2:00 a.m.
In a dimly lit alley, Bai Jue stepped out and rolled his neck, loosening his stiff shoulders. Letting out a long breath, he muttered,
"Finally done."
"The number of vengeful spirits in the slums matches the data provided by the Night Watchers. That Jian, though… it really felt like it appeared out of nowhere. No idea how it was born."
"Tomorrow, I'll need to report this to the captain."
Shaking his head, Bai Jue left the slums and returned home.
Although it was already late at night, he had no intention of resting.
Ever since becoming a Festival Envoy, his physical condition had improved across the board. Going several days without sleep would barely affect him.
So instead, he planned to cultivate through the night.
He took out his phone and opened Huling. He hadn't checked it earlier, but now he noticed messages from both Ji Yingying and Cheng Taihe.
Ji Yingying:
Bai Jue, I've received my father's approval. I'm heading into a spatial gate to train. When we meet again in a month, don't get defeated by me.
Bai Jue:
It's nighttime. Dreaming so boldly isn't very appropriate.
…
Cheng Taihe:
I've decided to walk a full support path and focus on healing. I hope we'll fight together someday.
Bai Jue:
We will (^.^).
After replying, Bai Jue put his phone away, sat cross-legged, and prepared to cultivate.
He wasn't in a hurry to use the Faith Essence yet. The resources given by the principal earlier were still unused.
That resource was called Yin Soul Liquid, a substance refined from condensed Yin energy—especially suitable for those awakened to Ghost Festivals.
There was only a small bottle. Enough for three uses.
Next, Bai Jue took out the cultivation method chosen for him by Captain Sikong Xi.
Black Spirit Art.
Compared to Yin Soul Art, this technique was far more complex. But perhaps due to his increased comprehension, Bai Jue absorbed and understood the entire method with ease.
In less than three minutes, he closed the manual.
He drank a dose of Yin Soul Liquid and began cultivating.
As the technique circulated, ambient Qili gathered rapidly and poured into his body.
System notifications echoed again.
[Notice: You have begun cultivating. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: You consumed a resource. Your physique has undergone a minor change. Cultivation speed has permanently increased slightly.]
[Notice: You focused on a new cultivation method. Comprehension +1.]
[Notice: You have begun cultivating. Qili has increased slightly.]
[Notice: You have begun cultivating. Qili has increased slightly.]
[…]
The night passed in a blink.
The next morning.
When Bai Jue opened his eyes, he summoned his status panel with a thought.
[Bai Jue]
[Realm: Apprentice High-Tier Festival Envoy]
[Festival: Zhongyuan]
[Weapon: Soul-Reaping Scythe]
[Zhongyuan Abilities: Yanluo Underworld, Netherfire, ???, ???]
In just one night, he had broken through again.
He was now at the high tier—only a single step away from entering Rank One.
Glancing at the time, it was only 7 a.m.
After washing up and changing clothes, Bai Jue went out for breakfast at a nearby street stall before heading straight to the Night Watchers' building.
The same receptionist from yesterday was still there.
Seeing Bai Jue, her face immediately lit up.
"Mr. Bai Jue! You're here—have you officially joined our trade association?"
"Yes," Bai Jue replied with a smile.
"Looks like we're colleagues now."
To ordinary people, the Night Watchers existed only as a commercial organization. These employees were unaware of its true nature, let alone that this building was a Night Watcher base.
After chatting briefly, Bai Jue entered the elevator and soon arrived at Sikong Xi's office.
She was buried in paperwork, processing document after document.
Without lifting her head, she said,
"Sit down. Once I'm done, I'll take you to meet your combat instructor for the coming month."
"No rush. I actually came to report something."
Bai Jue casually poured himself a cup of water and took a sip.
"Last night, I went to the slums and encountered a Jian."
"…Hm?"
Sikong Xi finally looked up, her brows knitting together.
"A Jian? As in ghost dies to become Jian?"
Ghost becomes Jian.
Jian dies to become Xi.
Xi dies to become Yi.
Yi dies to become Wei.
These were all real entities in this world—and Jian were far from rare. As the Night Watchers' captain of Tiankui City, Sikong Xi naturally knew this.
Bai Jue nodded and briefly explained the situation, omitting only his Danger Premonition ability.
After listening, Sikong Xi's expression darkened.
"You should stay alert for a while. That Jian was most likely related to those 'rats.' Now that it's gone, they'll investigate."
"And eventually, they'll trace it back to you."
"Still," she added calmly,
"they're just rats. They won't stir up anything major."
"Since you're saying that, I won't worry," Bai Jue shrugged.
"But shouldn't you tell me what I'm doing next?"
Sikong Xi nodded, about to answer—
Then her eyes widened slightly.
She studied Bai Jue carefully.
"…You broke through?"
"You can tell?" Bai Jue scratched his head, surprised.
"Of course I can. My realm is higher than yours, and you haven't learned concealment techniques yet."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"You've only been a Festival Envoy for a couple of days. And you're already at Apprentice High-Tier?"
Bai Jue thought for a moment.
"…Maybe I was just born for this?"
"Tch."
Sikong Xi clicked her tongue, half amused, half exasperated.
"With that cultivation speed, you'll probably enter Rank One—or even Rank Two—before long."
Then she smiled.
"That's good. With your talent, only spatial gates can truly temper you. Those environments are made for monsters like you."
"Spatial gate?"
Bai Jue's eyes lit up.
"You mean… I'm going in next?"
"Exactly."
Sikong Xi nodded, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"And not just any gate."
"Tian Kui City—Sequence Seven Spatial Gate."
"Spirit Domain."
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