flames, incinerating the freshly spewed mosquito eggs and poison. And his intimidating Demon-esque body, after being tainted with the Melting Furnace Power, lost all ability to resist. He tried to fly and smash through the skylight to escape, but after flapping his wings once, he was burned to a crisp by the golden flames and crashed to the ground with a thud. Head, torso, and his swollen abdominal sac all scattered. When a strange scent of burning filled the air, the image Tang Qi had just formed in his mind, followed by the status, changed from complete to¡­ death. [Extraordinary Creature: Cannibal Mosquito Monster.] [State: Death.] [Information Fragment One: A young, wealthy Amber Merchant, after an accidental glimpse into the Mysterious Side, became obsessed, and finally, at a mysterious gathering, he acquired an Evil God Seed. The seed autonomously found a way, turning him into an extraordinary creature. Although initially resistant¡ªafter all, not everyone wants to become an egg-laying male mosquito monster¡ªhe eventually succumbed to the Demon¡¯s nature.] [Information Fragment Two: His death will cause the Evil God Seed to bloom prematurely, consequences unknown!] ¡°Rumble rumble¡± As the second information fragment flowed by, Tang Qi¡¯s pupils sharply contracted, a sensation like drums beating in his mind, and a strong premonition of danger surged. ¡°Crack¡± A sudden noise, abruptly sounded within the villa. The abdominal sac, now charred, cracked open like a cooked sweet potato, its black exterior revealing a bright red inside; a fist-sized, heart-like black object was ¡°thump thump thump¡± pulsating. In Tang Qi¡¯s eyes, the resentful soul of the Demon that had just emerged, was instantly pulled into that black heart before it could leave the body. Crack! Again, a sound, and that heart suddenly split open, from which a tender, mouth-tipped, finely tumored tentacle-like thing slowly reached out¡­ and when it suddenly twisted to face them. ¡°Boom¡± An unprecedented malevolent force burst forth. The entire villa seemed to fall into a dark, bloody domain, all life plunging into madness. Stanna, still a regular human, immediately clutched her head, her beautiful face twisting in agony, her eyes rolling back, something horrifying imminent. At that moment, a figure enveloped in golden flames stomped on the floor, ¡°bang bang bang¡± like a charging elephant, instantly appeared before the tentacular object, his hands brutally simple, giving no room for the tentacle to evade. ¡°Melter!¡± ¡°Sss~Sss¡± As Tang Qi pronounced these two words with chilling solemnity, a flood-like golden light poured into his hands, as intense as sunlight, under which the tentacle began to scream terribly, as if facing a catastrophic disaster. The projected evil retracted back, turning into a thin black needle aiming for Tang Qi¡¯s skull, which could snatch away his life in an instant. But, regrettably¡­ it was too slow. When Tang Qi opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the black needle stopped in front of his eyeball, then, with a buzz, it shattered and dissipated. Inside his eyelids, that vividly bright blood-red ghostly light, with state behind, the word ¡°death¡± appeared, Tang Qi finally relaxed his hands as if relieved. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Hastu Club Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Hastu Club ¡°` ¡°Sigh~¡± Tang Qi stood in a puddle of black murky liquid, his body slightly bent, gazing at the black heart on the ground that had been left with nothing but its shell, exhaling a long breath. The scene just now was unexpected even for Tang Qi, a sudden, extreme danger. Originally, it was just a Demon that posed no significant threat, but who would have known it would suddenly turn into an ¡°Evil God Seed.¡± In that second, Tang Qi felt the threat of death. Keep in mind, after taking the ¡°Fog Body¡± Secret Medicine, even when he continuously battled against dozens of Ghouls, over ten Evil Spirits, plus the Scarecrow, some nameless Demon, and the Mud Monster¡ªthese three Abnormalities¡ªhe had no sense of crisis. However, before, Tang Qi had the premonition that if he had acted even a second later, the situation would have been irreparable. Now, Stanna lay collapsed on the ground behind him, her eyes tightly closed, her brows also deeply furrowed as if submerged in a nightmare, possibly suffering from some kind of aftermath. She had done nothing, just been glanced at by that tentacle. Tang Qi was not sure if it could even be described as a glance, since the tentacle, apart from meat tumors, had nothing but a mouth and did not possess the organ known as eyes. He was immune to that glance because of the overwhelming Melting Furnace Power; Stanna, unfortunately, was not so lucky. Tang Qi helped Stanna onto the sofa, pondered for a moment, then raised both hands, placing them on either side of Stanna¡¯s head. Faint golden Light Flames overflowed, and as the warm breath touched her head, the look of Pain on her face instantly eased. After maintaining this posture for ten seconds, Stanna gradually returned to normal and seemed about to awaken soon after, which made Tang Qi remove his hands. Rising up, he walked back toward that chaotic space. A mishmash of Magic Mosquito corpses, Demon corpses, and the Evil God Seed, gruesome and disgusting. Yet amid them, there was a faint ghost light flickering. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Spoils! As Tang Qi walked over, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the Information Fragments that had just passed through his vision. It was not the Demon¡¯s, but the Evil God Seed¡¯s. [Curios: Evil God Seed.] [State: Fertility failure.] [Information Fragment One: An unknown seed bestowed by an Evil God, it can reside within a Life Form and find the most desired Evolution pathway for the host.] [Information Fragment Two: This seed has failed to gestate, unable to sense its Lord, it will indiscriminately release the Evil God¡¯s Power, annihilating all Life it senses.] Not many Fragments were available for Tang Qi¡¯s perusal, just these two. The rest, too vague and fragmented, could not manifest in Tang Qi¡¯s vision. He feared forcing a reading would lead to something even more terrifying. But just these two already made Tang Qi¡¯s scalp tingle slightly. Before this, Tang Qi had dealings with the Witch¡¯s alternate personality that resided within Sally, which was already a terrifying experience. But compared to the scene just now, Tang Qi would rather tangle with the Witch again¡ªat least the Witch of Misfortune was communicable. The so-called Evil God Seed gave Tang Qi a sense of chaos and malevolence in those few seconds. Some words in the Fragments also struck fear into one¡¯s heart: reside¡­ the most desired Evolution pathway¡­ Lord¡­ indiscriminate annihilation¡­ Tang Qi sensed a clear whiff of conspiracy once again, and it was an unmistakably pronounced scent of conspiracy. Combining the Information Fragments previously obtained from the Demon, Tang Qi vaguely deduced some things. ¡°A wealthy young businessman who desired to enter the Extraordinary World bid on an Evil God Seed at a mysterious gathering. Then the seed took residence in him, and the Evolution path it chose for him was to become a Demon. That businessman might have liked insect amber, especially those containing mosquitoes, but he certainly wouldn¡¯t want to turn into a mosquito Demon.¡± ¡°No normal person would think that way, but the Evil God Seed still determined that this was the businessman¡¯s most desired path, and ultimately the businessman succumbed to the innate instincts of a Demon.¡± ¡°If Stanna and I hadn¡¯t intervened unexpectedly, he might eventually have succeeded in making that seed gestate and then Summon the so-called Lord. What would happen then?¡± In an instant, many thoughts crossed Tang Qi¡¯s mind. Some of them were so terrifying that even thinking about them made him shudder. ¡°I hope this seed is precious, and every chosen target should be specific. Otherwise, if this thing were to spread indiscriminately¡­¡± Thinking up to the point of Horror, Tang Qi couldn¡¯t help but shake his head, temporarily suppressing those thoughts, his attention returned to the ground. ¡°` He squatted down, put on gloves, and quickly rummaged through the contents. Soon, two items appeared in Tang Qi¡¯s hands. From the young man¡¯s corpse, the only things that were still intact. One was a Curios. The other was not. Tang Qi first looked at the Curios. As expected, it was an amber. Just as the young man himself had said, lying in his palm was a pale yellow, perfectly round ¡°glass bead,¡± inside which was a peculiar mosquito. Its entire body was bright red, including its wings, as if it weren¡¯t a real mosquito, but rather a fine piece of art. Tang Qi looked at it carefully, and the special interface popped up as usual. [Curios: Red Mosquito Amber.] [State: Intact.] [Information Fragment One: This is a newly born Curios, containing a Red Mosquito which represents an evolutionary pathway for mosquito monsters. Breaking the amber might release a fully evolved Red Mosquito, or a failed product ¨C a matter of luck.] [Information Fragment Two: It could be precious material for Professions such as Secret Alchemists, Artifact Casting Masters, beast tamers, and others¡­ High-level Secret Alchemists could even use it to develop a new series of enhancement Secret Medicines.] ¡°Nice find!¡± As the fragments of information flowed past, Tang Qi immediately came to a conclusion. The amber in his hand was undoubtedly a very precious material, so he immediately fell into a dilemma. Keep it, or hand it over to the police? The former could mean taking on unnecessary risks, something Tang Qi always strived to avoid. But soon, after seeing the second item, he made up his mind instantly. ¡°Don¡¯t keep!¡± What made Tang Qi decisively utter these words was a small card he was rubbing in his hand, only half the size of a palm. It seemed to be made of iron, but it felt very smooth and cool to the touch, a bizarre card with a black base and two lines of letters engraved on it. ¡°Hastu Club!¡± ¡°Here, you can have everything!¡± ¡°Huff!¡± As Tang Qi looked at each carefully crafted letter, a strong sense of aversion surged within him. His sharp perception told him that the malice contained within this non-Curios card was second only to the Evil God Seed he had encountered before. It was a subtle, insidious malice, with unimaginable polluting properties. Tang Qi swiftly pulled an evidence bag from his chest and placed both items inside. Then he stood up, turned around, and handed the evidence bag to Stanna, who had awakened and come over. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Stanna¡¯s question was met with a silent nod from Tang Qi. After several previous collaborations, the female police chief had also come to understand some things¡ªfor instance, if this tough guy chose not to take the spoils of war, it indicated there was something wrong with them. Handing them over directly to the official authorities was the safest way to proceed. Even though Stanna was immensely curious about the Mysterious Side, being a rookie who had just set half a foot into it, her decisiveness in making choices did not fall short of Tang Qi¡¯s. As she took the evidence bag, Stanna had already taken out her walkie-talkie to call the detectives to handle the scene. This includes dealing with the body, some survival insect eggs, and the items in the evidence bag, all of which would be quickly packed up and sent to higher official hands. Just like the previous Wrong Magic Book and the treasure map.