"This weapon…"
The moment the Soul-Reaping Scythe appeared, both Di Yao and Sikong Xi widened their eyes in shock.
"This isn't an ordinary weapon,"
Sikong Xi said slowly, clearly surprised.
"Not just that," Di Yao added, rubbing her chin.
"It's extremely lethal to evil entities. Against ghosts and sinister beings, its killing power would be terrifying."
As a Ghost Festival awakener herself, Di Yao actually kept several female spirits within her body, using possession to enhance her combat strength. Because of that, she could feel more clearly than most just how dangerous this scythe was.
"But didn't Xi say you were just a high schooler who awakened recently?" Di Yao frowned in confusion.
"How could you already have a weapon like this?"
Sikong Xi also looked at Bai Jue with curiosity.
"This weapon already existed within my Underworld Palace," Bai Jue replied calmly.
"Not just the scythe—there are also Yin Officers."
This was the explanation he had prepared long ago.
After all, no one could truly verify it. Festival abilities might share similarities, but no one could say they had to be identical.
"And Yin Officers too?"
Both women froze for a moment, visibly stunned.
Awakening Zhongyuan Festival already meant possessing terrifying suppression over evil entities. On top of that, he had a specialized weapon that slaughtered ghosts—and even Yin Officers whose sole purpose was to capture and execute spirits.
The treatment was outrageous.
Why didn't they get this?
And they had never even heard of Zhongyuan awakeners having these things inside their Underworld Palaces!
After a long pause, Sikong Xi finally sighed.
"You're definitely a special case."
"There are other Zhongyuan awakeners in the Federation, but none like you."
Then she added meaningfully,
"And none of them awakened with a Ghost King pledging loyalty from day one."
Turning to Di Yao, she asked,
"Well? Can you train him?"
"Tch. I can," Di Yao said after some thought.
"But I don't specialize in scythes. I can only teach him the basics for now. If he shows real talent with it, I'll find someone better suited."
"That works," Sikong Xi nodded.
"He's your responsibility now."
Ding.
The elevator chimed.
The doors slid open, and a young man stepped out.
When he saw Bai Jue, he frowned slightly, snorted coldly, and walked straight past him toward Sikong Xi.
"Mission completed."
"Oh?" Sikong Xi narrowed her eyes with a smile.
"That was quick. Keep it up—your points are almost enough. A few more missions and you'll be able to exchange what you want."
"I know."
The young man snorted, then shot Bai Jue a sideways glance, his tone dripping with mockery.
"At least I'm not like someone who freeloads."
Bai Jue frowned.
He didn't know this guy—but it was obvious who the insult was aimed at.
"You got something wrong with your brain?"
Bai Jue replied coldly.
Being mocked without responding wasn't his style.
"Oh? Freeloading and you don't even let people talk about it?"
The young man turned back, sneering.
"Freeloading?"
Bai Jue looked puzzled and turned to Sikong Xi.
She crossed her arms and smiled faintly.
"His name is Qian Chen. Festival: Minor Heat. He's one of ours."
"I selected a cultivation method for you—the Black Spirit Art. That's top-tier even within our base."
"Normally, Night Watchers need to complete a large number of missions and accumulate enough points to exchange for it."
"In short," she concluded,
"he's unhappy that you got it without spending points. He's jealous."
Understanding dawned on Bai Jue's face.
Then he laughed coldly.
"So that's it. I was wondering why some idiot suddenly started barking at me."
"Who are you calling an idiot?"
Qian Chen's face darkened instantly.
"You," Bai Jue replied calmly.
"Wasn't that clear enough?"
"Let me explain it slowly, since you seem a bit slow."
"The reason I can receive top-tier resources without grinding points is because I'll bring far greater value to the Tiankui City Night Watchers in the future."
"This is investment, not freeloading."
"I'll still pay the price later."
"And more importantly—my talent is better than yours."
"Talent determines treatment."
"You wouldn't seriously believe this world runs on absolute equality, would you?"
"That kind of naïveté is laughable."
Qian Chen sneered.
"So what if your talent's better? Right now, you're still weak enough that I could crush you easily."
"Is that so?"
Bai Jue shrugged, then turned to Sikong Xi.
"Captain, can I ask what realm this idiot is in?"
Sikong Xi smiled pleasantly.
"Nothing special. Recruited after graduation last year. Early Rank Two."
"I see."
Bai Jue tilted his head slightly.
"Rank Two… that's considered strong?"
"Not really," Sikong Xi replied with a smile.
"That's why I suggest you fight him."
"He's dissatisfied. You can shut him up with strength."
"You should understand—Festival Envoys are proud by nature."
"When someone challenges you, suppressing them with force is often the cleanest solution."
As the captain of Tiankui City's Night Watchers, Sikong Xi had no intention of stopping this.
In fact, she had anticipated this situation the moment she gave Bai Jue the Black Spirit Art.
Why should others risk their lives on missions just to earn points—
While this newcomer got everything handed to him?
Resentment was inevitable.
And Sikong Xi wanted Bai Jue to learn something:
In the world of Festival Envoys, strength is everything.
If your strength surpasses others, then suppress them.
If Bai Jue hadn't already reached High-Tier Apprentice, she might have delayed this confrontation.
But now?
There was no need.
Nearby, Di Yao sat casually on the sofa, arms crossed, sucking on a lollipop as she watched with interest.
She was curious too.
Just how strong was the student she was about to teach?
Qian Chen turned toward Sikong Xi.
"Captain, you're really allowing this?"
"Don't blame me later if I beat him badly and shatter his confidence."
Sikong Xi laughed.
"Relax. I won't."
"In fact," she added lazily,
"if you beat him, I'll personally grant you one thousand bonus points."
"Deal."
Qian Chen's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Don't forget your words, Captain."
He turned to Bai Jue with a cold grin.
"Kid, dare to fight?"
"Heh."
Bai Jue smiled faintly and rolled his neck, ignoring Qian Chen as he looked back at Sikong Xi.
"To be honest, I'm not very interested in fighting him."
"He doesn't really qualify."
"But—"
his smile deepened.
"If he gets rewarded for winning…"
"What do I get if I win?"
"If the reward's good enough,"
he added casually,
"I suppose I can make an exception and take action."
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