AI
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Chapter 268: Promotion Successful, Heaven-Bestowed Secret Technique, [Heaven's Will Returning to ashes]!
Bai Zhou's eyes seemed to wake from a long dream.
At this moment, every inch of flesh and blood, every cell, and every bone in his body seemed to be shattering and restructuring, climbing and transforming toward some higher, brand-new form.
He heard echoes like dragon roars and vibrations like tiger howls from deep within his bones. This was the five elements—Body, Heart, Qi, Essence, and Intent—turning into powder in a strange resonance, only to be recast together from that powder.
The moment the Divine Will Domain fully formed, Bai Zhou's Body, Heart, Qi, Essence, and Intent—along with the state of 'Divine Clarity' as the framework—became Six-in-One!
The small trinity nested within the great trinity, six becoming one, with the Divine Will Domain serving as the outer skin—at this moment, Bai Zhou's life level seemed to reach a state of perfection, followed by a wondrous state akin to sublimation.
In certain ancient schools of the Eastern Federation, this perfect state of Six-in-One had a name that had been passed down to the surface world in later generations, called—Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment!
Of course, the "hundred days" here did not refer to the literal number one hundred, but rather to the arduous and long process of tempering, akin to alchemy or forging.
With the foundation established, it naturally ushered in a—Sublimation! Sublimation! of his life state.
[If one can integrate the six into one and sublimate oneself, one stands at the peak of this domain and is qualified to be crowned with a "Title".]
This was the concept of a Title that Bai Zhou had first heard from Crow on the day he consumed the enlightenment elixir, Golden Ramen. At that time, Bai Zhou had felt a strong yearning for it. Until today. He, too, had welcomed such a sublimation.
Just now, with the formation of the Divine Will Domain, Bai Zhou realized its importance to an Extraordinary Person for the first time.
When released externally, it could unfold as a domain; when maintained internally, it could be used to stabilize the special state of Divine Clarity.
This special state of Divine Clarity was like the burst of strength an ordinary person experiences in a crisis; normally, it could not last. But with the Divine Will Domain existing within the body, this enhanced state could be permanently maintained, fully releasing all physical potential. This was what it meant to be a Level 6 powerhouse who had truly mastered the essence of "Divine" Intent.
According to Bai Zhou's own estimation, the difference for the same person between one who permanently maintained "Divine Clarity" and a Level 5 Extraordinary Person who had not mastered this state was at least 2.5 times!
However, even so, it was still not over—because Bai Zhou had not yet completed the final step of his promotion, the step he always experienced during each promotion: branding an "Arcane Seal Imprint"!
"Whoosh—" As the "sublimation" continued, Bai Zhou's breathing sank into a certain ancient rhythm.
In his ears, he heard the echoes of a Vortex. The intense water flow turned into clusters of deadly whirlpools, yet within them lay layers upon layers of erupting Blade Qi.
Deep in his mind, the scroll of the sun and moon shining together was still slowly rotating. A corner of the Mysterious World's great city was bathed in radiance, and water lilies were blooming quietly along the edges of the city. Everything was normal, but at this moment, the edges of the scroll were trembling—as if something was about to burst out from within.
A phantom long blade was slowly taking shape there.
Using the Thousand Blade Vortex Slash as the outer skin, the sixth slash of the Basic Nine Slashes as the skeleton, and Bai Zhou's state of Divine Clarity as the soul—the Secret Technique formed by the fusion of these three emerged in Bai Zhou's mind.
All its various nuances, myriad changes, and thousands of follow-up moves were clear in his heart.
At this moment, Bai Zhou finally understood why the Basic Nine Slashes only contained descriptions of "Divine" Intent but lacked specific frameworks for Secret Techniques.
Because the Secret Technique mastered by each person at this stage was different, just as the "Divine" Intent of each person at this stage was different, highly personalized.
It was as if a seed had been planted. The paths Bai Zhou had walked, the enemies he had killed, the lives he had saved, the things he had held onto, and those he had let go—all watered this seed. Eventually, one day, when Bai Zhou walked to a certain place and looked back, the tree that belonged only to him would have already been standing there, who knew since when.
"Hum!" The sixth Arcane Seal Imprint slowly formed and was branded onto the white sun destiny. The pattern featured a blade with ripples of a Vortex.
"It's done!" Bai Zhou's heart surged. However, in the next instant, a phenomenon that Bai Zhou could not comprehend suddenly occurred.
"Boom!" The blazing sun erupted like a volcano. White light illuminated the entire Destiny space, causing the entire Sea of Ignorance to surge violently.
Knowledge flowed through Bai Zhou's heart, and Blade Intent and Battle Intent filled his chest. The previous five Arcane Seal Imprints slowly began to glow on the surface of the white sun-shaped Destiny.
One imprint looked like a red moon, one looked like a human face chanting an oath, one blade-shaped imprint was surrounded by piercing Blade Qi, one blade-shaped imprint had a background of mountains, rivers, and a vast world, and there was another translucent blade-shaped imprint, its artistic conception ethereal yet filled with sharpness—
These five Arcane Seal Imprints, which corresponded to "Body, Heart, Qi, Essence, and Intent," had once been like five parallel lines, distinct and unrelated, standing side by side without interfering with each other.
But at this moment, under the traction of an invisible Vortex, the five imprints, along with the sixth one that had just been successfully branded, slowly converged toward each other.
Eventually, the six imprints gradually merged into one, turning into a heavy, rounded imprint branded at the deepest part of Bai Zhou's Destiny.
"What is going on—?" Bai Zhou was confused, but he also felt that this did not seem to be a bad thing.
"Hum!" The moment the imprint formed, Bai Zhou's whole body trembled. It was as if something deep within his Destiny was changing, and the path to a higher level was quietly opening.
The six small Arcane Seal Imprints had thus merged into one much larger Arcane Seal Imprint, which was branded at the base of his Destiny, like a solid and flat foundation.
"Hum!" With a long, vibrating hum of a blade, a fiery red blade slowly emerged above this foundation. It looked like burning flames yet also like a blooming Vortex. The blade itself was ethereal yet carried a formidable Battle Intent—a brand-new six-in-one Arcane Seal Imprint, or rather, a solid foundation of the six merged into one, was thus branded at the very bottom of the white sun destiny.
With the appearance of this base, even the size of the white sun destiny seemed to have expanded a little.
Above the base, the white sun destiny was blank, as if something was missing, waiting to be filled later.
Bai Zhou stared at that blank space, seemingly realizing something, pondering that the blank space above the foundation should be meant to carry something. In all likelihood, that was the place reserved for "Destiny Casting".
"It seems—" Bai Zhou gradually understood what was happening within his Destiny space at this moment. So, the Arcane Seal Imprints of the "Professional" stage would synthesize into a complete foundation on the Destiny. No wonder people said that a Level 6 Titled Extraordinary Being was the culmination and sublimation of an Extraordinary Person in the "Professional" stage.
It was also no wonder that predecessors of certain ancient schools in the Eastern Federation called it "Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment". Foundation Establishment—was the process of synthesizing the foundation. The wisdom of the ancients was simply perfect here.
A feeling of sudden enlightenment naturally welled up in his heart. Just as a person knows they are human from birth, that they are creatures standing at the top of the food chain, Bai Zhou knew—he was Level 6.
Level 6 Fated One! At this point.
With the appearance of this foundation and the branding of the brand-new Arcane Seal Imprint upon it, Bai Zhou had completely finished his final promotion. The evolution of the Divine Clarity state, the depiction of the Divine Will Domain, and the final fusion of the Arcane Seal Imprints—the three-step process was completed by Bai Zhou in one go. He had taken it all, swept it all away!
Three hundred and sixty units of Spirituality rearranged themselves, instantly becoming seven hundred and twenty units of Spirituality, arriving at a nearly perfect internal circulation state.
Returning to himself, looking at his own state, Bai Zhou was now a genuine, Titled Fated One [Adventurer] who did not need to rely on external forces!
And, a Titled Fated One [Adventurer] possessing a Super-grade Divine Will Domain that even shocked Crow!
Level 6 Title, the pinnacle of the Destiny Path at the Professional stage, this peak that countless Extraordinary Persons needed to chase and look up to for their entire lives—was already under Bai Zhou's feet.
Feeling the powerful peak state within his body, listening to the rushing echo of 720 units of Spirituality flowing through his limbs and bones like a river, Bai Zhou lowered his head, looked at the lines on his palms, and then slowly clenched them into a fist.
He had to admit, the scenery at the summit was truly excellent.
However, it was not yet time to be complacent. This was someone else's summit; for him, it was merely the mountainside, or perhaps still the foot of the mountain—just a pavilion a little higher up.
The next step was to consider how to forge his Destiny.
Transcend the mundane, rise above the sky.
Regarding this famous problem that 99 percent of Extraordinary Persons had no clue about, the thorn crown on his fingertip, which had unlocked one level of recognition, had long since pointed out the path forward for Bai Zhou.
However, Bai Zhou was currently puzzled by one question.
"This imprint—?"
Bai Zhou looked inward at his white sun destiny, observing the blade-shaped pattern on the imprint base, deep in thought.
"Thousand Blade Vortex Slash?"
"Moon Ember Oath Saint Slash?"
"Basic Nine Slashes?"
Bai Zhou muttered to himself, then shook his head.
Obviously, it was none of those.
In Bai Zhou's perception, this brand-new Arcane Seal Imprint was particularly special. It represented neither the Vortex Slash nor the Moon Ember Oath Saint Slash, nor was it the Basic Nine Slashes, but a brand-new Secret Technique that encompassed everything.
This imprint was the culmination of everything Bai Zhou had learned during his major stage as a Professional, the final result summarizing all his past knowledge.
In other words, it was a Secret Technique unique to Bai Zhou, equivalent to one he had created himself.
Yet it seemed to be more than just a summary; it carried an inexplicably ancient and noble aura, remarkably similar to the aura of his white sun destiny, as if a blazing sun made it impossible for Bai Zhou to pry into its hidden secrets.
Therefore, not even Bai Zhou himself could analyze it, nor could he teach it to others, or even express it in words. It was a highly specific Secret Technique that he could only unleash by utilizing his Destiny.
"What exactly is this—?"
Bai Zhou felt puzzled, examining this imprint, feeling dazzled and mesmerized, the Blade Qi so oppressive it made his heart race.
He had a feeling that once he unleashed this strike using his Destiny, it would drain his entire person of Spirituality, and even cause a considerable burden on his Destiny.
But by the same token, its power would be unimaginably great!
"What on earth is this thing—" Bai Zhou wondered, feeling perplexed.
"Generally speaking, only Fated Ones walking a Destiny Path that aligns with their Destiny are qualified to brand an Arcane Seal Imprint onto their Destiny."
At this moment, the young girl's voice rang in Bai Zhou's ear; Teacher Ya's timely explanation always came just at the right moment.
"Additionally, usually speaking, only Fated Ones have the probability of manifesting such 'instincts'. Certain powerful and ancient Class paths with extremely high alignment with Destiny can also achieve this."
"Therefore, by the same token, at the Level 6 Titled stage, Fated Ones also have a probability of possessing a special item."
"That is, on top of the base synthesized from six Arcane Seal Imprints, there is a certain possibility of gestating a special Secret Technique that summarizes one's past learning and is the most compatible with one's Destiny!"
"This Secret Technique seems Heavenly Bestowed. When cast with the aid of Destiny, its power is unfathomable and incomparable to ordinary Secret Techniques. It is absolutely the most top-tier and ancient kind of Secret Technique, yet it has no learning threshold."
"Therefore, in some ancient texts, people refer to it as—"
"[Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique]!"
Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique?
Bai Zhou's heart surged, but then he realized—
According to this logic, could those four special ancient characters branded in his Sea of Ignorance also be considered a type of "Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique"?
It was just that using them consumed much less from Bai Zhou, and Bai Zhou himself had never fully developed them.
Ya's gaze was burning: "Furthermore, in the later stages, it can accompany the Fated One's growth and become a [Heavenly Bestowed Life Contract] or even an even higher realm of technique!"
"—And once it transforms, it becomes the most top-tier [Heavenly Bestowed Life Contract]!"
"—However, in many cases, this is merely a legend in the Mysterious World."
As she spoke, Ya shook her head, "Only those who possess a First-Class Divine Will Domain have the possibility of touching upon this opportunity during promotion, and even then, the success rate is extremely low."
"Legend says that if one is a peerless prodigy with a Destiny talent height of over one zhang, who can be called a protagonist of the era, they can possess such a Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique—this is also the fundamental reason why they can crush their peers all the way."
While speaking, Ya's gaze carried a certain indescribable emotion: "A Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique that is most compatible with one's own Destiny, and which can transform into a Heavenly Bestowed Life Contract or higher at different stages—once unleashed, there is almost no enemy among peers who can withstand a single blow!"
"Naturally, the name of this Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique will also become their title when they are a Level 6 Professional."
"So—"
Ya's expectant gaze was on Bai Zhou: "An opportunity that those with a First-Class Divine Will Domain have a probability of touching; as the holder of a Super-Class Divine Will Domain, it is absolutely impossible for you not to have touched it."
As she spoke, Ya's burning gaze looked toward the area below Bai Zhou's navel, as if wanting to pierce through Bai Zhou's clothes to look at his Destiny, making Bai Zhou subconsciously and uncomfortably squeeze his legs together.
"How about it?" Ya looked at Bai Zhou's lower abdomen and asked softly, "Do you have it?"
"I have it—"
Bai Zhou nodded subconsciously, then realized something, and immediately shook his head hurriedly.
What 'have it' or 'not have it', this conversation always made Bai Zhou feel strange.
Fang Xiaoxia, who was to the side, turned her head upon hearing this and asked quietly and secretively, "What do you have?"
"It's nothing." Bai Zhou shook his head solemnly, but met Ya's surprised and gratified gaze.
"Then, aren't you going to name it?" Ya asked.
"I can't wait to see the day it makes its debut before the world. On that day, everyone will spread the word of that move's brilliance and splendor."
Ya said softly, "At that time, when others ask you the name of this move, as well as your title as a Titled Fated One—you can't be unable to answer."
That's right, what should it be called?
Bai Zhou was stunned.
At this moment, Bai Zhou thought of the Titled Extraordinary Beings he had met and heard of in the past.
[Twilight Flame], [Emerald Flame], [Rusty Silver Knight], [Sword of Winter], as well as [Picasso], [Da Vinci], and others—
In the Mysterious World, Extraordinary Persons always seemed to spare no effort in posing and looking cool in this regard.
Because, just as Ya had said, names were always particularly important. Perhaps a name suitable for recording in epics could allow them to go further in the future in terms of mysticism.
Then, what should this "Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique" of Bai Zhou, and his own title, be called?
He looked inward at himself, observing the profound, ancient, noble, and majestic Arcane Seal Imprint on his white sun destiny, contemplating and pondering.
Combining the strengths of [Moon Ember], [Oath Slash], [Basic Nine Slashes], [Thousand Blade Vortex Slash], and many others, this was the "Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique" most suitable for the white sun destiny and for Bai Zhou, the Adventurer himself.
"Let's call it—"
Bai Zhou pondered. At this moment, his mind seemed to have fused into one with his Destiny. His consciousness blended seamlessly with that Arcane Seal Imprint, and his whole being seemed to be trapped in a Vortex of a white sun, spinning and spinning and spinning—
He saw it.
He saw the blooming of this strike. This "Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique" was repeatedly rehearsed in the depths of his mind, stunningly brilliant like a great sun rotating, vast and suffocating as if Divine Will had descended. And in the end, everything was burned out; everything turned into vast ashes, destroyed, overturned, and no longer existed.
"This strike is simply like the white sun above, the sun and moon shining together, stunning as if Divine Will were a blade, destroying everything with unparalleled dominance, yet in the end, only vast ashes remain across the ground—"
"—I know."
A certain name welled up in his heart as if by a stroke of inspiration.
As if destined, it should be called this name, Heaven-given and Heaven-bestowed.
It was just that it was named through Bai Zhou as the medium.
"This set of Heavenly Bestowed Secret Technique, let's call it—"
Bai Zhou blinked twice, his eyes exceptionally bright:
[Divine Will Returns to ashes]!
#277Chapter 269 Joint Manhunt; The So-Called Sacred Remains, Suspected to be a Senior Adventurer!
Chapter 269: Joint Wanted Order; The So-Called Holy Relic, Suspected Adventurer Predecessor!
Anomaly Investigation Bureau, Data Analysis Center.
Over a hundred screens flashed with various images, recording all sorts of endlessly fluctuating real-time data.
"A severe spiritual anomaly has been detected in the suburbs. It is the battlefield between our forces and the Blood Worship Cult. The coordinates are — — — —"
A technician reported, "Should we retrieve the footage from the front lines?"
Director Qi stood with his hands behind his back behind the technicians, surrounded by his secretary and many high-ranking officials.
"Show it!" he answered in a deep voice. The invisible pressure made the high-ranking officials behind him hold their breath.
The projection on the screen changed. Under the moonlight, a black-and-white figure stood on the lush mountainside. His arms had transformed into twin blades, the vibration frequency of the blades was incredible, and the figure left behind countless blurry afterimages while being besieged by a group of titled Professionals.
"Preliminary estimate: after his domain expanded, the coverage radius is three hundred meters. Within the core area, the operational efficiency of all hostile units drops by more than 70%. It requires the Divine Will Domain of multiple Level 6 titled Professionals to simultaneously counter it — — — —"
The technician reported sternly to those behind him while his mechanical pencil moved non-stop, recording various data.
"It can be basically confirmed that he is a Fated One—a Fated One with a title we have never seen before!"
"A Fated One — — — —" Director Qi narrowed his eyes. "Is he a direct disciple of some Blood Worship Cult elder, or a descendant of the Five Elder Families?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at the high-ranking officials beside him. "You have all seen the footage — — — — tell me your thoughts!"
On his right, a deputy director wearing gold-rimmed glasses pushed up his frames. "From the tragic state of the Art Club, it can be basically inferred that this mysterious doctor with a devilish appearance has ruthless methods, a cold personality, and possesses extremely strong anti-social attributes."
"On the other hand, his strength is extremely high. In the Level 6 Professional range, most titled Extraordinaries would only be throwing their lives away if they encountered him alone."
"Either we dispatch our own Fated titled Professionals, or we must have a Life-Casting Master present to have any certainty of taking him down!"
"Correct." On the other side, a thin-faced young man nodded. "However, if we need a Fated titled Professional, we might have to borrow someone from the Special Management Bureau — — — —"
"Special Management Bureau — — — —" Director Qi rubbed his temples, noncommittal about this suggestion, his attitude unclear.
"Continue."
Finally, Director Qi said this.
The deputy director with gold-rimmed glasses raised an eyebrow. "Currently, in our database, there are 19 S-class wanted criminals—those above Level 6 who are confirmed to need hunting and are still active."
"However, I personally believe that this Blood Worship Cult doctor, who popped out of nowhere, can be listed as an S-class wanted criminal as an exception. Even having relevant intelligence clues should be enough to exchange for a reward."
"Having committed so many major events right after his debut, he will never be well-behaved in the future — — — —"
"The A-class category is no longer enough to describe his danger and destructiveness!"
Thinking for a moment, he added, "Furthermore, I personally believe that it should not be an S-class wanted order issued unilaterally by our Anomaly Investigation Bureau. It would be best if it were issued by the Edict Hall—a top-tier wanted order jointly issued by all official agencies!"
There is a fundamental and important difference between a wanted order issued by a single department and one issued directly by the Edict Hall and jointly issued by all agencies.
For instance, when Bai Zhou blew up Base 36, Major Luo represented Base 36 in reporting and issuing an A-class wanted order. Whoever completed the wanted order could only seek the reward from the Special Management Bureau; other departments would at most provide mandatory assistance, so the effectiveness was naturally much weaker.
Another example is the A-class wanted order for [Fire-Swallowing Toad] issued by the Anomaly Investigation Bureau. The stingy Anomaly Investigation Bureau offered relatively few rewards for it, leading the Gem Witch to keep thinking about it, even mentioning it to Bai Zhou a few days ago.
— — This made Bai Zhou listen with a strange expression, realizing that there was an Old Toad who had popped out of nowhere, inadvertently taking a big hit for him again.
Therefore, a top-tier wanted order issued by the Edict Hall and jointly wanted by all departments is the truly top-tier wanted order!
"Hmm, that makes sense."
Director Qi nodded, his gaze fixed on the paused screen, his eyes deep. "This person is highly dangerous — — — — however, it is not entirely unknown where he popped out from."
Hearing this, everyone looked over, and heard Director Qi continue: "Just a short while ago, we discovered anomalies at the No. 27 Human Care Sanatorium in the suburbs. After investigation, we found that the attending physician and his assistants had all perished, with only the patients left unharmed in their sleep."
"Currently, these patients are waking up in an orderly fashion, but when asked what happened, they remember nothing."
"Not long after, the incident at the Art Club occurred — — — —"
"Attending physician — — — —?" The deputy director with gold-rimmed glasses raised an eyebrow, then saw Director Qi nod.
"As both are doctors, there might be some connection between the two."
For some reason, Director Qi's voice became inexplicably low. "That attending physician actually came from the Nowhere Medical Group — — — — I have already contacted them, and they will soon send people over to participate in the follow-up investigation of this matter."
"In addition — — — —"
Director Qi quickly adjusted his emotions, his expression returning to calm, and he pointed vaguely in a direction on the screen. "Compared to this doctor who is showing off his skills, I am actually more curious about that thing on the car — — — —"
Following Director Qi's finger, everyone saw that in the front passenger window of the minibus in the footage transmitted from the front line, there was a blurry black shadow.
The shadow's head was towering, looking like a human but with an unusual, eerie 'high skull', as if it were silently spying on the battle outside the window, mysterious and unfathomable.
"Who is he?"
Director Qi asked a very critical question. "It is very necessary to investigate this. My intuition tells me that this person is the key!"
Everyone answered in unison. "As for now — — — —"
Director Qi turned his head again to look at the deputy director with gold-rimmed glasses who had been speaking. "Handle the matter of the wanted order."
He paused and added, "Remember to add the portrait so people don't mistake him."
"Then, what should his title be — — — —?" The deputy director asked in a deep voice. "We have no intelligence on this person. We should take a corresponding code name — — — — or a title for the wanted order to make it more convenient."
"Previously, we directly called him [Sloth], which they call themselves, but as the Anomaly Investigation Bureau, I think we should mark a code name on the wanted order that makes people more aware of his abilities and danger — — — —"
"That makes sense — — — —"
Director Qi agreed deeply and began to think seriously about this question.
His gaze fixed on the man in the footage who looked like a demon incarnate, the twin blades in his hands fast as lightning, leaving behind chilling ghost shadows.
Fast! A very fast blade!
This was the first intelligence transmitted from the front line, which Director Qi recalled at this moment.
Then, he said with a serious and grave face, "Let's call him — — — —"
"'Fast-Blade Demon'!"
Hearing this, the high-ranking officials crowded behind Director Qi:
The man with gold-rimmed glasses looked at another deputy director beside him and muttered, "The Bureau Chief's ability to name things is still so — — — — unique."
"What did you say?" Director Qi turned his head to look.
Actually, everyone knew that as an Class standing at the pinnacle of Listening to the Sea, Director Qi must have heard what his subordinate said, but he still asked, "Whispering, what important things are you discussing?"
Facing Director Qi's majestic gaze, the man with gold-rimmed glasses squeezed out a smile and nodded seriously. "I said, the Bureau Chief has great insight!"
— — His blade is as fast as lightning, his character is as heinous as a demon, and his appearance is even more evil. Such a title is truly fitting!
"Hmm, indeed — — — —" Director Qi nodded reservedly and with satisfaction, his hands behind his back.
"Then that is it."
"Record and archive it: Blood Worship Cult [Sloth], official code name [Fast-Blade Demon], wanted order level S, ultra-high danger. Report to the Edict Hall to apply for a joint reward—effective immediately, notify the entire Listening to the Sea!"
Thinking for a moment, Director Qi added, "Not only that, write those subordinates of this doctor, including that female Life-Casting Master, into this wanted order as well. The hunting reward will be counted together."
"After all, this is a joint gang!"
"And — — — —"
Director Qi's eyes narrowed slightly. "I always feel that the Blood Worship Cult seems to have been doing something in the dark."
"This doctor's bizarre abilities give me an ominous feeling — — — — you all go check the archives, especially the information about the Blood Worship Cult from decades ago."
"Especially about the Seven Sins Court!"
"They seem to be brewing something, and we cannot do nothing."
As he spoke, he turned to look at everyone. "— — It is time to move, gentlemen!"
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
"Whoosh — — — —"
Night eagles flapped their wings, sweeping over the city of Listening to the Sea.
The Edict Hall quickly approved the Anomaly Investigation Bureau's request, and stacks of wanted orders were printed, with all departments issuing a joint wanted order.
—Although people from the Blood Worship Cult never lacked wanted orders, and even used them as symbols of honor and status.
The more rewards a Blood Worship Cultist has, the more powerful their abilities and the more dangerous they are, causing others in the dark world to fear and admire them.
Even so, a situation like Bai Zhou's, where he received an A-class bounty upon his debut, then rose to an S-class wanted criminal overnight, and he himself is not even a Life-Casting Master above Level 6 — — — —
It is extremely rare in Listening to the Sea in the last fifty years!
Although there have been a few cases, it is a solitary example in the last seven years.
Even the reward on his wanted order is far ahead. While being top-tier wanted by all departments, as a Level 6 titled Professional, he is surprisingly not at the bottom among the S-class rewards for those above Level 6.
The wanted order specifically stated that this person has a gang, and within the gang, there are two titled Extraordinaries and one Level 1 Life-Casting Master!
Therefore, the total reward amount is equivalent to the sum of several people, jumping from the bottom to the 11th place on the S-class wanted list in one go, approaching the top ten!
[Fast-Blade Demon], this title unilaterally granted by the authorities, appeared like a rampaging great demon —
Just one hour later, it shook Listening to the Sea again!
To be honest, why does it feel like the subsequent pursuit is crazier, and there are more people?
Bai Zhou, sitting in the car, smelled a familiar and ominous scent.
"Current target: The entrance to the passage leading to the [Seven Sins Court]."
"Southwest direction, the straight-line distance to this entrance is still — — — —"
"— — Still a straight-line distance of — — — —"
On the way down the mountain in the suburbs, the prompt from the Gospel Book made Bai Zhou ponder how to reach this exceptionally long road.
At this moment, Bai Zhou's gaze caught sight of Ya on the side, and his heart suddenly stirred.
Shrinking into the corner of the back of the car, Bai Zhou's lips moved quietly, silently conveying information to Ya.
As the teacher who taught Bai Zhou 'reading micro-expressions and understanding spoken language', Ya immediately understood Bai Zhou's words:
[How much do you know about the organization 'Holy Corpse Academy'?]
"Holy Corpse Academy?" Ya's expression shifted, her eyebrows raised slightly. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
—This is ancient history for Listening to the Sea, a mysterious force almost completely buried in history.
Although puzzled, Ya still described the information she knew to Bai Zhou: "Thirty years ago, Listening to the Sea did not have the Western Federation, nor the Black Box Special Management Bureau. At that time, Listening to the Sea only had one kind of order: black or white, black and white confrontation. Black was the Seven Sins Court of the Blood Worship Cult, and White was the [Holy Corpse Academy] representing the order side."
"The Holy Corpse Academy was not an official agency, but it was an organization older than most official departments. In that era, it played an official role, exorcising filth, eradicating evil, and guarding the order of this city."
Ya's description was not fluent; she tried hard to recall and organize her language, far less fluent than when she described official organizations like the Special Management Bureau: "Legend has it that this mysterious force was born in a remote coastal fishing village, and the time of its origin is no longer clear."
"Some say the founder of the Holy Corpse Academy picked up a rotten mysterious relic on the beach, and others say that the relic walked out of the seabed to the shore by itself and met the founder of the Holy Corpse Academy, who was just a child at the time."
"Later, the descendants of the Holy Corpse Academy called this relic, which legend says represents the origin of the force, the [Holy Relic]!"
"It is said that Extraordinaries who get close to the Holy Relic can hear some mysterious whispers and receive the infusion of strange knowledge."
"Through the translation of this knowledge, we have what is later known as the Holy Corpse Academy, and the so-called [Sun Knight] — — — —"
"In the stories passed down through the generations of the Holy Corpse Academy," Ya said, "everyone who spent more than seven days in close proximity to the Holy Relic could receive a special baptism of its power and knowledge."
"The process of this baptism was extremely painful. Only two out of ten people could walk out of the baptism pool alive, but those two who survived could possess power beyond ordinary people's understanding—immense strength, and possess a very special restraint against the blasphemous and evil power of the Blood Worship Cult."
"They wore knight armor, held knight greatswords, their Spirituality shining and scorching, walking under the sunlight, dispelling darkness, and exercising justice."
"Such people were called by the people — — [Sun Knight]!"
"In fact, I have always been suspicious of one question — — — —"
At this point, Ya's expression suddenly became strange.
The young girl's burning gaze studied Bai Zhou, as if she wanted to know what Bai Zhou actually knew about the Holy Corpse Academy: "Since it is [Sun Knight], then this Class power is very likely related to the sun."
"In other words, theoretically, it should be inseparable from the [Chen] attribute Destiny!"
"However, the Destiny Path related to [Chen] is the [Adventurer] Pathway."
Ya said softly, words that made Bai Zhou's heart skip a beat.
Adventurer Path?
Then, Bai Zhou heard Ya say: "So, I have always suspected that the so-called Holy Relic in the legends of the Holy Corpse Academy is very likely — — — —"
"A powerful Fated One who possessed [Chen] Destiny and walked on the [Adventurer] Pathway!"
"Just don't know why, his remains drifted to the shore and were picked up by the founder of the Holy Corpse Academy — — — —"
Holy Relic? Remains?
A powerful Fated One suspected to be of the [Adventurer] Pathway?
—At this moment, Bai Zhou felt as if his heart had stopped.
Because he knew very well that the Holy Relic Seal that could open the hidden treasure of the Holy Corpse Academy was hidden deep within the Seven Sins Court — — — —
Is there a possibility that this legendary Holy Relic, which occupies a foundational position in the stories of the Holy Corpse Academy, is hidden within their inherited secret treasure?
In fact, compared to what Sun Knight, what infusion of knowledge and power, Bai Zhou thought of one thing first — — — —
Since that is a rotten relic of a predecessor.
Then, on this relic suspected to be left by a powerful Adventurer —
Is there any 'last words' that only Bai Zhou can see?
v1.13.8