Energy Research Institute.
Inside the office, Yin Ling leaned against the sofa, deep in thought.
Over the past few days, Lin Ran's condition had been deteriorating—the vibrant energy he once had was gone.
At this point, she could confirm without a doubt that Tiger Soul Research Institute was deliberately suppressing him.
Even if she wanted to help him, there was nothing she could do.
Tiger Soul Research Institute was an upper-level authority, and even though she had a voice in the Supreme Council, she couldn't challenge its power.
More importantly, she wouldn't do it.
Openly opposing Tiger Soul Research Institute would risk exposing herself and her people.
She truly felt for Lin Ran, but her duty to her race outweighed personal emotions. She wouldn't be foolish enough to put her people at risk for one person.
The best choice right now was to do nothing.
Yet, watching Lin Ran grow increasingly despondent, even showing anti-human tendencies, a bold idea surfaced in her mind.
Why couldn't Lin Ran join the Silver Moon Clan?
With his talent, if he defected to her side, their relationship could deepen even further.
She believed that as long as Lin Ran proved himself with results, the clan would accept him and offer him a privileged position.
During this time, she could even personally vouch for him.
Once this thought took root in her mind, it began to grow uncontrollably.
But she couldn't reveal her idea to Lin Ran just yet—it was too risky.
For safety, she had spent the past few days carefully probing Lin Ran's emotions, trying to gauge his thoughts.
Her suspicions were confirmed—Lin Ran was consumed by negativity.
Under the crushing weight of public opinion and cyberbullying, his resentment toward humanity had intensified, and he had even shown signs of suicidal tendencies.
At this moment, Lin Ran was filled with vulnerabilities, and she only needed to offer him a way out to pull him toward the Silver Moon Clan.
Now that she was certain her plan could work, she began thinking about the perfect time to make her offer.
But before that, there was one thing she had to take care of.
Since she had decided to recruit Lin Ran, there was no need to proceed with the assassination.
With that thought, she picked up her phone and dialed a number.
After a brief wait, a hoarse voice answered on the other end.
"What is it?"
"Your efficiency is pathetic. The assassination of Lin Ran is canceled. The remaining payment won't be sent."
"Canceling unilaterally? The deposit won't be refunded."
"Whatever."
With that, Yin Ling hung up the call.
Ten minutes later.
Tiger Soul Research Institute. Training room.
Feng Qi's phone rang—it was Hei Long calling.
The moment he heard that Yin Ling had canceled the assassination order on Lin Ran, he knew the plan had advanced another step.
By calling off the assassination, Yin Ling was making it clear—
She was ready to recruit Lin Ran.
This meant Gu Ke could accelerate the third phase of the plan.
Without hesitation, Feng Qi picked up his phone again and called Gu Ke, explaining his next instructions.
After hanging up, he glanced out the sunlit window, a satisfied smile forming on his face.
"Keep pushing forward."
With that, he turned back to his desk, looking at his notebook filled with domain studies notes, and continued immersing himself in his studies.
Thirty minutes later.
Energy Research Institute.
Just now, Yin Ling had called Lin Ran and invited him to meet that evening.
She had decided—
Tonight, she would lay everything out on the table and bring Lin Ran into the Silver Moon Clan.
"If humanity doesn't cherish him, then I will."
The thought of their broken friendship being rekindled, of Lin Ran becoming one of her people, brought a soft smile to her lips.
But almost immediately, her expression darkened as another thought struck her.
What if Lin Ran refuses?
The previous tests had proven he could be recruited, but what if—at the critical moment—he said no?
With a deep sigh, Yin Ling realized—
If that happened, there was only one option left.
She would have to kill Lin Ran herself.
Even if it led to trouble down the line, his survival would be a huge threat to the Silver Moon Clan's future plans.
Only the dead could keep secrets.
She sat in silence for a long time, thinking.
Finally, she stood up, walked to her desk, and picked up a stack of documents, flipping through them absentmindedly.
An hour later, she put the files aside and woke up her computer screen.
Opening her email inbox, she saw a red-marked priority message sitting at the very top.
[Star City Supreme Council (Official Verified - Star Mark): Notification of Energy Security Inspection for the Energy Research Institute]
Content:
Following an initiative from Tiger Soul Research Institute, the Supreme Council of Star City has passed a motion to conduct an energy security inspection.
The following notice is issued:
In three days, an inspection team, led by Tiger Soul Research Institute, will conduct a citywide inspection of all energy institutions in the western district.
Personnel from various authority agencies will be assigned to assist with this process.
Inspection Items Include:
Star City's energy grid safety check
Inventory verification of energy resources in all institutions
Safety awareness evaluation of employees
…A total of 28 items
This inspection will focus on ensuring the stability of Star City's energy infrastructure.
All energy institutions receiving this email must fully cooperate. Assigned personnel will contact each institution's leadership to discuss the specific process.
Sender: Star City Supreme Council (Official Verified - Star Mark)
Yin Ling furrowed her brows as she finished reading the email.
Tiger Soul Research Institute initiated this? An energy security inspection?
Under normal circumstances, energy safety inspections were conducted quarterly, led by teams dispatched from various authority agencies under the Supreme Council of Star City.
Each energy institute was required to fully cooperate during these inspections.
The primary purpose was to monitor the operations of all energy research institutes, ensure Star City's energy supply, and eliminate potential hazards.
Yin Ling was extremely familiar with the standard procedures of such inspections.
However, what puzzled her was that the last inspection had only been two months ago.
Why was another one suddenly being scheduled so soon?
Though it wasn't unheard of for the Supreme Council of Star City to conduct sudden inspections, this time, the inspection was initiated by Tiger Soul Research Institute—
That alone made her suspicious.
Before meeting Lin Ran, she might not have thought much of this email.
But considering how Tiger Soul Research Institute had been relentlessly suppressing Lin Ran, her instincts told her something was off.
Could I have been exposed?
The thought made Yin Ling's heart tighten.
She had meticulously planned every move to ensure there were no loose ends.
Yet, the abrupt actions of Tiger Soul Research Institute were filled with too many unexplainable irregularities.
Could the inspection be a cover for something else—a test?
She massaged her temples with her slender fingers, realizing she had to consider this possibility carefully.
Even if there was only a small chance of danger, she had to prepare for the worst.
After a long pause, Yin Ling turned her gaze toward a silver-haired youth sitting nearby, casually holding a jade flute.
Her tone was firm.
"Gather our people. I have urgent orders."
The silver-haired youth nodded immediately and vanished on the spot.
Late at night.
Starlight Lake Park.
A light drizzle fell from the sky, the occasional rumble of thunder echoing from the distance.
Under the dim glow of the park's lanterns, Lin Ran and Yin Ling sat inside a gazebo, engaged in an intense game of chess.
The golden chessboard, formed from spiritual energy, was already covered in elemental pieces.
After a brief moment of silence, Yin Ling gently placed a silver elemental piece on a decisive position.
Immediately, the chessboard shuddered, and the elemental pieces began to clash and dissolve, the scene resembling a chaotic battlefield of thousands of soldiers colliding at once.
In mere moments, only Yin Ling's pieces remained—Lin Ran's had been completely wiped out.
The game had ended.
Yin Ling lifted her gaze toward Lin Ran's haggard face and suddenly asked:
"Trash dog, do you hate Tiger Soul Research Institute for suppressing you?"
Lin Ran simply shook his head.
"Are you still trying to mask your emotions in front of me?"
Hearing this, Lin Ran fell silent, then sighed deeply before gritting his teeth.
"How could I not hate them? You and I both know whether my research had real problems. I went to Tiger Soul Research Institute seeking justice, only to be treated like trash and thrown out like a stray dog…
Developing new techniques is my dream. They are killing my future."
Seeing the resentment flickering in Lin Ran's eyes, Yin Ling knew the time had come.
She spoke solemnly.
"Lin Ran, if I could offer you a place to showcase your talents, would you come with me?"
Lin Ran froze, then shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I don't know anything about energy materials, and I'm not interested in that field. Count me out."
"I'm not talking about the Energy Research Institute. I mean somewhere else—
A place far more advanced than Tiger Soul Research Institute, where your talent can truly flourish.
A place filled with knowledge you could never even imagine…"
Lin Ran's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Are you joking? If such a place existed, why have I never heard of it? If it holds such advanced cultivation knowledge, why wouldn't it be made public?"
Yin Ling took a deep breath and locked eyes with him, speaking in a serious tone.
"Because… I'm not talking about the human side."
For a moment, Lin Ran's expression flickered with confusion, then shifted to shock, followed by anger, and finally settled into coldness.
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what you think it means."
"You've pledged allegiance to a domain force?"
"I never pledged allegiance.
I was never on your side to begin with."
As she spoke, Yin Ling's black hair slowly turned silver-white.
Her ears elongated slightly, and the aura around her intensified with a holy radiance.
Lin Ran's eyes widened in disbelief, his body instinctively taking a step back.
"Lin Ran, I sincerely invite you to join the Silver Moon Clan. I promise your talent will be valued among my people. Our friendship will not only continue—it will grow even deeper."
Yin Ling watched his wary expression but was not surprised.
Lin Ran's reaction was within Yin Ling's expectations.
"Lin Ran, think carefully about everything you've gone through these past few days. Think about the things people have said online, the way strangers look at you when you walk down the street… They don't value your talent, but I do. That's why I'm offering you this chance again—join us."
Yin Ling's voice was gentle yet firm, her gaze locked onto Lin Ran's with unwavering sincerity.
Lin Ran fell silent, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he slowly returned to the stone bench and met Yin Ling's eyes.
"So from the very beginning, you approached me with an agenda, didn't you?"
"I swear, before I met you, I didn't know much about you, nor did I intend to recruit you. During our time together, I never once pretended to be someone I'm not. My feelings toward you have never been tainted by personal gain."
Yin Ling's earnest tone and the way she spoke with such conviction made Lin Ran's expression grow more complicated.
He believed her.
But ironically, it was he who had approached her with a purpose in mind.
At this moment, his conflicted emotions weren't just part of his act—they were real.
Seeing that Lin Ran wasn't speaking, Yin Ling continued to persuade him.
Throughout the conversation, Lin Ran's expression wavered, as if struggling deeply over his decision.
Yin Ling, too, felt anxious.
She desperately wanted Lin Ran to make the "right" choice—to become one of them.
Lin Ran's talent was undeniable. If he joined the Silver Moon Clan, it would greatly benefit their future.
But more than that… she wanted their relationship to last.
She didn't want things to end with the worst possible outcome—where she would be forced to kill him herself.
As she spoke, she tried to awaken the resentment buried deep inside Lin Ran, to push him toward turning against humanity.
At the same time, she painted a vivid picture of the Silver Moon Clan's cultivation heritage—a vast accumulation of knowledge spanning generations, far beyond what humans could ever grasp.
She knew that to Lin Ran, this temptation was irresistible.
And it worked.
Lin Ran's internal struggle became more intense.
A few times, he almost nodded—only to grit his teeth and force himself to hold back.
Time continued to pass.
Two hours later.
The clock struck midnight, its chimes echoing through Star City's night sky.
Yin Ling's hopeful expression never wavered as she waited for his answer.
Finally, Lin Ran let out a deep sigh—then nodded.
"Alright. I'll do it."
The moment she heard those words, relief washed over Yin Ling's face.
A bright, delighted smile spread across her lips as she gently lifted her hand, brushing her fingertips across Lin Ran's forehead.
A silver-white mark formed on his skin for a brief moment before fading away.
"Lin Ran, on behalf of the Silver Moon Clan, I welcome you. From now on, you are family."
Lin Ran sighed, his expression turning slightly bitter.
"Does this make me your clan's son-in-law?"
Yin Ling let out a light laugh and nodded without hesitation.
"Since you've chosen to join us, maybe we can develop our relationship even further."
Lin Ran raised a brow.
"Cross-species relationships… is that even possible?"
Yin Ling: …
After a long pause, she awkwardly muttered,
"Well, technically, we're both humanoid… It should be fine… probably?"
Seeing her flustered expression, Lin Ran grinned.
"Alright, let's not get into that. Right now, I need some time to process everything. It's not easy to just switch identities like this."
"That's understandable. It'll take some time to adjust." Yin Ling nodded in agreement.
Lin Ran rose to his feet and stepped into the misty rain, casually waving his hand.
"That's it for tonight's game. We'll talk tomorrow."
Yin Ling watched as Lin Ran disappeared into the darkness, a smile lingering on her lips.
Suddenly, the air beside her rippled, and the silver-haired youth holding a jade flute appeared.
His expression was not pleased.
"Sis, weren't you the one who told me never to get too close to humans? You always said that forming attachments with them would only become an obstacle to our plans. So… what exactly are you doing?"
Yin Ling turned and shot him a sharp glare.
Her tone was serious.
"This is different. I recruited an invaluable talent into our clan—this will help the Silver Moon Clan's future."
The silver-haired youth pouted in protest.
"But I think Xiao Huang could be just as talented—"
The moment he saw the temperature in Yin Ling's gaze drop, he immediately shut up.
Out of everyone in the clan, he feared only one person—his ruthless older sister.
Just as he was about to leave, Yin Ling spoke again.
"Follow him. Watch his every move. If he does anything reckless—if he even thinks about betraying me and exposing my identity… You know what to do."
The silver-haired youth's expression darkened.
"I understand, sis."
With that, his figure vanished into the night, leaving behind only faint ripples in the air.
Yin Ling slowly rose to her feet.
Her gaze pierced through the rain, watching the direction in which Lin Ran had disappeared.
She muttered softly to herself—
"Lin Ran, don't disappoint me…"