《Die, Replay, Repeat》


 Chapter 1: Dont Let Them Know!

    Chapter 1: Don''t Let Them Know!


    Don''t let them know you can see them!


    Don''t let them know!!!


    Fang Xiu blinked, rubbing away the sleepiness from his eyes. It was the bright red words sshed across the stark white ceiling that jolted him awake.


    His eyes, dull and hazy, stared up at the words. But in an instant, his eyes narrowed, and he sat up in his bed, as if he was a bird ready to take his flight.


    "What the!"


    Fang Xiu''s head shot up, his face was full of shock as he gazed at the ceiling covered with messy red writing. The red letters on his ceiling were packed tightly, twisted and distorted like a pile of wriggling worms. Everything about it seemed eerie.


    His mindpletely nk. He wondered how he could suddenly wake up in his cosy bed to a ceiling scribbled with red words. Each letter looked as if someone had written it down using a bloody finger.


    "What on earth is happening? Who wrote on my ceiling?"


    " Don''t let them know you can see them?"


    The words tumbled out of Fang Xiu''s mouth, echoing the deep red message covering the ceiling.


    But then, in a blink, the red letters vanished, leaving behind only the familiar in white ceiling. It was as if that creepy writing had never been there.


    Fang Xiu rubbed his eyes hard, squinted, and looked again. However, there were no red letters, just a clean, white ceiling.


    _What''s going on?! Is it because I''m still too sleepy? Or is it because too much of jerking off has seriously ruined my brain? Had I imagined it? Or was it all just a dream?_ Fang Xiu couldn''t help but hopelessly question himself.


    _But those words... they were so clear.almost as if they were real._


    The strange incident made Fang Xiu feel agitated. His heart pounded hard in his chest.


    It was unknown whether he was imagining things or not; but all Fang Xiu wanted was to get out of his room and breathe some fresh air.


    But as he moved to get up, he nced around the room and froze, almost as if he''d been struck by lightning.


    "This isn''t my room!"


    "What in the world? Am I still dreaming?"


    Fang Xiu looked around, baffled. The desk,puter, closet, bedeverything was strange. Just by a nce, Fang Xiu was sure that the room was definitely not his bedroom.


    _Where am I?_ He questioned himself.


    Fang Xiu hadn''t gone out for drinks yesterday, and he was sure he didn''t walk into the wrong house. After a long day of work, he remembereding home, eating some ramen, watching TV, and then falling asleep.


    But now, his half-eaten ramen was gone, and the crumpled tissues he''d left on the floor were nowhere to be seen.


    Everything was too neat, too foreign.


    "What is happening?" Fang Xiu mumbled, absolutely stunned by the situation. Suddenly, a wave of unfamiliar memories hit him, causing his head to spin.


    After a brief moment, Fang Xiu snapped back to reality, looking nkly at his own hand.


    _Did I... transmigrate?_


    _Did Ind in a different world that looks just like my old one?_


    Fang Xiu''s mind was racing. The unfamiliar memories were from the person who originally had his current body. They were overwhelming and jumbled; he couldn''t process them all at once. After all, they spanned over twenty years. So he started by focusing on the important ones.


    The original owner of this body was also named Fang Xiu. Just like the transmigrated Fang Xiu, he was an orphan too. They were the same age and looked almost exactly alike in and unassuming.


    The only difference was their lives and the worlds they lived in.


    The transmigrated Fang Xiu had been helped by kind people. With hard work and their support, he got into a top-notch university where he was still studying.


    But this world''s Fang Xiu wasn''t as lucky. He had to quit high school because he didn''t have enough money, and was working as a real estate salesman.


    The background of this world was like his old one, but a lot of historical events and people were different.


    "But even if I did transmigrate, what was that scary red writing about? There''s nothing like that in the memories of this body."


    The strange red writing gave Fang Xiu a bad feeling. He searched through the new memories again, but couldn''t find any useful information.


    Suddenly, out of nowhere, a soft woman''s voice came from outside his bedroom.


    "Honey, breakfast is ready."


    Fang Xiu was startled by the unexpected voice, followed by a rush of surprise. _Honey?!_ _Did my alternate self get married so early? Orwas it just a girlfriend? Well That makes a lot more sense._


    He quickly tried to remember any memories of a ''wife'', but his train of thought was instantly disrupted. All because a woman wearing a silky white nightgown had entered his line of sight.


    The first time he saw her, Fang Xiu''s eyes widened, momentarily at a loss for words.


    He thought he had be immune to beauty after seeing uncountable pretty girls in short online videos. But when he saw this woman, his first reaction was awe, and then more awe.


    The woman in front of him was too pretty.


    Her white silk nightgown, soft to touch, clung perfectly to her body, highlighting a perfect and captivating figure.


    The nightgown was short, barely covering her round bottom, exposing a pair of fair long legs to the air, shining slightly. The woman seemed just as precious as the finest piece of white jade in the world.


    Her skin wasn''t the typical fairplexion, but a cool pale, so pale it appeared bluish, with a faint rosy undertone visible to the naked eye.


    Her delicate white shoulders were bare, with only two slender white straps hanging down.


    Her neck was as elegant as a swan''s, and her beautiful corbones were fully exposed.


    With such a perfect figure, even with an average face, she would still be considered a beauty.


    But her face was far from average. If Fang Xiu were to rate it, he would give her a 9, deducting one point just to keep her from getting arrogant.


    Her face was the perfect interpretation of femininity, softness, and grace. Her eyes were like clear autumn water, full of affection as they gazed at Fang Xiu, and a gentle smile was on her face, a healing smile that seemed to smooth away all inner wounds.


    Fang Xiu suddenly felt that teleporting to another world wasn''t so bad. At least, in his old world, he would never have been able to find such a beautiful and gentle ''wife''.


    "Honey, you''re awake. It''s time for breakfast," she said again, her face showing a gentle smile.


    Fang Xiu quickly wanted to reply. After all, when talking to someone, not reacting within two seconds might make him look stupid.


    But he didn''t know how to address the woman in front of him.


    _Should I call her by her name, or honey? Darling? Babe? Sweetie? Or even ''good girl''?_


    In the end, he started to frantically search his newly acquired memories for information about his ''wife''.


    There were too many memories of the original owner for Fang Xiu to digest all at once. Those memories were stored in the database of his brain, and Fang Xiu needed to inputmands to retrieve those recollections.


    He was currently searching for memories about his ''wife'', when a shocking thing happened.


    The name of his ''wife''none!


    Dating experiencenone!


    Hobbiesnone!


    Preferred... thingsnone!


    There was nothing at all!


    In fact, there was no trace of this person in his memories.


    _How''s this possible?! The original owner of the body was a lifelong bachelor, so where did this ''wife''e from? _


    Fang Xiu suddenly felt his blood freeze, his heart skipping a beat. As he looked at his gentle, smiling ''wife'', his throat felt dry, as though something was stuck there, rendering him speechless.


    Two seconds had passed.


    His ''wife'' was patient, her face still adorned with a gentle smile. The odd thing was, her smile remained constant from beginning to end, precise like a robot, maintaining the exact curve and angle. Even the bend in her eyes remained unchanged.


    Apanied by her pale skin, it gave the illusion of lifelessness.


    It was as though a beautiful face had been carved on a piece of an exquisite white porcin.


    This was absolutely unbelievable because humans are living beings. They have heartbeats, they breathe. Just as it was hard for someone to not blink for a long time, it was equally difficult to maintain an unchanging smile, without even the eyshes trembling.


    Somehow, being stared at by such a person, Fang Xiu no longer felt the previous gentleness. Instead, he had a spine-chilling feeling.


    The onceforting presence had started to be depressing.


    "Who...who are you?" Fang Xiu asked, struggling to get the words out.


    As the words left his mouth, the wife''s smile changed.


    Her eyes burst with immense surprise, the previously gentle smile suddenly expanded dramatically, stretching the corners of her mouth into an astonishing curve.


    "You can see me!" A voice filled with repressed joy erupted from the ''wife''."

 Chapter 2: Replay After Death

    Chapter 2: Rey After Death


    In a split second, Fang Xiu felt as though he was plummeting into an icy cavern.


    _I can see her? Obviously I can so what?_


    His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, he wanted to gather his thoughts, but his ''wife'' didn''t grant him that opportunity.


    CRACK.


    The sound of porcin shattering resonated throughout the room.


    The wife''s beautiful, frosty, smooth skin was fracturing, and in an eye''s blink, countless tiny ck cracks spread across her body, making her resemble a broken porcin figure.


    From these ck fissures, the sound of water trickling could be heard, and crimson blood that looked like writhing worms began to ooze from the crevices.


    Her soft, long hair began moving and twisting in the air like coiling ck snakes.


    "You can see me!" A non-human roar erupted from her mouth.


    At this moment, her cherry-red lips stretched grotesquely from ear to ear, her perfect teeth transformed into jagged edges, and within her mouth, was another mouth almost as if another creature was growing in her throat.


    Fear, like a tidal wave, washed over Fang Xiu.


    His body involuntarily stiffened, his mind went nk, leaving only a vast emptiness.


    The next moment, the shadow of death arrived as expected.


    A massive, bloody mouth engulfed Fang Xiu''s head.


    Fang Xiu''s world turned ck. Cold, slick, and the sensation of suffocation engulfed him as his head was devoured by the ''wife''.


    Following that, an unimaginable intense pain consumed his body.


    Fang Xiu was dead.


    The scene was horrific for a moment.


    An entity, possibly non-human, bit off Fang Xiu''s head in one gulp.


    The headless body didn''t topple immediately. Arge amount of blood spurted from the neck like a fountain, soaking the bed sheets.


    However, in the next second, the surrounding space-time started to fracture like ss, everything reduced to oblivion.


    ***


    Don''t let them know you see them!


    Don''t let them know!!!


    On the pristine ceiling, it appeared as though someone had again bitten their finger and scribbled an endless number of words in blood.


    Fang Xiu, who had been sleeping, suddenly awoke, bolting upright on his bed.


    Cold sweat covered his forehead, he was panting, his eyes wide with terror.


    _What happened? Didn''t I die? Was it all a dream?! _


    As multiple thoughts sprang up in his mind, ultimately questioning his sanity, Fang Xiu noticed the unusual ceiling yet again. When he saw the familiar bloody words on the ceiling, his body stiffened.


    _Never let them know you see them? Damn it! All that really wasn''t just a nightmare! _Fang Xiu stared intently at the words on the ceiling. Under his constant gazing, the bloodied words abruptly disappeared, as if they were never there to begin with.


    _It''s happening again! Isn''t it? Could the sentence be a clue? Had I to pretend to be blind? No! That''s not correct! The original owner of the body wasn''t blind; he was just an ordinary person. The only strange thing was that in his memory, he had never seen this ''wife'' who would show up soon._


    _The original owner has always lived alone, a very normal life, never seeing or hearing about another person in his home. Perhaps it was this normalcy that had kept him from being killed like me._


    As he analysed all the memories of the original owner and his own before his ''death'', Fang Xiu came up with one conclusion he couldn''t let the supernatural ''wife'' figure know that he could see her. It was simple, he had to just act as if she was invisible!


    He had to live just like the previous body owner, acting like he was alone, not seeing or hearing anything that he wasn''t supposed to. Completely ignoring her was probably the only way he could avoid his death.


    Suddenly, a soft, soothing voice floated into the bedroom.


    "Honey, breakfast is ready."


    The voice was soft and filled with love, sparking endless imagination.


    However, that''s not the effect it had over Fang Xiu. Upon hearing the voice, Fang Xiu''s mind was filled with dread, a bottomless pit of it.


    Images of being devoured by a monstrous mouth haunted his thoughts as the voice continued echoing.


    Instinctively, Fang Xiu wanted to run away or escape the abnormal scenario. Nheless, he was trapped; the ''wife'' was already in the room.


    Wearing her white nightgown, her skin pale and cold, she wore a sweet smile from another time.


    "Sweetie, you''re up. Time for breakfast," the ''wife'' said softly, smiling.


    Death felt closer than ever.


    Fang Xiu was just a regr guy, never faced with anything supernatural, let alone the threat of being eaten by something non-human.


    The fear from the previous time was freshly engraved in his mind, however he did his best to swallow it. Lowering his gaze to his quilt, he tried his best to pretend that he didn''t see or hear the ''wife'',pletely following the warning of the bloody note.


    However, the ''wife'' didn''t y fair; she bent down towards Fang Xiu''s pants. As her face got closer to the quilt covering his lower body, she looked up, offering Fang Xiu a gentle smile.


    At that moment, their eyes locked, and the air suddenly seemed to stand still.


    The next second, the ''wife''s'' eyes went wide with surprise, and her sweet smile turned into a horrified grimace.


    "You can see me!" She eximed.


    Fang Xiu was once again reduced to a headless body.


    ***


    Don''t let them know you see them!!


    The familiar warning on the ceiling, written in blood, stabbed Fang Xiu''s eyes yet again.


    BANG!


    Fang Xiu jolted upright in bed, gasping for breath.


    _That sneaky woman!_


    Another time, it was the same endingdeath.


    Amidst his fear, he felt a spark of anger. _Dying anding back to life again? Another repeat of the same scenario? Was it an endless cycle? Starting back from the beginning point after every time he was killed? Was it something like a game''s save point?_


    After calming himself, Fang Xiu carefully analysed every detail that happened in the second cycle. After some time, he came up with something.


    When he had lowered his gaze and avoided looking at her, she hade closer. This confirmed one of his suspicions. The monster needed to know that he could see her before she made her move.


    Fang Xiu''s mind was racing.


    A few secondster, that soft female voice rang out again.


    "Honey, breakfast is ready."


    The ''wife'', smiling sweetly, slowly walked into the bedroom.


    This time, Fang Xiu quickly grabbed his phone, pretending to be engrossed in it, scrolling through short video clips, watching pretty girls dance in stockings. But the usually captivating dance didn''t hold his interest at all.


    His back was drenched with cold sweat.


    "Honey, how can you look at other women when I''m right here? Don''t you love me anymore"


    _Love you, my foot!_ Fang Xiu silently cursed in his head.


    He kept scrolling through the short clips, attempting to distract himself. With his past experience, he intentionally held the phone close, practically against his face, to block his view.


    "Honey, I don''t recall you being shortsighted. Why are you holding your phone so close? Can you see me?"


    Fang Xiu froze in surprise. _So is it not okay to act differently?_


    However, after the ''wife'' said this, she didn''t take immediate action.


    Fang Xiu let out a small sigh of relief, but when he flipped to the next clip, his eyes widened.


    The girl in the next clip was the ''wife''!


    In the video, the ''wife'' was all smiles, her demeanour gentle.


    "Honey, don''t I look pretty?"


    Fang Xiu''s eyes widened in shock, and he unintentionally looked at the wife''s face.


    "You can see me!!"


    "Damn you!" Caught between shock and anger, Fang Xiu hurled his phone. It hit the wall and shattered.


    But the ''wife'' next to him moved closer, her face twisting as her skin split open, murmuring over and over, "You can see me! You can see me!"


    "Go to hell, you monster!" Fang Xiu yelled, throwing a punch at the monster''s twisted face.


    He never thought he''d be the kind of guy to hit a woman; he''d always detested such behaviour.


    _C''est vie. Sometimes you be what you hate the most._


    After he threw the punch, Fang Xiu cried out in pain. His hand felt like it had hit a wall. The pain made him feel like it was broken.


    The ''wife'' was unscathed, her eyes full of wild greed. She didn''t give Fang Xiu any time to react, opening her gruesome mouth wide, and bit off his arm.


    "AH!!"


    A pitiful scream filled the room.


    This time, Fang Xiu''s death was brutal, worse than the ones before. At least in the previous two times, it was over quickly. This time, he was eaten piece by piece, prolonging the pain.


    It''s unimaginably hard for a regr person to experience such a thing -- watching a Specter slowly devour your body until you die. "

 Chapter 3: They Can See Me!

    Chapter 3: They Can See Me!


    Fang Xiu woke up once more,pletely freaked out. The memories of hisst terrible death were too much to handle.


    It hurt big time.


    "Ah! No! No! No!" he shouted, sounding as if he was losing his mind.


    "Honey, breakfast''s ready," his "wife" said, walking into the room with a sweet smile.


    "I don''t want it! I''m gonna get you!"


    "You can see me!"


    "I see you!"


    He charged at his "wife" like amb going after a lion.


    As expected, he met his demise again. It was a horrifying sight.


    This marked the fourth time.


    After some time, Fang Xiu managed to calm down. He decided to keep his eyes closed.


    If not looking was too difficult, he''d just keep his eyes shut.


    After dying over and over, he realized he wasn''t as scared as before. It was as if he had grown braver with each return.


    "Honey, it''s time for breakfast," his "wife" said again.


    Fang Xiu ignored her, pretending to still be asleep.


    "Honey, are you still sleeping? The sun''s up," she said, her voice close to his ear.


    Fang Xiu could picture her, a beautiful and kind woman in a white nightgown, standing by his bed, looking at him with love.


    Maybe she was resting her chin in her hand, tilting her head slightly, with a small frown gracing her lovely face.


    "Honey, aren''t you gonna eat breakfast?" she asked.


    Fang Xiu remained still because he knew that ''breakfast'' wasn''t something for him to eat, but rather for him to be eaten.


    He decided he wouldn''t get out of bed, no matter what happened. He had endured one too many "good mornings" that ended in his demise.


    His "wife" made a few more attempts, but Fang Xiu kept pretending to be asleep. Eventually, she gave up.


    _''Did she leave? Why didn''t she make a sound when she left?''_


    Fang Xiu didn''t dare open his eyes to check, deciding to wait instead.


    The room was so quiet that Fang Xiu could only hear his own breathing and heartbeat.


    Then it struck himif his "wife" wanted to wake him up, she should''ve shaken him, not just talked to him. Why didn''t she touch him?


    Could it be that she couldn''t touch him until she knew he could see her? But why?


    _''Don''t let them know you can see them!''_


    Fang Xiu now grasped the true meaning behind the red writing.


    With the rare quiet, Fang Xiu started to think.


    What were they, really?


    Who wrote the scary red writing on the ceiling?


    Why did the words disappear when he saw it?


    Why could he die ande back over and over?


    He didn''t have enough info to make sense of anything.


    Attempting to piece together any clues, Fang Xiu tried to recall everything the previous upant of his body knew.


    An hour passed. It was the longest Fang Xiu had managed to stay alive. As time went on, he started to understand what kind of world he was in. It was a lot like his previous reality, with people leading normal lives in a modern city. The only difference was the abundance of Specter stories in this world. Though unproven and vague, their sheer number made him suspect that something was amiss.


    _''Is my "wife" one of these Specters?''_


    Fang Xiu was starting to feel like he should open his eyes, not because of impatience, but rather to avoid wetting the bed._ _After all, when one woke up, nature called.


    For an adult, wetting the bed was incredibly embarrassing, second only to pooping in public.


    Since it had been quiet for a while, his "wife" might have already left.


    But just to be safe, Fang Xiu chose to wait for another hour.


    Finally, unable to hold it in anymore, he decided to get up, or his dder might explode.


    Fang Xiu was about to open his eyes, but he hesitated. As a big fan of horror movies, he dreaded the possibility of seeing a beautiful face staring right back at him once he opened his eyes.


    After all, it happened all the time in horror movies.


    By now, his dder was at its limit. Fang Xiu cautiously cracked his eyes open just a bit, his thick eyshes blurring his vision. He couldn''t see anything clearly, but it was enough for him to see if anything was in front of him.


    Nothing!


    There was nothing in front of him. Through the gaps in his eyshes, all he could see was the white ceiling.


    Feeling a bit better, Fang Xiu gradually opened his eyes, being extra cautious.


    _''Phew!''_ He let out a sigh of relief.


    The first step was a sess. The worst-case scenario hadn''te to pass.


    He then turned his head to see if his ''wife'' was still by the bed. But there was nothing there. The side of the bed was empty.


    Feeling braver, Fang Xiu slowly sat up. He even stretched and yawned, trying to act casual. Pretending to be easing his stiff neck, he squinted and looked around.


    There was no one in the bedroom!


    _''Great! She''s finally gone!''_


    But he still couldn''t let his guard down. His ''wife'' could be waiting outside. He would probably run into her if he stepped out to use the bathroom now.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t stupid. He had no intention of leaving his bedroom to use the bathroom. He had seen too many horror movies to know that it was always the ones who went out to use the bathroom, despite knowing the risks, who ended up dead.


    He decided to relieve himself right there, in the bedroom''s trash can.


    While wetting the bed was entirely uneptable, peeing in the trash can was the limit of what he could do.


    Just as he was getting up and his feet barely touched the floor...


    The eerily gentle voice of his "wife" echoed from behind him.


    "Honey, are you awake?"


    Fang Xiu felt a chill run down his spine, and his hair stood on end. He turned around almost reflexively. What he saw took his breath away and made his blood run cold.


    On the pillow where he had just been lying was a pale, beautiful face!


    The beautiful face smiled softly at him, eyes dripping with affection.


    It was his "wife"!


    She seemed tock a physical form, emerging on the bed as if she was submerged in water. Only her face was visible; the rest of her body seemed to be under the bed.


    "Holy crap!!!" Fang Xiu was shocked by this sudden, horrifying sight, practically jumping in terror.


    He had been on high alert, deeply afraid of being startled by his "wife," but he never expected her to be lying beneath him!


    _''When did that happen? Could she have been lying beneath me the entire two hours Iy on the bed? I had the monster underneath me for two hours!?''_


    This thought sent shivers down Fang Xiu''s spine, fear spreading like wildfire.


    "You can see me!" she said softly, her voice echoing in his ears, confirming his worst fear. "

 Chapter 4: Yikes! My Wifes Quite the Character

    Chapter 4: Yikes! My Wife''s Quite the Character


    Here we go again, round five.


    Fang Xiu realized running or sumbing to fear wasn''t helping him at all. He knew he couldn''t stay in bed with his eyes shut forever. If he was going to make it, he had to confront his ''wife'' and ignore herpletely; otherwise, he''d be trapped at home forever.


    "Honey, breakfast is ready," his "wife" called.


    Fang Xiu chose to ignore her, and with a nk face, he rose from the bed and started making his way toward the bedroom door. As he reached the doorway, his ''wife'' stood there, blocking his path. However, Fang Xiu didn''t even blink; it was as if he couldn''t see her at all. He walked right ''through'' her, and the expected bump didn''te. It felt as if Fang Xiu had just strolled through a breeze.


    Fang Xiu had already suspected he couldn''t touch her when she wasn''t sure he could see her. The way she sank into the bed confirmed his hunch. He managed to make it out of the bedroom sessfully. However, it seemed his ''wife'' wasn''t ready to give up. She fluttered around Fang Xiu like a teasing butterfly.


    And then, Fang Xiu "lost."


    He "lost" because he couldn''t pretend well enough, "lost" because he couldn''t ovee his natural reflexes. It was hard for anyone to keep their eyes open when a punch wasing, even if it stopped just an inch from the nose. The natural thing to do was to blink.


    His ''wife'' behaved just the same. The more he ignored her, the more she''d get in his face, even floating right up to him, so close that even a small pout could turn into a kiss.


    Even the best actor would lose.


    Now, round six.


    Fang Xiu left the bedroom with a stone-cold face. He didn''t run straight for the door, afraid that any weird moves would make his "wife" suspicious. Instead, he decided to head to the bathroom first.


    His "wife" seemed "shy" and didn''t follow him into the bathroom. Fang Xiu thought this was his chance to finally rx and take a breather. However, just as he started to feel at ease, a cute head slowly peeked out of the toilet.


    Fang Xiu died again.


    Round seven, eight, nine, ten


    Fang Xiu died over and over, in despair, in numbness, inplete meltdown.


    He just couldn''t do it, really couldn''t. No matter what, he just couldn''t suppress his natural reactions. His "wife" would unexpectedly appear in all sorts of ways, and he would flinch, eyes twitching. Once, she even popped out from his chest.


    Running away wasn''t an option; any strange behavior from Fang Xiu would prompt his ''wife'' to transform immediately. The countless ''reset'' hadpletely shattered his nerves. Nothing worked, no matter how he resisted, tried to escape, or gave up. It was as if he was doomed to "lose" to his "wife."


    Round eleven, twelve, thirteen...


    "Sweetheart, breakfast is ready."


    "Yeah, you''re the sweetest, honey."


    Fang Xiu was losing his mind. He wasn''t thinking straight anymore; his once rational thoughts had transformed into a jumbled mess. But his ''wife'' wasn''t one to show mercy just because he was falling apart.


    The cycle of "death" continued, relentless and unyielding.


    What happened when someone was pushed to the edge, and even when they had lost it, the source of their torment wouldn''t quit? It remained an enigma.


    Round eighteen.


    Fang Xiuy perfectly still in bed, the rise and fall of his chest barely noticeable. If one didn''t observe the soft movement, one might mistake him for a lifeless body.


    If anyone could see his eyes, they would be chilled to the bone. His eyes were eerie, devoid of human emotion. People often said eyes were the windows to the soul, but Fang Xiu''s windows were tightly shut.


    However, if anyone could break through that imprable wall and look past those lifeless eyes, they would witness an unimaginable madnessa madness held at bay and a hate so intense it could set his blood on fire!


    The zing me of hate and insanity burned fiercely within him, ignited by the huge grudge from dying eighteen times! Fang Xiu teetered on the verge of insanity, yet he remained surprisingly clear-headed. Such was his state at the moment.


    The endless cycle of dying had driven him to the edge of sanity, but ultimately, his overwhelming hatred restored his fractured sanity. His hatred for his "wife" became the foundation on which he rebuilt his sanity.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu sat up calmly in bed, whispering to himself, "Die, die, die. You deserve to die. As long as I live, you _will _die." His voice was t, devoid of emotion. He spoke with the calmest tone, delivering the most chilling words.


    "Honey, breakfast is ready." The soft voice rang out right on cue.


    Fang Xiu didn''t acknowledge her. He rose from the bed, slipped on his shoes, and walked straight through his "wife." He made his way to the bathroom to freshen up and change clothes. His "wife" persistently tried to get his attention, yet Fang Xiu''s gaze never wavered, as if he really couldn''t see.


    After getting dressed, Fang Xiu sat down at the table and calmly ate breakfast.


    Of course, he made the breakfast himself. He fried an egg and a sausage, cing them between whole wheat bread. He apanied the meal with a cup of milk, keeping it simple yet healthy.


    As it turned out, the prettier the girl, the more she was likely to fib. His "wife" was the samesaying it was time for breakfast, but there was no breakfast to be found.


    After finishing his meal, Fang Xiu walked right up to the door. He wanted to leave, to go out and find clues about his ''wife,'' to look for strange things in this world. Only then would he have a chance for revenge.


    Just as he reached for the doorknob, his "wife''s" pretty face appeared in the doorway, wearing a gentle smile.


    "Honey, won''t you stay home with me? Can''t you skip going out?"


    CLICK!


    Fang Xiu twisted the doorknob and calmly walked out of the room.


    BANG!


    The front door mmed shut behind him. His "wife" didn''t follow him out. After dying eighteen times, Fang Xiu finally got to leave his room, but he felt no relief. All he could think about was getting back at her. Nothing but revenge!


    "No one gets to kill me eighteen times and get away with it! No one!"


    ***


    Fang Xiu''s footsteps echoed down the hallway. He lived on the fifth floor of an old building with no elevator, so he had to take the stairs.


    Soon, he reached the end of the dark, rundown hallway, and the building''s main door stood right before him. He slowly pushed the door open, allowing the bright, warm sunlight to slip through the opening. As he opened the door wider, the sunlight slowly filled the once dark hallway. It was like outside was a world full of warmth and radiance. The sunlight washed over Fang Xiu, and he relished theforting heat.


    After dying eighteen times, he finally beheld the sunlight outside the door while still alive. Stepping out into the world, the warm sunlight greeted him, shining down on his face.


    However, Fang Xiu froze in his tracks, feeling as though his blood was turning to ice. Despite standing in the sunlight, he couldn''t feel any warmth at all.


    Looking at the world around him, he whispered to himself, "Am I in hell?"

 Chapter 5: A World Filled With Specters

    Chapter 5: A World Filled With Specters


    Nightmarish creatures called Specters swarmed every street and filled the skies. They sprawled across thendscape, covering everything in sight. It felt like this world belonged to them, not humans.


    Dark, faceless figures dressed in ck silently roamed the streets.


    Headless Giant Specters, as tall as skyscrapers, walked between buildings.


    Beneath a floating skull with empty eye sockets were bloodied figures entwined in crimson tentacles. A myriad of other eerie creatures with mangled bodies and furious faces floated aimlessly like loose feathers.


    The most terrifying Specters lurked high in the sky. High above, a massive pair of wings resembling an angel''s, stretched wide, obscuring the sun. However, these wings were no divine creation; they were part of an enormous eyeball filled with pulsating red veins.


    This eyeball was bigger than the sun itself, emitting a chilling red glow that served as an eerie warning sign.


    Then, there was a bride in the sky. She wore a traditional red wedding dress with a huge ''happiness'' symbol on it. Her pale, delicate hands were gracefully folded in front of her. However, her head was that of a rabbit, with bright white fur and red eyes. She even had a human-like smile. It was an uncanny sight. Even though she had a rabbit head, she exuded an air of nobility and beauty, like a real bride.


    There were more crazy Specters, too hard to describe.


    A big blob of goo, with countless eyes that kept popping and growing back.


    Arge ck figure with a head full of weird bumps.


    A ck fog swirling with faces contorted in eternal screams.


    A creepy y statue.


    All of them were so frightening yet bewildering.


    The Specters in the sky cast an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, relentlessly bombarding Fang Xiu with bizarre and disturbing messages, toying with his mind.


    Right then, he could hear a cacophony of sinister whispers of inhuman origin. Each word dripped with malevolence, capable of driving anyone to the brink of madness.


    The old Fang Xiu would have been paralyzed by fear, but this Fang Xiu had already died ande back to life eighteen times. If he had a spirit, it would have been all marred by the ravages of death, insanity, and hatred.


    Even though the Specters were horrifying, they didn''t cause Fang Xiu to break down. Instead, they fueled his already chaotic mind, intensifying his madness. Perhaps it was because his mind was already a mess, and the onught of sinister influence acted as a sort of weird cleansing.


    "Hehehe!"


    "Hahaha!"


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu erupted into fits ofughter. Hisugh was strange and unsettling, like it was forced out of his throat.


    For some reason, the sight of a world teeming with Specters filled him with an overwhelming urge tough, and he couldn''t contain it. To not alert the Specters, he ced his hand over his mouth, but his crazyugh still slipped out. When he looked down, his pale face was hidden in the shadow, but there was no hiding the madness in his eyes.


    "What an interesting world this is! Hahaha!"


    His loudughter caused him to start coughing. The more he coughed, the more heughed, until he started to gag.


    "Sir, are you okay? Are you sick?" A little girl came into view. She looked about four or five, with cute pigtails and a lollipop in her hand.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised. From his old memories, he knew the world looked normal. People went about their daily lives, attending school, working, getting married, and having children. It seemed like nobody was aware of the existence of the Specters. So, seeing a little girl in the neighborhood was normal.


    He tried to control hisughter, trying to appear more affable.


    "I''m fine, little sunshine. You don''t have to call me sir. I''m not that old," Fang Xiu replied. He wanted to pat the cute little girl''s head. He used to dream of having a daughter.


    However, what the little girl said next made him stop. "You can see me!"


    The innocent look on her face was gone, reced by the same wild euphoria he felt.


    Fang Xiu was surprised, then startedughing uncontrobly again. "Hahaha! Interesting! This is really interesting!"


    This time, heughed so hard that he started crying.


    He patted the little girl''s head, ruffling her hair. But then, he had to pull back his hand.


    The little girl''s body began to expand, swelling up like a balloon. All sorts of red flesh burst forth from her small frame.


    In a matter of seconds, the once cute little girl transformed into a seven-foot-tall flesh Specter. Her appearance was now like a big pile of meat, with strips of flesh and an intricatework of blood vessels on disy.


    Her adorable pigtails morphed into two strong, ck horns. The lollipop in her hand changed into a bone club, like a leg bone from some strange creature.


    "You can see me!!" the little girl screamed maniacally.


    Fang Xiuughed loudly, watching her. His eyes looked even crazier than the Specter in front of him. "I like you better this way. I won''t feel bad about killing you now."


    The little girl let out another ferocious scream and lifted the huge bone club, its ominous shadow engulfing Fang Xiu like the shadow of death. Yet, Fang Xiu just keptughing. "Now I get why I have tough. There are so many Specters like you; it excites me! There are so many that I won''t run out of targets to kill! Hahaha! You all! Must! Die!!!"


    BANG!


    The bone club came crashing down, reducing Fang Xiu into a pile of bloody flesh."

 Chapter 6: Never Respond!

    Chapter 6: Never Respond!


    Once again, Fang Xiu roused from slumber. The craziness that was once on his face had now disappeared, reced by an eerily calm expression. He went through his usual daily routine: getting dressed, brushing his teeth, using the bathroom, having breakfast, and then stepping outside his home.


    Once again, he saw the Specters, the odd beings that filled the sky, and the adorable little girl with her lollipop. Ignoring it all, he stepped out of the building and into the bustling street.


    The street buzzed with activity as people rushed about, and cars whizzed past, their engines roaring. People were in a hurry, busy getting to their jobs or school, oblivious to the presence of Specters all around them. Some even had Specters that looked like human-headed snakes slung around their necks, yet theyughed and chatted with others as if everything was normal.


    _''Sigh... sometimes, not knowing is a kind of happiness.''_


    Fang Xiu grabbed a bike from a bike-share rack on the sidewalk. He nned to bike around the main street and study the Specters. To defeat them, he knew he must first understand them.


    Of course, studying the Specters didn''t mean directly staring at them. If they spotted him, he would be forced to "reset" by dying.


    Fang Xiu had to y it cool, acting as if he were merely biking aimlessly while discreetly observing everything around him. He wanted to see if Specters were everywhere and if they had a source.


    DING!


    The chime of a sharp notification captured Fang Xiu''s attention. He stopped his bike and pulled out his smartphone. It was a message from his work''s group chat.


    His manager, Wu Dahai, had sent a barrage of texts. "Fang Xiu, do you know what time it is? How many times have you beente this month? Do you even care about your bonus?"


    The texts came quickly, one after another, sounding as if his boss was standing right there scolding him. If this were the old Fang Xiu, he would''ve already apologized, but now, he had little patience for such everyday concerns.


    In this terrifying world, his priorities had shifted. Uncovering the truth and seeking revenge consumed his thoughts. The idea of a steady job seemed trivial and insignificant to him now.


    Imagine having to pretend not to see the Specters around him every day, being careful not to get eaten. Staying alive was hard enough, let alone holding down a job.


    As he was about to dismiss the group chat and continue on, a sudden realization struck him---he barely had any money left in his bank, with a bnce that was just in the triple digits.


    _''To discover the truth about this world, a couple hundred bucks definitely won''t cut it. I can''t just keep using these bike shares. This city might be crawling with those Specters, but who knows, maybe it''s different elsewhere. I might have to hop on a train or even a ne, and that all need money. I seem to have a bonus that hasn''t been paid out yet. If I can just get my hands on it, it should keep me going for a while.''_


    With this thought, Fang Xiu decided to make onest trip to his job, quit, and then ask for his bonus.


    He had considered using his ability to "reset" by dying to hit the jackpot but decided against it. Besides, he really didn''t want to die again unless absolutely necessary. Dying, as he had discovered, was a rather unpleasant ordeal, no matter how many times he''d experienced it.


    Fang Xiu lived in the city of Green Vine and worked in the Green Vine Development District. Within this district, there existed a neighborhood of townhouses called Willow Hill, and Fang Xiu worked as a salesperson at the Willow Hill sales office.


    Six months ago, he had sold a townhouse, but themission was never paid out. So, Fang Xiu started to type a message in the work group chat.


    "I''m quitting. I''ll be swinging by the sales office this afternoon to collect my previousmission."


    His message was direct andcked any courtesy, much like a novice fresh into the working world. Such bluntness could easily rub people the wrong way, but he didn''t care. Navigating social pleasantries was thest thing on his mind. He was just trying to be efficient, to swiftly wrap up these mundane matters and get on with his day.


    The moment his message was sent, the group chat blew up with reactions, and Manager Wu flipped out.


    "Fang Xiu, what do you mean? Didn''t I make it clearst time that themission will only be paid out at the end of the year? If you quit now, you won''t see a single penny of yourmission!"


    Fang Xiu nced at the message casually and didn''t reply. He closed the group chat instead. Then, he hopped on the bike-share and headed straight to Willow Hill.


    His home was a long way away from Willow Hill, about a two-hour journey by bus, but Fang Xiu wasn''t in a rush. He wanted to take this chance to observe the city.


    Fang Xiu biked leisurely as if he were on a rxing stroll, yet his full attention was on the Specters around him. The further he rode, the more types of Specters he encountered. Each one was different and bizarre.


    Gradually, he noticed a pattern. The Specters could see humans, but humans couldn''t see them.


    There were essentially two types of Specters.


    The first type seemed to act without any reasoning. They looked weird and terrifying, and they only knew to scream wildly or constantlysh out at the humans around them. However, like air, they were unable to have any impact on their surroundings.


    The second type resembled humans. They could pretend to be coworkers, ssmates, or family members, offering theirpany and initiating conversation. Yet humans remained oblivious to their presence, unable to see or hear them. Apparently, his "wife" belonged to this type.


    This particr type of Specter was unique. They mostly resembled humans, and some even looked perfectly human. They seemed to try to integrate into human life, even though people couldn''t see or hear them. Like a bystander, they lingered by someone''s side.


    Fang Xiu was intrigued.


    _''Why are these Specters so set on role-ying and being around people, even though they seem to have no influence on reality?''_


    Reflecting on his "wife''s" behavior, Fang Xiu had a hunch.


    _''These Specters are testing whether humans can see them because as soon as they can be seen, they can attack.''_


    However, he quickly dismissed the theory.


    _''No, that''s not right!''_


    Testing might just be part of the picture.


    Logically, once a Specter had confirmed that humans truly couldn''t see them, they should have moved on to the next person to test, as this would be the most efficient way. However, his "wife" didn''t leave after failing. Not only his "wife," but along the way, Fang Xiu saw many human-like Specters. They all clung to a person, desperately attempting tomunicate, even if that person couldn''t hear them.


    _''But why?''_


    Suddenly, a chilling idea struck Fang Xiu.


    _''They were trying to fit into human life! Yes! That must be it! Otherwise, why would my ''wife'' pretend to be alive? If a Specter wants to test if humans can see them, they can do so by startling them rather than pretending to be alive. So, the only possibility is that they are trying to fit into human life. But what''s the reason for doing so?''_


    _''Considering the end result... These Specters'' goal is obviously to prey on humans, so everything they do is to prepare for this. Could fitting into human life help them make contact with humans better?''_


    _''Specters seem to exist in limbo. When humans can''t see them, they remain spectral beings. Only when both sides confirm they can see each other does the Specter take solid form.''_


    _''Why do they have to be seen? No, that''s not it! Maybe being heard is enough. I can see and hear Specters, while others can''t hear or see them.''_


    _''Seeing and hearing both represent information. Once the Specter confirms that humans can receive their information, they can interact. So, the Specters are fitting into human life, probably to make humans receive information or perceive their existence. Bing part of daily life will certainly speed up this process; otherwise, the Specters won''t need to do this.''_


    At this moment, Fang Xiu suddenly realized that maybe, some people''s hallucinations and illusions might not be delusions at all.


    _''Some people might inadvertently hear someone calling their name or hear someone talking but find that there''s no one around. It''s very likely that a Specter is trying to fit into their life. The more they be part of life, and the longer itsts, humans might inadvertently pick up on some signals!''_


    _''And the more signals received, the greater the chance of the Specter revealing itself!''_


    _''So, never respond!''_"

 Chapter 7: The Surprise Mental Hospital

    Chapter 7: The Surprise Mental Hospital


    Before Fang Xiu knew it, lunchtime rolled around. He picked a noodle shop at random and gobbled down a bowl of ramen before hitting the road again. He nned to watch more Specters, hoping to learn more about them.


    As the afternoon progressed and the day turned into evening, the fading sun cast a mncholic light over the town of Green Vine. It made it seem like the whole city was under the shadow of a dark cloud. The Specters lurking around town looked even scarier and harder to see.


    After a while, Fang Xiu arrived at Willow Hill, a fancy neighborhood boasting big, expensive houses. Despite its distance from the city center and the streets around it were empty, it was clear the houses were expensive. Thesevish homes were sought after because the neighborhood offered peace and privacy. It was great for people who wanted a private hideaway or a ce for special get-togethers.


    Those who could buy houses here typically had drivers, so the distance wasn''t a problem. Instead, they liked how quiet the ce was.


    Fang Xiu rode the bike along the calm, tree-lined street. Beautiful trees, bushes, and flowers adorned both sides of the road, showcasing the significant investment made by the developers. This road was the main way to get to the neighborhood, leading straight to Willow Hill.


    Perhaps because it was so private and didn''t have many people, there weren''t many Specters around, just a few scattered here and there.


    As Fang Xiu continued down the main road, he suddenly stopped to look at the building in front of him. His calm eyes showed that he was thinking hard.


    Willow Hill was gone!


    The beautiful, neat houses were gone.


    In its ce now stood a mental hospital.


    The mental hospital loomedrge, a sprawlingplex with several buildings connected by bridges in the sky. Its walls were falling apart, and the paint was peeling off in lots of ces, making it look eerie and deste. The sign at the entrance was crooked and covered in a thickyer of dust, but Fang Xiu could still read its name.


    Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    Fang Xiu maintained a straight face as he looked at the mental hospital before him. He was certain he hadn''t taken a wrong turn. This was supposed to be Willow Hill, not some Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    _''Did a Specter do this? Unlike the living Specters I''ve seen before, this time it''s a mental hospital? Or did a Specter make the mental hospital too?'' _


    Fang Xiu''s curiosity surged. This was the first time he''d seen something like this on his journey, and he had a feeling there might be some Specter secrets concealed in the ce.''


    Right away, Fang Xiu left his bike and turned on his phone.


    He had deliberately turned it off earlier because his boss, Wu Dahai, wouldn''t stop calling him, which had been nothing short of annoying. When he checked his phone, he saw 13 missed calls from Wu Dahai and three from Zhao Hao.


    Zhao Hao was a co-worker of Fang Xiu''s, and they were good friends. After brief contemtion, Fang Xiu decided to call Zhao Hao back.


    After about thirty seconds, Zhao Hao''s breathless and quiet voice came through the phone. "Fang Xiu, why didn''t you call me back sooner? What''s going on with you? Wu Dahai is really mad now. He said he''s going to fire you. You won''t get severance, either."


    A torrent of worried words poured out from the other end of the line, but Fang Xiu remained silent.


    "Is everything okay?" Zhao Hao asked.


    Willow Hill had definitely turned into a mental hospital, but it seemed like his work friends weren''t affected by it.


    _''Is it an illusion? Or, like the Specters, is this mental hospital a creepy building that only I can see?''_ Fang Xiu wondered.


    "Fang Xiu, why aren''t you talking? Is something wrong over there?"


    "I''m okay," Fang Xiu said calmly. "Are you guys still at work?"


    "Yeah, we are. You didn''te in today, and Wu Dahai''s been really angry at us. We have to stayte again. Also, Fang Xiu, you"


    "Let''s talkter," Fang Xiu said, cutting Zhang Hao off. He ended the call and turned off his phone again. He was nning to look into the Green Mountain Mental Hospital, and he didn''t want to fall victim to those movie clichs where a phone rang at the worst possible moments and caused problems.


    Fang Xiu walked steadily toward the Green Mountain Mental Hospital entrance. The dark, run-down entrance, along with the low light, looked like the gaping maw of a giant, ready to swallow anyone who dared toe in.


    However, Fang Xiu was far from being scared. In fact, it seemed like he had lost the ability to feel fear. Every time he encountered a Specter, the first feelings he had were always a mixture of anger, hatred, and even excitement.


    Fear never seemed to be part of the equation.


    ***


    As Fang Xiu explored the area, the only sound that could be heard was the tapping of his footsteps. But then


    THUMP!


    Fang Xiu ran hard into something invisible, his face stinging with pain.


    "An air wall?" He was right at the entrance, trying to move forward, but it was like an invisible wall was in his way. He reached out to touch it, feeling the cold and rough texture against his fingertips.


    "This isn''t an air wall. It''s a real wall that I can''t see. Does this mean I can''t go into this mental hospital?"


    Determined, Fang Xiu felt around the invisible wall, trying to find a way in.


    "Fang Xiu, what are you doing? Is this some kind of performance art?" a slightly teasing voice called out from the side.


    Fang Xiu was a little shocked, but his face remained unchanged. After experiencing multiple deaths at the hands of his ''wife,'' he''d learned how to not react, like a mountain. In a world like this, teeming with Specters and a creepy mental hospital, reacting to sudden calls could lead to one getting eaten.


    But he didn''t stop moving; he kept feeling the invisible wall, moving toward the voice. When he was close enough, he looked to the side and saw someone standing on his left. A young guy wearing a security guard outfit, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, was looking at him and smiling.


    Fang Xiu recognized him instantly; it was the security guard from Willow Hill.


    Unlike other neighborhoods, the security guards at Willow Hill were notably young and robust. After all, the neighborhood catered to the wealthy elite, so it was only fitting to have capable and youthful guards. Perhaps, once most of the houses were sold, they would rece the young guards with older ones.


    _''Is this an illusion? Or is it a Specter pretending to be a person?'' _


    Lost in his contemtion, the guard walked over and patted him on the shoulder.


    "Fang Xiu, why are you ignoring me? I saw you hitting the wall and then feeling it up. What''s up with that? Is the wall that attractive?"


    Feeling the warmth of the hand on his shoulder, Fang Xiu realized something.


    _''Did he touch me? Is he not a Specter?'' _


    After a moment, Fang Xiu turned around. "Zhao, have you been here this whole time?"


    The security guard, Zhao, looked surprised and even waved his hand in front of Fang Xiu''s face. "Fang Xiu, do you need sses? I''ve been standing guard at the guardhouse the whole time, straight as a rod. Didn''t you see me?" Zhao asked.


    _''A guardhouse? There isn''t a guardhouse at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital.'' _Fang Xiu thought surely. He couldn''t help but look where Zhao hade from and froze.


    Where there was nothing before, there was a guardhouse now.


    He''d seen this guardhouse every day when he went to work and even been inside it. It had a small air conditioner, which was really nice in the summer.


    _''How is this possible?!''_"

 Chapter 8: Time Mix-Up? Mixed-Up Worlds?

    Chapter 8: Time Mix-Up? Mixed-Up Worlds?


    Fang Xiu couldn''t help but nce back at the spot where the doorway to the mental hospital used to be. Shockingly, it was no longer there.


    Instead, he saw a wall.


    He took a step back and scanned his surroundings, utterly stunned.


    *''Where has the mental hospital gone?''*


    His view was now filled with the sight of the stunning and fancy Willow Hill.


    Bewildered, Fang Xiu blinked and took another look. The mental hospital had reappeared! But now, the security guard, Zhao, was nowhere to be seen.


    *''What in the world is going on?''*


    His gaze locked onto the Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    Suddenly, just like something out of a movie, Willow Hill began to flicker in and out of existence. At first, it took on a spectral form, but it gradually solidified, and its colors became more intense.


    Then, by some weird twist, the Green Mountain Mental Hospital was still there!


    Both buildings seemed to have merged together.


    *''Is this a time mix-up? A space mix-up?''*


    Fang Xiu''s eyes danced, the mental hospital and Willow Hill blending and duplicating before his gaze.


    He moved to another spot and tried to touch the hospital wall. His hand sailed right through, stopping only when it met the wall of Willow Hill.


    He immediately figured it out. This mental hospital must be like the other Specters he''d encounteredillusions that could only be seen and touched under special conditions.


    Willow Hill was still there, while the mental hospital seemed to ovey it like a 3D image.


    The thought of finding Wu Dahai slipped from Fang Xiu''s mind. He needed to solve the puzzle that was this mental hospital.


    ''_Why is everything else a walking Specter, but this ce a strange building illusion?''_


    "Hey, Fang Xiu," Zhao''s voice came from behind him. "Why did you stop talking and just walk off?"


    But Fang Xiu ignored him; his sole attention was now on the mental hospital.


    He moved slowly. With the two buildings merged together, it was difficult to discern what was fake and what was real. He didn''t want to walk into a wall.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu was standing near the garden area of Willow Hill, yet what he saw was the decayed wall of a hospital room. Without hesitation, he walked through the room''s wall as if it were air.


    The scene changed before his eyes. Now, he stood in a dimly lit hallway lined with benches, the walls stained with dried, dark red blooda sight straight out of a horror movie.


    It felt like he had walked into a hospital from long ago. The walls were grimy, and the floors were made of dull gray concrete instead of the usual marble.


    Fang Xiu didn''t take the usual paths, instead moving through the walls to explore the surroundings. It looked like something terrible had happened in this mental hospital. There was blood everywhere, even bits of rotten flesh.


    He moved through the main hall, dining room, bathroom, and activity roomall empty. But upon reaching a certain patient''s room, he froze,pletely drawn in.


    This room was unique. Its door, a deep, dark red, resembled dried blood. It looked like a gaping, monstrous mouth from a distance, enough to send chills down one''s spine. Inscribed on the door was a number.


    _''Room 104?''_


    Curious, Fang Xiu stepped forward, passing right through the door and into the room.


    Inside was rather ordinary, with only a run-down bed. Huddled in the corner of the bed was a little girl dressed in a hospital gown. Her face was buried deep between her knees, with her arms wrapped around her legs. A worn flower bracelet hung loosely around her pale wrist.


    Fang Xiu didn''t look at her directly, pretending not to see her, but he observed her from the corner of his eye. He wasn''t nave enough to believe there were living humans in this specter-filled mental hospital, even if they looked human.


    The girl seemed to sense Fang Xiu''s presence and abruptly raised her head. Fang Xiu averted his gaze immediatelythe girl had no facial features.


    He walked straight ahead while the girl''s featureless face followed his movement until he left Room 104.


    After room 104, Fang Xiu passed many more rooms, each with its number. He went into each one, encountering various specters. Most were vicious and bloodthirsty, and they lunged at the sight of a living person. Unfazed, Fang Xiu faxed each attack without batting an eye.


    By his count, there were dozens of simr rooms, indicating that the mental hospital housed at least dozens of specters.


    The building must be hiding a big secret.


    As he walked, he suddenly came to a halt. He shockingly found that the doors of rooms 162, 169, and 177 were open, and the rooms werepletely empty.


    _''Have the specters escaped?''_


    He pressed on, venturing deeper, only to find a real vi blocking his path. He had no keys, so he had to find another way.


    After taking a detour, he found himself inside a doctor''s office within the mental hospital. The room had a desk with a scattered stethoscope and blood-stained case reports.


    Fang Xiu moved closer to read the case reports, and his eyes narrowed. One of the reports covered in blood had a few lines visible.


    It read, "Experiment 128, Specter Transformation Level: 2164. Transformation failed."


    _''Transform into a specter?! Specters were transformed from people? Are the Specters in those rooms once human?''_


    Fang Xiu was seized by shock. He wanted to keep reading, but in the next moment, he paused. Everything around him was illusory, like a holographic image. He couldn''t physically pick up the case reports to read further.


    "Darn it!"


    The secret seemed so close, yet out of reach, fueling his frustration.


    Suddenly, several thin strands of ck hair drifted into Fang Xiu''s view. They floated down from the air, their source a mystery. But he wasn''t about to foolishly look up. He acted like he was just wandering around, subtly moving away while watching discreetly from the corner of his eye.


    He saw a "pretty" doctor in a white coat, her limbs stretched out like a spider, hiding on the ceiling. Her face was Specterly pale, her eye sockets were pitch ck with creepy patterns, and her eyes were all white, devoid of pupils. Her hair, over a yard long, hung down from the ceiling, and she held a shiny scalpel in her hand.


    _''A doctor?''_


    Fang Xiu was a little surprised.


    _''Did she write these case reports? Could she have been a human once?''_


    Different guesses raced through his head, but he couldn''t find any answers, and the Specters surely wouldn''t answer his questions. Fang Xiu could only keep going. If there were clues in the doctor''s office, then there must be more in the mental hospital.


    Including the Director''s office!


    That must be the heart of the mental hospital, likely holding all its secrets. Fang Xiu kept weaving through the mental hospital, hunting for the Director''s office. Soon, he found an administrative area. Based on standard hospital design, he deduced the Director''s office should be in this area.


    Drawing closer, he realized that its real-world location was none other than the sales office of Willow Hill, the ce where he worked. "

 Chapter 9: The Sales Office and the Directors Office

    Chapter 9: The Sales Office and the Director''s Office


    The sales office was fancy. Glossy marble floors stretched from wall to wall, and a grand crystal light fixture hung from the ceiling while the walls showcased various cool patterns.


    In the center of the room was a small model of Willow Hill. It looked neat and very well made. To the right was a meeting spot. It had fancy tables and chairs made of dark wood, soft leather couches, and a screen for presentationspretty much everything one could possibly need.


    The moment Fang Xiu walked in, several salespeople in their fancy suits looked over at him. When they realized it was Fang Xiu, their faces changed. They were all in the same work chat group, so they knew about his decision to quit.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t care about their looks and just walked around the sales office. His focus was fixed on the hospital office area. To him, unraveling the Specter''s secrets was of utmost importance.


    Right then, a young man in a suit quickly walked over. He looked pretty ordinary and kind of thin. He also had thick ck sses on. It was Zhao Hao, Fang Xiu''s friend who had called earlier.


    He spoke in a low voice and sounded worried, "Dude, why are you only here now? Wu Dahai is furious. If not"


    Fang Xiu cut him off before he could finish, "Hao, we''ll talk about itter."


    "Fang Xiu, you"


    But Fang Xiu had already walked away, heading for the second floor of the sales office since the first floor didn''t have the Director''s office.


    Zhao Hao watched Fang Xiu walk away and sighed, quickly following him. He thought Fang Xiu was going to ask Wu Dahai for money on the second floor and was afraid things might go badly. So, he decided to see what would happen.


    When Fang Xiu walked into the second floor of the sales office, he was also walking into the second floor of the hospital''s office area. The entrances to the stairs were different for both buildings, but the floors were about the same height.


    Upon reaching the second floor, a voice full of anger and stress resounded before Fang Xiu could start looking around.


    "Fang Xiu! You dare to show up for work? I''ve already fired you, you know that?"


    A middle-aged man in a ck suit and white shirt approached him quickly. He was slightly bald and had a big belly. He pointed his chubby finger at Fang Xiu and began yelling at him.


    The second floor was where the salespeople worked, and Wu Dahai''s yelling drew the attention of many people working at theirputers. Most of the onlookers appeared quite pleased, ready for some drama. They were hoping to see Fang Xiu argue or maybe even fight with Wu Dahai.


    Wu Dahai was notorious for being harsh on his employees. Even though they wouldn''t dare stand up to him themselves, they''d be really happy if someone else did.


    However, the big showdown they were expecting didn''t happen. Fang Xiu didn''t even blink at his boss''s yelling and didn''t bother talking back to him. Mid-rant, Fang Xiu simply grabbed Wu Dahai by the shoulder and pushed him aside. Then, he carried on his way.


    Wu Dahai was a big guy, but it was mostly fat. He never expected the usually quiet Fang Xiu would push him. He stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to steady himself by grabbing on aputer desk.


    "You... you pushed me!? You''re being defiant!" Wu Dahai turned red with surprise and anger as he struggled to keep his bnce. Seeing all the staff staring at him, he felt even more embarrassed. "Unbelievable! Totally unbelievable! Where is security!?"


    Wu Dahai decided not to take on Fang Xiu himself. First, he couldn''t win, and second, as the supervisor, engaging in a fight with an employee would spell the end of his management career. Fuming with anger, he started shouting and called security on his phone.


    Fang Xiu paid him no attention. Everyone watched as he walked around the room before making his way toward the sales office on the third floor.


    The Director''s office wasn''t on the second floor.


    "Fang Xiu, you''ve got some nerve, pushing me, you" Wu Dahai was mid-rant when his expression changed. "What are you doing!? Who said you could go to the third floor!? Come back here!" He pointed at the other staff and shouted, "What are you guys staring at? Stop him!"


    They hesitated but stood up. But by then, Fang Xiu was already on his way to the third floor. Seeing this, Wu Dahai''s expression changed again, and he stopped them.


    "Never mind, sit down. I''ll go."


    Wu Dahai moved his big body as fast as he could and hurried after Fang Xiu to the third floor. He looked really worried as if there was some secret on the third floor he didn''t want people to see.


    When Fang Xiu got to the third floor, his eyes went right to a door not far away. It had "Director''s Office" written on it in big letters.


    He walked toward the Director''s office, and Wu Dahai, panting hard, was right behind him.


    The truth was, Wu Dahai didn''t know Fang Xiu was going for the Director''s office. He just saw Fang Xiu marching toward thest office on the third floor, and his face turned all kinds of colors.


    "Fang Xiu,e back!"


    CLICK!


    The office door was thrown open.


    From inside came an angry man''s voice and a woman''s screams, followed immediately by the sound of clothes being put on hurriedly.


    Wu Dahai went pale as a paper.


    "It''s a disaster! Total disaster!"


    He yanked at his white shirt, pulling off two buttons, before sprinting toward the office. When he got inside, he saw Fang Xiu just standing there, staring straight ahead.


    In front of him was a fancy desk. Theptop and papers on it were now on the floor, and in their ce were a man and a woman, both looking a mess.


    The man was skinny, with deep-set eyes and a very pale face. His pants were halfway down. The woman was curvy, her face carefully made up. She wore a professional dress and ck stockings, which were ripped in a few ces. Her high heels were gone.


    Fang Xiu was looking right at the woman''s stockings, or more urately, at the desk in the Director''s office of the mental hospital. On the desk was a piece of old paper, and the woman just so happened to be lying on top of it.


    "Who the heck are you!? Who let you in!?" The man was putting his clothes on fast, swearing at him. Meanwhile, the woman clung to the man like a scared bird, trying to cover herself with her clothes.


    Fang Xiu recognized both of them. The man was the son of the person who invested in Willow Hill, Wang Ziteng. The woman was Li Feifei, the top salesperson at Willow Hill. She was also the prettiest of all staff.


    The sales team at Willow Hill was put together by the investors, so technically, Wang Ziteng was Fang Xiu''s big boss.


    "Wu Dahai! Didn''t I tell you no one was allowed on the third floor?" Wang Ziteng yelled at Wu Dahai.


    "Mr. Wang, please calm down. Fang Xiu''s been acting crazy today. After he came in, he not only hit me, but he also ran up to the third floor without a word. I couldn''t stop him. Look, my new white shirt that I bought yesterday was torn by this jerk. I admit, I''m getting old, and I couldn''t stop him." Wu Dahai said, looking apologetic and frightened.


    "

 Chapter 10: Want the Real Story?

    Chapter 10: Want the Real Story?


    Wang Ziteng looked at Wu Dahai, who was panting hard and dripping with sweat. His white shirt was all messed up and missing two buttons.


    "Useless trash!" he yelled madly. Without missing a beat, he redirected his anger toward Fang Xiu. "An you, Fang Xiu, what''s your game? Do you even know who I am"


    Wang Ziteng couldn''t finish his words as Fang Xiu pushed him onto the floor, revealing a scared and helpless Li Feifei behind him.


    "Hey, you pushed me?" Wang Ziteng roared, fuming.


    "Ahh!" Li Feifei shrieked, afraid that Fang Xiu was out to hurt her. The next thing she knew, she was pushed, and her slender body tumbled off the table.


    Once they were taken care of, Fang Xiu focused on a piece of old paper on the Director''s desk.


    A quick look made his heart drop.


    "To the lucky one, want to know the real story? Want to know what the Specter truly is? If you''re here, you must be full of questions. Don''t worry, my friend. I''ve left all your answers in Room 520, Building C, at Green Mountain Mental Hospital. Go there, find out. When you uncover the truth, it will be your time to choose. Follow your gut, and seize destiny''s gift."


    The letter was signed by a guy named Zhou Qingfeng.


    With each word Fang Xiu read, his heart felt heavy.


    _''Just as I thought! There''s a big secret hiding in this hospital! This Zhou Qingfeng must be the head of Green Mountain Mental Hospital. Who''s this letter for? Is it for him or someone else? Did Zhou Qingfeng know I wasing?''_


    It seemed that before Fang Xiu could answer the old questions, new ones popped up.


    _''Building C, Room 520, huh? Maybe that''s where all the answers are.''_


    Fang Xiu spun around, ready to leave. But Wang Ziteng was now blocking his path, looking threatening.


    "You think you can push me and just walk out? Today" Wang Ziteng''s words stopped short as the light bulb above fizzled out, plunging the room into darkness. He was ready to throw a punch but couldn''t see his target anymore. "Darn! Is the power out? Wu Dahai! Go switch on the backup power. And Fang Xiu, you better not run, bastard!"


    In the darkness, Fang Xiu ignored Wang Ziteng''s threat. His mind was racing because, as soon as the lights went out, the Green Mountain Mental Hospital vanished! His vision was filled with darkness, but it wasn''t theck of light that made the hospital disappear. It was because the power cut was in the real world, not the mental hospital.


    The mental hospital was always dimly lit. Logically speaking, even with the power outage in the real world, he should still be able to see the hospital. But now, the mental hospital had vanished, like it was swallowed by the darkness.


    This sudden change gave Fang Xiu a bad feeling. He quickly whipped out his phone and switched on the shlight, but all he saw was the real-world office, with no trace of the mental hospital in sight.


    _''What is happening?''_


    Fang Xiu bolted out of the room and headed to the second floor. He wanted to see if the mental hospital was also missing elsewhere.


    Seeing Fang Xiu "run away," Wang Ziteng cursed and ran after him. Wu Dahai, worried about Wang Ziteng, followed. The only person left, Li Feifei, was too scared to stay alone in the dark. So, they all rushed to the second floor.


    Once there, Fang Xiu moved about, using his phone light to look for signs of the mental hospital. However, he found nothing, absolutely nothing. The mental hospital had vanished like a mirage.


    The staff on the second floor stayed cool. It was just a power cut, and with so many people around, even the most timid ones weren''t scared. A few staff, however, tried to intentionally scare everyone else by pretending to scream.


    "Ah! I just filled out that form! Didn''t even save it! Why now? If I have to do this over, howte will I work?"


    Laughter filled the room.


    "I''m d I saved mine."


    "Me too."


    Then, in the dark, Wu Dahai''s voice called out, "Quit yelling. Someone check the circuit breaker!"


    "I''ll go see what made me redo my form!"


    The staff who had just screamed volunteered. He turned on his phone shlight and ventured off into the dark.


    Maybe because there were lots of Specter stories in this world, a coworker teased, "Want me toe with you? Be careful not to bump into anything weird if you''re alone."


    The staff heading to check the power supply snorted, "Anything weird? The thought of working extra hours tonight scares me more than anything."


    With that, his figure slowly vanished into the dark.


    Laughter filled the office.


    "Hey! What''s up? Why''s my phone light so dim?" a woman suddenly yelled.


    A coworker suggested, "Maybe it''s dusty. Give it a wipe."


    "I did wipe it, but it''s still dim. Stupid phone."


    "Wait, my phone light''s dim too."


    "Same here."


    Several staff holding their phones agreed.


    It caught Fang Xiu''s attention, and he looked over, his eyes narrowing.


    In the dark, he could see the staff sitting or standing, each with a phone providing light. Normally, the lights should brighten up the whole office. But now, it seemed like the light was choked by the dark, reaching only half a meter ahead.


    Even odder still, a shlight''s beam usually got weaker the further it went. But now, at half a meter, there was a distinct line between light and dark, and the light couldn''t extend any further like it was abruptly cut off by the darkness.


    It seemed like some strange floating things were whirling around in the dark.


    _''It''s Specter!''_


    Fang Xiu almost instantly knew. This familiar feeling couldn''t be mistaken!


    Just then, a scream filled with terror erupted from the distant darkness.


    "Ah!!!"


    The voice was familiarit was the worker who had gone to check the power earlier.


    The scream shocked everyone.


    "Zhang Bo, what''s wrong? Did you get a shock?"


    "Zhang Bo, stop trying to scare us!"


    THUD!


    The sound of something heavy hitting the floor echoed.


    "Ah!"


    Several women screamed in fear.


    "Stop screaming. Zhao, go check it out quickly." Wu Dahai quickly ordered.


    Zhao hesitated, but due to Wu Dahai''s earlier scare, he had to go.


    Zhao was the security guard Fang Xiu had met before. He was called up by Wu Dahai, likely because of his job. So when danger struck, Wu Dahai thought of him first. shlight in hand, Xiao Zhao slowly walked into the dark.


    Time ticked by, and about five minutes passed. Xiao Zhao hadn''t returned, and there were no sounds from the darkness. "

 Chapter 11: The Specter Zone

    Chapter 11: The Specter Zone


    Wang Ziteng''s face showed a bunch of mixed emotions, and theck of signal on his phone seemed to confirm something for him. He yelled, "Everybody, shut up!"


    With him being so important, his yell made everyone stop talking right away. Suddenly, all eyes were on him.


    A small light from his phone illuminated Wang Ziteng''s face, while shadows covered most of his look. His strange face looked kind of spooky. Swallowing hard, he tried to look cool, saying, "Everyone, be quiet. I''m about to say something extremely important! It could be a matter of life and death!"


    Those wordsnded heavily, hitting everyone''s heart like a hammer.


    Li Feifei, standing next to Wang Ziteng, jumped and said, "Mr. Wang, what are you talking about? What do you mean by life and death? You''re freaking me out..."


    "Shut up!" Wang Ziteng yelled at her, making Li Feifei look like she''d seen a Specter. He took a deep breath, his voice a little shaky. "If I''m right, we might be in the Specter Zone."


    "Mr. Wang...Wang Ziteng, what''s the Specter Zone?"


    "Stop asking! We don''t have time for questions. Just do whatever I say. Got it?!"


    Wang Ziteng''s yell filled the room, making everyone quiet again.


    "Because of my money and connections, I know stuff most people don''t. There are secrets about this world you wouldn''t believe. In simple terms, there are entities called Specters in this world, and the so-called Specter Zone is their home. You can think of the Specter Zone as a different dimensionit''s the Specters'' turf! What we have to do now is escape from this creepy Specter Zone, or we''ll all be done for by the Specters!"


    Everyone looked really shocked by his words.


    *''Specters?!''*


    They all thought Wang Ziteng was just messing around, but the scared look on his face told them otherwise.


    "Mr. Wang, you''re not joking, are you? Where on earth are these Specters?"


    "Jeez! Didn''t I tell you to stop asking questions?! If I didn''t need you to stay alive, do you think I''d be telling you all this?!"


    Wang Ziteng grew increasingly unnerved, like he had a knife to his throat.


    "Believe me or not, pay attention. We''re definitely in the Specter Zone now. No phone signal, dim light; it all adds up. Remember, the only ones who can handle Specters are psychics---people who can use their own spirit power. My cousin is a psychic, and he''s the one who told me all this. The only way for regr people to stay alive against Specters is to watch the Specter''s killing moves and stay away from them. So, from now on, everyone do as I say. Don''t go off by yourself, not even for bathroom breaks. Just deal with it right here if you need to!"


    What Wang Ziteng said left everyone scratching their heads, questioning what they thought they knew about the world. Until they actually saw a Specter, most people would likely have doubts.


    Maybe the only one in the room who totally believed Wang Ziteng was Fang Xiu because a Specter was haunting his house, pretending to be his "wife."


    But Fang Xiu was curious. While Wang Ziteng knew about Specters, he didn''t seem to see them as often as Fang Xiu did. If Wang Ziteng could also see Specters all the time, he wouldn''t be freaking out like he was now.


    Even though he was acting pretty brave for a normal guy, it wasn''t enough. Hecked theposure needed to survive in a world full of Specters.


    But none of that really mattered. What was important was the psychic.


    When Fang Xiu heard that only psychics could handle Specters, his anger started to re up. Perhaps psychics could see Specters everywhere and had the power to fend them off.


    "Mr. Wang, what do we do now? Should we run?" Wu Dahai''s voice trembled.


    "No running!" Wang Ziteng yelled, sounding agitated. "Everyone, stay put! Running around in the Specter Zone is just asking for trouble. My cousin told me never to run around or touch anything randomly in the Specter Zone so we don''t break any rules."


    "What do we do now?"


    "Look around! Everyone, check out your surroundings carefully. If the Specter hasn''t attacked us yet, it means we haven''t set off their killing moves."


    Following Wang Ziteng''s orders, everyone began to look around.


    After a while, three minutes passed without anyone finding anything, and nothing bad happened either.


    This made the staff grow antsy and question Wang Ziteng''s words even more.


    Some folks even started whispering that it might be something like changes in the maic field or some weird science stuff causing the dim light, no phone signal, and power going out.


    As for the two missing coworkers, they might have identally been shocked when the power came back on.


    "Maybe we should go out and check. I gotta use the bathroom."


    "Yeah, where on earth are these Specters?"


    The whispers reached Wang Ziteng''s ears, stressing him out even more. He cursed under his breath but knew he had to keep everyone calm.


    He was just a normal guy too. His psychic cousin once said the best way to figure out a Specter''s killing moves was to let lives be lost. That was why he''d let everyone in on the secret---to let them know the truth and keep them close. This way, he could better test out the Specter''s killing moves and make sure he made it out alive.


    "Everyone, stay calm. Like I said, don''t move around. If anyone needs to use the bathroom, just---"


    Before Wang Ziteng could finish, a calm voice cut him off.


    "The Specter is here."


    The voice seemed to hold some sort of power, or maybe the news it delivered was just that shocking. The room fell silent right away."

 Chapter 12: Spooky Stuff

    Chapter 12: Spooky Stuff


    "What the heck?"


    "Where''s the Specter?"


    Everyone started to frantically look around but saw nothing.


    "Fang Xiu, what are you bbing about? Where''s this Specter?" One of his friends, shaking in his boots, red at Fang Xiu.


    "Seriously, now''s not the time for jokes, Fang Xiu. Quit freaking us out."


    Fang Xiu just stood there, looking at everyone calmly. His pale, handsome face looked somewhat eerie in the dark. With his emotionless face, he looked like a life-size doll. His icy, nk stare was unsettling, and those berating him started to calm down.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu broke the silence. "Wang Xiaoli is gone."


    "No way, Xiao Li is right here. Xiaoli, say something," his friend called out.


    But Wang Xiaoli didn''t say a thing.


    The guy felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly turned on his phone shlight, only to find that Wang Xiaoli, who had been right next to him, was indeed gone.


    "Wang Xiaoli! Wang Xiaoli!" he shouted her name, but there was no response.


    That set everyone off.


    "Wang Xiaoli is really gone!"


    "Is it really the Specter?"


    "Fang Xiu, did you see the Specter?" Wang Ziteng asked out of nowhere.


    Even though Wang Ziteng and Fang Xiu didn''t really get along, they knew that now wasn''t the time to fight when they might be facing a serious threat.


    Fang Xiu calmly replied, "I couldn''t see the Specter in the dark. I just saw Wang Xiaoli disappear."


    His nonchnt tone made it sound like it wasn''t a big deal, as if it wasn''t a person who had vanished but a bug.


    Any normal person would have freaked out if they saw a Specter, maybe even screamed, but Fang Xiu talked about Wang Xiaoli''s disappearance as if it were nothing.


    The people in the room were no fools. They''d been around the block a few times and could tell something was amiss with Fang Xiu''s unusualposure.


    Wang Ziteng looked at him suspiciously. "Fang Xiu, you''re not scared of the Specter at all. Are you a psychic or something?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head and asked, "What do you mean?"


    Wang Ziteng looked even more confused and exined, "A psychic can control their mind or spirit. I don''t really get it, but I think it''s like having mental power. My cousin told me we all have this big power inside us, but it''s always covered up, like a pearl in the dirt. And a psychic can clear away the dirt and let their spirit shine."


    Wang Ziteng was about to say more, but Wu Dahai cut him off, "Mr. Wang, we don''t have time for this! People are disappearing. We need to get out of here."


    "Shut up!" Wang Ziteng shouted back, "Get out? Where to? Only three people are missing so far. If we start running around and get the Specter''s attention, we''re all toast! Plus, what I''m telling you now could save our lives! Do you think psychics are born with their powers? Nope. They develop them. Right now, the best thing we can do is have one of us be a psychic!"


    "So, you''re saying a psychic is made in the Specter Zone?" Fang Xiu suddenly asked.


    Wang Ziteng nodded, looking surprised that Fang Xiu could still think so clearly in this crazy situation.


    "That''s right, to be a psychic, you gotta tap into the power of the Specter! As I said before, everyone''s spirit is hidden, like a pearl in the dirt. To make the spirit shine, two things have to happen. First, you need to face a big scare, the kind you get when your life''s on the line. This can shake the dust free from your spirit. A huge shock could do the same thing. Second, you have to meet a Specter. The power of the Specter can reach into your spirit, wiping off the dust like a cloth cleaning dirt."


    He continued, "But remember, while the Specter''s power can clean the dust off your spirit, it also leaves a mark. It can darken your spirit even while it makes it shine. If you think of your spirit like a dirty pearl, the Specter''s power is like a bloody cloth. It cleans the dirt yet stains the pearl with blood. The light we talk about when we talk about the spirit is really just the spirit''s shine being distorted by the Specter."


    Upon hearing all this, Fang Xiu''s mind raced with thoughts.


    It looked like this was a world run by mentalism, where a psychic''s poweres from mixing their own spirit and the Specter''s power. Being on the edge of life and death starts the reaction like a chemical reaction needs heat; a life or death situation provides that heat.


    It got Fang Xiu wondering.


    *''I''ve been at death''s door and met a Specter. Why isn''t my spirit shining? Or is it shining, but I just didn''t notice?''*


    Then Wang Ziteng said, "So, anyone here could be a psychic. If someone does, we might have a chance of getting out of the Specter Zone!"


    "What happens when your spirit starts to shine?" Fang Xiu asked.


    "First, they''ll be stronger than a normal person, their senses will be super sharp, and when their spirit shines, they''ll get a special power. This power is a sign of their spirit. Just like no two spirits are the same, no two powers are the same."


    *''Power? Sign of the spirit?''*


    Fang Xiu''s mind raced, and he couldn''t help but consider his unique ability to reset after dying.


    *''Is that my power? Wait, that can''t be right. I''m just as strong, and my senses are just as good as anyone else''s. They''re not better.''*


    Plus, he felt like his power to reset after dying was something he got aftering to this world, not because his spirit started to shine.


    *''Based on what I know, it seems like my spirit hasn''t started shining yet. So, the question is, if my power to reset after dying isn''t because my spirit started shining, why haven''t I be a psychic even though I''ve met the two conditions?''*


    Then, Fang Xiu realized he hadn''t actually met all the conditions because of his power.


    He''d been in the limbo between life and death, and that state, like his thoughts and memories, hadn''t changed every time he "reset." However, his way of thinking changed after experiencing multiple deaths. Nevertheless, he hadn''t met the condition of getting in touch with a Specter, as he died every time he could touch his wife. This time, he only survived because he deliberately avoided interacting with her.


    And those Specters he''d seen wandering the streets didn''t count either. Fang Xiu figured it was because if they weren''t "seen," they were basically not there for humans.


    However, this situation now was different. The Specter lurking in the shadows, like it had stepped from make-believe into the real world, could kill even if it wasn''t "seen."


    The mental hospital disappearing, a Specter that could kill without being "seen," the psychic... These clues were all tangled up in Fang Xiu''s mind.


    There had to be a connection between them, but he hadn''t figured it out yet. Even though he was in a really bad spot, Fang Xiu felt a surge of excitement. He saw a chance for payback, and that was to be a psychic.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu saw something out of the corner of his eye.


    "Another one''s gone," he said coldly."

 Chapter 13: One More Word, and Youre Done For!

    Chapter 13: One More Word, and You''re Done For!


    "What?!"


    "Another Specter?!"


    "Who''s missing now?"


    Everyone began to freak out, frantically checking on each other. Soon, someone yelled out, "Jia Liang''s gone!"


    "Jia Liang! Jia Liang!" A few of his buddies started calling for him, panicking.


    "Stop shouting! You want to bring that Specter over here?" Wang Ziteng snapped, losing his cool as more and more people vanished.


    Though he was still a bit calmer than the others, all because he''d seen these Specters through his cousin, so he was ready for them.


    On top of that, he looked up to his cousin and wanted to be a psychic himself. So, when he entered the Specter Zone, along with being scared, he also felt excited. But, when he was actually facing the Specter, he realized that the first feeling that came from deep inside him was nothing but fear.


    "Mr. Wang, what do we do? I don''t want to die!" Li Feifei cried, tears running down her face. She grabbed onto Wang Ziteng''s sleeve, annoying him.


    "Why do you think I know what to do?"


    "Two to three minutes." Right then, a calm voice cut through the noise. It was Fang Xiu.


    "What two to three minutes?"


    "The time between people disappearing is two to three minutes," Fang Xiu exined coolly. "To be more precise, two minutes after women and three after men. Zhao vanished three minutes ago, then Wang Xiaoli disappeared, and two minutes after her, Jia Liang vanished. It looks like this Specter''s way of killing is to take someone every two to three minutes."


    He added, "If I''m right, three minutes after Jia Liang vanished, someone else will disappear."


    "Killing by time? Damn it! How do we avoid that?" Wang Ziteng''s eyes were bloodshot. He was about to lose it.


    Fang Xiu ignored him and strode into the darkness, leaving the rest of the group scared and anxious.


    His best friend, Zhao Hao, was the first to yell, "Fang Xiu, what are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"


    Without turning around, Fang Xiu answered, "I''m obviously trying to find a way out. Should I just stay here and wait to die? There are eight of us left. If one of us keeps disappearing every two to three minutes, we''ll all be dead in about twenty. We should at least try to survive."


    "Fang Xiu! Stop!" Wang Ziteng shouted furiously. "Didn''t I just say no one should go off on their own? Don''t you get that if one person breaks the Specter''s rule, we could all be in danger? You''re just a regr guy. You don''t know what a Specter---"


    Fang Xiu stopped and spun around. His pale, emotionless face scared everyone. He looked like the dead.


    Wang Ziteng was shocked, rendered speechless by Fang Xiu''s icy stare.


    Then, Fang Xiu''s emotionless voice pierced through the silence. "One more word, and you''ll be done for before the Specter even gets to you."


    Despite their emotionless delivery, Fang Xiu''s words carried an eerie, chilling force that was hard to put into words. Hearing him speak, Wang Ziteng felt as though he was on the brink of an abyss, the looming specter of death encroaching upon him.


    Staring into Fang Xiu''s impassive gaze, Wang Ziteng had a jarring realization. Fang Xiu was deadly serious---one more word, and he would indeed face certain death!


    Born into wealth, Wang Ziteng had encountered all types of people, and due to certain circumstances, he''d even locked eyes with murderers. Yet, even the eyes of a murderer couldn''tpare to the pressure emanating from Fang Xiu''s tranquil gaze.


    Wang Ziteng wasn''t mistaken. There was a clear difference between the eyes of a murderer and those of someone who had experienced death eighteen times over.


    With Wang Ziteng effectively silenced, Fang Xiu turned and vanished into the darkness.


    Seeing this, Zhao Hao hesitated, his face alternating between courage and fear. The next moment, he gritted his teeth, ncing at Fang Xiu''s retreating figure and the hesitant crowd. Finally, he made his decision and followed Fang Xiu.


    "Mr. Wang, what should we do now?" Wu Dahai''s voice trembled.


    Wang Ziteng''s face turned an unhealthy shade of pale, then darkened with anger. Fang Xiu had managed to silence him while present, but now that he was gone, Wang Ziteng''s fury began to boil.


    "What to do? Let them go and get themselves killed! Two country bumpkins who don''t even understand what psychics are dare to defy me?"


    "But... I don''t think Fang Xiu is the type to seek out death. Maybe we should follow them?"


    Thisment instantly ignited Wang Zire''s rage. "Follow them? Are you fucking kidding me?" he yelled, "I''d rather die or be taken by the Specter---"


    His words were abruptly cut off by a bone-chilling scream.


    "Ah! Someone''s vanished again!!"


    A chill coursed through Wang Ziteng''s veins. He quickly counted the remaining people---only five, including himself. He immediately changed his stance, "Quick! We need to follow them!"


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao, his impromptu sidekick, continued to traverse the dark hallway.


    Their shlights pierced the darkness as they relentlessly moved forward. Despite walking for quite some time, the hallway showed no sign of ending. Usually, after walking for a bit, they would see the stairs leading downward, but today the hallway seemed to stretch on endlessly.


    "Xiu, something''s not right. Why haven''t we reached the stairs yet?" Zhao Hao was shaking. He huddled close behind Fang Xiu like a frightened bird.


    "Hush, quiet."


    He suddenly came to a stop, his gaze fixated on the end of the hallway.


    A faint green light began to glow at the end of the hallway, reminiscent of the luminescence from exit signs in the dark---eerie and unsettling.


    Fang Xiu furrowed his brow upon seeing the light. It looked identical to the one in Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    An astonishing hypothesis began to form in his mind, and he quickened his pace toward the glowing light.


    Stepping fully into the light, Fang Xiu found himself in a narrow, run-down corridor. Dark stains and dried blood sttered the ceiling and walls, and battered benches were scattered every few meters.


    The ce looked like a hospital corridor from decades past, with dark and gray walls, and a dull gray cement floor.


    It was unmistakable---this was Green Mountain Mental Hospital!


    "Xiu! Am I seeing things? Where are we? Shouldn''t we be in the office? Why does this ce look like a hospital from a horror movie?" Zhao Hao''s frightened voice echoed from behind Fang Xiu.


    A realization sparked within Fang Xiu''s mind.


    ''Zhao Hao can see the mental hospital too? Could it be...''


    Fang Xiu extended his hand, brushing it against the wall. He felt the cold, rugged surface.


    His pupils sharply contracted.


    It was just as he had suspected! He was indeed in the mental hospital, but this time, it wasn''t a mere illusion---it was tangible!


    ''Could it be that the mental hospital, simr to the walking Specters, had met certain conditions and materialized into reality? And that was the phenomenon known as a Specter Zone?''


    Fang Xiu theorized that the mental hospital, which had appeared as a holographic projection before, had now merged with reality. It seemed as though the sales office had been devoured by it, encapsted within.


    No wonder he hadn''t been able to observe the mental hospital like before---he was already inside it."

 Chapter 14: The Doctor Appear

    Chapter 14: The Doctor Appear


    "All the better. We''re one step closer to unraveling the mystery," Fang Xiu muttered. He had no desire to flee but was intent on investigating the Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    As they moved forward, they soon came across two sizable pools of blood further down the corridor.


    The volume of blood was considerable, with stters marring the nearby walls. Above the blood stains were scraps of shredded flesh and bone, with torn segments of office work and security uniforms.


    The torn flesh and bone looked like the remnants of a gruesome meal, scarred with teeth and bite marks.


    Identifying the familiar clothing in front of him, Fang Xiu realized that these were his colleagues and the security guard who had gone to inspect the power supply earlier.


    Evidently, they had all been devoured by the Specter.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu immediately understood the pattern behind the Specter''s reappearance: three minutes after a man vanished and only two minutes after a woman. The intervals appeared to be determined based on the amount of flesh it consumed.


    The women at the sales office were generally attractive, with decent features and slender figures---a requirement of the industry. As a result, their flesh volume was rtively less than that of the men.


    The Specter took around three minutes to finish a man and about two minutes for a woman.


    "Xiu! Were...were they all eaten by the Specter!?" Zhao Hao''s face turned ashen, his entire body shaking.


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer but stared at the shredded clothes. The cuts on the fabric were clean, evidently made by a sharp instrument. Combining this with the Specter he''d observed in the Green Mountain Mental Hospital, the image of the doctor sprang to mind. It was highly probable that the cuts were made by the scalpel she held.


    At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from behind Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao. They turned to find Wang Ziteng and his group emerging from the dark corridor.


    "My God! What is this ce? Wasn''t this supposed to be the sales office?"


    "It looks like a hospital!"


    Wang Ziteng and the others eximed in shock, their eyes filled with panic and disbelief.


    Indeed, no one could have expected that leaving the corridor of the sales office would lead them into an environment resembling a hospital.


    "Fang Xiu, Zhao Hao, have you two discovered anything since you left earlier? Have you seen Zhao and Jia?" Wu Dahai asked with a quavering voice.


    "The three people... They..." Zhao Hao trembled as he pointed to the two pools of blood on the floor.


    Wang Ziteng and the others looked at where his finger was pointing, and their pupils contracted.


    "Blood! So much blood!" Li Feifei screamed.


    "These are Zhao and Jia''s clothes!" Wang Ziteng''s face turned even paler, cold sweat trickling down his face as he envisioned a horrifying scene.


    "They were eaten..."


    At those words, everyone shivered.


    "Mr. Wang! Let''s leave quickly, I want to go home..." Li Feifei sobbed, terrified. She tugged at Wang Ziteng''s arm, begging.


    Wang Ziteng was suddenly jolted back to reality. "Right, right, let''s get going now!"


    At first, he nned to lead everyone forward, but as he nced at the unfamiliar and vacant hospital corridor ahead, he dared not take a single step. He wasn''t sure where this corridor led.


    ''What if it''s the Specter''sir?''


    At that moment, Wang Ziteng was under immense pressure, akin to leading a group through a haunted house. But everyone was looking up to him as their pir of strength, huddling close behind him.


    Fortunately, Fang Xiu quickly broke the impasse. After observing the situation, he began to move. He strode toward the depths of the corridor with an air of calmness. Zhao Hao trailed closely behind him.


    Seeing someone take the lead, Wang Ziteng no longer hesitated and advanced forward. However, he didn''t follow as closely as Zhao Hao. Be it due to pride or some other factors, both parties maintained a distance of about three meters.


    TAP TAP TAP...


    The sound of their restrained and cautious footsteps echoed in the empty corridor as if they feared alerting the Specter to their presence. Suddenly, the footsteps came to a sudden halt.


    Fang Xiu, who was leading the way, had stopped. Like a sheep leading the flock, once he stopped, Zhao Hao behind him also ceased his steps. Wang Ziteng and the rest of their colleagues followed suit.


    Wang Ziteng wanted to ask Fang Xiu why he had stopped, but considering his dignity, he dared not utter a word. If he were to ask, it would seem like he wouldn''t dare to proceed unless Fang Xiu led the way.


    "Fang Xiu, why did you stop?" Li Feifei''s voice wasden with panic.


    She was already terrified out of her wits, and her usualposure as a white-cor elite had vanished. Seeing Fang Xiu''s sudden stop, she instinctively asked him why, desperate to escape this ce as soon as possible.


    Fang Xiu didn''t reply, his gaze fixed on his phone. After a moment of silence, he dered, "Time''s up."


    "What do you mean, time''s up?" Li Feifei instinctively asked. Her confusion was mirrored by everyone else.


    Only Wang Ziteng realized what he meant. His face turned ghostly pale, and he quickly raised his left hand to check his expensive wristwatch.


    "It''s been three minutes!"


    Everyone immediately understood and was taken aback.


    Just then, a creaking sound emanated from behind them. The sound was sharp, akin to the turning of joints. As they all spun around to face the source, their souls nearly left their bodies.


    They saw a woman in a whiteb coat, her hair unkempt, with long limbs like a spider''s. Her eyes were ghostly white, and she hung upside down from the corridor''s ceiling.


    The creaking sound they heard was the noise of her turning her neck.


    Since she was hanging upside down like a spider, her face was in the opposite direction to everyone else''s. But with a slow 180-degree turn of her head, her eyes met the gaze of each person in the group.


    Silent fear began to spread like a tide. In the presence of the Specter, even the toughest man would shudder in fear.


    The "doctor" stared intensely at the crowd. The next instant, her limbs began to il wildly. Like some ghastly human-spider hybrid, she scuttled rapidly toward the group.


    "Ahh!!!"


    Li Feifei''s scream was like a starting signal, prompting everyone to take off in a frantic sprint as if their lives depended on it.


    This time, there was no need for someone to take the lead. In fact, anyone ahead was perceived as an obstacle slowing their desperate attack.


    The narrow corridor of the psychiatric hospital turned into a bottleneck. In their desperate bid to flee, everyone inadvertently shoved and pushed the people in front of them, hoping to clear their own path.


    Some of the physically weaker ones were even knocked to the ground amidst the chaos.


    Li Feifei was one such victim.


    Being a delicate beauty, she had been clinging to Wang Ziteng''s arm, seeking protection. However, when the crisis struck, Wang Ziteng was the first to toss her aside and bolt for his life.


    Wang Ziteng reacted swiftly. He was the first to bolt, leading the pack in their frenzied escape. At this point, Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao were blocking his path.


    But the two men weren''t running.


    Zhao Hao was simply paralyzed in fear, while Fang Xiu stood there, observing.


    Just as he had suspected, the murderer was indeed the "doctor" he had encountered earlier in the hospital.


    After all, most of the Specters in Green Mountain Mental Hospital were confined to their rooms. Even though they hade across a few open doors during their exploration, they hadn''t encountered any Specters.


    The only one they had encountered was this "doctor," who was not a patient but a staff member and, therefore, not confined like the rest."

 Chapter 15: A Brush with the Specter

    Chapter 15: A Brush with the Specter


    "Move! Get outta my way!" Wang Ziteng shouted in fear, shoving past the frozen Zhao Hao and racing forward. Fang Xiu quickly clung to the wall to avoid being knocked over as everyone scattered.


    WHOOSH!


    Office employees, who were previously stuck to their desks every day, now ran like Olympic sprinters. They whizzed past Fang Xiu, leaving a gust of wind in their wake.


    Poor Zhao Hao was knocked around before he tumbled to the side.


    "Hold up, wait for me! Mr. Wang! Don''t leave me behind!" Li Feifei managed to scramble to her feet. She yelled in fright, her pretty face twisted with fear. Her makeup was smudged from crying.


    She wasgging behind, not only because she had been pushed but also because her high heels made running difficult. Perhaps fatigue from her earlier activities also contributed to her slower pace.


    She wore high heels and a tight pencil skirt, a stylish and eye-catching outfit that was unfortunately not practical for running. Her skirt rode up as she sprinted, making it even harder for her to move.


    "Ow!" Li Feifei hadn''t gone far before she yelled in pain and fell. Her usually pale ankle was now red and swollen. Running in high heels wasn''t the best idea.


    Despite the pain, Li Feifei tried to get back up, only to see a curtain of thick, ck hair falling in front of her.


    It was the "doctor''s" hair.


    A chill ran down Li Feifei''s spine. Her heart felt like it stopped. Without thinking, she looked and found herself staring directly into the white eyes of the Specter, and she was paralyzed with fear.


    When the "doctor''s" hair brushed against Li Feifei''s face, she was jolted out of her fear-induced paralysis.


    "Ah!" Li Feifei let out a blood-curdling scream. She scrambled forward, ignoring her knees scraping on the concrete and leaving bloody streaks behind. All she cared about was getting away.


    "Help me!" she yelled to Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao. They were the only ones still in the hallway. Everyone else had made it to the end and disappeared around the corner.


    "I don''t want to---" Before Li Feifei could finish, something shiny shed. Her world started to spin, then it faded to ck.


    THUD!


    A dull sound echoed. It was the sound of Li Feifei''s head hitting the floor.


    The "doctor''s" scalpel was incredibly sharp, and her long arms allowed her to swing with great force. With just one swift cut, the scalpel had done its grim work. It happened so quickly that Li Feifei''s body was still trying to crawl even after her neck had been severed.


    It was a horrifying sight; her neck was cleanly sliced off, and the area was drenched in bright red blood, spurting out like a geyser.


    Some of Li Feifei''s blood sshed on Zhao Hao, but Fang Xiu, who stood behind him, managed to stay clean.


    Zhao Hao had just begun to recover from his initial shock, but a new wave of terror washed over him. The only reason he didn''t wet his pants from the horror was that he''d already peed himself from fear earlier.


    After killing Li Feifei, the "doctor" didn''t stop there. She meticulously began to cut up the body with her scalpel, disying precision, tidiness, and unwavering focus. Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao were right there, but she didn''t even nce in their direction.


    Once she finished cutting up Li Feifei, she started eating like she had been starved for days.


    Witnessing the gruesome scene, Fang Xiu started to put together a theory. He had a guess about the "doctor''s" killing moves: she only targeted the nearest person and only one person at a time. Otherwise, she would''ve killed him and Zhao Hao too.


    The "doctor''s" modus operandi involved cutting up the body with a scalpel before consuming it. It likely had to do with what the "doctor" used to do for a living.


    With her neat cutting skills and the deftness of her scalpel, it was clear that the "doctor" must have performed a lot of surgeries in a mental hospital before. Normally, a surgeon only operated on one person at a time, and it was almost unheard of for a doctor to handle two operations simultaneously. That was probably why she only killed one person at a time and used a scalpel to cut them up. She was careful, dedicated, and focused.


    As for eating people, she probably started doing that after she became a Specter.


    Once Fang Xiu figured out her killing pattern, he stood next to the "doctor." The scene before him was undeniably gory, yet he remained unfazed. He should thank his "wife" for that since he''d been in situations like this before, though usually he was the one getting eaten.


    All of a sudden, Fang Xiu clenched his fist and punched the "doctor."


    THUMP!


    A dull sound rang out.


    Fang Xiu pulled back his fist, and blood trickled from it. He looked at his injured hand, then at the "doctor''s" untouched face. She kept eating, not bothered at all by Fang Xiu''s punch.


    Fang Xiu felt like he had punched steel. This punch made him realize how much stronger the "doctor" was than him. It seemed like all the Specters they''d met so far were way stronger than humans. In the eyes of the Specters, humans were as weak as ants. Maybe bing a psychic could change that.


    A shaky voice came from behind Fang Xiu. "Xiu, let''s go!" It was Zhao Hao.


    Zhao Hao seemed to have gotten over his intense fear. Unlike their coworkers, who had fled right away, he wanted to get Fang Xiu first before making their escape.


    However, Fang Xiu didn''t run. He stood calmly. "This Specter only eats one person at a time. So it is safest while she''s eating."


    "But it looks like she''s almost done," Zhao Hao said.


    "Li Feifei had a nice body. She wasn''t the skinny type. Even though her legs were thin, her curves were all in the right ces. Given how much meat she had on her, it should take at least three, maybe four minutes. No need to rush."


    Fang Xiu delivered those unsettling words with a chilling calm.


    Zhao Hao, already on edge, threw up when he heard "how much meat she had." His vomit---a mix of vegetables, instant noodles, broad noodles, and enoki mushrooms---suggested he''d enjoyed hot pot for dinner.


    "Wang Ziteng said that to be a psychic, you need to let a Specter''s power get into your soul. And the ce where this power is strongest in the Specter Zone is right next to the Specter. So, I''m gonna stick around. If you''re scared, you can go."


    With that, Fang Xiu stopped paying attention to Zhao Hao. Instead, he reached out to touch the "doctor''s" twisted leg, which resembled a giant spider''s. He didn''t know how to let a Specter''s power enter his soul, but he figured touching her might speed things up.


    The "doctor" felt as cold as a dead body."

 Chapter 16: Fake Body?

    Chapter 16: Fake Body?


    After throwing up, Zhao Hao couldn''t believe what he was seeing. He always thought he was a bit of a bad boy, always watching stuff he wasn''t supposed to and taking care of his own business. But now, he saw Fang Xiu, who he thought was a decent guy, doing something even more outrageoustouching a Specter''s leg at a time like this!


    But from what Fang Xiu said before, Zhao Hao started to get why he was doing it. Maybe it was the whole crazy thing they were going through, or maybe Fang Xiu acting all chill made him feel better, or it could be that deep down, everyone wants to do something really brave. Whatever it was, all these thoughts were swirling in Zhao Hao''s head, and he decided to go for it, too.


    Seeing himing, Fang Xiu moved his hand away so Zhao Hao could have a turn. Zhao Hao looked at the long, white, pretty leg, then slowly extended his hand like he was about to touch a snake.


    "Here goes nothing!" Zhao Hao muttered, taking the plunge.


    "Whoa, it''s freezing!" he gasped, but he kept his hand there.


    They both touched the leg for a bit, but nothing seemed to happen. Then Zhao Hao mused, "I can''t believe the first girl''s thigh I''m touching is a Specter''s. But man, this leg is so long, and probablylonger than my whole life."


    Fang Xiu looked at Zhao Hao, surprised, not because of the joke, but because he thought Zhao Hao might actually have what it takes. Even though Zhao Hao was freaked out at first, he managed to keep hisposure, even cracking jokes. Sure, he was probably just trying to lighten the mood, but not everyone could joke around when they were so scared.


    "We''ve been here a minute. Let''s touch for another thirty seconds, and then we''ll leave. We need time to run," Fang Xiu said, sounding very sure.


    Zhao Hao just nodded.


    Time seemed to pass in a blur, and before they knew it, the thirty seconds were up.


    "Let''s make a run for it!"


    Fang Xiu took off, and Zhao Hao followed closely behind. Fang Xiu felt confident because he had been in the Green Mountain Mental Hospital before. While he didn''t know every nook and cranny, he remembered the generalyout and some shortcuts. He was sure they could use this to their advantage and outrun the "doctor."


    However, just as they reached the end of the hallway, ready to turn the corner, something weird happened. Fang Xiu noticed ck hair falling in front of his face. He looked up and saw the "doctor''s" Specterly eyes.


    _''How could this be?!''_


    Fang Xiu was scared out of his mind.


    _''Did I underestimate the "doctor''s" movement? I thought we had at least two more minutes to run, so why did she catch up so fast?''_


    He quickly looked back at where Li Feifei''s body had been, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.


    All that was left of Li Feifei was a pool of blood and somerge pieces of silicone!


    _''Silicones! Fake stuff for making your chest and butt look bigger!!''_


    Fang Xiu was in shock. He never thought he''d mess up like this. Maybe because he didn''t know much about girls and thought they all had natural curves. But now he saw there were plenty of fakes in the world.


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, a sh of silver light sliced through the air, and Fang Xiu''s head went flying before crashing down.


    _''I hope there''s no silicone or stic surgery in heaven.''_


    When he came to, he felt something cold and slimy in his hand. He looked down and saw he was touching the "doctor''s" thigh, not back home with his "wife." Just then, Zhao Hao walked over and began to do the same thing.


    Fang Xiu quickly pulled out his phone to check the time and realized he had traveled back to when they first started touching the thigh.


    A thought crossed his mind. ''_Could it be that time gets reset every time something big happens, like in a video game? First was the house, and then Green Mountain Mental Hospital. Because I made it past the first part, the reset point moved to the next one?''_


    He didn''t have time to think more about it. He had died because of fake boobs and buttst time; he wouldn''t make the same mistake this time.


    "We need to get moving," Fang Xiu said.


    Zhao Hao looked surprised. "Xiu, we just started touching her, and you''re bailing already. This is the first time I''ve ever touched a girl''s"


    Before Zhao Hao could finish, Fang Xiu turned and started running. Zhao Hao, not wanting to be left alone, quickly followed.


    Then Fang Xiu said in a low voice, "Her breasts and hips are silicone, so there''s not enough flesh to slow the doctor down."


    Zhao Hao looked surprised at first, then yelled, "What the hell?! No wonder they''re so big!"


    The two boys ran until they got to the end of the hallway. With only one option before thema right turnthey wasted no time and immediately turned right. Just a few steps ahead, a staircase appeared.


    "Downstairs," Fang Xiu said. They both started running down the stairs.


    The light in the staircase dimmed, and an unsettling darkness seemed to engulf the air. They ran as fast as they could; one floor, two floors, three floors. Then, they heard hurried footsteps up ahead, followed by a scream.


    "Specter! The Specter is catching up!"


    Fang Xiu recognized the voiceit belonged to one of his colleagues. He picked up the pace and leaped down from the staircase. When he got closer, he saw it was Wang Ziteng and his group.


    Spotting Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao, they let out a sigh of relief. They had thought the specter was catching up.


    "It''s just Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao! You guys scared me. I thought the Specter was right behind us," one of them huffed.


    Zhao Hao looked at everyone, puzzled, "Why are you guys running so slow?"


    "Slow? We''ve run down at least twenty flights of stairs. How about you guys? How are you so fast?"


    "Twenty flights?!" Zhao Hao looked surprised, "No way! Xiu and I only went down three flights before we found you."


    "What?!"


    "Zhao Hao, now is not the time for jokes."


    Fang Xiu looked at the scared group, his mind racing. Then Wang Ziteng blurted out in terror, "The Specter''s Labyrinth! It has to be that! My cousin once told me that the Specter''s powers can make illusions. Maybe that''s what''s causing the Specter''s Labyrinth. People stuck in it just keep going around in circles, never able to get out. That''s why Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao caught up to us so fast; we''ve been going around in circles!"


    Wang Ziteng''s words only heightened everyone''s fear.


    "Does anyone have something they can drop as a marker?" Fang Xiu''s calm voice broke through the chaos.


    Wang Ziteng seemed to get what Fang Xiu was trying to do and quickly took a condom out of his pocket and dropped it on the floor. The others caught on and started dropping some spare change and various small items.


    With the markers in ce, the group started running down the stairs again. However, after they went down half a flight and turned a corner, they saw the items they had just dropped on the stairs.


    "This, this is the lighter I just dropped."


    "And my coins!"


    "We''re done for. It''s definitely the Specter''s Labyrinth. What do we do now?! If the Specter catches up, we''re toast." "

 Chapter 17: The Specters Labyrinth

    Chapter 17: The Specter''s Labyrinth


    Wang Ziteng picked up the condom he had tossed aside, his face gloomy. Taking a closer look, it was his often-used studded type, which made him feel worse.


    "Everybody, quiet!" he yelled, "My cousin once said that normal people can''t get out of the Specter''s Labyrinth. To escape, we need to use our spiritual senses. Check and see if any of you can activate these senses!"


    As he spoke, Wang Ziteng began praying fervently, hoping to awaken his spiritual senses. He didn''t know if his previous encounter with the Specter counted as a near-death experience, but all he could do now was hope.


    Fang Xiu, though, wasn''t watching the others'' reactions. He started to feel the wall on his right, not waiting for them to activate their spiritual senses and be psychics.


    Among the group, he had the best shot at bing a psychic. He was the only one who had really faced life and death and hade face to face with the Specter. If he couldn''t turn psychic, then it was even less likely for the others. So instead of praying, he figured it was better to look for clues.


    He began to recall the hospital''syout. He remembered the exit should be on the right. He had gone up and down the stairs before, and the exit was consistently on the right. Even though he couldn''t tell which hospital building he was in at that moment, theyout should be the same.


    If the Specter''s Labyrinth was an illusion, then he could close his eyes and feel his way down the stairs on the right. There was a good chance he''d find a door.


    Fang Xiu closed his eyes and started going down the stairs, running his hand along the right wall. His actions caught everyone''s eye. After all, while everyone else stood still, Fang Xiu was the only one moving on his own.


    Wang Ziteng observed Fang Xiu, deep in thought. By now, he noticed that Fang Xiu was differenttoo calm. He hadn''t shown any signs of fear from the start, even when he saw the Specter. He couldn''t help but think back to when the "doctor" showed up. His first instinct was to run, but Fang Xiu


    Fang Xiu hadn''t run. Instead, he had stood against the wall to avoid being trampled. Even though he was up front, he didn''t try to get away first, and in the end, only Fang Xiu, Zhao Hao, and Li Feifei were left.


    Now Li Feifei was gone, clearly dead. But Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao had been in that hallway for at least a minute. What were they doing there?


    Wang Ziteng wondered,_ ''Why didn''t the Specter kill them? Why didn''t they run away? They spent a whole minute with the Specter... Okay, it was a female Specter, with long legsbut they couldn''t have been...messing with her, could they?''_


    Wang Ziteng shook off the silly thought. Even though he wasn''t sure what the two had done in that minute, he was sure about one thing: the Specter only killed one person at a timethree minutes after a guy, two after a girl. During this time, it was totally safe, even if you were right next to the Specter. The fact that Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao were still alive proved it.


    Fang Xiu had already started down the stairs, moving away from the others. Seeing him head down, Wang Ziteng seemed to catch on. He also shut his eyes and began feeling his way down the wall, following Fang Xiu''s lead. This drew the others'' attention.


    As Fang Xiu continued to feel his way forward, his fingers consistently brushed against the solid, rough wall. But when he reached the fifteenth step, he felt something had changed. The wall now felt smooth and colder, like he was touching metal.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes popped open, and without a second thought, he immediately put both hands on the empty wall in front of him, trying to find a door handle. Wang Ziteng, who had been copying Fang Xiu, also arrived at the same spot soon and quickly picked up on the change in texture, which excited him.


    "It''s a door!"


    With a click, Fang Xiu turned the door handle he had just found, and it swung open.


    An iron door had somehow appeared in the wall. Now the door was open, revealing a dim hallway.


    Wang Ziteng rushed out first like a wild man, and Fang Xiu silently followed suit. Seeing a way out, the rest of the group also surged forward in a frenzy. They ran down the hallway, with Fang Xiu, the second one in, now in the second-tost spot.


    It wasn''t that he was slow, but he didn''t need to be fast. When dealing with the "doctor," he didn''t need to outrun her; he just had to be faster than thest person in the group. Also, this made it easier to feel around in the darkness while the doctor was "eating," hopefully to activate his spiritual senses sooner.


    Thus, being in the front of the team wasn''t necessarily good.


    Fang Xiu was well aware that there was more than one Specter in this mental hospital. While most were confined in their rooms, some doors were left open.


    As they ran, Wang Ziteng, leading the way, suddenly stopped, and everyone else did the same. Before them, two paths stretched outone to the left and the other to the right. Both paths were shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see whaty ahead beyond a yard.


    No one dared to go, fearing they might pick the wrong path and fall into the "doctor''s" trap.


    At this point, all eyes automatically turned toward the end of the line, toward Fang Xiu, who had just caught up. Since he had found a way out of the Specter''s Labyrinth before, they naturally thought he might find the way out now.


    Regrettably, Fang Xiu also didn''t know which way to pick. He hadn''t explored the mental hospital thoroughly before; he had moved through the hospital walls like a Specter, only knowing the generalyout and some of the paths he had taken. Unfortunately, neither of the two paths looked familiar to him.


    "Fang Xiu, which way should we go?" Wang Ziteng asked urgently.


    Fang Xiu looked at the hopeful faces of the group and couldn''t help but find it funny. When they were running, they wanted to shove him aside. But when they ran into trouble, they turned to him. He was their backup n.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t mind. He saw the group as his backup too. Right now, he couldn''t beat the doctor, and someone had to be sacrificed to buy some time.


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer but picked the path to the right. Even if he didn''t know which path was right, he knew they couldn''t waste time since every second cost lives.


    Seeing Fang Xiu heading right, everyone else followed without hesitation.


    And then it happened. The sound of joints cracking echoed down the hallway. They looked back and saw the "doctor," hanging from the ceiling like a spider. Her white pupil-less eyes fixated on the group, and her white coat stood out in the dim hallway.


    "Ahhh!!"


    "Run!"


    "Move!"


    The crowd went into a frenzy, running for their lives. But they couldn''t outrun the "doctor," and two legs were no match for four. They saw the doctor''s Specterly shape appear instantly on the ceiling above them, her long ck hair dropping down and attacking thest person in the group."

 Chapter 18: Human Nature

    Chapter 18: Human Nature


    Thest person to scramble away was the manager, Wu Dahai. Out of everyone, he was the oldest and the chubbiest. Middle age had brought a pudgy tummy, and his stamina was quite low.


    Whether he meant to or not, in his frantic attempt to flee, Wu Dahai grabbed a guy running ahead of him, pulling him back. He pushed himself forward, while the guy he yanked almost tripped, ending up at the very back.


    SWISH!


    A silver streak whizzed by.


    The unlucky guy Wu Dahai had pulled back had his head chopped off, not even getting a chance to scream.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu stopped for a moment. Then, he smacked his thighs twice in anger and kept running. He wasn''t worried aboutgging behind. He was young, fit, and exercised often, so he was in top form.


    He didn''t know how to activate his spiritual power, so he was trying out different things, not sure if they''d work. They ran down a long hallway on their right for about a minute until they reached a dead end. However, they found themselves in a wide-open area.


    It was a cafeteria. The space was huge andpletely bare, just old tables and chairs everywhere. In one corner, they spotted stoves and a fewrge ck pots.


    Wang Ziteng was thrilled and shouted, "There''s usually an exit in cafeterias."


    The group felt a sense of relief upon hearing that. They quickly looked around and saw a door on the far left of the cafeteria. Without hesitation, they made a dash for it.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu kept his cool, running at the back of the group while carefully scanning the area.


    They walked through the door into another dim, narrow hallway. This one seemed even darker; the bulbs overhead looked ready to flicker out any second.


    No one cared about anything around them; all they wanted was to escape. They rushed to the end of the hallway.


    Wang Ziteng, who was leading, looked visibly frustrated. "It''s a dead end!"


    They were all shockedthe hallway led nowhere.


    This was weird. ording to what Wang Ziteng knew, ces like cafeterias, where lots of people frequented, usually had emergency exits or paths leading outside. There was no reason for it to be a dead endunless the entire hospital was locked down, and no one was meant to escape.


    "Hey, there''s a door over there!" one yelled.


    True enough, there was a narrow door on the right side of the hallway. It was so thin that only one person could go through it at a time. The door was made of wood, with the paint all faded and peeling. It had a small ss window at the top.


    Upon seeing the door, everyone surged toward it, not thinking about what could lie inside. They just knew there were horrifying Specters outside.


    Thankfully, the room was free from any Specter. It was a tiny room filled with random itemsbrooms, mops, and old furniture. It was so packed that after five of them squeezed in, they barely had space to wiggle.


    "Ugh! It''s just a storage room! There''s no way out of here!" Wang Ziteng yelled in frustration.


    Everyone else looked pretty hopeless too. They were stuck! The Specters had them cornered.


    _''Did we make the wrong choice?''_


    Fang Xiu calmly thought that next time, they should go left. He wasn''t freaking out. For him, it was just a matter of trying different things, not a life-or-death choice.


    After some consideration, he decided to go back and try the left path. But it was toote to turn back now. Two minutes had already passed, leaving only one minute before the terrifying "doctor" would strike again. Going back would be like walking right into the "doctor''s" trap.


    They could pick one person to distract the "doctor" and buy time for the rest, but Fang Xiu didn''t think it was worth it. With only five of them left, nobody knew how much further they had to run or how many lives they would lose along the way.


    Just as Fang Xiu was about to leave the room to look for the doctor and start over, Wang Ziteng angrily yelled, "This is all your fault, Fang Xiu! We wouldn''t be stuck here if you didn''t pick the wrong path!"


    "Fang Xiu! Why didn''t you ask us if you didn''t know which way to go? But no, you just had to go right!" Wu Dahai chimed in, also fuming.


    Besides Zhao Hao, the other person didn''t say anything, but their using gaze clearly med Fang Xiu.


    A smile tugged at Fang Xiu''s lips. He didn''t smile often these days unless he was excited to face a Specter. But for some reason, looking at Wang Ziteng and the others, he felt likeughing.


    Zhao Hao stood up for him, "Xiu didn''t force you to follow him. You came on your own. You guys asked which way to go, and now that it''s the wrong way, you''re ming him. If you''re so clever, why didn''t you choose the path?"


    "We might not be as smart, but we wouldn''t have decided alone. If we didn''t know, we could''ve discussed it together. We trusted him and let him choose. But he chose wrong! He broke our trust and led us to a dead end!" Wu Dahai, being a boss, put Zhao Hao, who wasn''t good with words, in his ce.


    "Enough, stop fighting." Wang Ziteng yelled. "We need to figure out how to stay alive. I''ve noticed the Specter only attacks one person at a time, and after each attack, there''s a safe window of two to three minutes. So now, our only option is to pick one person to distract it while the rest of us run."


    As soon as Wang Ziteng mentioned the idea, tension filled the air. Even those who weren''t particrly bright could understand: it wasn''t about distracting but sacrificing one person so the rest could survive.


    Wang Ziteng watched everyone''s reactions, already thinking ahead. He had strategically med Fang Xiu to prepare for this moment. When everyone med Fang Xiu, they would probably pick him to be the bait, sacrificing him to buy more time.


    Wang Ziteng knew he had to act quickly. In times of panic, people tend to follow the crowd without much thought. If someone else had suggested that Wang Ziteng, the spoiled rich kid, should be the first to go, he might have been chosen.


    In this tense moment, Wang Ziteng did something no one sawing. He suddenly shoved Fang Xiu and yelled, "It''s all Fang Xiu''s fault we''re stuck here. So he should be the one to pay! Come on, help me!"


    Everyone else exchanged nces; they were torn. The thought of surviving at the cost of sacrificing someone else was difficult to bear.


    "Let him go!" Zhao Hao shouted, charging at Wang Ziteng.


    Wang Ziteng was taken aback and quickly yelled, "Wu Dahai, aren''t you going to help?"


    Wang Ziteng was skilled at basic mind games. When seeking assistance, it was better to call someone out by name. It made them feel responsible, and it often worked surprisingly well. Instead of asking for help in general, he targeted individuals specifically. He would use their name or a description to pick someone to help.


    Even though Wang Ziteng usually goofed around, his fancy education growing up came in handy."

 Chapter 19: Here to Save You

    Chapter 19: Here to Save You


    Without hesitation, Wu Dahai sprang into action when Wang Ziteng called for his help. After all, he always admired Wang Ziteng.


    With a forceful m, Wu Dahai used his big, hefty body to knock Zhao Hao to the floor. Moving swiftly, he and Wang Ziteng pushed Fang Xiu out and shut the storeroom door tight.


    From that moment, it felt like two different worlds on each side of the door. Fang Xiu stood alone outside, while his friends were inside. He could see their faces by peering through the small window in the door.


    Zhao Hao had crashed into some furniture when he fell and was now hollering in pain.


    Wu Dahai and Wang Ziteng sternly guarded the door. Another person inside couldn''t even lift their head to look out the window.


    Wang Ziteng said to Wu Dahai, "Don''t let that door open. We can''t let Fang Xiu back in!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Wang. This old wooden door might not keep out a Specter, but it sure can keep a person out," Wu Dahai assured him.


    However, after a few moments, they noticed there was no pushing or banging from the other side. They exchanged nces, looked out the window, and saw a pale face pressed against the ss, silently staring at them. Shives ran down their spine.


    "I never thought I would find people fascinating again, but sometimes, people are even more exciting than Specters. Thanks for spicing up my life. I''ll pay you back next time," Fang Xiu''s voice came through the cracked wooden door, puzzling Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai. His strange words left them with an uneasy feeling.


    Then, a clicking noise echoed. The doctor appeared. That familiar sound felt like the tolling of a funeral bell, causing everyone in the room to hold their breath, afraid of catching the Specter''s attention.


    Even knowing how deadly the "doctor" could be, the sight of the Specter still scared them.


    Fang Xiu heard the noise but didn''t even turn his head. He continued grinning at Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai, as if trying to etch their faces into his memory.


    In the blink of an eye


    WHOOSH!


    Something shiny shed, and Fang Xiu''s head dropped heavily to the ground.


    "Go, now!" Wang Ziteng yelled from inside, bursting the door open and sprinting out.


    As he ran, he couldn''t help but nce back at Fang Xiu''s head. He was still grinning, and his peaceful eyes seemed to watch him. Wang Ziteng''s heart pounded in his chest, and he ran off without looking back.


    ***


    Fang Xiu''s hand felt cold and sticky. A long, pale leg came into sight.


    "I''m back," Fang Xiu muttered. A Specterly grin shed across his face so quickly that Zhao Hao next to him didn''t even catch it.


    Fresh from the brink of death, Fang Xiu didn''t do anything differently. Like a TV show on repeat, he mirrored everything he had done before his do-over.


    He touched his leg, started running, and headed downstairs. The dimly lit stairwell was engulfed in darkness that seemed to cling to the air. Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao raced down the stairs together. One floor, two floors, three floorssoon, they heard the sound of rushing footsteps ahead of them.


    A panicked shout came next, "Specter! The Specter is catching up!"


    Just like before, Fang Xiu leaped from the stairs to the next floor, sessfully rejoining Wang Ziteng and the rest.


    "It''s just Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao! You guys scared me, I thought the Specter was right behind us," a coworker huffed.


    Zhao Hao looked at everyone, puzzled, "Why are you guys running so slow?"


    "Slow? We''ve run down at least twenty flights of stairs. How about you guys? How are you so fast?"


    The same conversation yed out again.


    "It''s the Specter''s Labyrinth! It must be the Specter''s Labyrinth," Wang Ziteng started to exin again. But before he could finish, a loud bang interrupted him.


    A door was open. Fang Xiu stood quietly in front of it.


    Wang Ziteng was dumbstruck, and so were the others.


    _''Where is the supposed Specter''s Labyrinth? How did Fang Xiu find an exit so fast?''_


    No one questioned it, though. They all dashed toward the door. Once they reached the diverging road, they stopped.


    "Fang Xiu, did you activate your psychic powers?" Wang Ziteng asked with aplicated look.


    As soon as he asked, everyone turned to look at Fang Xiu. They had learned from Wang Ziteng that only psychics could stand a chance against the Specter, and activating psychic powers was a prerequisite to bing one.


    Hearing Wang Ziteng''s question, a glimmer of hope sparked in their hearts.


    It made sense for Wang Ziteng to ask. After all, Fang Xiu had navigated through the Specter''s Labyrinth too quickly this time. Before, he had to feel his way around, but this time, he walked right to the door and opened it.


    So, Wang Ziteng spected that Fang Xiu might have used his psychic powers to sense the door. Everyone''s hopeful and confused gazes were on Fang Xiu. He didn''t answer right away but checked his phone for the time.


    Then he looked up and said, "In one minute, the Specter will show up."


    Everyone was shocked.


    "If you even know when the Specter is going to show up, you must really be a psychic. Fang Xiu, if you can get me out of the Specter Zone, I''ll give you five million!" Wang Ziteng offered urgently.


    "Fang Xiu, please get us out of here."


    "You must know the right way. If you lead us out, we''ll make sure to repay you."


    But at that moment, Fang Xiu shook his head and calmly said, "No rush."


    His simple words sent everyone into a frenzy.


    "Before we get out of here, there''s something I gotta do."


    Wu Dahai was about to lose his cool, "What could possibly be more important than"


    "Ahhhh!" A sharp scream sliced through the room, cutting Wu Dahai off.


    Everyone gaped at Fang Xiu retracting his leg and at Wang Ziteng, curled up on the ground in a fetal position. Wang Ziteng''s face was twisted in pain. His face was flushed, veins bulging, and he was shaking like a leaf as he screamed his lungs out.


    Everyone stared at him, almost as if they could hear the sound of an egg cracking.


    "You, you...ahhh!" Wang Ziteng was in so much pain he couldn''t even get a full sentence out.


    As Wang Ziteng''s right-hand man, Wu Dahai, snapped, "Fang Xiu! What did you do? Why would you kick him out of the blue?"


    The others chimed in, "Yeah, why did you attack him out of nowhere?"


    Everyone was caught off guard by Fang Xiu''s sudden attack, even Wang Ziteng, the one on the receiving end. He probably would never understand why he got kicked right after he offered five million.


    _''Isn''t the money enough? If it isn''t, he could''ve just said so!''_


    Just then, Fang Xiu gave his reason. He simply said, "This Specter is much faster than any human. So when the minute''s up, someone''s gonna die. Now that Wang Ziteng can''t move, he''ll be the one to die, which means I just saved all of you."


    Everyone was left dumbstruck. No matter how hard they thought about it, they couldn''t make sense of Fang Xiu''s logic.


    Before they could react, Fang Xiu kicked him again. The next second, another ear-piercing scream filled the room. This time, it was Wu Dahai on the ground. His pose was a mirror image of Wang Ziteng''s. He clutched his groin as he squirmed in agony, screaming at the top of his lungs. But he wasn''t as good at handling the pain as Wang Ziteng, and after another scream, he passed out.


    Everyone knew that the groin was a guy''s weakest spot, and Fang Xiu hadn''t held back at all. So it was clear that Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai wouldn''t be moving anytime soon.


    This time, the group erupted in fury at Fang Xiu for his seemingly random and ruthless attacks on Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai.


    "Xiu, what are you..." Zhao Hao instinctively backed away from Fang Xiu, one hand protectively covering his groin.


    The rest looked at Fang Xiu with suspicion and caution in their eyes.


    "Fang Xiu, what''s your deal? You said you hit Wang Ziteng to save us, so why did you hit Wu Dahai?" one coworker angrily demanded.


    No one wanted to stick around someone who might randomly attack them, especially with such brutal force that could cause serious harm, possibly even leading to them being sterile.


    But even with all their usations, Fang Xiu stayed cool and simply said, "We need a backup n."

 Chapter 20: The Taste of Revenge

    Chapter 20: The Taste of Revenge


    Fang Xiu''s calm expression shocked everyone. They stared at him, their hearts racing like a crazy roller coaster ride. They were shocked by his ruthlessness and straightforward approach. They couldn''t believe it.


    Of course, no one wished to harm another, but in dire situations, difficult choices had to be made.


    But Fang Xiu''s unexpected and swift action left no room for debate or choice; he attacked without warning. Hurting one person was already bad enough, but he kept another as a backup. It totally messed up their understanding of the situation.


    Now, they were scared of Fang Xiu. They worried he might keep yet another backup. But Fang Xiu didn''t attack again.


    "If you want to stay alive, take the left path," he said firmly. "The right path is a dead-end."


    Some looked at Fang Xiu suspiciously, no longer trusting him.


    "If the left path is safe, why aren''t you taking it?" one asked.


    "I need to touch a leg."


    _''Touch...a leg?''_


    They all thought they heard him wrong, except for Zhao Hao.


    "Touch a leg in the Specter Zone? Touch a Specter''s leg?"


    Suddenly, they heard a clicking sound. The "doctor," with bloody lips, crawled down from the ceiling.


    "Ah!" Two of them screamed and tried to run away, but they were scared Fang Xiu might be lying, so they stopped halfway down the left hallway, too scared to keep going. Meanwhile, Fang Xiu didn''t run; he walked toward the "doctor."


    He stopped near Wang Ziteng. As Fang Xiu came closer, Wang Ziteng''s eyes shed with hate and anger. He reached out, ready to grab Fang Xiu''s pants, even if it might kill him.


    Fang Xiu swiftly stepped on Wang Ziteng''s hand.


    "Ah! You! You!" Wang Ziteng writhed in pain, driving him mad with fury.


    Fang Xiu slowly looked down, his face hidden in shadow. He looked fierce, angry even! But there was something else, like he was having fun. A wild grin stretched across his face, showing off his white teeth.


    "Like my way of rewarding all your ''kindness'' to me?"


    "No, no, no!"


    With Wang Ziteng''s final scream echoing through the hallway, Fang Xiu''s face showed more pleasure.


    WHOOSH!


    There was a sh of silver, and Wang Ziteng''s head rolled on the ground. His eyes showed terror and lingering hate.


    "Is this how revenge tastes? It''s amazing!" Fang Xiu shuddered slightly. This was his first taste of revenge, and it thrilled him. Wang Ziteng''s warm blood sshed on his face, and Fang Xiu could finally feel his heart beating.


    He couldn''t help but daydream. *''How great it''ll be if I can kill my "wife" someday?''*


    Fang Xiu quickly acted like nothing happened. He walked over to the Specter and started to touch her leg.


    The others, watching from afar, were scared. Even though they saw everything, they couldn''t believe Fang Xiu was really going to touch the Specter''s leg.


    Fang Xiu turned to Zhao Hao. "Wanna join me?"


    He remembered what Zhao Hao did in the storage room. While Fang Xiu didn''t feel grateful for now, he still wanted to help Zhao Hao.


    He felt like he was losing his feelings or even his humanity after being through so many eerie events. His heart was filled with hate and madness. He didn''t mind these emotions, but he also didn''t want to lose touch with his human side.


    Zhao Hao hesitated, unsure about Fang Xiu''s offer.


    Fang Xiu''s calm face was covered in fresh blood. His pale skin contrasted sharply against the red. As he stood next to the Specter, with Wang Ziteng''s severed limbs lying at his feet, it was hard to tell who the real Specter was.


    After a moment, Zhao Hao decided to trust Fang Xiu. He didn''t have many friends. In fact, his only real friend was Fang Xiu. Zhao Hao was always seen as a weirdo in the sales department because he was average and looked normal. Only Fang Xiu, who was an orphan, wanted to be his friend. And over time, they slowly developed a close bond.


    Slowly, Zhao Hao walked over to Fang Xiu. They both started touching the Specter''s leg. Thest two remaining people had already run away. They weren''t scared of the Specter but rather of Fang Xiu''s sudden change.


    "Xiu," Zhao Hao said. He stopped for a moment before asking, "Why did you suddenly attack Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai?"


    "The Specter is faster than any human. If we want to live, we have to buy time by sacrificing others'' lives. Someone will inevitably be chosen. Think about it, considering Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai''s status and identity, who do you think would be chosen when pushes to shove? Me, with my issues with Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai? Or you, who''s always been disliked?"


    Zhao Hao''s face went pale. He was about to answer when Fang Xiu asked, "Do you feel a slight cold in your body?"


    Zhao Hao was surprised before shaking his head.


    Fang Xiu thought for a moment as he felt what was happening. It wasn''t a mistake. He could feel a cool sensation flowing from the Specter''s leg, through his hand, and into his body.


    *''Is this the Specter''s power? Why didn''t I feel it when I touched the leg before? No, I probably felt it, but it was too weak. I might have crossed some threshold, so the feeling is suddenly strong. If I''m not mistaken, this might be the start of bing a psychic! Zhao Hao didn''t feel it because he''s never been in a life-or-death situation. His mind isn''t there yet.''*


    After a while, Zhao Hao said, "Xiu, it''s time. Let''s go."


    "Don''t worry, we still have Wu Dahai. I think I''m about to activate my psychic power," Fang Xiu said, calm as ever.


    Zhao Hao looked at him, his face full of surprise, "Really, Xiu? That''s amazing! We''re gonna be alright then! But what does unlocking psychic power feel like? I can''t sense anything."


    "You''ve been around the Specter for a while, but you haven''t really faced life and death. That''s why you can''t sense it," Fang Xiu replied.


    Zhao Hao looked like he wanted to ask something, but he held back. It seemed like he wanted to ask, "We''ve been together the whole time; when did you face life and death?"


    After that, Fang Xiu pulled Zhao Hao back. He only started to touch the "doctor''s" leg again after she had taken Wu Dahai apart.


    Wu Dahai was a big guy. With his size, he could keep the Specter busy for about five minutes.


    Fang Xiu decided to touch the leg for two more minutes, leaving them three minutes to make their escape. If he couldn''t unlock psychic power within those two minutes, they couldn''t risk staying longer.


    Determined, he shut his eyes and moved his hand over the leg, focusing on every sensation."

 Chapter 21: Let The World Feel The Pain

    Chapter 21: Let The World Feel The Pain


    In his mind, he felt more and more cool air gathering inside him. But once it got inside, it just disappeared, like a rock sinking into the depths of the sea.


    Fang Xiu was puzzled.


    _''Where does the Specter''s energy go after going inside me? Is it my soul?''_


    He tried to look deeper into his mind, allowing it to flow with the coolness, drifting toward an unknown ce. It felt like a small boat on a river, eventually merging into the vast ocean.


    There, Fang Xiu sensed a gray heart beating slowly. It looked as if it was covered in ayer of thick dust, and all the cool air went right into the heart.


    _''Is the soul the same as the heart?''_


    _''No. They''re not. A soul doesn''t have a set shape. Its appearance as the heart is a reflection of the subconscious.''_


    _''I know my soul; I can change how it looks.''_


    By just thinking about it, the gray heart started to transform. It became a sword, then a knife, and even into Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu was right.


    But how the soul looks wasn''t what truly matters. What matters was using its psychic power.


    So, the soul went back to looking like a heart.


    As more cool air flowed in, the heart''s pulse became faster and stronger. A soft light began to shine, but it was obscured by the thick dust.


    Fang Xiu waited for a moment, and then something happened.


    There wasn''t a magical momenta breakthroughlike in fantasy novels. It was just a normal change.


    Suddenly, the dust at the corner of the heart disappeared, like someone had cleaned it.


    At that corner, a deep, ck light shone like a ck hole.


    That was Fang Xiu''s real soul.


    Then, all the Specter''s energy rushed to that spot, turning into a red light. The energy flowed into the soul.


    The ck and red lights mixed together. The red tried to stain the ck with its hue, but the ck light stood firm.


    Ultimately, the red blended into the ck, and everything became quiet again.


    Right then, Fang Xiu felt a great change inside.


    It was as if the ck light had cleansed his entire being. His sensessight, hearing, smell, touch, tasteheightened incredibly.


    Before, it felt like watching the world behind a veil, but now that veil was lifted. He could see everything clearly.


    Besides the heightened senses, his thoughts and reactions got faster.


    Even if he didn''t get physically stronger, his control over his body had improved. Where an average person might use only 40% of their muscle strength, Fang Xiu could use over 80%.


    Muscles move because the brain tells them to, and the soul guides the brain. Only in really intense or dangerous times can people use all their strength, but most people might never get there in their whole life.


    In the Han Dynasty, a famous general named Li Guang once mistook a rock for a crouching tiger. Quickly, he drew his bow with all his strength and shot the stone. Surprisingly, his arrow went three inches deep into it! But after that, no matter how much he tried, he couldn''t do it again.


    But Fang Xiu could release that level of strength any time he wanted. His body remained the same, yet his control over it hadpletely transformed. And as he kept getting stronger, the power he could unleash would also be greater.


    Slowly, Fang Xiu opened his eyes. A hint of dark light shed in his sharp eyes.


    "Is this what they call spirituality?"


    At that moment, he had a deeper understanding of spirituality.


    This thing they call spirituality happens when the soul''s natural power mixes with the power from the Specter.


    Normally, a soul contained a lot of power. But this power couldn''t do anything in the real world. It only worked in a dream world.


    It was like being a superhero in their own world. In your head, you could imagine being all-powerful, but it wouldn''t trante into real life.


    The power from the Specter, however, was different. It let the soul''s power work in the real world.


    But it didn''t mean once you had spirituality, you could do anything and everything.


    First off, only a tiny bit of Fang Xiu''s spirituality was awakened, maybe about 1%. So, only 1% of his soul''s power was active.


    And even if someone had 100% of their spirituality awakened, they still couldn''t do everything they dreamt of because the soul wasn''t just dreams or imagination. It had something to do with one''s feelings, memories, thoughts, and more.


    Spirituality was closely tied to inner strength.


    The stronger someone was inside, the stronger their spirituality was. But they also needed enough of the Specter''s power mixed in, or it wouldn''t work in real life.


    Every psychic''s spiritual power showed up in its own unique way, depending on what they wanted most, their personality, dreams, surroundings, and many other reasons.


    That was why every psychic had different powers. These spiritual powers were a kind of mirror of what was inside their soul.


    _''So, what power do I have?''_


    Fang Xiu couldn''t help but wonder.


    _''More importantly, what do I want the most deep down?''_


    Thinking about it, Fang Xiu tried to feel his new, dark spiritual power.


    Then, suddenly, he sensed a wave of information, which shocked him.


    His power was  pain!


    _''Does that mean deep down, all I feel is pain?'' _


    Fang Xiu was confused. As he thought about it harder, he gained a more detailed description of his power.


    "Inflicting harm on others can make them feel pain."


    _''Huh?'' _


    To Fang Xiu, that seemed too simple._ _


    _''How the hell is that a "special" power?''_


    _''If I hit someone without my power, they can still feel pain. So what''s the difference?''_


    But as Fang Xiu began to practice using his power, he discovered something unexpected. In his dark spiritual visions, he "watched" himself die in various ways.


    Devoured by his wife eighteen times, crushed by a little girl, and beheaded by the "doctor."


    With each vision, an all-too-familiar pain filled him. It wasn''t just the pain from dying, but also the deep emotional pain. The despair, fear, sadness, hate, anger, and all the negative feelings he had ever felt were tied to this power.


    Then, it hit him.


    His spiritual power was to make others feel every terrible thing he''d ever felt.


    He suddenlyughed out loud. It was wild and uncontroble.


    Zhao Hao, standing nearby, jumped, "Xiu? Did it... work?"


    Fang Xiu justughed even more.


    _''This is amazing!''_


    A rush of happiness and excitement coursed within him.


    He was so thrilled with this new power. Even if he''d gotten the ability to control time or space, it wouldn''t have made him this happy.


    Deep down, this was what he really wanted.


    Ever since he came to this world, he had felt so much pain. All he wanted was to get back at those who hurt him.


    And now? Now, he could make his enemies feel everything he''d been through. Nothing could possibly be better than that.


    He cackled, the joy bursting from him.


    _''All the pain this world gave me, I''m going to give it right back!''_


    _''I want everyone to know what pain feels like!''_"

 Chapter 22: The Scalpel

    Chapter 22: The Scalpel


    "Hey, Xiu! Your two minutes are up!" Zhao Hao shouted just as Fang Xiu was reaching his peak.


    Fang Xiu immediately lookedposed. "Step back. I want to test out this new spiritual power."


    "Have you really be the kind of psychic Wang Ziteng mentioned?" Zhao Hao asked, his voice filled with excitement.


    Fang Xiu only nodded in response. Catching the hint, Zhao Hao quickly sprinted down the left corridor.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu raised his right hand, and a mysterious spiritual energy clung to it.


    He looked over at the "doctor," who was busy eating, and muttered, "You get to be the first one to feel this pain."


    He was really impressed with this newfound power to cause pain. Plus, he had a hunch that this power wasn''t one to be overlooked.


    In anyone else''s hands, this power might be considered weak. But in his hands? It was like a godly skill.


    A perfect move to finish an opponent.


    That was because when he used this power, it channeled the anguish he felt from dying 21 times. No one could possibly handle such an overwhelming force.


    And the more he experienced death in the future, the stronger this pain would be. It was a power with endless potential.


    SMACK!


    Without any warning, Fang Xiu threw a punch directly at the "doctor''s" face.


    Caught off guard while eating, the "doctor" had no time to react.


    THUD!


    A soft sound echoed.


    "Aaaargh!!"


    The "doctor" let out a painful scream, copsing heavily onto the floor. She grabbed her head with both hands as she shook uncontrobly. The sharp tool she held, a scalpel, slipped from her grasp.


    Even though Fang Xiu saw some results, he looked concerned; the punch didn''t create the impact he was hoping for.


    The "doctor" seemed to be in agony, but she wasn''t experiencing the same level of pain Fang Xiu had felt. Something had interrupted the flow of the spiritual energy, and after that punch, Fang Xiu felt drained.


    He couldn''t gather enough energy for another punch.


    Using only a fraction of his spiritual power had limitations. The reason it didn''t work as expected was probably that he couldn''t prate the "doctor''s" defenses fully. Her head showed no obvious wounds, only minor scratches, which might have blocked the full force of the pain.


    He needed to think of a stronger approach next time.


    _''Just using my fists has limits. Perhaps a weapon can do better. Can regr weapons channel this spiritual energy, though?'' _


    As he thought about it, Fang Xiu''s eyesnded on the scalpel the "doctor" had dropped.


    Without a second thought, he snatched up the scalpel. It felt extremely cold in his hand, almost like an icicle.


    As he held it, a rush of violent negative emotions flooded his mindanger, hatred, and bitterness.


    Such powerful feelings couldpletely destroy a person''s soul.


    An average person would probably be turned into a mindless beast by these emotions, but Fang Xiu was anything but average.


    If these negative emotions were likened to ink, they would stain any soulpletely ck. But what if the soul was already ck, to begin with? Adding more wouldn''t make any difference.


    Spilling ink on a ck sheet wouldn''t change its color.


    So, these violent emotions didn''t weaken Fang Xiu. Instead, it felt as though he''d found souls simr to his own.


    As the images flooded Fang Xiu''s mind, he saw horrifying scenes. Over and over, half-human, half-Specter beings were bound to operating tables, their bodies torn apart by the sharp de of a scalpel.


    Something clicked within Fang Xiu.


    This very scalpel in his hand had been used by the "doctor" to perform cruel experiments on Specters within the mental hospital. It had soaked up the anger and pain of countless tortured souls.


    Maybe something had gone terribly wrong in the hospital. Perhaps the overwhelming anger trapped within the scalpel consumed the "doctor''s" mind, turning her into one of the tormented Specters.


    So, the scalpel was the real threat, and the "doctor" was merely its puppet. With this scalpel, there was a chance that Fang Xiu could end the "doctor."


    SWISH!


    In a lightning-fast motion, the scalpel gleamed as it darted toward the "doctor''s" pale throat.


    CLANG!


    A sharp metallic sound rang out with a shower of sparks. Yet, her neck remained unharmed.


    Fang Xiu was taken aback.


    _''This makes no sense!''_


    _''How could a scalpel, powerful enough to harm numerous Specters, not leave a mark on the "doctor"? It has to be the spirit energy!''_


    The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.


    The scalpel depended on spiritual energy to work. And since he was out of spiritual energy, the scalpel couldn''t unleash its true might.


    It seemed like his revenge would have to wait for now.


    Without wasting a second, Fang Xiu whirled around and bolted. He feared that if the "doctor" regained her senses, instead of going after Wu Dahai''s body, she woulde after him.


    Seeing Fang Xiu sprinting, Zhao Hao, who was waiting in the left corridor, quickly joined him. They burst into a massive hall where Fang Xiu spotted two familiar faces.


    The two were crouching behind a thick pir. Normally, Fang Xiu wouldn''t have seen them. But with his new heightened spiritual senses, he could easily pick up on their panicked breaths and frantic heartbeats.


    The hall had four doors, each pointing in a different direction: North, South, East, and West. Whaty behind them remained a mystery.


    "Xiu, which door do we pick?" Zhao Hao asked.


    The two from behind the pir emerged, relieved to see familiar faces. "So d you guys are safe."


    "Fang Xiu, lead the way."


    Zhao Hao was taken aback. "Seriously? You two were hiding? You ran so fast earlier, and now you''re asking Xiu to decide?"


    The two just smiled awkwardly before looking at Fang Xiu expectantly.


    Ignoring them, Fang Xiu checked the doors and said, "We''ll just go one by one."


    Zhao Hao and the others were shocked.


    _''In this haunted ce where every second counts, who has the time to test out all doors?''_


    But before any protests could be raised, Fang Xiu was already striding toward the door on the west. The rest had no choice but to follow.


    Suddenly, an inhuman scream filled the room, making everyone''s hair stand on end. The ceiling shook, sounding like something was racing across it, making their hearts race faster in terror.


    "It''s the Specter! It''s right behind us!"


    "But how? Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai held it off! How is it so fast?"


    Fang Xiu quickly surmised that his earlier actions, attacking the Specter and taking the scalpel, had made it relentlessly pursue them.


    "Move, NOW!"


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu yanked open the west door, charging through with the others close on his heels.


    Beyond the door, to their astonishment, was a staircase spiraling upward. They sprinted up, driven by adrenaline.


    Fang Xiu led the charge. Although his spiritual energy was drained, his heightened psychic abilities provided an extra push, making him surge ahead with incredible speed.


    But the Specter was faster. The "doctor''s" eerily elongated limbs propelled her upward at a frightening pace.


    Within moments, she reached the top, overlooking the rest. But her focus was solely on Fang Xiu. Without warning, she lunged at him.


    Caught off guard, Fang Xiu was tackled and pinned down. The "doctor''s" stretched limbs felt like steel bands, rendering him immobile.


    ROAR!


    She snarled in anger, her mouth gaping wide, aiming for Fang Xiu''s neck.


    SPLASH!


    A gush of red stained the floor.


    And just like that, another round came to a tragic halt for Fang Xiu. "

 Chapter 23: Emergency Exit

    Chapter 23: Emergency Exit


    The chilling touch sent shivers down his spine. For the umpteenth time, Fang Xiu was dragged into that haunting encounter, his actions ying out the same.


    This time, however, he had a clear goal: eliminate Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai, unleash his spiritual power, and seize the mystical surgical scalpel.


    That scalpel was non-negotiable. Its de, honed to perfection, could tear through countless Specters. Powered by sheer agony, it promised a one-hit kill.


    This de could pierce any defense, and whenbined with the torment it could inflict, it was a force to be reckoned with.


    Even if it meant angering the menacing "doctor" and risking her deadly moves, Fang Xiu wouldn''t back down.


    This time, he opted for the north door.


    Toward the north was an old-school elevator, surprisingly still functional. But its doors took forever to close. Just as they were almost shut, a ghostly, oversized hand stretched out.


    It looked like that was the end for Fang Xiu!


    _''To the south, then!''_ Fang Xiu thought.


    The south door led to a medical room turned battlefield. Machinesy broken and scattered, and dark, sinister stains tainted the floor.


    _''Dead end!''_


    Fang Xiu was trapped!


    Hisst shot was the eastern door.


    If this path led nowhere, he''d be forced to abandon his treasured scalpel.


    To his relief, the east door presented a way out.


    A lengthy corridor appeared, housing a public bathroom to one side. Further down, the path forked three waysleft, right, and dead ahead.


    Spotting the restroom, Fang Xiu was hit with a memory from his time in the eerie mental hospital.


    The memory was still fresh in his mind since he had only encountered such a bathroom there. Back then, he had strolled past it, heading left, and was greeted by a familiar sign.


    "Emergency Exit"!


    Such exits weremon in malls, schools, and even other hospitals, marking safe pathways.


    Whether this mental hospital''s exit was truly safe was a mystery, but he was out of options.


    Mustering every ounce of energy, he sprinted for the exit. Yet, just by the restroom, the relentless "doctor" caught and killed him.


    _''Should I surrender the scalpel?''_


    Fang Xiu shook off that idea.


    Though the "doctor" had speed on her side, Fang Xiu possessed a unique skill: reset. He could die and restart multiple times, essentially predicting the "doctor''s" attack strategy.


    Leveraging this "reset," he could sort of glimpse into future events.


    After the ninth reset, he resolutelymanded, "To the east!"


    In the main hall, Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao made a beeline for the east door.


    Not wishing to be left behind, their two colleagues dashed after them.


    As they ventured forth, eerie shrieks echoed, and the roof trembled violently.


    "Ah!"


    Zhao Hao and the others screamed as the "doctor" made a dramatic appearance, hanging on the ceiling.


    Frozen in terror, they jostled and sprinted, fearing being thest he easy catch. However, the "doctor" zoomed past them, targeting Fang Xiu.


    With no time to look back, Fang Xiu ran.


    Zhao Hao yelled, his voiceced with fear, "Xiu, watch out!"


    But he stopped and gawked in disbelief. What unfolded next was nothing short of miraculous.


    It was as if Fang Xiu had a sixth sense. The "doctor", from above, lunged her enormous hand, zeroing in on Fang Xiu''s head.


    Fang Xiu''s instincts buzzed like an rm just seconds before the hand swooped down. He dodged, tilting his head just enough to feel the chilling breeze of it missing his head. The "doctor" whipped back around, a gust of wind following her sharp movement.


    Fang Xiu barely had time to think as he ducked under her next swipe, and then the next. It felt like he was in a fast-paced video game. The "doctor''s" hands shot out so rapidly they blurred, like mirages ying tricks on his eyes.


    But as the attacks grew fiercer, the "doctor" lost her cool,unching herself from the ceiling like some nightmarish spider. Seeing her airborne, Fang Xiu''s foot caught on something, and he stumbled.


    His momentum carried him forward, tumbling through the air. He hit the ground, but not where he had stood moments before. The spot he''d just left now held a gaping crater, evidence of the "doctor''s" crushing fury.


    Still in shock, Fang Xiu scrambled to his feet and dashed into a nearby corridor. Zhao Hao and the rest were trying to process what they''d just seen, their mouths hanging open.


    "Was that... spiritual power?" Zhao Hao muttered, his voice tinged with awe and envy. Everyone, at some point, dreamed of having extraordinary abilities.


    Little did Zhao Hao know, what Fang Xiu disyed wasn''t magical foresight. It was a skill sharpened and refined through the brutal repetition of nine deaths.


    Upon turning into the corridor, a soft green sign caught Fang Xiu''s eye. It was the first time he''d seen such a beacon after dying and reliving the same moments nine times over.


    However, as the "doctor" stormed into the corridor andid eyes on the sign, she screamed. It was a noise filled with pure horror. Then, as if spooked by a greater evil, she vanished.


    Fang Xiu paused, panting and trying to wrap his mind around what just happened. The "doctor''s" abrupt departure didn''t bring himfort. In fact, it raised a more terrifying questionWhat could terrify such a Specter?


    A faint outline of a metal door came into view at the end of the corridor, illuminated only by the sign''s luminescent glow. That had to be the way out.


    But no one knew if it was safe or not.


    As Zhao Hao and the group caught up, concern painted their features.


    "Xiu, you okay? And why did that thing run away like that?" Zhao Hao asked.


    Fang Xiu just nodded, showing he was alright.


    The rest of the group, seeing the potential exit, brightened up.


    "This is it!" one eximed. "We''ve got to be near the end now!"


    With every ounce of their being, they hoped that safetyy just beyond that door.


    Both Zhao Hao and the other guy hesitated. They were eager to get going, but they weren''t naive. With Fang Xiu unmoving, they weren''t about to rush ahead without him.


    "Why have you stopped, Fang Xiu? Is there something off about this corridor?" Zhao Hao asked cautiously.


    "I think we should take a break," Fang Xiu replied, and without another word, he sat down, leaning against the wall. Closing his eyes, he seemed to enter a meditation-like state. He was trying to restore his spiritual energy.


    Even the terrifying "doctor" had been frightened off by something. If Fang Xiu, who seemed the most capable among them, didn''t think he could tackle the "doctor" head-on, it was wise to wait until he felt ready to move on.


    Zhao Hao and the other coworker exchanged confused looks. They didn''t fully understand Fang Xiu''s actions but respected his judgment.


    With a reluctant nod, Zhao Hao sat down as well. "Guess we''re taking a breather," he muttered.


    Honestly, they were exhausted, too. They were just regr folks with desk jobs, unustomed to this intense, life-threatening chase. The mad dash from the Specter Zone had onlysted a short while, but it felt like they had been running for hours. Their legs ached, their lungs burned, and the adrenaline crash left them lightheaded.


    Time seemed to stretch as they rested. But about thirty minutester, Fang Xiu''s eyes snapped open, and he jumped to his feet with renewed energy, startling the other two.


    "Woah! Easy there," Zhao Hao eximed, clutching his chest. "Give us some warning next time!"

 Chapter 24: Cant Live Without You!

    Chapter 24: Can''t Live Without You!


    "Come on!"


    With those words, Fang Xiu led the way to the emergency exit. His energy was almost drained, but he bounced back quickly.


    Now that he was okay, there wasn''t any reason to wait.


    Fang Xiu walked cautiously, super alert to everything around him, always watching to be ready for any surprises. He walked past a sign, and nothing unusual happened.


    He kept moving. The exit was nearer and nearer. Zhao Hao and the group were right behind him, and they didn''t face any problems either.


    But the calmer things were, the more Fang Xiu felt something was off. What made the "doctor" run away? Is this path really safe?


    Atst, they stood before the exit. And still, all was calm.


    But the real threat was waiting behind that door.


    CREAK!


    Fang Xiu shoved the door open.


    Darkness.


    Pure, inky ckness, just like outer space.


    "Xiu, is this the right way? Are we safe?" Zhao Hao asked.


    "If there''s a risk, we keep going," Fang Xiu answered, bravely walking into the dark. It felt like he was being wrapped in a thick, ck nket. It was so dark, he couldn''t see his own hand.


    And inside, it was pitch-ck. Even spookier, it was dead silent. There wasn''t a single sound to be heard.


    Where are the footsteps or voices of Zhao Hao and the rest? Fang Xiu couldn''t even tell if they were behind him.


    He tried shouting, but no sound left his lips.


    When he looked back, the door was gone. Everywhere he looked, he could only see darkness. He tried feeling around for his friends but found nothing.


    His only option? Keep walking.


    One minute, two minutes, ten minutes... The darkness was everywhere, like an endless tunnel.


    Most people would''ve freaked out, but not Fang Xiu. His soul felt darker than this endless void.


    Just when Fang Xiu felt he''d be stuck there forever, a sudden light burst in front. It grew quickly, pushing the darkness away. Everything became clear all at once.


    Fang Xiu was taken aback. He was outside. Yes, he''d exited the creepy hospital.


    The dark faded, and he was in the middle of a lit-up street. There were brightmps and pretty gardens on each side.


    It was the same road leading to Willow Hill that he remembered.


    He turned to see Zhao Hao and the rest, their faces in shock, with Willow Hill close by.


    _''Did they actually escape?''_ Fang Xiu thought.


    "Awesome, Xiu! We''re out of the Specter Zone!" Zhao Hao cheered.


    The others looked just as thrilled, relief painted on their faces after such a close call.


    "Let''s bolt from this creepy ce!"


    No one wanted to stick around. They started running without a second thought.


    "Xiu, we need to move," Zhao Hao said. "What if those Specters came chasing after us?"


    But Fang Xiu seemed miles away, eyes locked on Willow Hill. A frown crept across his face.


    _''Where''s the mental hospital?''_


    Inside, they couldn''t view the whole building. But now, outside, there was no sign of it. Just Willow Hill standing there.


    _''How did we escape so easily? The doctor saw that sign and just bolted. And we didn''t face a hint of danger on our way? Is the doctor trapped in the hospital and panicked when we found the exit?'' _


    These mysteries swirled in Fang Xiu''s mind, and while Zhao Hao nudged him to move, something else hit Fang Xiu.


    _''The Specters have disappeared.''_


    _''All the ghostly figures that used to haunt the streets, even the terrifying ones in the sky, were gone!''_


    His mind was a whirlwind. He could handle the unexpected escape and the vanishing hospital  but the missing Specters? He wanted them gone but on his own terms.


    He wanted payback. They can''t just up and vanish! They need to pay!


    In his agitation, Fang Xiu sprinted toward his house. Zhao Hao struggled to keep up.


    With every step, Fang Xiu''s mutters grew louder, "No, no, no! You can''t be gone! Not all of you! Especially not my wife! She needs to be home waiting for me!"


    He waved down a taxi, jumped in, and barked his address. In no time, the car screeched to a stop in front of Fang Xiu''s home.


    "Wait! You haven''t paid"


    But Fang Xiu was already a blur as he sped off. The driver''s eyes widened, having never seen someone move so fast.


    "That man''s not right," the driver muttered, remembering Fang Xiu''s jittery demeanor and repetitive whispers about his wife. Maybe his wife left him or something.


    "Poor guy," he mused before heading off.


    As Fang Xiu sprinted, the absence of Specters only heightened his distress.


    SLAM!


    He barreled into his house, desperation in his voice. "Honey! Are you here? Show yourself!"


    He searched everywhere, his heart racing. Every corner, every nook, every crevice.


    Empty, empty, all empty!


    "Honey, I know you''re here! Come out!" Fang Xiu shouted with bloodshot eyes.


    But his "beautiful" and "gentle" wife never appeared again.


    "No!!!"


    Fang Xiu hadpletely snapped. He screamed and howled as if his entire being had shattered.


    "You can''t disappear! Everyone in the world can disappear, but not you, never you! How am I supposed to live without you?"


    "Honey, you killed me eighteen times! If you''re gone, how am I supposed to live with the hatred?"

 Chapter 25: The Specter Who Exploits People

    Chapter 25: The Specter Who Exploits People


    Only an hour had passed, but Fang Xiu felt like it had been forever. He was sprawled out on his bed, eyes empty, staring at the ceiling as if all his energy had been drained.


    He had felt like he was at his end so many times, tormented by the Specter, and felt like giving up. But every time, he managed to hang on.


    What kept him going was pure anger and the strong urge to get even. He wanted to make those who hurt him pay, especially his "wife" and all the Specters around him.


    Making every single Specter feel as tormented as he did became his main goal. His name, Fang Xiu, means "until the end," and he intended to live up to it.


    But now, the Specter seemed to have vanished. He felt as though all his strong feelings had nowhere to go, and everything seemed pointless.


    He justy there, thinking all night long.


    The next morning, Zhao Hao''s call snapped him back to his senses.


    "Xiu! Quick, look at the news!" Zhao Hao sounded super worried.


    But Fang Xiu was silent.


    "Listen, man, the news said Willow Hill was on fire!"


    At the mention of Willow Hill, Fang Xiu''s spirit seemed to have bounced back. He grabbed his phone to see what had happened.


    The first news he read shocked him.


    "Yesterday at 7:49 pm, a big fire broke out at the Willow Hill sales office in the Greenvine City''s Development Zone. It covered a huge area, about 1,000 square meters. Luckily, the firefighters had arrived quickly, and by 10 pm, the fire was safely extinguished. Sadly, 11 people didn''t make it. Here are their names "


    _''Wait a minute. Willow Hill was on fire at 7:49 pm?That didn''t make sense!'' _


    Fang Xiu remembered being in the Specter Zone at that exact time because he kept looking at his phone. Plus, he left Willow Hill around 9 pm and didn''t see any fire.


    He scanned the list of names, and his heart skipped a beat. His own name was there, along with Zhao Hao, Wang Ziteng, Wu Dahai, and the others.


    Zhao Hao''s voice on the other end was getting frantic.


    "Xiu, did you see? Our names are there! Does this mean... Are we dead now?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer, but there was a spark in his eyes now.


    "Xiu? Hello? Can you hear me?"


    All of a sudden, Fang Xiu started chuckling, thenughing harder, "This is just wild! I knew something was up. It''s like a game of hide and seek."


    "Xiu? Dude, what are you on about? You''re freaking me out!"


    CLICK!


    Fang Xiu ended the call. Seeing his name on that list gave him a weird sort of energy. It seemed that the Specter''s torment was still ongoing. And he was more than ready for whatever came next.


    DING!


    He received a notification from WeChat. It was from his work chat group.


    Wu Dahai had messaged Fang Xiu.


    "Fang Xiu, why aren''t you at work?"


    "Why aren''t you at work?"


    "Why aren''t you at work?"


    The same message kept pouring in, over and over.


    Seeing this creepy, repetitive texting, Fang Xiu smirked.


    _''Is the supposedly deceased Wu Dahai really asking me toe in? Funny, really funny. Why would the dead care about work? But it seems even as a Specter, Wu Dahai is still all about business.''_


    For the first time ever, Fang Xiu actually felt a bit excited about heading to work. But he didn''t type anything back just yet; he wanted to see what other weird stuff mighte from Wu Dahai.


    His phone kept buzzing with more and more messages.


    Suddenly, there it wasa line of bright red text.


    "Ignoring me? You think I won''t know where you are?"


    The letters, as red as fresh blood, covered his entire phone screen.


    Then, the red text started to change, moving and pooling together, forming a puddle of virtual blood on his phone.


    SPLASH! SPLASH!


    The liquid began to bubble, and slowly, an eye rose from it, attached to a tangle of blood-red veins. It was pushing out from the screen.


    The creepy eye fixed its gaze on Fang Xiu.


    "Fang Xiu, I''m watching!"


    It was Wu Dahai''s voice, but so ghostly.


    Most people would have freaked out. But Fang Xiu was indifferent as he said, "Hey, when am I getting mymission?"


    The eyeball looked surprised, obviously not expecting such a rxed reaction.


    "Come to work, and you''ll get it," it answered.


    "Cool." Without a second thought, Fang Xiu snatched the eyeball, pulling it off the screen. He was treating it like it was a pesky sticker. "Hey, this is my only phone. Mind not making a mess?"


    The eyeball made a weird squealing noise and vanished, as though it had never been there.


    Opening his hand, Fang Xiu''s hand was clean. No eye, no blood. There was no trace of the Specter.


    _''Was all of that just in my head? Guess I should see what''s up at work.'' _


    So, Fang Xiu made his way back to Willow Hill. When he got there, he couldn''t believe his eyes. The entire sales office was burned to a crisp, the aftermath of a big fire, with warning tape everywhere.


    Fang Xiu confidently walked past the warning tape into the office. As he entered, the office transformed magically before his eyes.


    Suddenly, it felt like he was back in the familiar office. Golden trims adorned the walls, the floor was shiny marble, and a grand chandelier dangled above.


    Surprisingly, Li Feifei was there. The person he thought was long gone. She was dressed smartly and chatting with coworkers.


    Upon spotting Fang Xiu, they even waved at him.


    Li Feifei teased, "Look who it is! Fang Xiu''s early for once."


    Walking up to her, Fang Xiu pinched Li Feifei''s arm. It felt real. She was warm and alive.


    "Is this for real?" Li Feifei yelped and pped Fang Xiu''s hand away, scolding him.


    Ignoring herments, Fang Xiu headed to the second floor. Reaching the top, he ran into Zhao Hao.


    "Xiu, did you get called into work too?"


    "Nope. Just felt likeing. Seen Wu Dahai?"


    Zhao Hao hesitated, then he answered, "He''s in his office."


    Fang Xiu nodded and went to find him. As he walked, he saw all his colleagues, even those he remembered being gone, working or chatting like normal.


    Just as he was about to knock on Wu Dahai''s door, the man himself stormed out.


    Upon seeing Fang Xiu, Wu Dahai began ranting, "Fang Xiu! Why are youte? I messaged you multiple times! Do you even know"


    "When am I getting paid?" Fang Xiu interrupted coolly.


    Wu Dahai scoffed, "Paid? You''ve got some nerve asking for that with your behavior!"


    "You''re still so annoying, even when you''re dead," Fang Xiu retorted.


    "What was that?! Who are you calling dead?! You should watch your mouth. Unlike you, I''m" Wu Dahai, face red with anger, pointed his finger inches from Fang Xiu''s face.


    Everyone in the office stopped to watch themotion.


    Suddenly, there was a swift motion.


    Silence settled in.


    To everyone''s shock, a shiny surgical knife was now embedded deep into Wu Dahai''s throat.


    Holding that knife was Fang Xiu.


    Looking directly into Wu Dahai''s stunned eyes, Fang Xiu whispered, "Who''s dead now?"

 Chapter 26: You Understand Humans, But Not Silicone

    Chapter 26: You Understand Humans, But Not Silicone


    Fang Xiu yanked out the knife, and like a wild squirt gun, blood shot out of Wu Dahai''s neck, painting the wall red.


    THUD!


    Wu Dahai, with his big and sturdy body, had copsed to the floor.


    Everyone around just  stopped. Their faces paled as they froze to the spot. It was as if they had seen a ghost.


    Zhao Hao was no different.


    But then, something creepy started. They began twisting and turning like their bodies weren''t theirs anymore. Their necks and backs bent in ways they shouldn''t.


    They looked like balloons ready to pop.


    "They''re changing?" Fang Xiu whispered to himself. "Guess I have to stop it."


    He wasn''t about to just stand there like in a movie, watching it all happen.


    Having recovered all his energy, Fang Xiu darted forward as quickly as a cat.


    One move, two moves, three moves.


    Bright streaks lit up the space.


    When he paused, Fang Xiu found himself on the opposite side of the room.


    In that split second, he had zoomed past everyone, making a mark on each of their necks.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Almost all at once, blood spurted out, looking like dark red flowers opening up.


    THUD! THUD! THUD!


    The sound of bodies dropping echoed in the room.


    Then, Fang Xiu heard a weird rustling noise.


    "The doctor, right? Been expecting you." As Fang Xiu turned, the "doctor" was there. Long arms drooping from above, messy ck hair flowing down, mouth dripping, and creepy eyes locked onto Fang Xiu.


    Suddenly, the "doctor" jumped at Fang Xiu.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t move. He just waited.


    The "doctor''s" pale hand went straight for his neck.


    But unexpectedly, her hand just  went through him. Like Fang Xiu was made of smoke.


    "You done ying? Show yourself," Fang Xiu said, eyes darting around.


    Just like that, the "doctor" was gone. The bodies, too. And the whole room seemed to crack and break, like a mirror.


    Behind all that, surprisingly, was the way out of Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    A big "EXIT" sign shone brightly.


    Next to Fang Xiu, Zhao Hao and two others were sprawled out. Their faces showed pure fear, covered in a jumbled mess of cuts. They weren''t moving.


    Fang Xiu pushed himself up, brushing off the dust. The inky ckness ahead was broken by a pair of glowing red eyes, hovering like eerienterns amidst a swirl of dark mist.


    "A dream, right? That''s your trick," Fang Xiu remarked coolly.


    The shadowy haze rippled as a harsh, whispery voice shot back, "How did you figure it out?"


    "Your dream felt real. You get humans. But you messed up with the fake chest," Fang Xiu pointed out.


    "The fake chest?" The red eyes blinked with a hint of confusion.


    "Why don''t you seem scared?" the voice growled.


    Fang Xiu chuckled. "Your trick is feeding off fear, right? People get more scared in the dream, and that''s how they die faster? Smart. No wonder there''s a death list, and the dead are revived toe to work. To be honest, I was quite pleased to encounter a new specter like you. But creating a dream with no specters? Seriously? That''s just too stupid."


    The haunting eyes, framed by the murky mist, didn''t answer. They just kept staring at Fang Xiu, as if trying to memorize his face. Then, without warning, they dimmed and disappeared.


    Fang Xiu nced around, noting Zhao Hao and the others, still and lifeless. He pieced things together in his mind.


    This ghost had the power to twist dreams. It must have chased away the "doctor." If his theory was right, the "doctor" was probably the least powerful ghost at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    The way she became a ghost was different. While most were transformed from people due to weird experiments, the "doctor" was turned by a contaminated knife. That made her different from the get-go.


    She didn''t have any special tricks up her sleeve, except for those freakishly long legs.


    Different causes meant different powers. And the "doctor" was easy to scare off when faced with a real, powerful Specter.


    This dream-weaver Specter probably had snuck out of a patient room, making everyone drift off to sleep. In the dream world, it filled their minds with terror. And the more scared they got, the faster they died in the dream.


    But this Specter didn''t expect someone like Fang Xiu to appear. He wasn''t scared of Specters; actually, he was more afraid that he wouldn''t see any Specters.


    To try and scare him, the Specter set up a bunch of scary scenes. But it only fired up Fang Xiu''s will to keep going. Plus, the Specter''s cluelessness about Li Feifei''s fake chest gave Fang Xiu the edge to see through its tricks. But the biggest reason it failed?Fang Xiu just wasn''t scared.


    He went over to Zhao Hao, who looked like he had strangled himself. His hands were wrapped tight around his neck, his face dark blue. Fang Xiu checked and found no heartbeat. It was impossible for an ordinary person to do that to themselves. But Specters were anything but ordinary.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu tightened his hold on the scalpel and stabbed himself in the neck. Blood gushed out, and he felt his mind going hazy, getting swallowed by darkness.


    By the "EXIT" sign...


    "This must be the way out!"


    "We can leave through here!"


    Fang Xiu''s coworkers shouted, their faces lit up with hope. Zhao Hao looked just as relieved.


    Fang Xiu decided not to take a break this time. He figured the Specter''s trick was messing with dreams, so it was best to stay awake. Thest time they took a break, they identally fell asleep. No more of that. They had to keep moving.


    "Come on," Fang Xiu said, sounding as calm as ever, heading for the emergency exit. Zhao Hao and the rest followed.


    CREAK!


    They pushed through the exit door and stepped into the pitch-ck darkness. But after walking for a while, they finally came out, finding themselves near Willow Hill.


    Fang Xiu stared at the empty street and the cloudless sky. He grabbed the scalpel again, aiming it at his neck."

 Chapter 27: The Specter Knight

    Chapter 27: The Specter Knight


    After trying multiple times, Fang Xiu figured out that even if he had a scalpel stuck in his leg, the mysterious Specter would still pull him into its dream trap. He knew now that only he and Zhao Hao could beat this trial. They had to face their fears head-on to get through it.


    "This must be the way out!"


    "We can leave through here!"


    Fang Xiu quickly spoke to Zhao Hao and their crew. "In this emergency exit lies a Specter who creates dreams and illusions. Inside this dream, some scary stuff might happen, making you think you''ve escaped the Specter Zone. But it''s all just an illusion. To snap out of it, face your fear. If you get scared in the dream, it''ll be the end for you."


    "A Specter, again?" Zhao Hao shouted, clearly freaking out. Judging by his response, he was already scared stiff, even without seeing the dream.


    "Zhao Hao, don''t forget, it''s all just an illusion. Stay calm; that''s our ticket out," Fang Xiu said, trying to calm him down.


    Zhao Hao, though still a bit shaky, nodded. He trusted Fang Xiu.


    "Oh, and if you see Li Feifei in the dream, give her a squeeze. The dream version and the real one feel different. That''s one of the ws in the dream."


    Zhao Hao looked surprised. "Uh... I''ve never touched the real one."


    Ignoring him, Fang Xiu opened the door and stepped into the dream. It was the same one he remembered.


    From his earlier failures, he knew that in his dream, Zhao Hao and everyone else weren''t real. Everyone saw different things. Fang Xiu couldn''t help Zhao Hao inside this dream world. But knowing it was just make-believe, Fang Xiu wasn''t frightened and snapped out of it in no time.


    Waking up, he didn''t see any Specter. Instead, he found Zhao Hao and two others in a horrible state, lying all twisted on the floor. They were still breathing but looked terrified, some even shaking.


    Zhao Hao was choking himself, his face turning blue, looking like he might pass out any second.


    Fang Xiu ran to him and pulled Zhao Hao''s hands away. Zhao Hao gasped for air, but he was still out of it.


    "Zhao Hao,e on, snap out of it."


    He tried shaking Zhao Hao, but it didn''t work.


    SLAP!


    Even after several ps on his face, he didn''t wake up. Unsure of what else to do, Fang Xiu grabbed the scalpel and made a cut on Zhao Hao''s leg. He even used his special power to make the pain sharper. Zhao Hao''s face scrunched up in pain, but he stayed unconscious.


    A momentter, he went limp, lifeless.


    And soon after, Fang Xiu also died.


    Several attemptster, Fang Xiu felt like he was stuck in a nightmare loop. No matter how much he prepped them, Zhao Hao and the others always met a grim fate in the dream, their fears reigning supreme.


    Fang Xiu''s heart ached at every repeated failure, the weight of the impending doom pressing him further into hopelessness.


    _''Onest try,''_ he thought. _''Onest attempt to save Zhao Hao.''_


    The key to victory against fear, Fang Xiu mused, might not be to confront it but to sidestep it entirely. He needed a strategy that would flood their senses and emotions, something to overshadow the engulfing dread. Thinking about primal emotions, his mind darted to something fundamental, a basic human drive.


    Scouring his memories of Zhao Hao, Fang Xiu could only find a few standout qualities. But then, he came to a realization, the one "unique interest" Zhao Hao harbored. An age-old instinct, thought Fang Xiu, might be their saving grace.


    "You''re a fan of the adult movie, ''Private Lessons After School'', aren''t you, Zhao Hao?" Fang Xiu suddenly asked.


    Zhao Hao stared back, wide-eyed. "Xiu, did you snoop through my phone?!"


    "Just y the movie, max volume, now!" Fang Xiu ordered.


    But Zhao Hao''s face turned beet-red. "Here? Now? That''s almost as humiliating as... well, you know!"


    "I''m dead serious. It might be our only way out," Fang Xiu''s gaze was unwavering.


    Reluctantly, with a resigned sigh, Zhao Hao yed the movie. The catchy tunes and risqu scenes echoed through the corridor, surprisingly diminishing the thick air of fear that had enveloped them.


    Their teammates looked at Zhao Hao, eyebrows raised, while Zhao Hao wished he could evaporate right then and there.


    "Concentrate on the movie," Fang Xiu guided. "Be one with the scenes; let them consume you. Just imagine you''re one of her students in that ssroom If your heartbeat races because of the movie and not the fear, you might stand a chance."


    Taking a steadying breath, Zhao Hao engrossed himself in the movie. Fang Xiu turned to the others, "Find a way to distract yourselves. Dive deep into a memory or passionanything to shield you from fear."


    The others,cking Zhao Hao''s "particr interest" or any handy entertainment in their phone, reluctantly got caught up in the movie. It seemed that even in the direst circumstances, shared interests might just bridge gaps.


    After what felt like an eternity but was just a few minutes, Fang Xiu sensed it was time. Zhao Hao appeared somewhat ready, his face flushed and his pants bulging. The others, on the other hand, seemed more confused than anything. Not just anyone could be distracted in the face of fear.


    All that Fang Xiu could do was continue ahead. After sharing a few vital tips and tricks, he led the group through the door.


    No sooner had they entered that the dream-weaver Specter''s magic wrapped around them, pulling them into its depths.


    Fang Xiu, with his honed skills, was able to shake off the Specter''s influence in a sh. He quickly observed his threepanions. Zhao Hao and the other two were on the floor. The expressions of the two other coworkers were of pure horror, as though they were facing their worst nightmares. Even stranger, injuries began appearing on their bodies.


    Zhao Hao was a bit different. He looked scared, sure, but there was a yful twinkle in his eye. Plus, there was a somewhat embarrassing bulge in his pants. Watching this, Fang Xiu felt a bitforted.


    _''Perhaps having some special interests isn''t so bad.''_


    He remembered a past chat with Zhao Hao, where his friend had shared a weird story. One day, while napping, Zhao Hao felt trapped in his body, a condition known as sleep paralysis. During this episode, he saw a pale-looking ghostly girl.


    At first, she frightened him with her eeriness. But as he kept looking, he felt she was quite pretty, and he even wanted to kiss her in the dream However, he woke up just as their lips were about to meet. Zhao hadughingly said he wished he could''ve stayed asleep a bit longer.


    Back then, Fang Xiu had thought Zhao Hao was just being silly. But seeing his friend''s current state, Fang Xiu wondered


    _''Maybe there''s some truth to his story. Could Zhao Hao really find ghostly figures attractive? It reminds me of the tale of Ning Caichen, the guy who fell in love with a ghost.''_


    Suddenly, the dream''s intensity skyrocketed. The two others weren''t faring well. Their heads dropped, and blood began oozing, signaling they were losing the fight against their fears.


    Zhao Hao, however, was on a rollercoaster of emotions. At one point, he looked like he was about to lose to his fear. But then, he let out a weird sound, shifted a bit, and there were some... peculiar movements of his hand. He seemed to be grabbing something, not his neck this time, but something round and soft in front of him."

 Chapter 28: My Power is Prophecy

    Chapter 28: My Power is Prophecy


    For a split second, the sight became super weird. Even if Fang Xiu had seen tons of bizarre and creepy Specters, he was shocked as he watched Zhao Hao. But then, Fang Xiu spotted something out of the ordinary. Using his spiritual power, he felt this unique energying out from Zhao Hao._ _


    _''Is Zhao Hao about to use his special power?''_


    Just then, Zhao Hao jumped up from where he was sitting; his face was red, and he was breathing heavily. After taking a good look around him, he looked super confused at first, then his face lit up like he had just won a video game.


    "Xiu, did it work?"


    Before Zhao Hao could continue, it looked like he remembered something important. He became super cautious and stared straight at Fang Xiu.


    "Is that really you, Xiu?"


    Watching Zhao Hao react like that, Fang Xiu thought the guy had gotten smarter, even if it was just a little. To show Zhao Hao this wasn''t some sort of weird dream, Fang Xiu started talking.


    "The Plumber Coming At Night, I''m Tall and Plump, Game Going Down There, The Air Hostess''s Special Favor, Avatar: Nude Edition."


    "Whoa! Stop right there! You totally snooped on my phone, didn''t you, Xiu?" Zhao Hao''s face turned red like a tomato, and he quickly got up, motioning for Fang Xiu to stop. "Okay, okay. Let''s gear up and head out."


    Zhao Hao nodded. But when he noticed their two buddies who were no longer alive, he looked shocked and sighed deeply.


    Now, the two were standing in front of the real exit. When they opened the door earlier, it was all just an illusion. Every time they got to the door, they would get pulled into the dream.


    Fang Xiu touched the door and felt something wasn''t right.


    ''_Why isn''t the Specter showing up this time?''_


    The very first time he woke up from the dream, he was the only one still breathing. The Specter popped up, wondering why Fang Xiu wasn''t spooked. But the following times, even when he broke free, The Specter was MIA.


    Fang Xiu thought maybe it was because Zhao Hao and the gang were still okay, so the Specter stayed in the dreand. But now, everyone''s strange dreams were over. So, where was the Specter?


    Fang Xiu''s mind raced back to Zhao Hao''s weird actions before he woke uplike he was trying to kiss and grab something invisible.


    _Could that be a hint..._


    He felt like he was onto something but kept it to himself for now, deciding to just push the door open. In front of them was this huge, never-ending ckness.


    After wandering in the pitch ck for roughly ten minutes, they started seeing some light. As the light pushed the shadows away, it was like watching a curtain lift, and they saw the real world outside.


    There they were, standing on a road. Fang Xiu was 100% sure this wasn''t some dream because he spotted those super freaky Specters floating around and even a few chilling in the trees nearby.


    A short distance behind them stood the sales office of Willow Hill. The Green Mountain Mental Hospital, which they had clearly seen before, was now out of sight.


    But Fang Xiu knew it hadn''t just disappeared. The hospital was hiding, meshed into the sales office.


    Still, he was confused.


    _''Why can I see the mental hospital earlier but not now? Before, the sales office wasn''t in the way, but now it looked like the hospital had mixed into the sales office. Is it like the hospital had be part of the real world and was hidden behind the ordinary buildings? But earlier, since it was all a dreamy illusion, nothing was blocking it?''_


    "We''re finally out, Xiu!" Zhao Hao looked like someone who had just won the hardest video game level ever.


    Instead of answering, Fang Xiu asked, "Did you awaken your special psychic power?"


    "Psychic power?" Zhao Hao thought for a second. "Something weird did happen in that dream."


    He then shut his eyes super tight. When he opened them a bitter, he was grinning ear to ear. "Xiu, I feel like I''ve turned into some cool superhero. My senses are super sharp now, and I feel strong. If that tall and creepy Specter shows up again, I bet I could take her down in just one hit!"


    Fang Xiu just nodded, not really shocked. After all, Zhao Hao had been through a lot, especially those crazy dream adventures and dealing with that main Specter. He had touched the thigh of the "doctor," too. So, maybe he had activated some psychic power.


    But now that his psychic power had awakened, Fang Xiu couldn''t help but wonder


    _''What kind of spiritual power does Zhao Hao have?''_


    "What''s your special spiritual power?"


    "Spiritual power?" Zhao Hao thought really hard and then shrugged. "I can''t really tell if I have one."


    "You don''t know?" Fang Xiu was surprised but didn''t push it. After all, he wasn''t an expert on psychic stuff.


    "So, I have no powers? I thought Wang Ziteng said that everyone with psychic powers gets a super cool spiritual power?" Zhao Hao looked super bummed out.


    "Xiu, what''s your spiritual power?"


    "I can see what''s going to happen in the future."


    "Wait, what?! You can see the future?!" Zhao Hao''s eyes nearly popped out of his head.


    Fang Xiu just nodded, trying to stay calm. He didn''t want to trick Zhao Hao, but he was nning for the future.


    He could undo bad stuff that had happened, and it kind of looked like he was predicting the future. It just made sense to say he had the power of prophecy. Plus, being able to see into the future was a super cool power. If there was some psychic group out there, he could join and be a big deal with this power.


    In a world where Specters lurked but didn''t cause total mayhem, and where there were hardly any headlines about these spooky beings, it was pretty clear to Fang Xiu that some major psychic group was secretly pulling the strings.


    They were probably the ones keeping things peaceful and making sure everything was under wraps. This mystery group probably had tons of cool tools that would be helpful for anyone with psychic powers.


    Fang Xiu was desperate to level up his powers. So, he wanted to prove he was a big deal and super valuable. Before all those freaky run-ins with Specters, maybe he would''ve stayed under the radar, just chilling and earning some profit on the side.


    But after those close calls with death, all he wanted was to get super strong, super fast, and get some payback. It was like in those fantasy books where the super-talented kids always got the best stuff, no matter which guild they joined.


    Right now, Fang Xiu''s game n was to be that kid.


    The reason he didn''t tell Zhao Hao about his real power was simplehe wasn''t sure if people could have more than one power in this world.


    If it was like that anime "One Piece," he remembered, where you could only eat one special fruit and get one power, telling people he had two powers would be like putting a big sign on his back that said, "Come and study my weird body!"


    Being a bit ahead of the game made you look like a genius, but if you were way too ahead, people might think you were just in nuts.


    "Xiu, it totally makes sense now! You knew where to go in that creepy Specter Zone and which spots were safe because you could see what wasing!" Zhao Hao suddenly said.


    He was so scared back in the Specter Zone that he didn''t even notice Fang Xiu''s future-seeing moves. He was just following Fang Xiu like a lost puppy. But looking back, Fang Xiu had made all the correct decisions.


    Zhao Hao thought, _''He told me how to duck fatal risks multiple times! If that wasn''t seeing into the future, what was?''_


    For a second, Zhao Hao was pumped that Fang Xiu had such an epic spiritual power. But that excitement fizzled out fast.


    He got bummed out again, thinking maybe he didn''t have any powers. It was like that old saying, "You''re d your buddy''s doing well but kinda jealous of his cool stuff."


    That was exactly how Zhao Hao was feeling right now."

 Chapter 29: Specter-fucker

    Chapter 29: Specter-fucker


    "Hao, can you see any Specter in the sky?" Fang Xiu suddenly asked.


    Zhao Hao looked up in surprise. "Specter? Where''s the Specter?" He quickly gazed upwards, yet all he saw was a handful of stars in the dark sky.


    "Xiu, I don''t see any Specter. Did you maybe mistake something else for it?"


    "I might have confused a bat for a Specter," Fang Xiu pondered, a slight crease appearing on his forehead.


    _''Why Hao still can''t see the Specters that are everywhere?''_


    _''Is it because Zhao Hao is a newbie psychic, and he isn''t strong enough? Or is it possible that not all psychics can really see these all-around Specters?''_


    Fang Xiu genuinely wished it was the first reason. That would mean he wasn''t the only one. Others out there, like him, could also see Specters.


    "We should head home and rest."


    "Head home and rest?" Zhao Hao blurted out. "Xiu, our colleagues are all gone, and we''ve run into Specters. And you''re thinking about sleep?"


    "What should we do then? Call the police? Put the Specters under arrest?"


    "Maybe not When ites to Specters, it''s best to talk to a Taoist priest."


    "We dont have to find anyone. If Specters and psychics exist, there must be organizations made just to handle Specters. If not, the world would be a mess. Also, how did you manage to escape that dream?"


    "Um..." Zhao Hao looked very uneasy. "How? I did exactly as you told me, Xiu. I tried to block everything out and got lost in the scene of the  um  that movie."


    "But why were you moving around and kissing the air before?"


    "Wait, I was doing that?" Zhao Hao''s cheeks turned bright red.


    "Yep, and you weren''t just moving. You made noises, and... your pants were damp."


    "Stop! No more words! Xiu, seriously, if you keep going, I''ll be mortified."


    "What did you actually see in the dream? I''m not curious about your dream, but I''m wondering why you don''t seem to have any special ability. I want to know if something went wrong in your process of turning into a psychic." Fang Xiu asked, looking serious.


    "Promise you won''t tell this to anyone?"


    "Promise."


    "Well, it''s nothing big. As I went into the dream, I kept my eyes closed tight. My mind yed back to the ssroom scene in the adult movie... But then, scary sounds started echoing, and I felt hands, cold like death, touching me. To distract myself and out of pure fright, I... I..."


    "You... took care of it using your hand?" Fang Xiu interrupted.


    Zhao Hao, looking embarrassed, responded, "I just needed a quick way to shift my focus!"


    Fang Xiu nodded, taking in Zhao Hao''s story. "And then what happened?"


    "The air shifted when I heard Li Feifei''s soft voice. The cold hands transformed into warm, gentle ones, and so..."


    "You peeked, didn''t you? You had a crush on Li Feifei?"


    "Didn''t you once mention that if we see Li Feifei in our dreams, we should squeeze her to determine if we''re dreaming or awake?" Zhao Hao asked.


    "Right. So, did youe to any conclusion?"


    "I didn''t even squeeze her. Just got lost in the moment," Zhao Hao replied, sounding a bit defensive.


    "And after that?"


    "Li Feifei tried hard to captivate me. And honestly, I found it difficult to resist. Her outfita ''jk'' uniform, a ck ribbon with a bell, and those deliberately torn stockingsit was... captivating. But then her demeanor changed. Her eyes turned a haunting shade of red, and her mouth unnaturally stretched towards her ears. The fear that washed over me was overwhelming," he admitted.


    Fang Xiu nodded sympathetically, realizing that the trauma Zhao Hao experienced was realthere was a time when he saw Hao''s bulge go down a little.


    "How did you manage to get back on her?"


    "As that twisted version of Li Feifei moved to bite me, I felt like it was over. But a thought crossed my mind. I''m still young, a virgin, and have so much to live for. Why let this be the end? I decided that, Specter or not, I needed to act on my desires before it was toote."


    Fang Xiu paused, reflecting on Zhao Hao''s experience. He could now make sense of why the Specter vanished post-dream. Maybe it felt too humiliated to face Zhao Hao, especially after his daring move.


    Sensing Fang Xiu''s deep thoughts, Zhao Hao quickly added, "I mean, if I were on the brink of death, why hold back? Living without regrets is vital, isn''t it, Xiu?"


    "I believe you should head home," Fang Xiu suggested gently.


    Zhao Hao was momentarily at a loss for words. After discussing their shared story, should anyonee asking, the two decided on their narrative and parted ways.


    Arriving home, Fang Xiu was weed by his affectionate "wife."


    "Honey, you''re back! Have you had dinner? Would you like me to whip up something?" She looked serene in her usual white silk nightgown that showcased her elegant legs.


    The sight of his loving wife always warmed Fang Xiu''s heart, reassuring him after a long day.


    Fang Xiu fixed his gaze upon his wife; her beauty was undeniable, so perfect that even enhanced photographs would pale inparison.


    "Ah, finally home," he said, his voiceced with relief and affection.


    However, in the blink of an eye, the soft expression on his wife''s face turned wild and ravenous. The transition was swift, almost theatrically so.


    "Just l" she began but was interrupted.


    Suddenly, a shining scalpel, shimmering with Fang Xiu''s dark psychic energy, shot toward her delicate throat. He had turned his psychic pain ability to its highest intensity. Now, fully rejuvenated, he controlled the scalpel with his renewed power.


    Yet, just as the de was about to make contact, everything went pitch-ck for Fang Xiu. He felt himself being dragged into an endless void of unconsciousness.


    When he woke up, he found himself outside his residence once more.


    "Was that my end? The spot I return to upon dying seems to have changed," he mused, the faint light in the old hallway casting a muted glow on his visage.


    _''Is this a disy of my wife''s true strength? Even after my psychic ability was activated, our power disparity felt overwhelming. I can''t even recall the cause of my demise. Specters have ranks, perhaps as varied as human capabilities. Maybe I was wise to steer clear of further exploring the mental hospital.''_


    After the confrontation with the "doctor," Fang Xiu toyed with the idea of delving deeper into Green Mountain Mental Hospital. However, he soon dismissed the thought. His powers felt insufficient, and the intricacies of the Specter Zone remained a mystery to him.


    The "doctor" represented merely the weakest of the Specters in that hospital. If Fang Xiu struggled against such an entity, there was no way he would fare against the stronger ones. There were quite a lot of wards in the hospital of which the door was open, which indicated that the dream-weaver Specter was just one among many others hiding in unknown shadows.


    He considered himself fortunate for encountering a Specter limited to mental maniption. If he hade across a Specter with physical fight capabilities, even his death-reset ability might not have saved him. He could have ended up trapped in the hospital''s eerie confines indefinitely.


    Faced with a formidable foe, even countless retries might prove fruitless.


    Recognizing this, Fang Xiu concluded that he needed to delve deeper into understanding his spiritual power. He needed to connect with other psychics and seek out organizations that could provide insights. Only then could he consider his next steps."

 Chapter 30: The Secret Bureau Investigating the Spooky Happenings

    Chapter 30: The Secret Bureau Investigating the Spooky Happenings


    BANG!


    The front door swung open.


    There, by the door, stood Fang Xiu''s wife, looking every bit like the perfect, caring spouse.


    "Honey, you''re back! Did you eat yet? Want me to make something for you?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t pay much attention to her, acting like someone super tired after a long day at work. Maybe he was too tired to chat or hang out with family.


    He decided to take a warm shower and then head straight to bed.


    But while he seemed to be lying down, he was trying hard to understand his special psychic skills. He wanted to be more powerful. If he became stronger, he could find out all the mysteries of the spooky Green Mountain Mental Hospital, get to know more about these creepy Specters, and even deal with the issues he had with his wife.


    He stayed upte trying to learn but didn''t find out much. Most of what he knew was just stuff Wang Ziteng had told him, which wasn''t much at all. Eventually, exhausted and a bit frustrated, Fang Xiu drifted off to sleep.


    In Greenvine City, there was a ce called the Investigation _Bureau_. Most people had no idea it existed. They didn''t know what it did or where it was.


    But, among those with psychic skills in Greenvine, this ce was important.


    Their job? To keep an eye on all the Specters and made sure everyone in Greenvine City stayed safe.


    It had a long and fancy name: The Global Specter Incident Joint Investigation and Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Support Bureau. But everyone just calls it the Investigation Bureau for short.


    In a big meeting room at the Bureau, a bunch of people were sitting around a table. There were men and women, some dressed super fancy, some casual, and some even in strange outfits. Even though they looked different, most of them were young, likely in their twenties or thirties.


    The oldest guy there was probably in his forties. He was dressed in a sharp ck suit and looked like he was in charge.


    "Alright, everyone, listen up," he started, "Just a few hours ago, a Specter Zone popped up at Willow Hill. Right now, it''s just around the sales office and hasn''t grown bigger."


    People around the table started talking, some looking worried, some excited.


    "These weird Specter things seem to be happening a lot more," one person pointed out.


    "Yeah, but isn''t that cool? For us, more spooky stuff means we get stronger!" another said with a smirk.


    "Hey, be careful what you wish for. Or you might end up in trouble with a Specter!"


    "Oh yeah? You trying to scare me?"


    "Think I''m afraid of you?"


    The older man, watching the arguing crowd, didn''t react. He was probably used to it.


    This guy, named Wang Dehai, was the boss of the Investigation Bureau. But here''s the twist: he didn''t have any psychic powers. He was just a regr guy.


    Even though Wang Dehai was just a regr guy, he was in charge of a team of people with psychic powers. Most cities did things this way.


    Why? Well, a lot of psychics didn''t live very long because of the dangers they faced. They were better suited for fighting and using their abilities than running an office. Plus, it wouldn''t be smart to use a psychic for boring office stuff.


    Besides, Specters, those creepy beings, had a weird effect on psychics. They could make them act strangely or even violently sometimes. So, it didn''t make sense for a psychic to be the big boss. Still, there were psychics who were in charge of smaller groups, and they''d work together with the head of the bureau.


    "Enough!" Wang Dehai shouted, banging the table so hard it shook. "If anyone else messes up this meeting, they''ll get their usual psychic material cut by half next month!"


    The room fell silent. All the psychics seemed worried. Even though they had these powers and could easily earn money, they cared a lot about this psychic material.


    It wasn''t just for funit was an important item for them to stay alive. That was why the Investigation Bureau used it to get so many psychics to work for them. If you wanted a psychic to fight against a Specter, you had to give them something good in return.


    With everyone now listening, Wang Dehai calmed down. "Lin, show the video from near Willow Hill."


    A woman, looking all official with her gold-rimmed sses, quickly started the video. It was from the area around Willow Hill. There were no cameras inside Willow Hill because they all got messed up somehow, probably because of some Specter.


    The video yed, showing a quiet road with trees on both sides.


    "Skip ahead," Wang Dehai said.


    Lin fast-forwarded the video.


    "Stop there."


    The video started ying at normal speed again. Suddenly, the air seemed to have shifted, and two guys appeared out of nowhere.


    "That''s Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao," Wang Dehai pointed out. "They''re the ones who got out of Willow Hill after everything that had happened. Fang Xiu''s the good-looking one. Zhao Hao''s  well, he looks a bit lecherous. They both work at the sales office in Willow Hill. Lin, tell us more about them."


    Lin opened a folder and started reading. "Fang Xiu, 20 years old, a local in Greenvine City. He''s an orphan and graduated from... Zhao Hao is... Actually, there''s nothing really special about either of them. Before the Willow Hill incident, they were just regr guys."


    Wang Dehai looked around the room. "What do you all think?" he asked.


    A young guy in a cool jacket with metal studs spoke up first, "If just anyone can walk out of that creepy Specter Zone, then it''s probably not that scary. Maybe it''s just a Grade D. Any psychic could deal with that."


    Another man, looking professional in his suit and gold-rimmed sses, didn''t agree. "But look at that Fang Xiu guy in the video. He''s too calm. Most people who get out of a ce like that would be super scared or relieved, but he''s acting like nothing happened. Maybe he became a psychic when he was in there."


    The guy in the studded jacketughed, "Even if that was true, and he''s a brand-new psychic who survived, then that ce is still just a Grade C at most. Any psychic with a bit of experience could handle it."


    Someone else joined in, "You can''t just guess about a ce like that if you haven''t been there. Maybe it is dangerous, and those two were just lucky."


    "As I was saying," the guy in the studded jacket began, rolling his eyes.


    "Enough!" Wang Dehai shouted, eyeing the guy in the studded jacket furiously.


    He had a big headache and thought maybe asking this group was a bad idea.


    Wang Dehai finally made up his mind and said, "Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao, you two need to scope out Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao. Figure out if they''re now psychics, how strong they are, and if they''re still of sound mind. Then, decide if we should ask them to join us. Also, find out just how dangerous that Specter Zone in Willow Hill really is."


    "Got it, Director Wang," one said.


    "Sure thing," the other added. "

 Chapter 31: Zhao Haos Spiritual Power

    Chapter 31: Zhao Hao''s Spiritual Power


    The following morning, Fang Xiu was jolted awake by a ring from his phone. It was Zhao Hao.


    "Xiu! Xiu! You won''t believe it. I''ve discovered my spiritual power!" Zhao Hao eximed enthusiastically from the other end.


    "Power? What kind of power?" Fang Xiu asked, his voice steady.


    "Well, you''re in for a surprise. I didn''t notice my ability before because it onlyes to life from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Last night, I was awake, and right at 11, the power revealed itself."


    Fang Xiu asked, "What did you find out?"


    Zhao Hao teased, "Now, Xiu, dont be envious when you hear this. Your power might be impressive, but mine? I believe every guy would want this. I yed around with it all night, and trust me..."


    BEEP BEEP BEEP


    Fang Xiu ended the call, clearly not interested.


    Soon after, his phone rang again, Zhao Hao on the other line.


    "Xiu, why did you..."


    "If you''re just going to go on and on, then please, let me get some sleep."


    Zhao Hao sounded hurt, "Listen, after 11 p.m., I transform! I be way more good-looking, and my fitness level goes up. My muscles stand out even more."


    Fang Xiu responded dryly, "That''s your power? Really?"


    But before he could hang up, Zhao Hao quickly said, "Hold on, hold on! That''s not everything. Sure, I look better and fitter, but there''s more to it. The main thing is... um, in the sexual department. Let''s just say I became super impressive. I tried it out, and, wow, it''s like this super strong pir, holding up so much weight, like a hundred kilograms..."


    BEEP BEEP BEEP


    Once again, Fang Xiu disconnected without hesitation. While he had some hopes that Zhao Hao would unlock an incredible power, this wasn''t quite what he had in mind.


    Turning handsome, gaining muscles, and what? It sounded more like something from a movie he''d rather not mention.


    Fang Xiu muttered, "Figures. How could someone like Zhao Hao, who conquered his fears with those kinds of movies, gain any truly unique abilities?"


    Powers like these often connect to one''s soul and reveal deep inner wishes. What someone wishes for deeply might just show up in the real world.


    As for why Zhao Hao''s power only appeared after 11 p.m., Fang Xiu had an inkling.


    _''Maybe it''s rted to whatever Zhao Hao daydreams about every night at that hour. But the specifics? Only Zhao Hao himself knows.''_


    Suddenly, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts, "Honey, breakfast''s ready."


    It was his sweet "wife," gently reminding him. Fang Xiu''s face remained unchanged as he got up to prepare his own breakfast. Though his "wife" constantly talked about breakfast, she had never once made it herself.


    Fang Xiu sighed internally.


    _''This damn Specter. She''s really something.''_


    Right then, a sleek ck car discreetly pulled up by the curb beneath Fang Xiu''s apartment building.


    Inside were a man and a woman. The man appeared to be in his thirties and donned a sharp ck suit and gold-rimmed sses. He gave off an impression of confidence and seriousness.


    Beside him was an elegantly beautiful woman. She was attractive and looked dainty was dressed in a ck uniform-like dress. Beneath that, she wore sturdy ck stockings (which weren''t the kind to rip easily). On her feet were high heels with detailed patterns. Given her tall stature and cool aura, the look didn''t seem overdone. Instead, it had a sophisticated and graceful touch.


    Their names were Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao, members of the Investigation Bureau.


    Li Wenhao was busy with a ck earpiece linked to a machine. After a while, he took it out.


    Beside him, Shen Lingxue asked in a steady voice, "Were you able to catch their conversation?"


    He nodded, "Based on what I heard, they sound like regr people who had some spiritual awakening at the Willow Hill Specter Zone, transforming them into psychics."


    "Do you know about their special power?"


    "Fang Xiu''s power wasn''t discussed on the call. But from what Zhao Hao said, it seems promising."


    She replied, "I hope so. The Investigation Bureau is in need of more hands. If Fang Xiu has good psychic power and clears the psychic contamination check, he might get an offer."


    "What about Zhao Hao?"


    Mentioning Zhao Hao made Li Wenhao pause, showing uncertainty in his eyes. It seemed tricky for him to put into words.


    Shen Lingxue looked a bit impatient, "What''s the matter? Out with it."


    "Understood," Li Wenhao responded, giving her due respect.


    From their interactions, it was clear that Shen Lingxue ranked higher. This wasn''t unexpected. Shen Lingxue was gifted with psychic powers, whereas Li Wenhao was just a regr person.


    The Bureau, always cautious about a psychic''s mindset, often paired them with a non-psychic superior. This helped in keeping them grounded and ensuring they didn''t go astray.


    The aim was noble, but in reality, the psychics often held more influence due to their unique abilities. If a disagreement arose, the matter would be escted to senior officers for judgment.


    There''s a pattern in these pairings: male psychics usually have female superiors and the other way around. This mix is thought to bnce energies, decreasing the chances of disagreements.


    Li Wenhao started, picking his words, "From what Zhao Hao shared, his skill is a bit... unusual. Every night from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., he turns exceptionally good-looking, his muscles stand out more, his overall fitness peaks, and the main boost is his sexual capabilities."


    Shen Lingxue''s expression faltered, reced by evident distaste at the mention of " sexual capabilities."


    "Seriously? With such a... unique skill, he might be better off in some nightclub," she said with a hint of scorn. "The Investigation Bureau isn''t a ce for those with questionable skills and tainted souls. Additionally, we should keep a close watch on Zhao Hao. No telling what he could be up to with that sort of power."


    Li Wenhao nodded, a quiet sigh escaping him. The gap in Shen Lingxue''s perspective towards Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao was wide and clear. One was being eyed for a potential role, while the other wasn''t just dismissed but seen with suspicion.


    It wasn''t necessarily about Fang Xiu being more valuable; rather, Zhao Hao''s peculiar power seemed to cast a shadow over his reputation.


    She motioned forward, "Come on. Fang Xiu should be our first stop."

 Chapter 32: The Investigation Bureaus Visit

    Chapter 32: The Investigation Bureau''s Visit


    KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!


    Someone was knocking at Fang Xiu''s front door.


    He could tell that two people were there. He had heard their footsteps as they climbed the stairs.


    Peeking through the little peephole, Fang Xiu spotted a guy and a girl in work uniforms.


    With zero doubt, he swung the door open, not scared that they might be Spectersbecause Specters couldn''t touch or do anything in the real world unless they were seen. So, they couldn''t possibly knock on doors.


    Also, anyoneing to his door dressed like that at this time of day was probably from some special organization he had expected.


    After he opened the door, Li Wenhao showed his badge and said, "You''re Fang Xiu, right? We''re from the Global Specter Incident Joint Investigation and Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Support Bureau. These are our IDs."


    Fang Xiu looked at both badges carefully, noting their names.


    It made sense that these guys knew where to find Fang Xiu, as there were cameras and spies all over the ce now in this country.


    What surprised him was the super long name of their bureau. It sounded like a mouthful that might leave some out of breath.


    "Come on in."


    He motioned for them to enter. As they did, Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were trying to get a read on him.


    In the same way, Fang Xiu was checking them out, mainly wondering if they could see his "wife."


    Just then, his "wife," looking really pleased, maybe because of the visitors, gracefully said, "Hey, honey, we''ve got visitors?"


    But Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao only looked at Fang Xiu, as if they couldn''t see her.


    _''Are they not seeing her? Or are they like me, choosing to ignore Specters?''_ Fang Xiu wondered.


    Since they were from this official bureau, Fang Xiu thought they probably knew more and had better powers than him, who was just a newbie to the psychic world. If even the two couldn''t spot Fang Xiu''s "wife," then that meant Fang Xiu was surely special, probably one of a kind. And in that way, maybe seeing a Specter wasn''t tied to one''s psychic skills.


    Still, Fang Xiu wasn''t sure. He wanted to find out more.


    Meanwhile, Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were also studying him.


    Their take on Fang Xiu was quite strange: Fang Xiu was super calm. Not the usual attitude of someone who''d met a Specter and lived to tell the tale.


    They''d met others who had faced Specters. Most were shaken up, and even if they turned psychic, they were unpredictable. Some ran away from officials like them, while some wanted to know more about Specters.


    But none were as calm and collected as Fang Xiu.


    Once they settled in the living room, Shen Lingxue said, "You don''t look shocked to see us. Did you know about the bureau before?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head and replied, "I didn''t know, but I figured that in a world with Specters around and no chaos everywhere, someone or something must be keeping things safe."


    "You''re right," Shen Lingxue said, a bit impressed. "But after seeing a Specter, most people aren''t as calm as you to think straight."


    "That''s right. Our Investigation Bureau looks into Specter troubles. We''re the official organization for people with psychic powers. We came today to learn about the Willow Hill Specter Zone and see if you might fit in our team. There are a lot of psychics out there, but only the Investigation Bureau has all the info, power, and items a psychic might need. So, think of this as your chance. Now, can you tell us about Willow Hill''s Specter Zone?"


    "Wait, before I tell you, can I ask something?" Fang Xiu wondered.


    Shen Lingxue''s face tightened slightly, "I''m the one with questions here."


    Li Wenhao jumped in, "Hold on, Shen. Fang Xiu just saw a Specter. He must be curious. Let''s answer him first. Then he can help us better."


    Shen Lingxue nodded slightly, showing she was okay with that.


    Li Wenhao grinned, "Ask whatever''s on your mind, Fang Xiu. You''re one of us now. As long as it''s not a big secret, shoot."


    Fang Xiu looked them over quickly, figuring some things out. He guessed Shen Lingxue had psychic powers, but Li Wenhao didn''t. People who had faced a Specter before had a different vibe. He could sense this with his new psychic skills.


    _''Is this how the Investigation Bureau works? One person with psychic powers and one without? That''s right Psychics can sometimes act weird because of Specters. Having someone normal around might help keep things bnced._ _Shen Lingxue seems a bit distant and confident. Is that her real self or because of Specters?''_


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t too worried about that. He wanted to learn about Specters.


    "So, first thing first, what exactly are Specters?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Li Wenhao gave a small smile, "A lot of people who''ve been in a Specter Zone ask that. But even our team doesn''t really know what Specters are. Where theye from, what they are, or what they want. At least, I don''t know the whole story."


    Li Wenhao continued, "Specters appear unpredictably and, most times, out of nowhere. What we''ve noticed is they aim to consume humans, specifically their souls or their spiritual essence. If I were to describe them, they''re like distorted souls, each with its own polluting force. They can take many forms. Some look alive with flesh and bones, some seem ghostly, and some are more like materialized ideas or concepts.


    "But all of them share a deep hate for humans. They seem to grow stronger by taking human souls. These Specters give off harmful energy, much like how radioactive things do. This energy can hurt a human''s spirit, cause negative feelings, and twist the soul.


    "If you''re a psychic now, it''s probably because you''ve been affected by a Specter."


    Fang Xiu nodded thoughtfully, "Then my next question is, how do you rate a psychic''s power?"

 Chapter 33: Have you seen my wife?

    Chapter 33: Have you seen my wife?


    "Oh?" Li Wenhao raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "It looks like you, Mr. Fang, have some knowledge about psychics."


    Rather than question how Fang Xiu came by his information, Li Wenhao decided to add more details. "Given that you know about psychics, I assume you''ve heard of Spiritual Energy. I won''t dive deep into that. The strength of a psychic is measured by how much of their psychic power is awakened.


    "For someone like you, Mr. Fang, who''s just discovered their abilities, the typical level of awakened psychic power is about one percent. We call this a first-tier psychic. This range goes from one to twenty percent and is marked by the early signs of abilities. As you gather more Spiritual Energy, these abilities can grow stronger.


    "Between twenty-one and forty percent, you''re in the second-tier, which means even more enhanced skills. And from forty-one to sixty percent, you reach the third-tier. I''m not clear on all the details of this level. After this, there are supposedly fourth and fifth tiers."


    "And what about when someone maxes out at a hundred percent of spiritual essence?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Li Wenhao shook his head. "That''s a mystery to me. As far as I know, no one has fully unlocked all their psychic power. The journey to awaken more and more of this power gets tougher. To boost their Spiritual Energy, a psychic must keep facing powerful Specters. These are high-risk battles, right on the edge of life and death. But as the Specters get stronger, the risks shoot up. So far, we haven''t seen a Specter mighty enough to unlock a full hundred percent of someone''s psychic power. There''s this fascinating rtionship between psychics and Specters. One grows stronger as the other does. But the Specters we know of now just aren''t strong enough to bring out super-powerful psychics. So, we don''t have any psychics at a hundred percent, and even those in the fifth-tier are just a theory. As for the fourth-tier, there are some whispers and tales in different ces. But it''s hard to separate fact from fiction. These individuals are almost mythical. Right now, the mightiest folks we know about are the third-tier psychics."


    "I have another question"


    Fang Xiu tried to ask another question, but Shen Lingxue cut him off with a hint of impatience. "Enough with the endless questions! Li Wenhao, just share the Specter forum link with him so he can do his own research."


    Somewhat hesitantly, Li Wenhao passed a web address to Fang Xiu. "This link takes you to a hidden part of the web. It''s the biggest Specter forum out there. You''ll find lots of basic info, but the juicy stuff? That''ll cost you. And as a reminderour bureau doesn''t oversee this forum since it''s international. While you''re there, be wary. Don''t get lured in by emails from unknown senders."


    Fang Xiu nodded, signaling that he had understood.


    Shen Lingxue, with a warning undertone in her voice, chimed in, "Now, it''s our turn. Describe every single thing that took ce at Willow Hill Specter Zone. Don''t even think about lying or leaving anything out. If your words cause irreparable harm, know that you''ll pay dearly."


    Rather than being ruffled by her menacing tone, Fang Xiu remainedposed. "Before we dive into that, I''ve got one more thing to ask."


    With her patience wearing thin, Shen Lingxue frowned, "Really? More questions?"


    Fang Xiu, undeterred by her impatience, gestured to his side, "Can you see my wife over here?"


    Shen Lingxue, who was on the verge of losing her temper, stopped cold. She scanned the vacant space beside Fang Xiu and then scoured the room. There was no sign of any wife.


    Li Wenhao echoed her confusion, "Fang Xiu, what are you talking about? ording to our files, you''re not married. In fact, you aren''t even dating anyone."


    "Can you really not see her, or are you pretending not to?" Fang Xiu shot back, his voice barely above a whisper.


    An unsettling tension filled the air.


    Li Wenhao felt an uneasy shiver. He wondered if Fang Xiu wasn''t quite right in the head. After all, how could an everyday person be this unperturbed after surviving a Specter Zone?


    Fang Xiu''s calm demeanor was unsettling. And now, he''s talking about a wife when he was clearly single. Li Wenhao spected that maybe Fang Xiu was more than just unstable; perhaps he was experiencing delusions.


    "Are you trying to mess with our heads?" Shen Lingxue spat out, visibly agitated.


    Fang Xiu looked at Shen Lingxue, sensing her genuine confusion. But he had an ace up his sleeve. He shifted his gaze to lock eyes with his wife, affirming, "Honey, I can see you."


    Suddenly, a voice filled with an overwhelming mix of joy and surprise echoed, "You can actually see me?"


    BANG!


    Both Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao sprang up, their faces a portrait of shock. Where there had been empty space just seconds ago, now stood a striking woman in a white, shimmering nightdress. But her once wless skin began to fracture, resembling delicate porcin. In an instant, her body was covered in countless dark cracks, making her appear like a fractured porcin statue.


    The sound of water dripping echoed from the ck crevices as thick blood resembling writhing leeches began to ooze out. The woman''s once smooth and lustrous hair transformed, taking on a life of its own; it writhed and coiled like a horde of serpents unleashed.


    Her lips stretched disturbingly wider than humanly possible, revealing jagged, saw-like teeth. Within that gaping maw, a second, even more grotesque mouth became discernible, as though she had swallowed another creature whole.


    "Specter!" Shen Lingxue''s voice pierced through the room in a mixture of terror and rage, "What have you done, Fang Xiu? Your wife is one of those vile Specters!"


    His brow tightening in confusion, Fang Xiu muttered, "So, you see her now?"


    It appeared that the moment he recognized her existence, she materialized from her Spectral realm into theirs, granting Shen Lingxue and the others the terrifying privilege of witnessing her. Memories resurfaced of a simr urrence at Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    At first, only Fang Xiu was privy to the unfolding horror, but as the hospital materialized in this world and merged with the office building, that nightmarish reality unfurled before everyone present.


    It brought him to a chilling conclusion: the ability to see these Specters wasn''t solely the domain of psychics. Whether one possessed psychic abilities or was just an ordinary human, these ghoulish entities remained veiled.


    Even if one argued that Zhao Hao''s inability stemmed from his weaker nature, it still didn''t ount for the fact that Shen Lingxue, who was no stranger to the supernatural, was simrly oblivious.


    _''Am I the sole witness to this Spectral nightmare?''_


    Dread filled Fang Xiu''s heart. No one would covet such a cursed gift. The thought of being constantly hounded by Specters, knowing that a mere nce in their direction could spell doom, was unbearable. It was akin to navigating a minefield, with every step potentially being hisst.


    With a disturbingly melodic giggle, the wife whispered, "Humans! Always so amusing!"


    Sensing the looming danger, Shen Lingxue responded with lightning reflexes. She syed her fingers, manipting the air around her, which promptly spiraled into two searing orbs of fire. The very atmosphere in the room became stifling, so intense that nearby drapes and furnishings caught alight, bearing witness to her fiery wrath.


    In a fluid, practiced motion, Shen Lingxue propelled the twin fireballs with deadly precision toward the haunting apparition of Fang Xiu''s "wife." "

 Chapter 34: Dont I Have To Pay for This?

    Chapter 34: Don''t I Have To Pay for This?


    BOOM!


    Bright mes exploded around the "wife," but in a quick sh, they were gone, as if doused by a bucket of icy water. She stood there with not even a scratch.


    "What?!" Shen Lingxue''s eyes grew huge with shock. "How did she...? We need to get out of here, now!"


    As she tried to escape the overpowering Specter, the "wife" gracefully waved her pale hand.


    Suddenly, it was like the air itself twisted. Before they could react, Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao''s heads cleanly came off, the cut looking smooth like a perfect slice of cake.


    WHOOSH!


    Without wasting a second, Fang Xiu dove toward their bodies, urgently rummaging through their belongings.


    "What are you looking for, dear?" The "wife" whispered softly into Fang Xiu''s ear.


    He didn''t answer her but kept searching for something crucial. Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in him, making everything go blurry as he felt himself slipping away.


    Night came, with stars shining brightly.


    Fang Xiu found himself standing at his house''s entrance. This was right after he had gotten away from the Green Mountain Mental Hospital and came home.


    "Hmm? I''m back at this moment again. So, escaping from that hospital was his save point. Until the next scary Specter thing happens, I''ll keeping back to this point, I guess.


    So, those agents will be here at 8:40 a.m. tomorrow. I should show them what I can do."


    With this n in mind, Fang Xiu, now knowing about the Investigation Bureau, thought about using their help. It wasn''t like he could take on every Specter in the world on his own. He needed backup.


    BANG!


    He opened his front door, walked right by his wife, and went straight to his room. He turned on hisputer to check out the global Specter website.


    This was the website that Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao had told him about. He remembered the website''s address. When he opened the site, a huge, creepy skull took up almost the whole screen. After a bit, it faded, revealing a deep red homepage. The site had different areas: Western, Asian, Japan/Korea, and Local. Each had topics like Specter, Psychic, Specter Gadgets, and Prizes.


    Curious, Fang Xiu quickly went through the topics. Maybe they had answers about what was going on with these Specters. The site might not have all the answers, but it might help him find out stuff faster. But, when he clicked on a topic about where Specters came from, a message appeared.


    "Not enough credits. Please add more."


    Fang Xiu quickly spotted a long line of zeros at the end of the post.


    Doing a quick mental math, he realized that he''d need a whopping million to see this post. And with just a small amount in his savings, Fang Xiu felt his spirits drop.


    As he checked other posts, he saw that even the cheaper ones cost ten or twenty thousand. The price for posts with secret info? They shot up into the millions, and some even tens of millions.


    "Is this a site for rich psychics?" Fang Xiu thought with a frown.


    This made him even more eager to pretend he could predict the future. If he could make people believe he had this skill, he might make some money. Without it, he couldn''t even afford to look at most of the posts here.


    He decided to check out the basic topics in the Local section. Most of these posts sharedmon info, mixed in with some gossip or people showing off.


    A post that was trending caught his eye. It was titled, "I''ve Awakened the Power to Control Time."


    "The power to control time?" Fang Xiu felt a pang of worry. If people could actually do this, his pretend future-predicting might lose its shine.


    He opened the post and started reading, "It was a super dark and stormy night, full of loud thunder and bright lightning, and the moon looked all creepy and red."


    After going through a lot of fancy words and storytelling, the end of the post read, "So, now I have the power to control time. But it''s not like in movies. I call my power''Wasting Time!'' Like, you just spent five minutes reading this and wasted your time."


    A bunch ofments popped up under the post:


    "Seriously?!"


    "I can''t believe I fell for that!"


    "We should all upvote so others get tricked, too!"


    CLICK!


    Fang Xiu closed the post, trying not to feel too annoyed.


    He made a mental note of the writer''s nameSailor Moon. He thought he might need to remember that forter.


    _''So, is this what you get when you don''t have the money to pay?''_


    Taking a deep breath, Fang Xiu kept on searching. After about an hour, he found some legit posts by the official Investigation Bureau. These were good stuffreal and useful.


    They had ideas about where Specters came from, facts about psychics, and what Specter Gadgets were.


    He clicked on a random post and got lost in reading.


    All night, Fang Xiu learned about Specters and psychics. But it wasn''t because there was loads of great info. No, he had to wade through a bunch of pointless posts, misleading headlines, and posts just wasting time. Those slowed him down a lot.


    By the time morning light peeked in, Fang Xiu turned off hisputer, feeling like he had a good start on understanding it all.


    Specters, or these ghostly creatures, had different danger levels. They were ranked from most dangerous to least as S, A, B, C, and D.


    Just because a Specter wasn''t powerful on its own didn''t mean it wasn''t dangerous. What mattered was how much harm it could cause.


    For example, there was this Specter from another country called "gue." On its own, it wasn''t that tough. If someone found its weak spot and protected themselves properly, even someone with basic psychic powers could beat it.


    But here''s the catch: this Specter could spread a deadly disease that might wipe out millions. That was why it wasbeled as an A-ss Specter.


    An A-ss Specter? It could quickly wipe out a big city if no one stopped it.


    The really scary S-ss Specters? They had the power to destroy an entire country in the blink of an eye.


    Most of the time, the more dangerous a Specter was, the stronger it became. But sometimes, like with the gue, there were exceptions.


    No one knew where these Specters came from. There were old stories, but they were mostly just guesses and myths. Some people thought the magical folks from the old tales might have been the first psychics.


    Strangely, for a long while, there were no stories about these mysterious folks or Specters. It was like they just vanished. Then, not too long ago, stories about Specters started popping up again. And there was this big gap, almost 100 years, where no one knew why there were no Specter stories.


    The free parts of the forum didn''t give any answers about this mystery.


    It was also weird because Specters just seemed to appear out of nowhere without any rhyme or reason.


    In the beginning, only a few Specters would show up here and there around the world. But as time passed, more and more of these ghostly beings appeared."

 Chapter 35: Fang Xius Special Power to See the Future

    Chapter 35: Fang Xiu''s Special Power to See the Future


    _''After staying up all night scrolling through posts, it looks like I''m the only person who sees these ghostly Specters everywhere. Why am I the only one who can see them all the time?''_


    Fang Xiu thought hard about this. From what he read on the forum, these Specters just popped up randomly from nowhere. But Fang Xiu knew they were always around; it was like they shifted into his world when certain things happened.


    To anyone else, it would just seem like they appeared out of the blue.


    _''The stuff on this forum for free is kinda basic. I need to get some money and level up my skills!''_


    He started to remember the beginner''s tips he had read about controlling spiritual energy. The basics were about how to quickly tap into this energy and the daily practices for it. They were helpful but not super detailed.


    The coolest part for Fang Xiu was when he learned about Specter Gadgets.


    So, a Specter Gadget was like a tool or object with some Specter power. Some are weapons, like knives or swords, but others might be everyday things, like shiny mirrors or cool bracelets.


    No matter what they looked like, these gadgets had amazing Specter powers inside of them. They were rare and could be really expensivesome even went for hundreds of millions of dors!


    But there''s a catch to using these Specter Gadgets. The stronger the gadget is, the more it might mess with one''s spirit or soul, like how radiation was bad for people. If a psychic used it too much, it could mess them up, and they could end up like a Specter.


    When Fang Xiu read about these gadgets, he instantly thought of the special scalpel he had. It had to be a Specter Gadget. It had sliced through tons of Specters and had been soaked up with its power, making it into this unique Specter Gadget.


    He wasn''t too worried about the whole soul-changing thing from using a Specter Gadget. His spirit and his soul, he thought, were already pretty messed up. That meant he could use these special gadgets without stressing about any bad side effects.


    The posts also talked about how to use these Specter Gadgets. To get them started, one had to put some spiritual energy into them, which turned their power on.


    But if someone wanted to totally control a Specter Gadget, they''d have to connect deeply with its center using some spiritual energy. This created a bond. It was like in those stories where magical weapons pick who got to use them.


    However, getting a Specter Gadget to really bond with oneself was risky. When people connected with it, their mental world would be opened wide. Every time they use it after that, its negative effects could go straight to their soul, resulting in a higher risk of transforming.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu nced at the clock. It was already 5 a.m., and the Investigation Bureau agents would be at his door in just a bit over three hours.


    "I think I''ve got just enough time," he muttered. He pulled out his special scalpel, focused his spiritual energy, and tried to connect deeply with the tool.


    Slowly, it felt like Fang Xiu''s mind was diving into a deep darkness. In this void, he could sense many angry Specters all around, as if they were attacking his thoughts.


    Waves of hate, aggression, and sadness tried to pull him in, aiming to change his spirit into something scary and dark.


    But Fang Xiu''s spirit was deep and unending. It soaked up these negative feelings without any pushback, his face calm and undisturbed.


    The scalpel''s goal was to mess with Fang Xiu''s soulBut what if his soul was already kind of messed up? It was like trying to hurt someone: if they were already gone, how could you harm them more?


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Fang Xiu whispered calmly.


    Then, he focused his spiritual energy on making a special mark inside the scalpel, making a bond between them in an instant.


    Pulling his energy back, he was surprised to see it felt even more powerful!


    It had grown by a tiny bit, so now his spiritual energy was at two percent.


    _''It looks like the scalpel''s magic has unlocked some of my spiritual energy,''_ he thought, feeling pretty good about the scalpel.


    Besides the boost in his energy, he also figured out the real powers of the scalpel.


    The scalpel had two amazing skills. The basic one was cutting, and it got stronger based on how much spiritual energy one put into it. The other skill was using the Specter magic inside it to make someone stronger.


    But, because the scalpel had a lot of Specter power, this added strength was wild and unpredictable. Using it could make the user lose control, and it would also be incredibly taxing on the body. Doing it too much might even change the userpletely.


    Luckily, Fang Xiu wasn''t scared of losing his mind; he was more focused on how much his body could handle.


    Looking at the clock, it was already past seven.


    Breakfast time!


    He left his room, thinking of what he''d eat for breakfast.


    His "wife" approached him with a soft and loving smile, saying, "Honey, breakfast is ready."


    Fang Xiu walked right through her, heading to make breakfast. He made a simple me fried egg, two pieces of toast, and a cold ss of milk.


    As Fang Xiu was enjoying his meal, his phone buzzed. Zhao Hao was calling.


    "Xiu! Xiu! Guess what? I found out what my power is!" Zhao Hao sounded super excited on the line.


    "Mmm, does it have something to do with your name?" Fang Xiu guessed, taking a bite of his toast, his expression calm.


    "Whoa, how did you know?" Zhao Hao sounded shocked.


    Fang Xiu didn''t say anything; he just kept eating._ ''Why answer when the answer is so clear?''_


    After a moment, Zhao Hao realized, "Did you... see iting?"


    "Mmm I wouldn''t use ''it'' per say."


    "Ugh, that''s so unfair! I wanted to surprise you, but you already knew. There''s a downside to your power, Xiu. You''ll never get a real surprise ever again."


    "I gotta go. I''m expecting visitors soon."


    "Hold on, don''t"


    CLICK!


    Fang Xiu ended the call and went back to his breakfast.


    Outside his home, on top of a fancy ck car, Li Wenhao, who was secretly listening in, looked shocked. The little listening gadget he had slipped from his hand, making a clear noise when it hit the ground.


    Shen Lingxue, sitting beside him, looked worried. "What happened?"


    Returning to his senses, Li Wenhao said, "I found out Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao''s powers!"


    "Really?" Shen Lingxue looked intrigued. "Tell me about Zhao Hao first."


    "Zhao Hao''s ability has something to do with his sexual capability."


    Shen Lingxue looked grim. "Wow, didn''t expect that."


    "It''s not about Zhao Hao. It''s Fang Xiu''s power that''s the big deal!" Li Wenhao quickly exined.


    "So, what can Fang Xiu do?"


    Shen Lingxue leaned in, looking even more alert. She knew Li Wenhao wasn''t easily scared. He''d met tons of people with special powers and even some Specters. It had to be something big to shake him.


    "He can see the future," Li Wenhao said, his voice full of worry."

 Chapter 36: I See The Future

    Chapter 36: I See The Future


    "Wait, what!?" Shen Lingxue''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you for real? Fang Xiu can actually see into the future?"


    Li Wenhao nodded thoughtfully. "Our equipment is top-notch. Remember, Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao were just regr guys until recently. So, the chances they figured out we were spying on them are slim. That means they weren''t just pretending on the phone. And Fang Xiu mentioned something else."


    He took a deep breath, looking even more serious.


    "Well, what did he say?" Shen Lingxue pressed.


    "He said he''s expecting visitors soon."


    "Visitors? You don''t think he means..."


    The two of them looked at each other, their faces clearly showing they both had the same shocking revtion.


    Li Wenhao slowly shared his thoughts. "Considering Fang Xiu doesn''t have many friends, and since he''s an orphan with no family popping by, I think he''s talking about us."


    Shen Lingxue was quiet for a moment, lost in thought.


    Then she whispered, "Is it even possible for someone to see the future? And if it''s real, someone like Fang Xiu shouldn''t have such a powerful ability."


    Li Wenhao nodded. "Right. Usually, the better the power, the bigger the catch. Remember that guy who could teleport? As a first-tier psychic, he could only teleport about ten cm for one time. And after that, he''d be super tired and need an hour to rest. That''s like, slower than a snail. He''d have to be way stronger to be really good at teleporting. If Fang Xiu can see the future, and he''s still pretty new at this, he might only get glimpses of seconds ahead. But he knew we wereing. How long has it been since he made that call?"


    "We should be careful," Shen Lingxue warned. "It might just be a lucky guess, or someone might''ve tipped him off."


    Li Wenhao had a sudden idea. "What if we just don''t go today? Wouldn''t that prove his prediction wrong?"


    Shen Lingxue looked at him like he''d lost his mind. "Our job is to scope out Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao. Are you going to bail just because of one call? What would you tell Director Wang? What if this is some sort of trap from Fang Xiu? Do you really want to be the joke of the office?"


    "If Fang Xiu really has this power to see the future, think about how game-changing he''d be in the Investigation Bureau," Shen Lingxue added.


    Li Wenhao chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, I was just thinking out loud. I wonder if his power was the real deal. Of course, we''re gonna meet him."


    "Let''s move." Shen Lingxue said, swinging open the car door. The wind yed with her hair, making some strands stick to her face. "I need to see for myself if this future-seeing thing is legit."


    They both got out and headed to Fang Xiu''s ce. When they got to his door on the fifth floor, they noticed it was already open just a little. They looked at each other, unsure if Fang Xiu was expecting them or had just forgotten to close his door.


    Walking in, they found a tall, calm-looking dude brewing tea. It was Fang Xiu. And get this: three tea cups were set out. One for Fang Xiu, and the other two waiting for the guests. The cups had steaming out of them.


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were shocked. Was Fang Xiu really seeing the future, or did he have secret cameras or something?


    Then Fang Xiu broke the silence. "Miss Shen, Mr. Li, grab a seat."


    Their jaws dropped even further. They had never met Fang Xiu. Plus, they worked in a top-secret job, so there was no way a random guy like Fang Xiu would know their names.


    Trying to stay calm, Shen Lingxue took a seat and gave Fang Xiu a hard stare. "Who told you our names? And how''d you know we''d show up?"


    Without missing a beat and ignoring her hard stare, Fang Xiu just said, "I see the future."


    Fang Xiu''s bold statement made Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao''s eyes go wide with amazement.


    Even though Shen Lingxue was taken aback, she wasn''t buying it entirely. "So, you say you can see the future? Prove it."


    "You both work for the Investigation Bureau. You''re here to look into the incident at Willow Hill Specter Zone and also to see if Zhao Hao and I have any special skills worth joining your team," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    "Come on, Mr. Fang. Just because you know that doesn''t mean you see the future. Anyone who knows about the Bureau could guess that," Li Wenhao said, unconvinced.


    Without taking his eyes off Li Wenhao, Fang Xiu spoke, "You have feelings for Shen Lingxue, don''t you? You even wrote her a letter. It''s in the pocket of your jacket. It says, ''Lingxue, if you''re reading this, I might be gone. There''s something I''ve wanted to tell you for so long''"


    "Hey, stop right there!" Li Wenhao cut Fang Xiu off, his face beet-red.


    Shen Lingxue looked at him, shocked.


    Trying to clear things up, Li Wenhao said, "Look, Shen, he''s just making stuff up. I never wrote a letter like that. I mean"


    "It''s okay," Shen Lingxue tried to make him feel better. "I''ve gotten a lot of letters from guys before. It''s not a big deal. But saying you''d only tell me after something bad might happen to you on the job? Didn''t see that oneing. Either way, this ''us'' is not happening."


    Li Wenhao got even more embarrassed. "I was just"


    "Well, do you have the letter? Let me see," Shen Lingxue asked.


    "I... uh..."


    "Just hand it over. I want to see if Fang Xiu was right."


    Li Wenhao, looking defeated, took out an envelope from his jacket. Shen Lingxue grabbed it, quickly reading the first few lines. Her eyes widened even more. The letter''s content was exactly what Fang Xiu had said.


    She returned the letter to Li Wenhao and then looked right at Fang Xiu. "Li Wenhao isn''t the type to show this letter around. But knowing what''s in it doesn''t mean you see the future. After all, he wrote that in the past."

 Chapter 37: This Isnt Predicting the Future, Its Clearly X-ray Vision!

    Chapter 37: This Isn''t Predicting the Future, It''s Clearly X-ray Vision!


    Facing the curious and somewhat suspicious looks, Fang Xiu continued to exin with a certain air of confidence, "Miss Shen, your special ability is to control and manipte mes, and your body measurements are 85, 63, 80."


    Shen Lingxue''s face instantly changed to a shade that clearly showed her difort. "My ability isn''t a well-guarded secret. People who have had a bit of interaction with the psychicmunity might have picked up on it. As for the measurements, well, anyone could make a good guess by just looking, but not many can guess as precisely as you did."


    "Miss Shen, you hold a secret others aren''t aware of. Would you like me to reveal it?" Fang Xiu asked teasingly.


    Li Wenhao perked up, his interest clearly piqued.


    "Go ahead and speak. I assure you, I don''t have any secrets that cannot be uncovered." Shen Lingxue dered, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance.


    "Miss Shen, you greatly adore the color pink. All your underwear and inner garments are in shades of pink, and you even sport a pink tattoo..." Fang Xiu ventured further, his voice trailing a bit.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, a fierce ze erupted from Shen Lingxue''s delicate hand, instantly sending a wave of blistering heat across the entire vicinity.


    Her face was a mixture of extreme embarrassment and anger as she eximed, "You are not predicting the future. It''s in to see that this is x-ray vision! You and Zhao Hao are alike. Neither of you have any good intentions!"


    Facing the furious mes head-on, Fang Xiu spoke calmly, "Firstly, allow me to rify: the power to foresee the future isn''t quite how you picture it, where I can understand and see every event that will unfold in the future willingly.


    "Sometimes, it''s just fragmented images thate to me. For instance,st night, I witnessed snippets of both of you making your way here, and I used a bit of my spiritual energy to focus and foresee both of your actions.


    "I glimpsed a few scenes involving both of you, gathering some tidbits of information. I saw Mr. Li engrossed in reading a love letterte into the night, and I observed Miss Shen carefully organizing her underwear at her home."


    The mes that Shen Lingxue conjured slowly started to subside, but the annoyance and mistrust remained in her eyes. A nagging suspicion lingered that Fang Xiu might have witnessed more than he let on, especially considering where that tattoo was situated...


    "What you are saying right now cannot be verified. This isn''t true foresight," she retorted, sounding skeptical.


    "So, in your opinion, what would be considered genuine foresight of the future?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Shen Lingxue responded, "Predict tonight''s winning lottery number."


    epting her challenge, Fang Xiu picked up a paper and pen, scribbled down a series of numbers attentively, and handed them to Shen Lingxue.


    She inspected the numbers scribbled on the paper, her expression filled with doubt and suspicion.


    "Miss Shen, I''d like to caution you beforehand that the future isn''t set in stone. Every little decision we make now can alter the future pathways. For example, if you use your influential position in the Investigative Bureau to modify today''s lottery numbers, then obviously, the numbers I just wrote won''t be the winning ones.


    "Therefore, if you genuinely want to test the validity of these numbers, avoid taking any steps that could potentially manipte the future, and most certainly do not buy a ticket based on them," Fang Xiu remarked, his expression unchanging, projecting a facade of absolute certainty, as if he truly had a glimpse of the forting events.


    But in truth, this was all a fabricated story. His strategy was to turn back time after watching the night''s lottery results.


    Observing Fang Xiu''s unwavering confidence, Shen Lingxue found herself swaying towards belief, albeit with a sprinkle of skepticism.


    She, however, couldn''t fully suppress her doubts and voiced them, "Fang Xiu, I sincerely hope you''re telling the truth. If I discover that the numbers didn''t win, which would mean you deceived me, then you"


    Interrupting her mid-sentence, Fang Xiu dered boldly, "If they don''t win, I''m willing to bet my life on it."


    This deration left Shen Lingxue momentarily speechless, not anticipating Fang Xiu to exhibit such resolute confidence.


    At this point, Li Wenhao leaned in to inspect the numbers more closely. After scrutinizing them briefly, he couldn''t help but express his surprise.


    "Wait a minute! This isn''t urate! Aren''t lottery numbers supposed to be a seven-digitbination? Why have you penned down only six here?"


    "What?! Are you sure it''s seven digits?" Shen Lingxue asked, her skepticism mounting.


    "I''mpletely sure; I''ve done the lottery many times before."


    Immediately, Shen Lingxue''s demeanor changed to one of irritation, "Fang Xiu, you''re clearly trying to fool me! The lottery consists of seven digits, but you wrote down only six. There''s no way this could win!"


    To their amazement, Fang Xiu casually strolled over, picked up the pen, and added a "1" to the end of the six-digit string with a casual flick of his wrist.


    He ced the pen down and addressed the visibly startled duo, "My apologies. It seems I forgot to jot down one number earlier. Now it''s rectified. These will indeed be tonight''s winning numbers."


    Witnessing how rxed and assured Fang Xiu was, both Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao felt somewhat insulted, as though he was making a mockery of their intelligence.


    Truth be told, over his lifetime, Fang Xiu hadn''t done much in lottery purchases.


    Unconvinced, Shen Lingxue challenged, "If you really possess the ability to foresee the future, how could you omit a number?"


    Maintaining hisposure, Fang Xiu replied, "Your role now is to patiently wait, not to cast doubts. Once the truth unveils itself, all doubt will dissolve."


    At this, Shen Lingxue countered sharply, "If you genuinely can see the future, there shouldn''t be a need to wait for the lottery announcement. You should be fully capable of predicting my very next move."


    Fang Xiu replied calmly, "You must understand, as a first-tier psychic, I don''t have the luxury of predicting the future at will. And why should I feel obligated to validate my abilities to you?


    "If I prove myself to you now, won''t I then be expected to demonstrate my powers to higher officials in the bureau? I simply foresee certain events; I''m not all-knowing or all-powerful."


    Shen Lingxue''s face reddened with frustration, "You"


    Seeing the situation escting, Li Wenhao intervened, "Shen, let''s not jump to conclusions. By tonight, the lottery results will give us our answers. Mr. Fang, could you share more about what happened in the Willow Hill Specter Zone?"


    Nodding, Fang Xiu rified, "That so-called Specter Zone is known as the Green Mountain Mental Hospital."


    Li Wenhao''s brow furrowed in confusion, "Green Mountain Mental Hospital?"


    Shen Lingxue retorted coldly, "Deciding the names for the Specter Zones falls under the jurisdiction of the investigative bureau."


    Choosing to ignore Shen Lingxue''sment, Fang Xiu continued, "The Green Mountain Mental Hospital manifested suddenly, taking the ce of the Willow Hill sales office. By the time we became aware of it, everyone was already trapped within the confines of the mental hospital."


    Li Wenhao probed, "How can you be so certain it''s a mental institution?"


    Fang Xiu responded, "The environment resembled a hospital, and I distinctly remember a signboard that read ''Green Mountain Mental Hospital.''"


    Fang Xiu then narrated the incidents that transpired inside the Specter Zone. He was wise with the details, understanding that as a first-tier psychic with the unique power of foresight, he had to exercise caution with what he revealed. He left out details regarding the surgical knifea rare Specter Gadget, knowing that its mention could stir unwantedplications.


    After patiently listening, both Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao appeared pensive.


    Shen Lingxue, clinging to her previous stance, asked, "Fang Xiu, are you suggesting that within this Willow Hill Specter Zone, besides the doctor Specter and the dream-weaver Specter, there could be additional Specters lurking? Did you see this in your future vision?"


    She stubbornly referred to the Green Mountain Mental Hospital as the Willow Hill Specter Zone, much to Fang Xiu''s amusement.


    He thought to himself that psychics, by their nature, sometimes had entric personalities, and Shen Lingxue was no exception.


    Compared to other psychics, Shen Lingxue was rtively well-adjusted. She didn''t exhibit any violent tendencies. Instead, her quirksy in her arrogance, quick temper, stubbornness, slight pettiness, skepticism, and dismissiveness.


    But these were merely minor imperfections in Fang Xiu''s eyes. Nothing too rming."

 Chapter 38: Weakness And Ignorance

    Chapter 38: Weakness And Ignorance


    "I haven''t had any visions of that specifically. Given my current Spiritual Energy, I could only foresee one event: choosing the right direction at a fork in the road. At that moment, when faced with two potential routes, I witnessed two very different scenarios.


    "In one, there was a safe and correct path, where both Zhao Hao and I managed to escape sessfully, evading the Specter that controlled the dream realm. In contrast, the other path presented a much darker future where countless wards lined the corridor, all their doors firmly shut, with an overwhelmingly terrifying presence of Specters emanating from each one.


    "A few doors were ajar, revealing a grim fate where both Zhao Hao and I were captured and ultimately met our end at the hands of the ''doctor.'' From these visions, I gathered that there must be at least dozens of Specters within the Green Mountain Mental Hospital."


    "Dozens of Specters?!" Li Wenhao couldn''t hide his shock, his voice rising significantly. "Mr. Fang, are you absolutely certain?"


    Fang Xiu simply nodded. "I trust my instincts. They haven''t misled me so far."


    However, Shen Lingxue couldn''t contain her disbelief and scoffed openly, "Fang Xiu, are you even aware of the gravity of your statement? Globally, we have witnessed numerous Specter incidents, yet there has never been a case where a single Specter Zone housed dozens of Specters!


    "Usually, a Specter Zone is home to a singr Specter, which forms the basis of that zone. While there have been instances where other Specters have wandered into a zone or zones merging together, having dozens of Specters congregating in one ce, as you''ve described, is simply preposterous.


    "Specters are not social beings like humans; they struggle to coexist peacefully. Consequently, if your vision was urate, those entities are likely not Specters but Specter ves. These beings, often humans or animals controlled by Specters after their demise, are numerous but generallyck strength. It''s quite possible that in your fear and unfamiliarity with Specters, you confused these Specter ves for actual Specters."


    Fang Xiu remained undeterred, responding calmly, "I understand that it might be difficult to grasp what I''m conveying. Your role is to just report the information as I provide it, truthfully."


    Having visited global Specter forums, Fang Xiu was well-acquainted with the concept of Specter ves, which reinforced his certainty that the beings in the wards were genuine Specters.


    Nheless, he chose not to engage further with Shen Lingxue, avoiding excessive exnation. It could expose his lie about his foresight abilities. Considering her obstinate nature, it would be difficult to reason with her.


    He firmly believed that as long as the report was honest, the superior authorities would discern the truth.


    Shen Lingxue couldn''t hold back a mocking smile as she retorted, "Oh, at my level, you say? Just how many Specter incidents have you, a greenhorn psychic, actually encountered? Do you think your mere assertion that they are Specters makes it so? I don''t think you''ve ever seen a Specter ve in reality, have you?"


    Unfazed, Fang Xiu leisurely sipped his tea before replying, "Weakness and ignorance are not barriers to survival, but arrogance is."


    As the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly strained, Li Wenhao felt the urgency to intervene, trying to steer the conversation to safer grounds.


    "Mr. Fang, correct me if I''m wrong, but up until yesterday, you were just an ordinary person, weren''t you? Despite that, you seem quite familiar with terms like Specter Zone and psychic, as evident from our discussion. May I ask how did you get such extensive knowledge about Specters and the psychic realm? Was this information also obtained through your foresight abilities?"


    "The Global Specter forum." Fang Xiu said calmly.


    "Yes, it was your future self who told me about it."


    Li Wenhao found this hard to believe. "My future self?"


    He reeled in his shock and said, "Mr. Fang, having the power to see the future is very important to the Investigation Bureau. We would like you toe to the bureau with us today."


    "Hmm." Fang Xiu set the teacup down and stood up to walk to the door.


    An hourter.


    Fang Xiu arrived at the Investigation Bureau.


    The bureau was situated in a hidden underground facility.


    But surprisingly, there were quite a few Specters in there. These Specters aimlessly wandered around the bureau, and nobody seemed to be aware of their presence.


    Seeing this made Fang Xiu even more convinced that other psychics couldn''t see the Specters openly walking around in public; only he could see them. Otherwise, the bureau responsible for managing Specter situations wouldn''t have so many free-roaming Specters.


    Soon, he was guided to sit in the waiting area, while Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao went to brief the head of the bureau.


    In the bureau chief''s office.


    Wang Dehai was seated in his office chair, enjoying tea while hearing the two''s update.


    However, as their briefing continued, Wang Dehai''s tea was now forgotten, and his previously tranquil face grew increasingly astounded.


    "Are you certain he saw the future?" Wang Dehai asked with a hint of disbelief.


    Li Wenhao confirmed with a serious tone: "Yes, Fang Xiu truly predicted that we would locate him, and he even knew our names and some details."


    Shen Lingxue also confirmed by nodding.


    Both chose not to bring up the incident with the love letter and the pink obsession.


    After thinking about it, Wang Dehai asked, "Besides the two of you, does anyone else know about his ability to foresee the future?"


    "Zhao Hao, who escaped the Specter Zone with Fang Xiu, is aware of it too," one of them mentioned.


    "Hmm, whether this is true, let''s keep it ssified for now. Ask Zhao Hao to maintain secrecy as well. The potential of being able to see into the future is a serious matter. If verified, no details should leak out at any cost. Got it?"


    "Understood!"


    "What about the lottery numbers?"


    "Here."


    Li Wenhao promptly handed over a piece of paper with the lottery winning numbers noted down to Wang Dehai.


    After scrutinizing it briefly, Wang Dehai remarked, "Correctly predicting the lottery numbers doesn''t definitively prove foresight abilities. It''s usible that Fang Xiu arranged for individuals at the lottery event to manipte the oue. Li Wenhao, attend to this urgently. Assign two reliable individuals to conduct the draw tonight, ensuring the results are entirely random."


    "Yes, Director Wang." Li Wenhao hastened to manage the lottery situation.


    Then, Wang Dehai addressed Shen Lingxue.


    "Lingxue, as an experienced psychic, what is your opinion on Fang Xiu''s credibility?"


    Although dissatisfied with Fang Xiu''s demeanor, Shen Lingxue responded honestly, "I can''t be certain. Even though Fang Xiu omitted one number initially, he remained exceedinglyposed, disying no traces of fear. If he''s faking it, he''s a master of controlling his emotions. Furthermore, hecks a motive to mislead us. Predicting the future is unlike other abilities; deceit can be uncovered easily. He might trick us once, but repeating it is unlikely. Yet, I feel that Fang Xiu might not be truthful."


    "Oh? What leads you to think so?"


    "A woman''s intuition."


    Wang Dehai was at a loss for word.


    He sipped his tea and said, "The truth can''t be fabricated, and falsehoods cannot transform into reality. Everything wille to light when the lottery takes ce tonight. It''s unfortunate that he is just a budding psychic with limited spiritual energy; otherwise, we could perform more varied tests. By the way, did he also mention the presence of numerous Specters at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital?"


    "

 Chapter 39: Fang Xiu, A Righteous Man?

    Chapter 39: Fang Xiu, A Righteous Man?


    At this moment, Shen Lingxue''s lips shaped into a sly smile. "Director Wang, you aren''t really taking his words seriously, right? Across the globe, no Specter Zone can contain dozens of Specters at once. Fang Xiu is just a rookie. If he really has the power to see the future and saw numerous Specters, it could only mean that he spotted Specter ves manipted by other Specters. When scared out of your wits, even a small shift can seem greatly erged."


    Then she continued, "Based on my assessment, within the entire stretch of Willow Hill Specter Zone, there might only be a pair of Specters. If there were many, Fang Xiu would not have escaped with his life, even boasting knowledge of everything. One takes on the role of the ''doctor,'' which I proposed to bebeled ''Specter Physician.'' The Specter terminates people close by, targeting one victim at a time, holding off on the next move until the current one is finished. From the details, the Specter Physician''s level should be a D-ss Specter."


    At that, Shen Lingxue took a sip of tea. "The second one maniptes dreams, which I proposed to be called ''Nightmare.'' Its lethal tactics involve taking lives within dreams, dragging people into nightmares where various spooky beings intensify their fears, leading to death once overwhelmed by fear.


    "Conversely, if they remain fearless, the damage inflicted by ''Nightmare'' might be even lesserpared to the Specter Physician, possiblycking physical assault capabilities. Given its distinct nature and the threat it poses, I rmended it be designated as a C-ss Specter.


    "After all, the Specter Physician doesn''t have the capability to wipe out arge group of people at once, while Nightmare can trap many people in dreams at the same time. Thus, considering that Willow Hill is a set Specter Zone and the number of people living nearby is scant, assigning a Grade C danger level seems reasonable."


    "How frightening can the dreams crafted by Nightmare be?" Wang Dehai wondered aloud.


    Shen Lingxue nonchntly admired her freshly done nails,menting quite casually, "How scary can they get? Just enough to frighten the average person, nothing more. Fang Xiu has already developed strong mental resilience, and since he anticipated ''Nightmare''s'' tricks, understanding it''s all make-believe, he surely won''t be frightened.


    "As for Zhao Hao, a shy and lustful man, he managed to lessen his fears by watching adult videos, thus making it through alive. This illustrates that even a novice like him can endure Nightmare, not to mention a skilled psychic who has dealt with multiple Specter incidents before. Nightmare''s abilities are well-suited for surprise assaults, but once people realize that it''s all a facade, its threat level might even fall below Specter Physician.


    Wang Dehai agreed, putting faith in Shen Lingxue''s analysis as she is a proficient psychic acquainted with many Specter incidents.


    "I concur with the chosen codenames. Create profiles for the Specter Physician and Nightmare. As for the strategy concerning the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone, we will devise it after this evening''s lottery event. If his prediction fails, it suggests a w in Fang Xiu''s ount, and we should question his ims. Gathering such detailed information without the ability to predict the future implies the involvement of a significant force supporting him, potentially plotting against our bureau. Now, bring Fang Xiu here. I need to talk with him."


    Shen Lingxue was surprised. "Director Wang, you want to talk to Fang Xiu? This is going against the protocols. We are still unaware of Fang Xiu''s true abilities. What if he is supported by a civilian group intending to breach the bureau while pretending he can see the future? Plus, he hasn''t undergone a mental cleanliness test. We are unsure of the potential risks if he spirals out of control. For safety reasons, maybe the captain should handle it."


    Wang Dehai shook his head, rejecting the idea. "Captain Yang isn''t in the bureau at the moment; he''s on the trail of the Head Specter."


    "And the vice-captain?"


    Wang Dehai grinned. "He went with him."


    Shen Lingxue was stunned. "They can actually work together?"


    "Do you really think they can? They are in a race against each other, each following their own paths to determine who can resolve the case first.


    Shen Lingxue found herself lost for words.


    _''Is this the ridiculous rivalry between guys? A captain and a deputy, both acting so immature, treating a serious Specter situation like some sort of game?''_


    "Okay, go and get Fang Xiu. If we get him here, he can''t cause much of a fuss, even if he has ulterior motives."


    Seeing Wang Dehai''s resolve, Shen Lingxue felt she had no other option but to obey. However, she added, "I will first make sure he goes through the psychic cleanliness test, and if he clears that, then I will bring him here."


    Having said that, Shen Lingxue briskly walked away.


    Wang Dehai found himself briefly surprised, before breaking into a quiet chuckle.


    He realized that this was Shen Lingxue''s way of looking out for him. But as the boss, it was a bit annoying that his instructions couldn''t be carried out without hups. Nevertheless, he had be ustomed to it; overseeing psychics as someone without those powers was just like that.


    In the rxation area, Shen Lingxue ced a specialized Spiritual Energy lie-detecting device in front of Fang Xiu.


    She held a list of test questions in her graceful hand.


    "Now, we are going to perform a psychic cleanliness test on you. This is a Spiritual Energy lie detector, not like the regr ones. It identifies lies by noticing changes in Spiritual Energy. Common lie detectors can be tricked by folks with special training, but no one can fool this Spiritual Energy lie detector. Spiritual Energy is a reflection of the soul, and any mismatch between what you feel and what you say will set off an rm, so please respond honestly without any lies. Every newbie psychic must go through this test. The bureau doesn''t let psychics with high levels of psychic contamination wander around freely."


    "Mm," Fang Xiu responded with a nod.


    "First question, if a powerful Specter starts causing chaos in the city, what would you do? One, confront the Specter; two, run away; three, attempt to rescue as many people as possible, helping them to escape."


    "I''ll confront the Specter," Fang Xiu answered calmly.


    Shen Lingxue gazed at Fang Xiu skeptically, then checked the Spiritual Energy lie detector, which didn''t indicate any deceit.


    This took her a bit by surprise.


    She hadn''t pegged Fang Xiu as someone who would put himself in danger for others.


    On this question, Fang Xiu genuinely didn''t lie. He deeply resented all Specters, and even if victory seemed out of reach, he''d aim to gather more data. He would uncover the Specter''s weak points, and if he couldn''t beat it on the first go, he''d try again and again, as many times as needed.


    "Second question, if in the future, Specter incidents grow and it seems humans are losing, and a smart Specter asks you to switch sides, offering you power and status beyond your wildest dreams, would you agree?"


    "No."


    "Really, not at all? If the Specter promises you great power and even promises to keep your family, friends, and those you care for safe, would you agree?"


    "No." Fang Xiu''s reply was short and brief.


    The lie detector showed no changes, showing he was being honest.


    Shen Lingxue had her doubts. She still couldn''t believe that Fang Xiu was the type who''d be fullymitted to the well-being of humanity.


    "What if your family sided with the Specters and invited you to join them?"


    "I don''t have a family."


    "And what about friends? I know you and Zhao Hao are pretty tight, and he''s your only friend. If he persuaded you to turn your back on humanity and join the Specters, would you say yes?"


    "I wouldn''t mind losing a friend over this."


    Shen Lingxue didn''t know how to respond.


    "The third question, what''s the main thing you want to aplish now that you are a psychic? In other words, what''s your dream?"


    "To eliminate every single Specter on Earth."


    Suddenly, the room was engulfed in silence. Shen Lingxue eyed the lie detector that showed no signs of lies, feeling a bit astonished.


    _''Is he for real? Why haven''t I seen him among the psychics before?''_


    She had witnessed many psychics taking the test, but none were like Fang Xiu.


    Actually, some psychics had very self-centered and twisted answers. These were individuals whose spirits had been tainted, revealing the darker, erged aspects of human nature.


    For instance, when asked the first question about a powerful Specter causing chaos in the city, some opted to run away, while those with a shred of decency chose to rescue as many folks as they could.


    The ones severely affected by psychic contamination had even more extreme responses: "Oh, a Specter''s on a rampage? Then I''ll join in, and let''s see who racks up more kills."


    When it came to the second question about aligning with the Specters, most psychics stated they''d ally with whoever seemed more powerful, more benevolent to them, or seemingly in control.


    Twisted psychics would exim, "Specters are my favorite!"


    The answers to the third question were even less worth mentioning: "Survival, being the best, amassing riches and fame, having a harem, and so forth weremon answers.


    A twisted psychic might say, "Humanity is frail, but Specters rise! My dream is to be a fully-fledged Specter."


    Indeed, it wasn''t that there weren''t people who gave answers like Fang Xiu, but usually, the lie detector would buzz urgently after such responses.


    Yet, Fang Xiu''s replies didn''t cause the lie detector to stir, which meant everything he said was the truth. "

 Chapter 40: Time Traveling

    Chapter 40: Time Traveling


    Shen Lingxue found herself reconsidering her impressions of Fang Xiu.


    _''Can he actually be like a character from a legend, seeming cold on the outside but actually really nice? Is it possible that beneath his aloof demeanor, there''s a truly caring heart that looks out for people?''_


    After a short pause, Shen Lingxue asked him a few more questions, which Fang Xiu answered honestly. The answers took her by surprise.


    _''Could this be the hero who genuinely cares about our hurting world and has descended to Earth? If the lie detector isn''t malfunctioning, then this Fang Xiu is truly an angel among humans. There isn''t anyone else on the entire psychic team as good and kind as he is.''_


    "Thest question, can you actually predict the future?"


    Fang Xiu looked at Shen Lingxue calmly, saying quietly, "I have traveled many times between the future and the past. I''ve seen things end and begin again, living through countless possibilities. For me, the future is just something I can watch and change if I want to."


    Shen Lingxue peeked at the silent lie detector. Deep down she felt that Fang Xiu was telling the truth, but she still had to moan, "Why can''t you just tell me straight up if you can see the future? Why make it so dramatic?"


    After venting her frustration, Shen Lingxue packed up the lie detector and stood up, her mood visibly shifting. If she was chilly toward him before, now she was keeping him at arm''s length. It looked like she really didn''t want to be close to Fang Xiu.


    That''s just how people are. When they met someone who seemed to be more giving and nicer than them, they''d assume those people were just pretending, hiding behind a facade. And when they found out those people were genuine, they instinctively distanced themselves. The brightness of such kind-hearted people only served to highlight the darkness within themselves.


    That was how Shen Lingxue was feeling now. At first, she didn''t like Fang Xiu''s aloof cold attitude at all. But after the test, she realized he was really nice and kind. She knew that hating such a nice person would make her look bad.


    Her ego stopped her from acting all nice and agreeable now when she had been so haughty before. So, she naturally pushed back and wanted to keep her distance.


    "You passed the test. Come with me to meet Director Wang," Shen Lingxue announced, turning around and walking away.


    Before long, they arrived at Wang Dehai''s office, where Shen Lingxue ced the test results on his desk.


    "He passed the test."


    Wang Dehai grabbed the paper, briefly assessed Fang Xiu, and then smiled. "So you''re Fang Xiu, huh? Let me introduce myself. I''m Wang Dehai, the current head of the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau. Please, have a seat."


    As he spoke, he began to skim through the report, making small talk to learn more about Fang Xiu.


    But suddenly, Wang Dehai stopped mid-sentence, looking like he froze in ce for a moment.


    "You"


    His eyes widened in surprise, staring in disbelief at the paper in front of him. Reaching for his sses, he carefully reread the report multiple times, struggling to believe what he was seeing.


    The report was wless, so wless that it appeared almost impossible for anyone, even someone with an entirely clear conscience, to have answered so perfectly.


    Wang Dehai''s gaze instinctively shifted toward Sheng Lingxue, as if asking her a silent question.


    Shen Lingxue simply gave a nod, her face remaining stoic.


    Trying to hide his amazement, Wang Dehai took a deep breath before saying, "Mr. Fang, based on this report alone, even if you can''t actually see the future, I''d like to extend an invitation for you to join our Investigation Bureau."


    Fang Xiu replied calmly, "No need to rush. We can discuss it after they announce the lottery results."


    He wasn''t nning on joining the Investigation Bureau right away, as that wouldn''t really serve a purpose. His aim was to join as a future seer, so he could bargain for a better dealter on.


    Right then, Shen Lingxue unexpectedly interjected, "Director Wang, I used the lie detector to confirm if Fang Xiu''s talent was indeed predicting the future."


    Wang Dehai immediately perked up, asking, "And what was the result?"


    "He passed the test."


    At the confirmation, Wang Dehai''s eyes narrowed a little, but he didn''t ept it as fact right away. He knew that the lie detector wasn''t foolproof.


    Indeed, the device could tell if someone was lying, sounding an alert when a person''s thoughts didn''t match their words. But if someone was under hypnosis and truly thought, deep down, that they have the ability to predict the future, then the Spiritual Energy lie detector would mark it as the truth.


    This was precisely why Wang Dehai remained skeptical.


    Soon after, they began chatting more rxedly. Even though the report seemed perfect, as the chief of the Investigation Bureau, Wang Dehai obviously had his unique ways of judging people.


    Fang Xiu really wasn''t a fan of this informal conversation. In his eyes, it was a waste of time. All he wished for at the moment was to gain more power and exact retribution to every Specter in the world.


    Luckily, their casual talk was soon interrupted when the office door swung open violently. A young man in a uniform stormed in, clearly panicked.


    Wang Dehai''s face tightened at once. "How many times have I told you not to be so reckless at work, you"


    But the young man cut him off, nearly shouting, "Director Wang, it''s an emergency! The vice-captain, he... he''s dead!"


    "What?" Wang Dehai shot up from his seat, a look of sheer disbelief on his face.


    "How could he be dead? Bai Qi wasn''t just a strong asset in our Investigation Bureau, but he was also the top psychic in all of Greenvine City. This can''t be happening! Hurry, give me all the details!"


    The news of Vice-Captain Bai Qis death sent Wang Dehai into a frenzy. Bai Qi was his ace in the hole, and losing him could throw Greenvine City into chaos.


    "Earlier today, Captain Yang and Vice-Captain Bai split up to follow a lead on a top-level Specter. But somehow, the vice-captain got to the Specter first, in an abandoned building on the outskirts of Qingbei Town.


    He didn''t wait for Captain Yang and confronted the Specter alone. Everyone thought Vice-Captain Bai could handle it with his skills, but nobody expected that another Specter was lying in wait in that building and caught him off guard" The young man''s voice trailed off, his face turning pale.


    "What! A second Specter!?" Wang Dehai exploded, hurling a folder across the room in his anger.


    "What on earth is your intel team doing? How did you all fail to detect another Specter in Qingbei Town beforehand?


    Tears welled up in the young mans eyes as he stammered, "Director Wang, we scoured Qingbei Town during our citywide sweep, and we didn''t find any trace of that Specter then. It''s like it just appeared out of nowhere!"


    Wang Dehai took a deep breath, fighting to keep his fury at bay, "Where''s Yang Ming?"


    He was fully aware that allowing his anger to cloud his judgment at this critical moment could prove disastrous. The unexpected ambush and Bai Qi''s death highlighted the formidable strength of the Specters involved. If not addressed swiftly and effectively, Qingbei Town would descend into chaos, potentially posing a threat to Greenvine City itself.


    "Captain Yang is already on his way to Qingbei Town after receiving the news."


    "Get a car ready, now! Everyone who''s avable, head to Qingbei Town ASAP. Contact the leaders of the various local psychic groups too, ask them to send reinforcements. Anyone who assists in resolving this crisis will receive a reward from the Bureau: 3000 spiritual coins and ten spirit incenses!" Wang Dehai eximed, his voice filled with urgency.


    "

 Chapter 41: I Can Die A Million Times

    Chapter 41: I Can Die A Million Times


    When Fang Xiu heard the mention of "spiritual coins" and "spiritual incense", his mind began buzzing with thoughts.


    Even though he had seen pictures of these things on the Specter forum, he had nevere across them in person.


    The spiritual coins were kind of a unique form of currency among psychics, though not many use them like regr money. In reality, these coins are more like materials crafted from Spiritual Energy, a type of metal imbued with spiritual properties. It was almost like a tangible manifestation of one''s mental energy.


    This special metal was created by the higher-ups at the Investigation Bureau headquarters and it has the ability to channel Spiritual Energy.


    It held immense value because of its ability to channel Spiritual Energy. Psychics could use these coins to craft items like weapons and armor. Conventional weapons and armor were often ineffective against Specters, but objects forged from this mind-metal can actually fight back against them, provided one infused them with Spiritual Energy.


    Tools and weapons yed a huge role in this world. One of the reasons humans climbed to the top of the food chain was because of how they crafted and utilized weapons and tools. When ordinary items proved ineffective against Specters, using tools made from this mind-metal became incredibly crucial.


    As for the spiritual incense, it was another valuable creation from the Investigation Bureau headquarters. This incense served the purpose of soothing psychics when their minds began to waver.


    Being a psychic wasn''t easy, and one''s mind could be quite turbulent. As a psychic grew stronger, their mental state could be even more precarious, leading to instability. However, this incense acted as a protective barrier, helping to keep negative effects at bay and functioning as a safety for psychics.


    Wang Dehai was busy making call after call, rallying numerous resources and personnel. The influence and capability of the Investigation Bureau were evident during times like this.


    He was in charge of coordinating everyone and everything. Once he was done making his calls, he noticed Fang Xiu still standing there. He instructed his assistant to lead Fang Xiu to a room where he could rx. He also directed Shen Lingxue to convene an emergency meeting.


    After giving orders, Wang Dehai walked away with Shen Lingxue, and Xiao Wang guided Fang Xiu to a ce where he could sit and rx.


    In that room, Fang Xiu was coolly having some tea, but his mind was running a mile a minute. He was wondering if the top psychic in Greenvine had really been defeated that easily, just by two Specters, they must have been really powerful Specters.


    It showcased just how fragile humans can be. Even with Spiritual Energy, humans were still no match for Specters.


    The "doctor" at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital served as a clear example of this. She wasn''t a powerful Specter, but her skin was as hard as metal, so regr guns couldn''t do anything to her.


    On the other hand, while a psychic could amplify their Spiritual Energy, enabling them to harness more of their muscle power and be significantly stronger than the average person, they could still be injured or even killed by a bullet.


    This is the big difference between a human and a Specter.


    The problem is, psychics couldn''t afford to mess up. Despite their remarkable abilities, their bodies are still made of flesh and blood. A small mistake can end up with them getting killed by a Specter, just like what happened to Bai Qi when he was caught off guard and killed.


    It wasn''t the same for Specters. They have remarkable powers too but they can mess up many times without dying, which makes it really hard for a psychic to take them down with just one hit.


    It felt like an uneven ying field, where Specters could mess up multiple times, while psychics couldn''t afford a single misstep. How could anyone fight with odds like that?


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t worried about this disadvantage. The ones who were really weak were the other psychics, not him. When a Specter met him, their roles would be switched. He was the one who could mess up a bunch, or even a million times, which no Specter couldpete with.


    So, Fang Xiu just sat there quietly in the break room. Looking out the window, he could see a lot of workers running around in a frenzy. It was obvious that Bai Qi''s death was a huge deal, big enough to shake up the whole of Greenvine.


    As the afternoon rolled around, Fang Xiu figured that the first part of dealing with this problem was probably done. It was time to get moving. He wasn''t nning on just sitting around the whole day.


    He then looked at the young man sitting next to him. He had looked really pale the entire morning and hadn''t managed to shake it off. It wasn''t clear if he was upset about Bai Qi dying or worried that people would me him for not doing his intelligence job properly.


    Fang Xiu slowly stood up and walked over to him. It was only then that the young man noticed him.


    "You"


    Before he could say anything else, he got a hard hit on the back of his neck.


    The young man was knocked out cold, falling limp immediately.


    Then, Fang Xiu quickly stripped him of his work uniform and put it on himself. With that, he stepped out of the room.


    He was nning to blend in as a worker to sneak around and gather some intel. Normally, this disguise wouldn''t work, but the Investigation Bureau was all over the ce because of Bai Qi''s death, which made this the perfect opportunity.


    He carried some papers in his hand, acting like he was in a rush just like everyone else, and he started walking around the bureau without anyone stopping him. Then, he channeled his Spiritual Energy, significantly enhancing his hearing. Now, he could hear every little conversation and phone calls happening in the offices and the hallways.


    "I can''t believe Vice-Captain Bai is gone. Sure, he was kind of distant, but he was also the strongest one here in Greenvine City. It''s crazy to think that someone that strong just died, just like that."


    "Totally, who saw thising? I think this could have been avoided, you know. It''s all because Captain Yang and Vice-Captain Bai couldn''t get along and were always trying to one-up each other. If they had just worked together, the vice-captain would never have gotten caught off guard and killed."


    "Hey Li, I''m kind of new here. Could you exin what the beef between Captain Yang and Vice-Captain Bai was?"


    "Oh, it wasn''t anything serious, just two big egos shing. Everyone knew that Vice-Captain Bai was the strongest, but when it was time to pick a new captain, Captain Yang was promoted instead. Vice-Captain Bai never really got over that."


    "Wait, if Vice-Captain Bai was the strongest in the city, how did he lose to Captain Yang?"


    "Heh, that''s all thanks to Captain Yang''s special ability. Do you know what it is?"


    "I think I heard someone say it has something to do with luck?"


    "Yeah, you got it. Captain Yang Ming has luck on his side. It pretty much just brings good luck and that''s it, which is why other psychics from different Investigation Bureau make fun of him for being the weakest captain."


    "So, how did someone like that manage to beat Vice-Captain Bai? Vice-Captain Bai was supposed to be unbeatable among the second-tier psychics."


    "Well, what do you think? Just a lucky break, really. Nobody knows exactly what Bai ate that made him sick, but right at the start of their fight, he needed to go to the bathroom really badly. He was scared of having an ident if he fought too hard, so he held back. Captain Yang might not be all that powerful, but he''s still a second-tier psychic. Against someone who wasn''t fighting back full-on, it was an easy win."


    "What? Really? Why didn''t Vice-Captain Bai just ask for a time-out?"


    "You clearly don''t know Vice-Captain Bai at all. He was the kind of guy who didn''t show weakness, ever. Asking for a break to use the restroom in front of a crowd would have been way worse for him than just losing. So, he just sucked it up and fought anyway. Poor vice-captain thought no one knew about his stomach troubles, but the psychics there had really good nosesthey totally knew something was up."

 Chapter 42: Captain Yang Ming

    Chapter 42: Captain Yang Ming


    In the hallway, Fang Xiu overheard their chatter and chose not to stick around any longer; they were just gossiping, anyway. These two folks seemed like clerical workers, so they had some free time at the moment, even enough to chat about rumors.


    He kept wandering through the Investigation Bureau, collecting more information.


    "Hurry, get to the meeting room, Director Wang is holding an urgent meeting," someone shouted.


    Upon hearing about the meeting, Fang Xiu swiftly joined the others. He headed to the meeting room with them.


    In the meeting room, the long table was packed with people, both men and women, most of them quite young. Notably, almost no one was in ck work uniforms. Instead, the majority were in unique and special clothes, full of character.


    However, on both sides of the table stood many staff members, dressed in their regr work clothes.


    Fang Xiu stood with the other employees, leaning against the wall. He quietly watched the people at the table.


    It was obvious that these folks were psychics. As the main fighters against the Specters, they naturally held a higher statuspared to regr people, which earned them a spot at the table.


    At the top of the table was a stern-looking Wang Dehai. Strangely, there were empty chairs on both sides of him.


    _''Two open chairs?'' _


    Fang Xiu guessed that these spots were probably meant for Yang Ming and Bai Qi.


    _''It makes sense for Bai Qi''s chair to be empty because he passed away, but what about Yang Ming? Is he still looking into the Specters?''_


    Suddenly, he noticed a strong whiff of cigarette smoke.


    _''Someone''s smoking during this urgent meeting?''_


    Following the scent, Fang Xiu spotted a sad-looking man in histe twenties, hunched over and smoking in a corner behind Wang Dehai.


    The man had a prominent brow andrge eyes, and his face was square with a wide nose. Although he wasn''t extremely handsome, he had a lively and decent appearance. However, he looked really down at the moment, with dull eyes and a five o''clock shadow beginning to darken his face.


    He was just staring at nothing ahead of him. If he wasn''t asionally taking a drag on his cigarette, he could be mistaken for a statue.


    The others in the room seemed to deliberately overlook this man, letting him sit there and smoke. Seeing this, Fang Xiu had a hunch.


    Though dressed oddly and showing strong personalities, the psychics in the room were following basic rules during the meeting, sitting quietly in their ces. The way this man was behaving, without anyonementing and even Wang Dehai letting it be, hinted that this guy must hold a significant role.


    Putting this together with the empty chairs, it wasn''t hard to figure out that this smoking guy was likely Yang Ming.


    At that moment, Wang Dehai began the meeting. During this critical time, he didn''t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.


    "We''ve verified through field checks by the investigation team that Vice-Captain Bai Qi has been killed while on duty." Wang Dehai''s serious voice echoed in the room.


    The room fellpletely silent. Some had nk faces, others seemed not to care, while a few looked genuinely upset; a mix of emotions was on disy. The man who was probably Yang Ming still looked lost, but his hand holding the cigarette seemed to tremble.


    The quiet was broken by Wang Dehai''s deep voice ringing out again.


    "Bai was attacked by a Specter who maniptes shadows," he dered.


    A fuzzy image popped up on the big screen in the room, showing a shadow that looked human. But unlike normal shadows, this one had depth and wasn''t t. It looked like someone wearing a skin-tight ck suit that covered even their eyes and nose.


    It was pitch-ck, as if a human shadow had sprung to life, bing tangible and physical.


    "This Specter isbeled as ''Shadow.'' What we know so far is that it can disappear into shadows. When Bai was confronting another Specter called ''Human Head,'' Shadow came out from his own shadow, catching him off guard and hurting him badly, which led to his death by Human Head," Wang Dehai exined further.


    Everyone stared at Shadow in the picture, their faces grim. This sudden attack was almost impossible to avoid, catching anyone unawares easily. Even the powerful Bai Qi was caught and badly hurt; the other psychics doubted they would fare any better.


    "Right now, we don''t know where Shadow is. But Yang Ming took care of Human Head. So, our next move is to put all our energy into tracking down Shadow, finding it, and putting an end to this whole issue. And also" Wang Dehai stopped, inhaling deeply before he solemnly added, "to get justice for Vice-Captain Bai Qi."


    The mood in the room turned even grimmer instantly.


    Maybe noticing the heavy mood, Wang Dehai suddenly forced a small smile and announced, "Despite the grim circumstances, I do have a bit of happy news to tell you all."


    _''Happy news?'' _People were briefly confused.


    _''Bai just died; what good news can there be?''_


    "Well, Captain Yang Ming, having dealt with Human Head, has moved up to be a third-tier psychic, joining the highest ranks of psychics!"


    Upon hearing this, there was a sudden uproar in the room, and all attention immediately shifted to the man smoking in the corner.


    This man, who was indeed Yang Ming, didn''t seem to have heard anything, his face unchanged. He simply tossed away the cigarette butt he was holding and reached into his pocket for a new pack. He nned to light another one. A few cigarette buttsy on the floor near his feet, circling him.


    Opening the pack, Yang Ming found it was empty. Without a care, he crumpled it up and tossed it aside, raising his lifeless eyes to nce at the people around him.


    "Hey, anyone got a cigarette?" he rasped, his voice rough and showing signs of tiredness.


    A hushed silence settled over the crowd, with no one answering him.


    Seeing this, a sh of disappointment appeared in Wang Dehai''s eyes. But he still scolded sternly, "Yang Ming, snap out of it. You''re a third-tier psychic now. The future safety of Greenvine City is in your hands. Plus, don''t you want to get back at the ones who took Bai Qi from us?"


    Despite Wang Dehai''s chastising, Yang Ming looked totally unaffected, his expression dull. He slowly rose from the corner, his hands stuffed in his pocket.


    "Guess I''ll just go buy a pack myself," he muttered.


    With those words, he seemed to really n on leaving the meeting room to get cigarettes. As he walked, he kept grumbling, "Revenge, huh? Will getting revenge bring Bai Qi back?"


    "Hold it right there!" Wang Dehai shouted in fury, but Yang Ming continued walking. He didn''t seem to have heard him at all.


    Frustrated, Wang Dehai reluctantly pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, calling out, "I have cigarettes right here!"


    Yang Ming stopped dead in his tracks, looking irritated, "Why didn''t you mention that earlier?"


    Wang Dehai threw the pack to Yang Ming and spun around to resume the meeting, not wanting to waste any more time on meaningless chatter.


    Yang Ming retreated to his earlier spot in the corner, lighting up a cigarette and saying, "Man, Director Wang must be from a rich family, smoking these high-end cigarettes every day, huh?"


    Annoyance etched across Wang Dehai''s face, but he held back his anger. He was ready to move forward with the meeting.


    But just then, the conference room door mmed open with a loud bang.


    Wang Dehai''s anger burst forth immediately, "Show some respect! Have some order! How many times do I have to say"


    But the staff member who burst in didn''t let him finish, blurting out anxiously instead, "Director Wang, this is bad, the guy you told me to escort has vanished! He knocked me down and escaped!"


    "What?! Are you telling me Fang Xiu has escaped?" Wang Dehai''s face was a picture of shock and rage.


    Among the crowd, Fang Xiu heaved a quiet sigh. It seemed his skills weren''t quite up to par yet. He didn''t expect the guy he knocked out would wake up so quickly.


    Though Fang Xiu had developed psychic abilities, possessing power much beyond a regr person, he''d never attempted to knock someone out before and wasn''t sure how much force was needed.


    "Fang Xiu! You''re actually here!" A female voice called out amidst the crowd.


    It was Shen Lingxue.


    Shen Lingxue jumped to her feet, her face a mask of astonishment as she pointed at Fang Xiu in the crowd.


    For a beat, all attention in the room centered on Fang Xiu, except for Yang Ming, who was in how own world as he smoke his cigarette. "

 Chapter 43: I Can Change The Past

    Chapter 43: I Can Change The Past


    The people around Fang Xiu quickly responded, pulling out their guns and aiming at him. They were ready to shoot if he made any strange moves. The psychics sitting at the conference table were also closely watching him, their looks showing curiosity and caution. A hint of faint but noticeable Spiritual Energy pressure came down on him.


    "Fang Xiu! Do you know what the penalty is for attacking the Investigation Bureau''s staff? What are you trying to do exactly? Or, who are you really?" Wang Dehai asked with a serious expression.


    Faced with Wang Dehai''s questions and the pressure from the psychics, Fang Xiu didn''t say anything. Instead, he calmly looked at Yang Ming, who was smoking in a corner.


    Out of the blue, he asked calmly, "Do you want to bring Bai Qi back to life?"


    Yang Ming stopped smoking abruptly; his previously dull eyes suddenly became terrifying. He looked like an angry tigering down a mountain, intently watching Fang Xiu.


    Gradually, he stood up, his face stern. A hidden force was building up inside him, simr to the tense silence before a storm, so heavy and overpowering.


    SNAP!


    He threw the cigarette on the floor and stomped it out.


    After that, he walked steadily toward Fang Xiu.


    Yang Ming stopped right in front of Fang Xiu, staring at his calm expression. "No matter who you are or where you came from, don''t make light jokes about those who have passed away, or someone will get hurt."


    Like a giant wave, an invisible pressure came down on Fang Xiu. This pressure from Yang Ming alone was much stronger than that from all the other psychics.


    The other psychics also showed slight changes on their faces at this point.


    _''So, this is the strength of a third-tier psychic?''_


    But even with this huge pressure, Fang Xiu''s expression showed no change. He had gone through enough encounters with powerful Specters before, so this kind of pressure was nothing to him.


    He calmly looked at Yang Ming and said gently, "You only need to say yes or no."


    His peaceful words seemed to have an unquestionable power.


    Seeing this, everyone in the room couldn''t help but feel amazed.


    _''Standing up to a third-tier psychic and still speaking so confidently, just who is this Fang Xiu guy?''_


    Yang Ming focused deeply on Fang Xiu''s serene eyes, trying to see something in them. Yet, all he could find was a profound and immeasurable calm.


    "Fang Xiu, what are you talking about? All of you, seize him!" By this point, Wang Dehaipletely lost his trust in Fang Xiu. He strongly believed that Fang Xiu had a secret group supporting him, nning some kind of horrible scheme.


    But just as the nearby staff were getting ready to move, Yang Ming raised his hand to stop them.


    "Can you truly bring Bai Qi back to life?" Yang Ming asked, feeling like he was losing his grip on his sanity.


    The idea that the dead can''t be brought back to life is a universal truth. Even if the person before him could revive the dead, Bai Qi''s body was devoured by the Specter. There was no way anyone could bring him back.


    Yang Ming couldn''t understand why he had asked such an irrational question. However, as he gazed into Fang Xiu''s calm eyes, a faint feeling in his heart suggested that what Fang Xiu imed might actually be true.


    A slight smile formed at the edge of Fang Xiu''s mouth. "I can''t resurrect the dead, but I can travel back to the past and alter the future."


    Hearing this, everyone burst into a frenzy. They felt like they had just heard the most absurd im.


    Traveling back in time to change the future seemed even more unbelievable than bringing someone back from the dead. No one there believed what Fang Xiu was saying, yet Yang Ming persistently asked, "What needs to be done?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t reply, instead posing a question of his own, "Where were you when Bai Qi died?"


    After pondering for a while, Yang Ming replied, "Back then, I had found some leads on Human Head, near the hilly region by Qingbei Town. But the leads were wrong, so I didn''t go into Qingbei Town."


    As he spoke, he unconsciously tightened his fists, his face marred by guilt.


    "If I had figured it out sooner and made it to Qingbei Town earlier, maybe he would still be alive."


    "That''s good, now give me your phone number."


    "Phone number?" Yang Ming was stunned, utterly unable to follow Fang Xiu''s erratic line of thought.


    "Yes, just hand over your phone number now, and then share a secret with me."


    "What kind of secret?" Yang Ming''s confusion deepened.


    "A secret that will convince you it''s really me," Fang Xiu replied calmly. "Next, I will return to the past and call you before the Bai Qi incident urs, urging you to rescue him. So, I need a secret that will persuade you to believe me."


    At this, Yang Ming couldn''t help but gape, finding the situation utterly absurd, as if Fang Xiu was spinning a ghost story.


    _''Travel back in time to call me?_ _Can there genuinely be such a bizarre power in this world? Even if it existed, wouldn''t it demand the abilities of a fifth-tier psychic to execute it? How could this be happening?''_


    No matter how desperately Yang Ming wished to bring Bai Qi back, he found it difficult to take Fang Xiu''s words seriously.


    And it wasn''t just him; the other psychics present shared his skepticism. They find it impossible to believe.


    They couldn''t help but wonder, _''As fellow psychics, why does Fang Xiu seem so much more powerful? Changing the future and revisiting the past? Is he even a psychic anymore? He sounds like a god!''_


    Yet, one person felt a whirlwind of emotions coursing through her.


    It was Shen Lingxue.


    Because she suddenly recalled what Fang Xiu had mentioned during the test.


    "I have traveled back and forth many times between the future and the past, seeing things end and start again, going through countless possibilities. For me, the future is just something I can watch and change if I want to."


    She suddenly realized why Fang Xiu hadn''t directly answered whether he could predict the future back then but made such a promation instead.


    It was likely that he wasn''t merely bragging but was describing his capability in a different mannerthe power to revisit the past and change the course of the future!


    Observing Yang Ming, who looked doubtful, Fang Xiu offered a gentle smile. "There''s no harm in giving it a shot."


    Yang Ming was convinced almost instantly. Indeed, what did they have to lose by trying, even if it turned out to be unsessful?


    He couldn''t see how Fang Xiu might hurt him with just a phone number and a minor secret.


    Taking a deep breath, he began slowly, "138..."


    He recited it only once, and Fang Xiu heard it just once, but he ingrained it solidly in his mind.


    Then, Yang Ming paused to reflect for a bit before finally saying carefully, "I suppose I''ll share a secret that only I am aware of. It''s about Bai Qi. I never intended to disclose this in my lifetime since I worry he would be angry with me if he discovered it. But since he is no longer here, it doesn''t seem to matter anymore."


    "The truth is, before the initial captain selection contest, Bai Qi didn''t fall sick because he ate something bad, which led to diarrhea during thepetition. It was actually me who secretly slipped himxatives beforehand. Yet, since my power is luck, no one has ever suspected my involvement."


    Silence enveloped them.


    All those present turned their eyes toward Yang Ming, utterly stunned. They saw him in a new light, as if they were meeting him for the first time.


    They couldn''t believe that Yang Ming, who was known as a reliable and straightforward team leader, could havemitted such a deceitful act behind the scenes. This revtion was shocking and unprecedented."

 Chapter 44: Maybe We Dont Exist

    Chapter 44: Maybe We Don''t Exist


    Yang Ming was really annoyed by the looks everyone gave him. "Is it all my fault? It''s because of Bai Qi... Okay, never mind. He''s not with us anymore, let''s drop it." He let out another sigh, his face showing sadness again.


    "Okay, that''s enough of the secret," Fang Xiu abruptly said. "You usually keep your phone on, don''t you?"


    Yang Ming nodded. "Yeah, if you manage to call me in the past, I''ll definitely pick up. I get lost easily, and I was driving near Qingbei town''s mountain area when Bai Qi had his ident. I had my phone connected to the car''s GPS at that time, so I''ll definitely get your call."


    Fang Xiu nodded and said, "Then, wait for the call."


    With that, he went silent.


    Following his lead, the room fell silent as well. Everyone just looked at him, time seemed to slow down. One second, two seconds, three seconds...


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu said, "Why are you all looking at me? Let''s get back to the meeting."


    They were all caught off guard.


    Unable to hold it in anymore, Yang Ming said, "I thought you were traveling back in time. We''re all waiting for you to make your move."


    Fang Xiu stared at him, almost like he thought Yang Ming was dumb. "When did I say I was going now? And you didn''t actually believe I would vanish instantly like in films, did you?"


    Everyone stayed quiet. They were really thinking that might happen.


    "So when are you nning to do it?"


    "No hurry, after the eight o''clock drawing tonight."


    Yang Ming was surprised. "Drawing? What drawing?" he asked.


    "That''s enough, no more questions. Yang Ming, take this confused guy to the holding room now. I''lle soon. His mind seems to be all over the ce, I''m worried his Spiritual Energy is getting unstable," Wang Dehai suddenly instructed.


    At first, Yang Ming didn''t want to, but he noticed Wang Dehai giving him a signal. So, Yang Ming told Fang Xiu reluctantly, "Follow me."


    Fang Xiu agreed, walking with Yang Ming to the holding room without causing any trouble. He realized causing a scene at the Investigation Bureau now would be like asking for trouble.


    Also, he understood what Wang Dehai must be thinking. Whether his story was real or made up, it shouldn''t be public knowledge.


    If it was real, the power to reverse time and alter the future was too shocking. If the word got out, it might create a huge fuss.


    If false, it would turn into the biggest joke of the year at the bureau, also not something to be spread widely.


    Thinking this over, Wang Dehai had Yang Ming escort him away.


    Reaching the holding room, Fang Xiu bombarded Yang Ming with numerous questions about Shadow, plus details on Bai Qi.


    It turned out that Bai Qi''s skill was incredible speed, reaching velocities that were beyond what others in his tier could achieve. This gave him a big edge whether he was on the attack or making a getaway.


    Once, he managed to kill a second-tier psychic in just a few seconds. He even got away from a powerful Specter during a tense chase. This allowed him and Yang Ming to work solo since Bai Qi could just sprint away if he couldn''t win.


    Yang Ming, blessed with luck, was less likely to suffer a tragic end. But this time, Bai Qi was caught off guard by the intel he had, failing to spot the lurking Shadow.


    Normally, it was tough for regr Specters to catch Bai Qi due to his quick reflexes and speed. But Shadow was a different case. He stayed in Bai Qi''s shadow, and no matter how speedy Bai Qi was, he couldn''t shake his own shadow.


    During an intense fight with the Human Head Specter, Shadow tracked him closely, striking a lethal blow when he least expected it.


    They talked for a bit, but Fang Xiu didn''t get much helpful info. Yang Ming might seem rugged and reckless, but he chose his words with caution. He didn''t spill any secrets, especially since he wasn''t sure of Fang Xiu''s ability to alter the future yet.


    Around an hourter, Wang Dehai and Shen Lingxue walked into the holding room.


    "Fang Xiu, what''s your real goal? What are you nning to do with Yang Ming?" Wang Dehai asked straight away as he entered.


    "In three hours, after the drawing, all will be revealed," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    "The drawing? I thought you said your skill was predicting the future. Now it''s about altering it?"


    "What''s the difference? After seeing what the future holds, making changes is basically altering the future, right? Like, if I foresee getting hit by a car today, I won''t die if I stay home."


    Hearing the resolute Fang Xiu, Shen Lingxue chimed in, "But Bai Qi is already gone, this is now an unalterable past. How can you modify past events while here in the present?"


    "Huh?" Fang Xiu nced at her. He argued, "How do you know this is the present? Is it possible that none of us, not even Yang Ming or myself, are real, and everything happening now is just a future vision of my past self?"


    At this, Shen Lingxue and the others were taken aback, overwhelmed by a sense of absurdity.


    "We''re not real?"


    Yang Ming said incredulously, "Do you even hear yourself?"


    Fang Xiu shut his eyes to rest, not saying anything more. A strange tension hung in the air among the trio. Though Fang Xiu''s statement seemed ludicrous, they couldn''t shake a faint unease that crept in upon pondering his words: "Do we truly exist?"


    After that, everyone lingered in the holding room a bit longer before exiting, leaving only Fang Xiu by himself. They were all members of the Investigation Bureau and had urgent tasks to handle; they couldn''t realistically stick around for three hours.


    Time slipped by quickly, and in what seemed like a heartbeat, three hours had passed.


    BANG!


    The detention room door was suddenly flung open. Wang Dehai, Shen Lingxue, and Yang Ming walked in, their faces stern and their eyes fixed on Fang Xiu, who sat calmly with his eyes closed.


    All of a sudden, Fang Xiu opened his eyes, meeting the res of the three with an air of serenity.


    SLAM!


    Shen Lingxue mmed a sheet of paper with the lottery numbers Fang Xiu had previously provided onto the table, her expression frosty.


    She said firmly, "Fang Xiu, the lottery numbers you gave didn''t hit at all. They didn''t just lose, not a single number matched! Look, here are the actual winning numbers from this round that I just wrote down!"


    "Fang Xiu, tell us the truth. Who are you really and who sent you here?" Wang Dehai demanded sternly.


    Yang Ming stayed quiet, but his eyes bore a glint of lethal intention as he regarded Fang Xiu.


    But Fang Xiu only offered a faint smile and said, "My predictions are never wrong. Did you really think you could trick me with a set of fake numbers now?"


    Shen Lingxue became so livid that she found herself short of breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She swiftly pulled out her phone, disyed the lottery results, and shoved it in front of Fang Xiu.


    "Look at this! I want to see how much longer you can maintain this charade!"


    Fang Xiu nced at it casually, his grin bing even more scornful. "So you guys tampered with the lottery results and now you''re here to grill me?"


    Upon hearing this, the expressions of the trio grew even colder."

 Chapter 45: The Real Prophecy

    Chapter 45: The Real Prophecy


    Shen Lingxue sneered coldly, "Yes, Fang Xiu, we did send someone to the drawing center. But it was out of concern that you might have nted someone there to manipte the process. This drawing ispletely random. What, now that the numbers are different, are you upset that your attempt at sabotage failed?"


    Fang Xiu observed the reactions of the three and concluded that they probably hadn''t interfered. He could then safely activate his reset.


    At that moment, Shen Lingxue sneered again, "Didn''t you say that if your guess was incorrect, you''d be willing to stake your life on it? Huh, it doesn''t seem like you''re ready to uphold that promise. Going back on your word now, are we?"


    "Don''t worry, I mean what I say," Fang Xiu said with a faint smile. The next moment, a shiny scalpel appeared in his hand.


    Shen Lingxue and Yang Ming immediately shielded Wang Dehai behind them, thinking he was nning to reveal his concealed weapon.


    However, to their utter shock, after Fang Xiu pulled out the scalpel, he did not attack. Instead, he drove it straight into his own forehead.


    The three of them stood in stunned silence, staring at Fang Xiu with a scalpel lodged in his forehead. They found it rare to see someone who kept their word to such an extent.


    He truly meant what he said.


    At the Investigation Bureau


    Fang Xiu, who returned from a reset, was led into the bureau by Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao.


    This time, he repeated everything he didst time to avoid triggering a butterfly effect.


    Looking at the investigation bureau for the second time, Fang Xiu smiled faintly.


    _''It''s time to showcase the true prediction of the future.''_


    As the three of them walked in, suddenly, Fang Xiu stopped in his tracks.


    Shen Lingxue frowned, "What happened?"


    "There will be two staff members colliding around the corner in the corridor ahead."


    Li Wenhao took a while to react. "What?" he asked, flustered.


    The next second, a secretary holding a stack of files rushed forward. As she reached the corner, a male staff member walked out from the other side.


    "Ouch!" With a scream, the two of them collided, causing the files to scatter all over the floor.


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were instantly shocked, looking at Fang Xiu in disbelief.


    "How is this possible?!"


    Fang Xiu remained calm and continued walking forward, effortlessly stepping over the scattered files.


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao followed closely behind, not even hearing the greetings from the staff members who had fallen to the floor.


    Fang Xiu appeared to be familiar with theyout of the investigation bureau, moving smoothly toward an office area where over a dozen clerks were diligently working at theirputers.


    Then, he said again, "The woman in the third row from the left will get up to get coffee."


    As his voice fell, the woman, as if hearing an order, picked up the cup on her desk and stood up. She was heading for the coffee machine.


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were astonished, finding it all too incredible to believe.


    "The guy in the middle seat of the second-tost row will identally knock the files to the floor."


    With that, the man, looking a bit tired, raised his hand and stretchedzily. During the stretch, the files on the table were knocked to the floor by ident. Theynded with a soft thud.


    "The guy in the first seat of the first row will get a phone call soon, and it willst three seconds."


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao, almost at the same time, checked the watches on their wrists.


    The very next moment.


    RING! RING! RING!


    The phone rang.


    "Hello, who''s this?"


    "I''m not interested in buying a house or getting a loan. Please don''t have these agents call me again."


    After the call ended, the two agents shared a nce, noticing the other''s stunned expression.


    The callsted precisely three seconds, not a moment more or less.


    Both stared at Fang Xiu''s calm face in disbelief, feeling like he was a magical being who could control things effortlessly. It was almost as if he were yfully changing the destinies of regr people.


    Fang Xiu looked at them calmly and said in a detached tone, "Let''s go. The waiting room is this way."


    With that, he seemingly took the lead, guiding the extremely shocked Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao to the waiting room.


    Once in the waiting room, he swiftly grabbed tea from the second drawer on the left of the counter and then fetched coffee from the third drawer.


    Next, he prepared a cup of coffee for Shen Lingxue and a cup of green tea for Li Wenhao.


    He thoughtfully added exactly five sugar cubes to Shen Lingxue''s coffee.


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were shocked.


    Fang Xiu poured himself a ss of water. He took a small sip and then said casually, "Don''t look so shocked. Like I said, my eyes can see into the future."


    Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao were dumbstruck, needing a while to get their bearings.


    Finally, Shen Lingxue spoke, "Did you predict all those things earlier? Including knowing where the waiting room is and the fact that I take five sugar cubes in my coffee?"


    Fang Xiu picked up the cup, gently blew the steam away from the top, took a light sip, and said, "What else?"


    Once again, they were plunged into a long silence. Any doubts they had previously were mostly gone by now.


    Getting some info in advance was one thing, but foreseeing the exact actions of the bureau staff couldn''t have been uncovered by mere research.


    "You both should go speak to Wang Dehai, he''s avable now," Fang Xiu said.


    At this point, the two agents felt numb, unsure of what to say. This is the typical reaction when faced with things beyond one''sprehension.


    They shared a look, then quietly stood up and headed to report to Wang Dehai.


    After they left, Fang Xiu pulled out his phone and dialed a number.


    Elsewhere, Yang Ming was enjoying a leisurely drive in the hills near Qingbei Town, humming along to a tune.


    Suddenly, the music stopped as his phone rang.


    Without a second thought, Yang Ming answered the iing call from an unknown number.


    "Hello, who''s this?" Yang Ming''s voice sounded casual and somewhat arrogant, a stark contrast to his demeanor after Bai Qi''s passing.


    A serene and deep male voice responded from the other end, "Bai Qi will be dead in thirty minutes."


    SCREECH!


    Yang Ming hit the brakes hard, the tires screeching against the pavement, leaving twin streaks.


    His casual demeanor vanished instantly, reced by a voice tinged with rm.


    "Who are you?"


    "I am Fang Xiu, someone who can see the future. Right now, I''m at the Investigation Bureau. If all goes as nned, we might be working together soon. I had a vision that a Specter will murder Bai Qi in thirty minutes. You have the chance to prevent it."


    Yang Ming couldn''t hold back a bitterugh, "I don''t know who you think you are, but do you realize this kind of joke could bring you big trouble?"


    "When the decision for the team leader was underway, you and Bai Qi were the finalists. You spiked his meal withxatives the night before, yet no one suspected you since your ability is luck."


    Yang Ming froze, stammering in disbelief, "How... how did you find out about that?! I''ve never shared that secret with anyone."


    "Listen carefully. I will only say this once: Bai Qi is currently at a building under construction on the outskirts of Qingbei Town. He''s about to face a Specter inbat. However, that Specter is not the only enemy. Another specter, Shadow, is lurking in the shadow, preparing to attack at a decisive moment. It will then result in Bai Qi''s death."


    With that, Fang Xiu ended the call abruptly."

 Chapter 46: Perfect Test Result

    Chapter 46: Perfect Test Result


    Yang Ming sat in silence inside the car, his face a turbulent sea of emotions. Suddenly, he made a sharp U-turn and floored the elerator, speeding towards Qingbei Town.


    Even if he had doubts about Fang Xiu''s words, he chose to be cautious. Particrly since Fang Xiu was aware of his use ofxativesa detail he had kept secret.


    In the waiting room, Fang Xiu finished his cup of hot water and sat for a long time before Shen Lingxue showed up.


    This meetingsted much longer than the previous one. It seemed that Fang Xiu''s earlier predictions about the future had taken them by surprise, leading to a more in-depth discussion this time.


    "Fang Xiu, I need to do a test on you now," Shen Lingxue stated, her face showing mixed emotions.


    Without waiting, Fang Xiu grabbed the lie detector. Noticing Shen Lingxue''s startled expression, he promptly secured the device on his hand.


    After a brief pause, Shen Lingxue began to speak, "First question"


    "I pick one, to fight the Specter," Fang Xiu said, cutting her off.


    Shen Lingxue was at a loss for words.


    Ignoring the astonished look on Shen Lingxue''s face, Fang Xiu continued, "For question two, I won''t join the Specter side, even if they give me immense power and guarantee safety for my family and friends. I won''t betray my principles. I don''t have a family to side with the Specters. If Zhao Hao joins the Specter and asks me to turn, I will send him away myself. The thing I want to do most after bing a psychic is to kill all the Specters worldwide.


    Without pausing, Fang Xiu went on, not giving Shen Lingxue a chance to ask the questions.


    The Spiritual Energy lie detector remained silent the entire time.


    After he finished, Fang Xiu got up and told the frozen Shen Lingxue inly, "Test over. Let''s go see Wang Dehai."


    He then walked out of the waiting room, leaving Shen Lingxue sitting there lost in thought for quite some time.


    For a moment, it wasn''t clear who the tester was and who was being tested.


    At Wang Dehai''s office


    Wang Dehai didn''t give his usual introduction. Instead, he examined Fang Xiu closely and said, "Mr. Fang, given that you knew my name beforehand, I guess introductions are unnecessary. Please sit."


    Fang Xiu sat, and Wang Dehai went on, "Honestly, Mr. Fang, it''s hard to believe your foresight ability, even after hearing their reports. Your skill greatly exceeds that of other psychics. I hope you understand what I''m saying. Regr first-tier psychics possess talents like fire maniption, enhanced strength, or exceptional speed, but your abilities clearly transcend theirs."


    "So, you''re saying I''m not like the others, huh?" Fang Xiu abruptly chimed in, "Predicting the future doesn''t seem like a first-tier psychic thing."


    Wang Dehai agreed, "Indeed, if you were a third-tier psychic with urate foresight abilities, it wouldn''t shock me. However, you''ve only recently be a psychic."


    He continued, "Usually, someone like you would have limited foresight capabilities, perhaps only a glimpse into the near future. Yet, you knew about Agent Shen''s visit, the office''syout, and even tonight''s lottery numbers. It''s kind of unbelievable."


    "Director Wang, did it ever cross your mind that maybe I''m just naturally different? That there are some people who aren''t bound bymon standards from the get-go?"


    "It''s true. Some are born prodigies, including a fair share of psychic geniuses. But Mr. Fang, if you met a newborn who could talk and solve math equations, would you call them a prodigy?"


    Fang Xiu offered a small smile. "Why not?"


    Wang Dehai breathed deeply. "That''s all I want to say. I have nothing more to add. Ah yes, Agent Shen, where''s Mr. Fang''s psychic test report?"


    Shen Lingxue looked a little lost, missing Wang Dehai''s question entirely as she sat there nkly.


    Growing impatient, Wang Dehai raised his voice, "Agent Shen!"


    "Huh?" Shen Lingxue snapped back to the present, staring confusedly at Wang Dehai, "What is it, Director Wang?"


    "The report, Agent Shen! Where is Mr. Fang''s test report?"


    Almost reaching for the report, Shen Lingxue stopped, realizing she hadn''t documented anything. She had been so astounded by Fang Xiu''s pre-emptive answers that she hadn''t jotted down a single thing.


    "I... I didn''t draft the report."


    "What?" Wang Dehai felt his pulse quicken. "Agent Shen, you''ve been doing this job for years. How could you be so careless?"


    "No, Director Wang, it''s not about not writing the report. It''s that... I didn''t get to ask the psychic test questions."


    "What?!" Wang Dehai sounded even more incredulous, thinking Shen Lingxue was outright defying him. She didn''t even attempt to ask the questions, let alone write a report.


    Shen Lingxue quickly picked up on his misunderstanding and rified, "No, I don''t mean it like that. I had intended to ask the questions, but Fang Xiu answered them all before I could. He didn''t even let me ask and just answered them questionsall perfect answers if I might add. The lie detector didn''t alert us either."


    Wang Dehai gazed at Fang Xiu,pletely stunned. He was at a loss for words for quite a while.


    Eventually, he managed to say, "Mr. Fang, does predicting the future drain your energy? Can you do it anytime?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head, "Predicting the future doesn''t use much energy, but ites with a big price."


    "Price?" Wang Dehai asked, a touch of curiosity in his tone.


    "Spiritual Energy spiraling out of control," Fang Xiu replied gravely.


    Upon hearing those words, the expressions of both Wang Dehai and Shen Lingxue shifted noticeably. This was because an uncontrolled surge in Spiritual Energy is a crisis every psychic might face, and previously, the investigative bureau had faced serious setbacks due to such incidents.


    "Mr. Fang, are you saying that each time you foresee the future, it increases the risk of your Spiritual Energy spiraling out of control?" Wang Dehai asked, his tone marked by seriousness."

 Chapter 47: Pay Me More

    Chapter 47: Pay Me More


    Fang Xiu nodded. "Yes, the stronger the power, the bigger the cost. Every time I glimpse into the future, a mess of images and ideas swarms my head. It not only stresses my mind but also risks my Spiritual Energy going out of control. And, to be honest, this future-seeing skill isn''t perfect. At most, I can only catch glimpses of moments a few seconds to a couple of days ahead."


    Wang Dehai listened intently and grew serious. "The range of your foresight probably ties to your Spiritual Energy level. It''s normal that, since you''re just starting out as a psychic, you can''t see too far ahead. I think once you move up to the second-tier, you''ll be much better at it. But, Mr. Fang, I''m a bit confused. If peeking into the future makes your Spiritual Energy more unstable, why do it so often?"


    "Because of the spiritual incense."


    "You''re trying to get the bureau''s spiritual incense?"


    "Exactly. I show off my skills a lot to catch your bureau''s eye. I want to join to get a regr supply of spiritual incense to help stabilize my Spiritual Energy."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Dehai finally understands Fang Xiu''s actions and intentions.


    _''Oh, it''s all to get the spiritual incense, right?''_


    While spiritual incense was indeed valuable, Wang Dehai was not hesitant. When dealing with a psychic who could see the future, no offer was too big to get them on their side.


    "Mr. Fang, what kind of pay are you thinking if we ask you to join the Investigation Bureau?"


    "I''m thinking of a pay on the level of a second-tier psychic. On top of that, provide me with one spiritual incense each month. Also, I want the freedom to say no to jobs that don''t respect me," Fang Xiu said.


    A secondter, he added, "And, if there are events that require the use of my skills, you''ve got to give me a bonus afterward. Basically, you have to pay extra."


    Before Wang Dehai could say anything to that string or requests, Shen Lingxue, who was standing nearby, couldn''t hold back any longer.


    "Fang Xiu, you can''t be serious? You''re saying you want top pay, spiritual incense, and basically rx all day until we need you, then ask for more money?"


    Fang Xiu nodded. "You got it right."


    "You" Shen Lingxue looked at him really mad.


    Then she turned to Wang Dehai. "Director Wang, you can''t agree to his demands. It goes against all the rules. He had just be a psychic. If we follow his request, he''ll be getting the same treatment as a captain. Besides, we don''t even know if he can really see the future yet."


    Wang Dehai brushed off Shen Lingxue. He thought it over for a moment before saying, "Mr. Fang, if after the lottery, it''s confirmed you really can see the future, I can agree to the pay and the monthly spiritual incense stick. But paying extra each time we need your skill, that might be a bit too much"


    "Director Wang, it seems you haven''t realized the value of my skill. But you''ll find out soon," Fang Xiu cut him off.


    "Mr. Fang, what do you mean by that?" Wang Dehai furrowed his brow slightly.


    "I brought a major gift with me to the bureau. When you see it, you''ll probably agree to my demands."


    "What kind of gift?" Maybe because he''s seen too many films, Wang Dehai had a bad feeling about this "major gift."


    Fang Xiu smiled faintly. "A life."


    Wang Dehai grew serious. "Whose?"


    "Bai Qi''s life."


    "Fang Xiu, what are you getting at? Are you threatening me using Bai Qi''s life?"


    "Not a threat, a gift. If you don''t believe me, give Bai Qi a call now."


    The way Fang Xiu was acting and speaking could easily be misunderstood. It resembled a self-assured movie viin holding a life hostage.


    Wang Dehai didn''t call right away but nced at Shen Lingxue instead. She got the message and stood up, positioning herself next to Fang Xiu. She was clearly ready to step in if things went south.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t phased; he came to help, not harm.


    Soon, Wang Dehai took out his phone to call Bai Qi.


    BEEP  BEEP  BEEP


    "The number you''ve called is not avable."


    Wang Dehai''s face hardened instantly, and he fixed his gaze on Fang Xiu. "Bai Qi''s phone, given by the bureau, is always on. Now it''s switched off. Mr. Fang, is this the ''gift'' you''re talking about?"


    BOOM!


    A bright, zing me flickered in Shen Lingxue''s petite hand, her face showing clear menace.


    "Talk! What did you do to the vice-captain?"


    Fang Xiu''s brow furrowed slightly. Did Yang Ming fail?


    Just then, a sharp ringtone cut through the room''s thick tension. Wang Dehai peeked at the screen; it showed an iing call from Yang Ming.


    He picked up with no hesitation.


    "Yes?"


    He barely got the word out before Yang Ming''s frantic voice rang out from the other end.


    "Director Wang! Is there a guy named Fang Xiu there?"


    Picking up on Yang Ming''s upset, unsettled tone, Wang Dehai''s mind raced to the worst-case scenario.


    "How do you know about Fang Xiu? Also, what happened to Bai Qi? Wasn''t he with you investigating the Human Head Specter? Fill me in!" he asked urgently.


    "Bai Qi? He''s badly hurt. But what about Fang Xiu? Is he"


    "What! Bai Qi is badly hurt!" Wang Dehai cut Yang Ming off, standing up abruptly. He fixed his gaze on the calm Fang Xiu before him. In seconds, a whirlwind of thoughts spiraled in his mind.


    _''Fang Xiu managed to seriously wound the best psychic in Greenvine; the group backing him must be extraordinarily powerful. Who are they? Not only demonstrating such strength but also daring to provoke the bureau after causing harm.''_


    Shen Lingxue couldn''t keep her cool either, as the me in her hand grewrger. She yelled, "Fang Xiu! Who are you? Who sent you? Your backers actually attacked Bai Qi?"


    Under the stern res from both, Fang Xiu simply suggested, "I think you should hear Yang Ming out fully."


    Wang Dehai narrowed his eyes, holding back from giving amand to attack. Considering that Fang Xiu had been able to seriously wound Bai Qi and still remained so confident, he clearly had substantial support.


    "Yang Ming, give me the full story. Now!"


    "Is Fang Xiu right there?" Yang Ming asked.


    Wang Dehai nodded solemnly. "Yes, he''s here in my office, iming he brought me a major gift. Now, with your call informing me of Bai Qi being seriously injured, it''s quite the ''gift'' indeed." "

 Chapter 48: Yang Mings Secret

    Chapter 48: Yang Ming''s Secret


    "Right, it was a major gift. Fang Xiu''s early warning call let me get there in time to save Bai Qi. Without that, Bai Qi would''ve been toast for sure."


    "What?" Wang Dehai was surprised. "You''re saying Fang Xiu gave you a heads-up to rescue Bai Qi?"


    "Yeah, I got a call from someone saying he was Fang Xiu. He told me that during Bai Qi''s fight with Human Head, another Specter would pop out from his shadow and ambush him, leading to Bai Qi getting killed. After I got the call, I got to Bai Qi ASAP, and it all went down just like Fang Xiu predicted. If I hadn''t shown up when I did, that''d be the end for Bai Qi!"


    Wang Dehai stared at Fang Xiu, so shocked he was tongue-tied.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu spoke up indifferently, "Director Wang, are you happy with my gift? And you, Miss Shen, put out your fire."


    WHOOSH!


    The mes in Shen Lingxue''s hand went out.


    She stared at Fang Xiu, at a loss for words. She couldn''t wrap her head around how Fang Xiu had saved Bai Qi, the top psychic in Greenvine, with just a phone call.


    "Fang Xiu, you''re at the bureau, right? Hold on, I''ming!" Yang Ming''s worried voice came through the phone, and then he hung up quickly.


    Wang Dehai took a moment to collect himself and then said, "Mr. Fang, you''re right. If Bai Qi''s situation wasn''t set up, your skill is indeed important. I can agree to your request, but let''s talk after we see the lottery results."


    He still had some doubts about Fang Xiu''s skills, even though Fang Xiu had saved Bai Qi. As the director of the Investigation Bureau, he had to be careful. Even if this guy seemed perfect, there''s always that tiny chance of being fooled.


    _''What if the whole Bai Qi thing was a setup? And Fang Xiu tipped off Yang Ming? Can''t rule that out. We''ll have to wait for the lottery results before deciding anything.''_


    Fang Xiu nodded. He got why Wang Dehai was being cautious, but he wasn''t worried. He already knew the winning lottery numbers for tonight; there would be no mistakes.


    After a bit of small talk, Fang Xiu was taken to a lounge to wait.


    As the director of the Investigation Bureau, Wang Dehai had a busy schedule and couldn''t spend the entire day chatting with Fang Xiu in his office.


    In the lounge, Fang Xiu and Shen Lingxue sat across from each other, sipping on their water.


    Because Fang Xiu''s skills were top secret, Shen Lingxue, who was in the loop, was given the job to keep an eye on him.


    But Shen Lingxue wasn''t happy about it. Especially since Fang Xiu had shared some of her weird habits and even her private tattoos, she felt like she had no secrets in front of Fang Xiu.


    In fact, Fang Xiu wasn''t too happy either. Now, whenever he saw a prettydy, he''d start thinking of his "wife." This thought made him feel like pulling out the scalpel and holding it against the smooth neck of the person in question.


    Just as they sat there in a somewhat awkward silence


    BANG!


    The lounge door was forcefully pushed open.


    A tall man with a square face, a wide nose, and some stubble walked in.


    It was Yang Ming.


    As soon as he got inside, Yang Ming''s eyes immediately locked onto Fang Xiu.


    "You''re Fang Xiu, right?"


    Fang Xiu nodded.


    "Lingxue, can you give us a minute? I need to chat with Fang Xiu alone."


    Shen Lingxue was kind of bored anyway, so she nodded and left the room.


    Once Shen Lingxue was gone, Yang Ming plopped down in a seat and stared at Fang Xiu with a worried look. "Fang Xiu, you haven''t spilled the beans about me drugging Bai Qi, have you?"


    Fang Xiu remained silent.


    He thought Yang Ming was focusing on the least important thing.


    _''In this situation, shouldn''t he be more worried about me knowing the future? Or maybe thanking me for saving Bai Qi?''_


    Yang Ming, however, was mostly freaking out about whether anyone else knew he drugged Bai Qi.


    After a moment of contemtion, Fang Xiu said, "Right now, it''s just you and me who know. But I can''t promise anything for the future."


    At first, Yang Ming breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Fang Xiu. But then his face turned unpleasant after Fang Xiu finished speaking.


    "What are you trying to say?" Yang Ming asked nervously.


    "I''m saying, you''ll need to pay me more if you want me to keep quiet."


    Instantly, Yang Ming''s face turned as unpleasant as if he had just eaten something repulsive. He forced a smile and said, "Fang Xiu, you wanna join us, right? You get that I''m the captain, don''t you? Do you understand how big of a deal that is? The bureau isplicated, and you''re the new guy. There''s a lot you can''t control. But if I, the captain, have your back, then"


    Fang Xiu interrupted him, "Mr. Yang, you wouldn''t want Bai Qi to find out about the drugging thing, would you?" "

 Chapter 49: An S-Class Psychic

    Chapter 49: An S-ss Psychic


    Yang Ming sounded anxious as he said, "Fang, you get that you''re ying with fire, right?"


    "A hundred spiritual coins," Fang Xiu shot back.


    "You!" Yang Ming''s expression darkened. "You haven''t even joined the Investigation Bureau yet. Do you understand that with just a word from me, I could ruin your life?"


    "Make it two hundred."


    "Seriously? Stop it! I only earn ten spiritual coins each month. You want two years'' worth of my sry? Fine, go ahead, spill it! I''d rather take a beating from Bai than lose that much. You''re basically robbing me."


    "Okay then."


    Fang Xiu stood up, swung open the lounge door, and took a deep breath before shouting, "Yang"


    "Hold on, don''t joke around!" Yang Ming looked scared and yanked Fang Xiu back in, mming the door shut. "Alright, can we stick to the first deal of a hundred spiritual coins?"


    Fang Xiu took another deep breath as he shouted, "Yang Ming will"


    "Okay, okay, two hundred it is!"


    In the end, Yang Ming begrudgingly took out two hundred spiritual coins from his stash and handed them over to Fang Xiu to secure his silence. After that, he felt awful, slumping into a corner and lighting up a smoke, much like the way he had when he first received the news of Bai Qi''s death.


    Later, at 7:50 pm


    In a small meeting room at the Investigation Bureau, Fang Xiu, Wang Dehai, and Shen Lingxue were sitting around a table engaged in conversation. Meanwhile, Yang Ming was hunched in a corner, wearing a sour expression.


    "Captain Yang, could you please put out that cigarette?" Shen Lingxue covered her nose.


    Yang Ming looked up and said, "Shen, could you lend me some spiritual coins?"


    The request only made Shen Lingxue even angrier. "I''m a top-level senior psychic earning only five spiritual coins a month. You''re the captain making twenty, and you''re asking me? No way."


    Hearing that the captain earned twenty spiritual coins a month, Fang Xiu realized he''d acted hastily. He made a mental note to shake down Yang Ming for moreter.


    "Okay, everyone, cut it out. There''s a phone call," Wang Dehai interjected.


    He picked up his phone and put it on speaker.


    "Director Wang, today''s winning lottery numbers are 1,12,17,18,26,27,05."


    As each number was announced, all eyes turned toward a piece of paper resting on the table. The exact same numbers were written on it: 1,12,17,18,26,27,05.


    It was a perfect match!


    They''d hit the jackpot!


    A hush fell over the room.


    Even Yang Ming, who had been smoking in the corner, hurried over.


    A few secondster, Wang Dehai ended the call.


    Yang Ming sprinted over and hugged Fang Xiu tightly, eximing, "Xiu, you''re my real bro starting today. Help me guess the next set of numbers, will ya?"


    Shen Lingxue took out her phone to double-check the winning numbers for this round.


    Fang Xiu shrugged off Yang Ming''s embrace. He didn''t like people who didn''t get the idea of personal space.


    "Okay, Yang Ming, knock it off. Using Fang Xiu''s ability to foresee the future can significantly drain his Spiritual Energy. We shouldn''t use it for trivial matters," Wang Dehai warned.


    Yang Ming finally let go and grumbled, "How''s this trivial? I''d risk losing some Spiritual Energy to not be broke."


    After Wang Dehai set Yang Ming straight, he turned to Fang Xiu with a warm smile. "Fang Xiu, now that we know your ability is genuine, I''d like to formally invite you to join the Investigation Bureau. We''ll also provide you with all the resources you''ve requested."


    Fang Xiu nodded, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. His past troubles seemed worth it now. With the Investigation Bureau''s support, his quest for revenge appeared more achievable.


    "We must ensure that Fang Xiu''s ability remains a closely guarded secret. We can tell others that his power is something akin to heightened awareness," Wang Dehai suggested.


    Turning to Shen Lingxue, he continued, "Since you''re one of the few who know the truth, Shen Lingxue, you''ll look out for him. Get everything set up for him."


    Even though Shen Lingxue wasn''t particrly enthusiastic about it, she followed orders. "Come on," she said to Fang Xiu, guiding him toplete all the necessary paperwork.


    Once they left, Wang Dehai turned to Yang Ming and asked, "So, what do you think about Fang Xiu?"


    Stubbing out his cigarette, Yang Ming replied, "He''s not your average guy. He''s reallyid-back. He''s young, but he''s already been through a Specter event. He''s a bit of an enigma; nothing seems to mess with his feelings. Plus, he''s got this unique air about him."


    "Care to exin?" Wang Dehai asked, furrowing his brow.


    "He''spletely indifferent to life and death," Yang Ming remarked, his expression grave.


    "You mean, like, he''s numb to it?"


    "Exactly," Yang Ming confirmed. "I''ve witnessed a simr demeanor in some hired guns and hitmen. It''s close to what Fang Xiu exhibits, but not quite the same."


    "So, what sets him apart?"


    Yang Ming shrugged. "Can''t really exin it. But it''s like Fang Xiu''s been through death over and over. If hitmen aren''t scared of dying, Fang Xiu seems like he''s used to it."


    "You think he''s used to death?" Wang Dehai looked stunned. "You sure you''re not reading him wrong?"


    Right then, Yang Ming burst intoughter, returning to his usual easygoing demeanor. "Look, I don''t have super sense or anything. I know him just as much as you do. So, what are you gonna tell the higher-ups about Fang Xiu, Director Wang?"


    Wang Dehai paused for a moment before stating, "I''mpiling all the information about Fang Xiu into a confidential file. I''ll brief the higher-ups at the Investigation Bureau and propose that we include him in the Global Psychic Talent Database. He''ll be ssified as S-ss and operate under the codename ''Oracle.''"


    "Really?" Yang Ming looked shocked. "You sure about that? Fang Xiu is incredibly valuable, you know. What if the higher-ups just take him? And why am I not in this Psychic Talent Database, but he gets S-ss? This isn''t right!"


    Wang Dehai didn''t bother responding to Yang Ming''sstment.


    "The whole point is that Fang Xiu is useful," Wang Dehai exined. "With all these global Specter events happening, something big''sing up. He''d be way more helpful at the headquarters than just staying in Greenvine."


    "You sound so full of yourself," Yang Ming said sarcastically. However, secretly, he thought that if Fang Xiu were relocated, at least he wouldn''t have to put up with the guy''s threats every day.


    "There''s one more thing," Wang Dehai added. "There''s another survivor, Zhao Hao, who''s close to Fang Xiu. They''ve been through a lot together. I''m thinking he could also be part of the Investigation Bureau."


    Yang Ming looked confused for a moment. "Uh, Zhao Hao has some kind of sexual power, right? We''re recruiting that now?"


    Wang Dehai gave a small smile, "You''re missing the point. It''s all about having a strong bond. Whether Fang Xiu stays here or goes to the headquarters, having Zhao Hao around could be good for us."


    He added, "You''ve seen how distant Fang Xiu is. He''s joining us for the spiritual incense, but what if another group offers him something better? Or if we need him back here in Greenvine? In those situations, we could send Zhao Hao to talk to him. Plus, we''d only be paying one extra sry. Seems logical, right?"


    "Have you been watching ''One Piece''tely?" Yang Ming quipped.


    Wang Dehai''s face reddened slightly, and he cleared his throat twice to change the topic. "So, what''s the progress on the Shadow investigation? Do you think what happened to Bai Qi was an isted incident, or was it deliberate?"


    When Yang Ming heard "Shadow," he turned serious. It was a rare sight.


    "Although weck concrete evidence, I have a feeling it was intentional."

 Chapter 50: Ace of Spades

    Chapter 50: Ace of Spades


    "Tell me what you think," Wang Dehai pushed.


    "I''ve faced off with this Shadow before. He''s not like other Specters. Even though he''s covered in a dark shadow, fighting him feels more like I''m fighting a real person," Yang Ming exined, looking serious.


    Wang Dehai was concerned. "So you''re saying Shadow might not actually be a Specter, but maybe a psychic with shadow-based powers?"


    Yang Ming nodded. "Exactly. Shadow was incredibly powerful, and there was also Human Head helping him. If I hadn''t luckily beaten that Human Head first and leveled up to the third-tier, I would''ve lost for sure.


    "And honestly, even after leveling up, I wasn''t sure I could beat him. The weird thing is, he vanished as soon as he saw me level up. His fighting style was also odd. He seemed to be holding back. Even though it was powerful, Shadow let Human Head do most of the fighting. He only attacked a bit from the side.


    "It felt like he was waiting for me to level up, and that''s why he just left. That''s purely my spection thought, and it doesn''t make much sense. Those who wait and let the hero get stronger don''t exist in real life."


    A momentter, Yang Ming added, "Oh, and I found this."


    He dug into his pocket and pulled out a metallic poker card. It was battered, but you could tell it was an Ace of Spades.


    "Ace of Spades? And it''s made from Mind Steel!" Wang Dehai looked really deep in thought as he stared at the card.


    After a while, he said, "If this card is actually Shadow''s, we''ve got a serious problem. It pretty much proves that Shadow is not a Specter but a psychic, and possibly one belonging to a big organization."


    "Do you think Fang Xiu could be part of that organization?" Yang Ming asked, sounding suspicious.


    Wang Dehai shook his head, "I don''t think so. Fang Xiu''s ability to see the future is too valuable. Nobody would waste him by having him go undercover. He''s more useful if he remains in the background, predicting the future.


    He added, "Also, if the group behind Shadow was against us, it makes zero sense for them to have Fang Xiu warn you. They''d be better off if Bai Qi had died. Yang Ming, your main job now is to investigate Shadow. If he''s backed by an organization that''s after us, they could be even more dangerous than Specters."


    "Understood. I won''t rest until I get to the bottom of it. Bai Qi nearly died because of this. Whoever is behind it, I''ll uncover the truth," Yang Ming said, his eyes shing with determination.


    "So, what about Fang Xiu? Should we have someone guard him? After all, he has an important skill," Yang Ming asked.


    Wang Dehai thought it over and then shook his head slowly. "There''s no need. Right now, nobody knows who Fang Xiu really is. People just think he''s a new psychic with some kind of perception skill. They won''t pay much attention to him. But if we put a bodyguard on him, that might actually make him a target, which is way riskier.


    "Plus, Shadow is incredibly powerful. Except for you and Bai Qi, who else in Greenvine City''s Investigation Bureau could even handle him? You guys can''t stick to Fang Xiu 24/7. If you did, who would deal with all the Specters running around in Greenvine? So, the best n is to keep treating Fang Xiu like any other new psychic and not give him special protection."


    "Honey, I''ve missed you so much," Fang Xiu''s wife said, floating around him like a butterfly among flowers.


    But Fang Xiu just sat on the couch, idly examining his new investigator badge, his new uniform, and a special, encrypted phone. Then, he opened a ck briefcase next to him. Inside were exactly two hundred dark gold coins.


    The coins were heavy and small but adorned with intricate designs. They were forged from Mind Steel, also known as ''spiritual coins.'' They can carry Spiritual Energy. Just one of these coins could go for hundreds of thousands, even up to a million bucks, on the ck market. They were hard toe by.


    It was not that the coins themselves were valuable; it was just that very few people wanted to sell them. Most psychics hoard these spiritual coins to make their own Spiritual Energy weapons.


    After all, you couldn''t put a price on your life, especially when facing off against a Specter. A weapon made of spiritual coins could seriously enhancebat skills and increase the chance of survival, which no amount of money could achieve.


    Besides, the Investigation Bureau''s headquarters tightly controlled the production of these spiritual coins. Usually, they prioritized the coins for internal use, and only the surplus found its way into the outside world. That was what drove up the price of these coins on the ck market.


    Given how valuable these two hundred coins were, only a team leader like Yang Ming could get so many at once. An average psychic couldn''t even get that many if they tried to sell everything they have.


    Yang Ming made 20 spiritual coins each month, the top sry in the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau. But the real big bucks came from extra rewards for dealing with Specter incidents. The stronger your skills, the more spiritual coins you could earn.


    Even so, two hundred spiritual coins was not a small amount, even for someone like Yang Ming


    Fang Xiu understood the dynamic between Yang Ming and Bai Qi. Although they seemed like they had a love-hate thing going on, they likely had a strong bond.


    Yang Ming''s willingness to give in was partly to keep the drug incident a secret from Bai Qi. But mostly, it was like giving his thanks for the early warning that saved Bai Qi''s life.


    Staring at the spiritual coins, Fang Xiu fell into deep thought.


    _''Should I make an armor out of it?'' _


    He quickly nixed that idea. With his ''reset'' skill, he could mess up and still be okay. So, he didn''t need an armor. Plus, using two hundred spiritual coins to craft a full set of armor was impractical.


    That left him with two choices: craft a weapon or sell the coins.


    If he sold them, he could get into the Global Specter Forum to get more information about Specters and the truth of the world. He already had a scalpel, so the need for another weapon wasn''t high. But since the scalpel was a Specter Gadget, having a backup was a good idea.


    Two hundred spiritual coins might sound like a lot, but it wasn''t enough to craft something big like a sword. Luckily, Fang Xiu wasn''t nning on a sword.


    He was good with the scalpel. Besides, he didn''t need a super-lethal weapon. What he needed was something small, sharp, and good at breaking through things, like another scalpel.


    After thinking it over, Fang Xiu decided to use the two hundred spiritual coins to make another scalpel. It would work well for him and also hide his Specter Gadget.


    If any spiritual coins were left over, he''d use them to buy information.


    Just as he was deep in thought, suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. "

 Chapter 51: Looking Like A Fool

    Chapter 51: Looking Like A Fool


    Fang Xiu scrunched up his eyebrows, trying to figure out who was knocking.


    _''Can it be the investigation agency? Or maybe Zhao Hao? Why would anyone bother to knock at such ate hour when calling was so much simpler?''_


    Carefully, he stood up and made his way to the door. Instead of opening it immediately, he peered through the peephole.


    Much to his surprise, a red, bloodshot human eye stared back at him!


    The eye was wide open, with no visible eyelid. It was as if someone had gouged out the entire eyeball and pressed it against the peephole.


    The whites of the eye were bloodshot, while the pupil was pure ck. It looked as if the red veins had taken over the whole white part.


    Right when Fang Xiu was about to react, the bloodshot eye suddenly sent out a burst of Spiritual Energy.


    In an instant, everything went ck, and Fang Xiu''s consciousness sank as if someone had delivered a hard blow to the back of his head.


    Fang Xiu had no idea how much time had passed when he woke up again. He found himself in a run-down warehouse, tied to a metal chair with icy steel chains wrapped tightly around him.


    The ce was huge, its rough concrete floor covered in dark, dried bloodstains. There were no windows; the only source of light came from a couple of hanging bulbs, casting a creepy, ominous glow.


    A nasty, rotten smell filled the room, reminding him of decaying bodies.


    Not far from where he was sitting, a row of torture devices were disyed, and each one was covered in dark, crusty blood.


    It was obvious that a lot of people had met their end here.


    Maybe because of the eerie setting, the number of Specters floating around seemed higher than usual.


    A bunch of terrifying Specters were skulking about, some even circling Fang Xiu, drooling from their mouths. But they couldn''t touch him until they were "seen."


    Smack in the middle of the warehouse was an old, rusty meat grinder. The design was strange; facing Fang Xiu was a funnel full of rows of razor-sharp metal des.


    Not surprisingly, the meat grinder also had its share of dark, dried bloodstains.


    Next to this creepy device, a man in an all-ck outfit and a matching ck baseball cap stood. He appeared to be repairing the machine.


    Out of nowhere, the man seemed to sense something. He stopped what he was doing and quickly turned his head around.


    Two bloodshot eyes, almost devoid of white, locked onto Fang Xiu''s.


    These eyes belonged to an extremely pale young man. He was so skinny he was practically just skin and bones.


    Fang Xiu stared back without fear. He was well aware that this was the same guy who''d attacked him at his door earlier.


    As for how he did it, it probably had to do with his eerie, Specter-like eyes.


    _''Could he be psychic? Is his power connected to his eyes somehow?''_ Fang Xiu wondered.


    "You woke up pretty fast, so you''re clearly not a newbie psychic," the man rasped, staring intently at Fang Xiu. His voice dripped with a touch of madness. "Looks like you''re a genius like me. Perfect. I really enjoy torturing prodigies."


    The man talked like he was pleased with himself, his face splitting into a deranged, cruel grin.


    Facing the madness, Fang Xiu showed no sign of fear. He calmly asked, "So, is the machine ready yet?"


    The man seemed a bit surprised, then looked slightly flustered. "Sorry, it''s been a while since I killed anyone, so the machine''s kinda rusty. Just hang on a bit longer. It''ll be ready soon."


    "Speed it up. I don''t like to waste time," Fang Xiu replied.


    Seeing how rxed Fang Xiu looked, the man hesitated. The next moment, his body started shaking like crazy, his face twitching non-stop.


    All of a sudden, he broke into wild, insaneughter.


    "So, you''re the Fang Xiu I''ve heard about? You''re quite a character, exactly the kind of person I like. But my cousin died, so you have die too."


    "Ah, so you''re Wang Ziteng''s cousin?" Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    The man nodded and said, "Allow me to introduce myself. I''m Lin Ziyang, the genius cousin of my totally useless rtive."


    "You look pretty messed up in your head," Fang Xiu remarked.


    Lin Ziyangughed maniacally. "Messed up? Nah, I''m sober now more than ever. At least I know I need to get back at you for my cousin, right?"


    Hearing Lin Ziyang''s deranged words, Fang Xiu instantly thought of what he''d read about unstable Spiritual Energy on the Global Specter Forum. It was obvious Lin Ziyang was on the brink of losing his sanity, his Spiritual Energy going haywire.


    "You''re probably wondering why I''d want to get revenge on you for my cousin, right? You entered the Specter Zone together, and even went through some dangerous situation. A Specter killed him, not you. So why am I after you?"


    Lin Ziyang''s face suddenly twisted into an even uglier frown, his eyes fixed on Fang Xiu with a menacing look.


    "Because you should''ve been the one who died! Why did you live when my cousin didn''t? Does that mean he was weaker? I''m Lin Ziyang, and no one''s better than me, including my cousin! Oh, and there''s another guy, Zhao Hao, you should know"*(See trantor''s note)


    "I''m the one who killed your cousin," Fang Xiu cut off Lin Ziyang''s manic rant.


    In the middle of him going crazy, Lin Ziyang stopped, looking lost.


    "What did you just say?"


    "I''m the reason your cousin is dead. To be more exact, I set him up. He could''ve lived, but I attacked him from behind, and he couldn''t move. He could only watch as the Specter got closer and ate him alive. I just stood there, really enjoying his total despair," Fang Xiu said.


    Without a pause, he added, "Oh, wanna hear the best part? When he was dying, he tried to drag me down with him. He grabbed my pants with his blood-soaked hand. Know what I did? I stomped on his hand, crushing it until I heard bones crack. The screams he made were truly delightful."


    Lin Ziyang stared nkly at Fang Xiu for several seconds, lookingpletely shocked. Then, he snapped back to reality, getting even more manic and irate.


    "F*ck! F*ck! F*ck! You should be dead, not talking! You make me look like a total idiot! Ahh!"

 Chapter 52: Way of Death

    Chapter 52: Way of Death


    Fang Xiu calmly stared at him, as if he was watching a clown.


    "Don''t you dare look at me like that!" Lin Ziyang roared madly. "I''m going to torture you to death, grind you up in a meat grinder, and then feed you to stray cats and dogs!"


    As he spoke, Lin Ziyang actually took out a crumpled certificate from his pocket. A big red certificate, with the words "Kind-hearted Person" written on it.


    "See this? I kill people and feed them to dogs. Those people even gave me this sh*t, thinking I was feeding the dogs because I''m nice! Are you scared? Tell me, are you scared?!"


    Lin Ziyang''s eyes were increasingly bloodshot, and his eyeballs seemed about to burst.


    Keeping his cool, Fang Xiu said, "So you''re just another messed-up guy tainted by Specter energy. Who would''ve thought such weak Specter power could turn you into a rabid dog? How sad is that?"


    "You!" Lin Ziyang instantly became furious.


    In this warehouse, he had murdered a lot of people, but no one had ever acted like Fang Xiu, who didn''t seem scared at all.


    It was like Fang Xiu made Lin Ziyang feel like he was the one tied up.


    Usually, his victims would be shaking all over, with cold sweat pouring down, even begging to be set free, saying, "I''ll do anything. Just let me go."


    Hearing voices filled with fear and hopelessness intoxicated him.


    Lin Ziyang was close to losing his sanity, his Spiritual Energy turning him incredibly violent and insane. Hurting others was the only thing that could satisfy him. Feeding on people''s fear was the best part.


    But now, he felt neither fear nor respect from Fang Xiu, only mockery, and it drove him close to the edge.


    "I''ll make you wish you were dead! Let''s see how tough you talk when you''re all battered and barely breathing!"


    In a frenzy, Lin Ziyang went to the nearby table full of torture devices and started to select some tools. He grabbed a needle but thought it was too small, then a branding iron but still wasn''t satisfied. He wanted the worst tool to give Fang Xiu a lesson.


    "You''re seriously slow at picking a tool," Fang Xiu said, his calm voice echoing in the empty warehouse.


    "Argh!" Lin Ziyang screamed, mming his hands on the metal table. Tools flew everywhere.


    Fang Xiu''s calm hadpletely provoked him.


    Quickly, Lin Ziyang picked up a pair of pliers off the ground and menacingly walked toward Fang Xiu.


    "You sharp-tongued kid, I''m going to pull out each and every one of your teeth! The upper ones will be thrown to the ceiling, and the lower ones will be buried in the ground!"


    With a twisted grin, he kept waving the pliers in front of Fang Xiu, as if hoping to see fear on Fang Xiu''s face to satisfy his perverse desires.


    However, he was destined for disappointment. Fang Xiu''s face remained as calm as an ancient statue.


    Just as Lin Ziyang was about to lose his temperpletely, Fang Xiu spoke. His voice was tranquil, devoid of any emotion, "Which way of death would you prefer?"


    "What did you say?" Lin Ziyang was taken aback.


    "Do you want each of your bones to be crushed by a hammer, or be beaten into a pulp with every punch? Or perhaps death by slow dismemberment? Tell me, how would you like to die? I''ll do my best to amodate you," Fang Xiu said.


    At this moment, Fang Xiu, as calm as an enlightened monk, was unfazed. Yet his words sent chills down the spine.


    Fang Xiu''s words slowly wiped away the manic grin on Lin Ziyang''s face.


    He stared at Fang Xiu with bloodshot eyes, wordlessly overwhelmed by fear.


    "Having trouble deciding?"


    A faint smile curled at the corners of Fang Xiu''s mouth, his tone as casual as if he were helping an old friend choose what to have for dinner.


    "Well then, out of respect for the fact that you''re Wang Ziteng''s cousin, I''ll offer you a final act of mercy. I''ll choose for you," Fang Xiu said.


    Without a pause, he added, "Let''s go with dismemberment. I happen to have a scalpel. I''ll slice the flesh off your body, piece by piece. But I''m not a pro, so you might notst long enough to taste the real pain of it."


    At this point, Lin Ziyang''s gaze toward Fang Xiu changed, filled with incredulity. He was confusedFang Xiu was the one tied to the chair, like a piece of meat on a chopping board. Even so, he remained soposed, and his tone even tinged with subtle confidence.


    It was as if Lin Ziyang were the one tied up.


    This deeply irritated him.


    "Aaaargh!" Lin Ziyang screamed, his hands grabbing his hair frantically. His once-neat hairstyle was ruined, and he even yanked out a few strands, bloodied at the roots.


    "Madman! You''re the madman! Do you not see the situation? I''m the one in control of life and death here! And you dare ask me how I wish to die? If you think I''m bluffing, you should know that you could be dog food right this second. You''re just another thing for me to show off," Lin Ziyang told Fang Xiu, staring hard at him to find even a tiny bit of fear.


    But he was bound to be disappointed.


    Fang Xiu''s face didn''t betray any signs of fear. He just looked unwaveringly calm. "You''ve got it wrong. Your life''s been in my hands all along."


    "What are you even saying? Look around, man! Get a grip!" Lin Ziyang yelled, sounding frantic.


    Ignoring him, Fang Xiu turned his head to the side and directed his gaze toward a Specter hanging around nearby. This Specter was humanoid but with green skin, pointy things on its head, and razor-sharp ck ws.


    "So, you''re just floating around here? You hungry for some human or what?"


    Lin Ziyang was spooked. "Who are you talking to?"


    "A Specter. You really can''t see it? It''s right next to me."


    Lin Ziyang stared at the empty air next to Fang Xiu._ _


    _''Am I losing it, or has Fang Xiu gone crazy?''_


    Before Lin Ziyang could even finish thinking, something shocking happened. The air next to Fang Xiu became distorted, and this green Specter with razor-sharp ws appeared out of nowhere.


    "Where did this Spectere from?!" Lin Ziyang turned pale from fear.


    "Not just one," Fang Xiu replied, smirking a bit. He looked around the whole warehouse. "Come on out, all of you."


    As he said that, a bone-chilling scene unfolded. Five or six freaky Specters popped up out of nowhere, their eyes all shiny like they wanted to kill, making weird growling noises.


    "No, no, no! What''s going on, Fang Xiu? Make them go away!" Lin Ziyang started freaking out.


    "Dinner time, puppies," Fang Xiu said, like it was no big deal.


    KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!


    Someone was knocking on the door. Memories of the Specters cruelly dismembering him flooded Fang Xiu''s mind. Now it was Lin Ziyang''s turn to get a taste.


    Fang Xiu stood up slowly, each step echoing as he walked toward the door.


    Soon, Fang Xiu stood by the door.


    At the moment, there was just a door between him and Lin Ziyang. Fang Xiu was inside the room, and Lin Ziyang was outside now, peeking inside through the peephole, his eyes bloodshot.


    Lin Ziyang was on the other side, getting excited. He just had to wait for Fang Xiu to look through the door''s peephole.


    Just as Fang Xiu was going to take a peek, his sleeve moved, and there was a quick sh of silver.


    The scalpel appeared in his hand.


    In just a heartbeat, the scalpel flew straight into that peephole in the door.


    An ear-splitting scream filled the room.


    The scalpel pierced the hole easily and stabbed Lin Ziyang''s eyeball.


    Lin Ziyang was instantly blinded in one eye. However, he was a powerful guy, and losing just one eye wasn''t enough to incapacitate himpletely."

 Chapter 53: Waking Up

    Chapter 53: Waking Up


    Fang Xiu''s spiritual power was "pain."


    He channeled the dark Spiritual Energy from within him, and it flowed through the scalpel and into Lin Ziyang''s body.


    In no time, a pain so awful it couldn''t be put into words surged throughout his entire body.


    Right then, Lin Ziyang felt like he''d been brutally killed over and over again, crushed to a pulp, eaten alive, and had his head chopped off


    The pain from multiple awful deaths hit him all at once.


    Lin Ziyang didn''t evenst a second; he cked out immediately. He fell to the ground, knocked out cold.


    THUD!


    Fang Xiu pulled out the scalpel and swung the door open.


    He looked calmly at Lin Ziyang, whose face was a bloody mess. Then, he grabbed Lin Ziyang''s ankle and dragged him into the room like a sack of rice.


    The door banged shut, and peace came back to the hallway.


    A momentter, the motion-activated lights went out, concealing the bloodstains in the darkness.


    Inside the room, Fang Xiu began to search Lin Ziyang''s body. He liked having a secret weapon, something to use when things got really bad. However, he didn''t want anyone else to have one.


    Right now, being a new psychic and everything it entailed, Fang Xiu didn''t know a lot about the different tricks and secret weapons other psychics have. To make sure Lin Ziyang didn''t turn things aroundter during the nned torture, it made sense to search his body.


    Fang Xiu didn''t actually kill Lin Ziyang. With his spiritual power, he could''ve ended Lin Ziyang''s life the moment the scalpel pierced him.


    But he didn''t. He had, after all, promised Lin Ziyang a slow, painful death.


    _''A man has to keep his promise.''_


    Soon, Fang Xiu found five spiritual coins, some pocket change, a phone, a set of car keys, and a bronze candlestick shaped like a Specter, as well as some kind of good-deed award.


    When he picked up the bronze candlestick, he felt a chill crawl through him.


    "Specter Gadget?"


    Feeling the chill he knew all too well, Fang Xiu was sure this bronze candlestick was a Specter Gadget.


    Lin Ziyang had to be someone important, given that he even had a Specter Gadget.


    This Specter Gadget wasn''t as strong as the scalpel, but it was still a Specter Gadget.


    Fang Xiu figured Lin Ziyang''s power was probably like a second-tier psychic or at least close to it, perhaps even a powerful first-tier psychic.


    Thetter felt more likely; he couldn''t see a second-tier psychic being taken down in one hit.


    After a quick look, he set the bronze candlestick aside and picked up Lin Ziyang''s phone.


    Surprisingly, there was no password.


    There were two possible exnations: either Lin Ziyang was confident in his power, or his Spiritual Energy went haywire sometimes, and he was scared he''d forget the password.


    Either way, it didn''t matter to Fang Xiu. No password just made his work a little easier.


    He started browsing through the phone''s apps and messages.


    Five minutester, he found what he was looking for.


    Lin Ziyang was part of an organization called the Bright Club.


    Not a lot was known about the Bright Club, but it looked like an organization made up of civilian psychics.


    "People converted by Specter powers but calling themselves ''Bright''?" Fang Xiu mused.


    Apart from this, Fang Xiu also found numerous videos on Lin Ziyang''s phone, most of which showed gruesome images of him torturing others.


    There were also notes about buying spiritual incense on the ck market.


    That was probably why Lin Ziyang didn''t have many spiritual coins left; he likely spent them on incense.


    It seemed the incense couldn''tpletely control the wild Spiritual Energy; it could only provide some relief.


    Fang Xiu then destroyed the phone so no one could trace him.


    After that, he grabbed a bedsheet and wrapped Lin Ziyang in it. Then, he threw him over his shoulder and walked out.


    Using the cover of darkness and the run-down parts of the old town, Fang Xiu easily found Lin Ziyang''s car. He tossed Lin Ziyang into the car and headed straight for the warehouse.


    He got the address of this warehouse from Lin Ziyang''s phone, too.


    How did he know? Easy. Lin Ziyang had recorded a video of himself killing a delivery guy after having food sent there.


    Now, Fang Xiu understood why people say psychics with wild Spiritual Energy could sometimes be scarier than Specters themselves.


    A whileter, Lin Ziyang started to wake up. He was still unsure what had happened, but then, he immediately felt a searing pain in his left eye.


    "Argh!" He couldn''t help but scream in agony.


    With his one good eye, he quickly scanned his surroundings.


    The more he looked, the more it seemed familiar, for this was his warehouse.


    _''Hold on! Why am I tied up?'' _


    Lin Ziyang was shocked to see he was tied to a metal chair in the center of the warehouse.


    Not far away, a young guy was messing with a meat grinder.


    "You''re awake, finally. Took you long enough," the young man said calmly, his back turned to Lin Ziyang.


    The meat grinder started up, its des whirling fast, producing a grating noise.


    "Who are you? Who in the world are you?" Lin Ziyang yelled, his eyes glued to the meat grinder, realizing something bad was about to happen.


    "Oh? Youe knocking at my door in the middle of the night, and you don''t know who I am?"


    Lin Ziyang widened his eyes. "You''re Fang Xiu!"


    The memory came rushing back to him. He had been peering through the peephole, preparing to ambush Fang Xiu only for a knife to pierce his eye. Now, he found himself in this predicament."

 Chapter 54: Table Turned, No Mercy

    Chapter 54: Table Turned, No Mercy


    "You got it right. As a reward, I''ll cut you piece by piece," Fang Xiu said with a faint smile.


    He turned, and he was wearing a hood-like hat that concealed his entire face in shadows.


    He hid his face so Lin Ziyang couldn''t use his special eye powers. He didn''t blind Lin Ziyang''s other eye because he wanted him to see how messed up his end would be.


    Slowly walking up to Lin Ziyang, he stood still right behind him. No way Lin Ziyang could use his powers now.


    "Fang Xiu! You should let me go! I''m one of the Bright! Our leader is an incredibly strong psychic, and I''m his most trusted member. If you darey a finger on me, you''re as good as dead!"


    "Hush," Fang Xiu whispered into Lin Ziyang''s ear, "Like I said, I''ve got your life in my hand."


    His calm words carried a chilling, spine-tingling undertone.


    Lin Ziyang struggled violently, the iron chains on him nging wildly, but he couldn''t break free. These chains were his own idea, built to hold psychics tight; he had killed psychics here before.


    Now, these same chains would lead him to his demise.


    "What''s your deal? I have nothing against you! I just heard you''re a rising psychic and wanted to recruit you to join Bright."


    "Wrong. We do have unfinished business," Fang Xiu said.


    "Unfinished business?" Lin Ziyang was confused. "We just met. How could there be any unfinished business between us?"


    "You forgot about your loser cousin. I was the one who killed him."


    Lin Ziyang was taken aback for a moment but quickly replied, "My cousin was trash. If he''s dead, so be it."


    "That won''t do. What happens to one should happen to all. I killed your cousin, so you gotta go too."


    _''This dude is nuts!''_


    Lin Ziyang thought he was crazy, but Fang Xiu was way crazier.


    He wanted to say more, but Fang Xiu didn''t give him the chance.


    Fang Xiu ced both hands on Lin Ziyang''s shoulders and gave him a firm pat as he sneered, "Tables have turned. You deserve no mercy."


    WHOOSH!


    A glint of silver light.


    "Ah! F*ck!" Lin Ziyang let out an excruciating scream.


    There was merely a small cut on his chest.


    The wound was tiny, about an inch long, and not even half an inch deep. But even with such a small cut, Lin Ziyang felt like he was about to pass out from the pain.


    He hurriedly looked down, thinking his guts were out, only to see that the cut was surprisingly tiny.


    "Bastard! What''s on that de? Why does it hurt so bad?!"


    What caused Lin Ziyang to be in so much pain was Fang Xiu''s spiritual power. He had activated just a hint of it, but it was enough to make it feel like level-12 pain.


    WHOOSH!


    Another sh.


    Lin Ziyang continued to scream in agony.


    After more than a hundred shes, his voice had be hoarse. The wild look in his eyes was gone, reced only by never-ending fear.


    He pleaded, "Come on, just end it! Put me out of my misery!"


    Fang Xiu calmly stared at him, his face devoid of emotion.


    _''Who says you can''t fix Spiritual Energy when it gets out of control? Isn''t he fine now?''_


    Then Fang Xiu said slowly, "I ask, you answer. What''s the bronze candlestick for?"


    By now, Lin Ziyang was a wreck, broken down by endless pain. Quickly, he replied, "It helps keep away attacks from Specters. All you need to do is fill it with blood that has Spiritual Energy, then it can be ignited. Once ignited, it guards against Specters as far as the light goes. But if the Specter is strong, the blood burns up quicker."


    _''Blood with Spiritual Energy? That''s Blood from a psychic? Counting on burning blood to stay alivewow, that sounds like a handy Specter Gadget.''_ Fang Xiu thought.


    "How much of your Spiritual Energy have you expanded?" Fang Xiu asked.


    "Twenty percent! Just a tiny bit more, and I''d be advancing to a second-tier psychic."


    "Why''d your Spiritual Energy be unstable?"


    "The more Spiritual Energy you expand, the more your soul bes tainted."


    "So, why would anyone keep expanding their Spiritual energy?"


    "Because the contamination of your soul is gonna happen no matter what. It''s like putting a drop of ink in clear water; it''s gonna spread until the water turns ck. The only way to stop that is to keep adding more clear water, meaning you have to expand more Spiritual Energy," Lin Ziyang exined.


    He added, "But that''s just a quick fix. If you stop expanding Spiritual Energy, the ink will eventually make everything dark. You gotta keep moving up to stay okay. I couldn''t level up to the second-tier, so my Spiritual Energy became unstable. Our leader gave me this bronze candlestick, hoping it''d help me level up during a Specter attack."


    Lin Ziyang talked fast, trying to suppress his pain.


    He couldn''t take the hurt anymore; he just wanted it to end.


    "Name all the members of the Bright Club, what they can do, and how much Spiritual Energy they''ve expanded," Fang Xiu ordered.


    "Okay, I''ll tell you everything I know. But you must know that it''s a private organization, and many of the members keep their powers a secret, so I don''t know everything."


    Half an hourter, Fang Xiu got all the info he could from Lin Ziyang.


    "I''ve said it all. Just finish me off," Lin Ziyang managed to say, barely hanging on.


    "What''s the hurry? We''re just over a few hundred shes. Shouldn''t we aim for at least a thousand?"


    WHOOSH!


    "Aaargh! You liar! You rotten cheat!" Lin Ziyang shouted.


    "Don''t get me wrong. I never said answering me would save you," Fang Xiu replied.


    WHOOSH!


    "Argh! I swear, I''ll get you for this!"


    After even more slices, Lin Ziyang began to lose his mind.


    He still hurt like crazy, but his face became increasingly twisted, and his screams started to sound less human, more like the howls of some wild beast.


    His remaining eye was getting more and more bloodshot, almost turning into a sea of red. It looked like his eyeball might burst out of its socket.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t see any of this; he''d kept his back turned to Lin Ziyang to avoid any sneak attack.


    WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!


    After a few more shes, Fang Xiu sensed that something was amiss.


    Lin Ziyang stopped screaming. His body started shaking violently, as if countless mice were scurrying beneath his skin.


    And those "mice" were heading straight for his head, right to that eye!


    All of a sudden, a violent, Specter-like Spiritual Energy emanated from Lin Ziyang.


    "Is this a full-on Spiritual Energy meltdown? A mutation?" Fang Xiu''s eyes showed a hint of excitement.


    This was the first time he''d seen a psychic go through mutation, and he thought it would teach him something new.


    However, just to be on the safe side


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Fang Xiu quickly chopped off Lin Ziyang''s limbs.


    And right after that, Lin Ziyang''s head drooped down. He waspletely motionless, not making a sound."

 Chapter 55: More Cruel Than Specters

    Chapter 55: More Cruel Than Specters


    _''Is he dead?''_


    Fang Xiu furrowed his brow slightly.


    _''Did the mutation not stop? Or did I go too hard?''_


    Just as he was feeling a bit annoyed, out of nowhere, he thought he heard a squishy, tentacle-like squirming sound.


    In front of him, where he couldn''t see, four octopus-like tentacles popped out of Lin Ziyang''s remaining eye.


    These four tentaclestched onto Lin Ziyang''s eye socket and, with a soft tug, pulled the whole eye out, making a noise like popping a soda can''s tab.


    POP!


    Fang Xiu''s face tightened, and he immediately retreated ten meters away from Lin Ziyang.


    He was quick, but still not as quick as the tentacled eye.


    The eye was bloody, with only a ck pupil showing. It creepily crawled on top of Lin Ziyang''s head like some sort of spider.


    Its jet-ck pupil locked onto Fang Xiu, zoning in on him almost instantaneously.


    With a powerful jump, it shot toward Fang Xiu like a cannonball.


    WHOOSH!


    Almost at the same time, Fang Xiu swung his scalpel, trying to slice the mutant eye in two.


    But the eye dodged in midair, just missing the de.


    SMACK!


    Its squishy tentacles wrapped around Fang Xiu''s hand that was holding the scalpel.


    Fang Xiu kept his cool. He immediately switched hands to hold the scalpel and took another swing at the eye.


    The eye dodged like a slippery octopus. It moved to the other side of his hand before he could hit it.


    Fang Xiu couldn''t cut his own hand, so he had to stop swinging.


    He let go of the scalpel and tried to grab the eye instead.


    But the eye acted like it was alive. It crawled all over Fang Xiu, making it impossible to catch.


    It climbed higher and higher, now reaching Fang Xiu''s neck.


    Quickly figuring out it was aiming for his eyes, Fang Xiu stopped reaching for his neck and aimed for his eyes instead.


    _''Caught it!''_


    He felt a cold, slimy sensation on his hand.


    As his vision focused, he saw the Specter eyeball, tightly held in his grip.


    But the very next moment, a wave of Specter energy burst out of the eyeball.


    Fang Xiu''s vision went ck instantly, his consciousness blurred, and his hand reflexively let go.


    Taking the opportunity, the eyeball forcefully mmed into his right eye.


    A rush of sharp pain hit him, snapping Fang Xiu back to reality.


    He could feel that his right eye had been devoured! Eaten by this freaky eyeball!


    Not wasting a second, he lunged to grab it, catching thest tentacle before it couldpletely dive in.


    For a second, the scene looked like it came straight out of a horror movie. A man with a calm expression, gripping a tentacle growing out of his eye socket.


    But the tentacle was incredibly slippery. In a split second, it squirmed out of Fang Xiu''s grasp, making a noise like slurping up spaghetti, and it dug right back into his right eye socket.


    Fang Xiu remained calm. This little Specter trick was nothing out of the ordinary for him.


    The very next moment, he jammed two fingers ruthlessly into his right eye. But just as he was about to poke the eyeball, his fingers abruptly stopped.


    Because he realized he could actually see with his right eye again.


    Before, losing his right eye had made him blind. But now, after the Specter eye had entered, his vision was back. So, he decided to wait a bit longer.


    Soon, something bizarre happened; his right eye began to move involuntarily.


    Imagine one eye remained perfectly still while the other eye rapidly darted around, constantly scanning the surroundings. The eye even started to roll upward, hiding the ck pupil under the upper eyelid.


    Then, it rolled right in!


    Two scenes popped into Fang Xiu''s head: one from his left eye, showing the dimly lit warehouse, and the other from his right eye, revealing a sea of red with densely packed blood vessels. He could even see the inside of his skull.


    Right then, Lin Ziyang''s voice echoed in his mind.


    "Hahaha, Ace of Spades didn''t fool me. I did it!"


    Lin Ziyang''s voice was utterly manic, sounding less like a human and more like some creepy Specter.


    "Fang Xiu, I''m taking over your body! Don''t worry, I won''t wipe out your consciousness. I''ll just trap you in this body forever, to eternally experience pain! Hahaha."


    In the face of such a bizarre scene, Fang Xiu''s face showed no emotion. But when he heard the word ''suffering,'' he actuallyughed.


    "Make me suffer?" A small smirk crept onto his face, showing off his unnaturally white teeth. In the dim light, it appeared eerily unsettling.


    Lin Ziyang''s voice came again, "My suffering''s way worse than yours! Hmph! Let''s see how tough you act when I''m running the show. I''ll use your body to hurt everyone you care about, making you beg for the end!"


    In the next instant, a wave of Specter''s Spiritual Energy burst from the eyeball, aiming right for Fang Xiu''s thoughts and soul.


    It was like a toxic dump, constantly polluting Fang Xiu''s soul. And Lin Ziyang''s mind controlled the source, digging deeper and deeper into Fang Xiu''s spirit.


    His n was to pollute Fang Xiu''s soul, infect it with Specter power, and fully seize control of this body.


    But the second he fully dived into Fang Xiu''s soul, he froze.


    "What the heck is this ce?"


    Lin Ziyang felt like he''d fallen into an endless void, a darkness so twisted it was like a ck hole that relentlessly devoured everything in its path.


    Here, he was bombarded with boundless negative emotions.


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"


    "Payback time! You''re toast!"


    "Honey! As long as I''m alive, you''re destined to die!"


    "No one walks away after offing me eighteen times, no one!"


    "All Specters will perish!"


    "I will make the world feel pain!"


    Intense hatred and anger roared like a wild storm, relentlessly battering Lin Ziyang.


    Countless horrifying scenes of death rushed in like an avnche.


    Even though Lin Ziyang had lost control of his Spiritual Energy, and he''d fully mutated into a Specter, the twisted nature of Fang Xiu''s soul still left him trembling with fear.


    _''Is this for real? Is this actually a human soul?!''_


    At this moment, eerie Specter whispers surrounded Lin Ziyang from all sides. It was iprehensible, impossible to ignore, akin to a haunting enchantment. Each note of this eerie sound made his head throb in agony.


    Lin Ziyang felt like he was trapped in hell. He couldn''t take it anymore; he was scared out of his mind. He had to get out of there. This couldn''t be a human soul.


    Lin Ziyang quivered and thought. _''Fang Xiu? No way was he human; he''s more Specter-ish than any Specter I''ve ever met!''_


    "

 Chapter 56: Whos The Freak Now?

    Chapter 56: Who''s The Freak Now?


    No wonder Lin Ziyang felt this way. Even though he was left with only one eye, this eye had undergone Specter transformation, turning it into an iplete version of a Specter.


    His intention was to use his Specter power to corrupt Fang Xiu''s soul, thereby controlling Fang Xiu''s body. But now, it seemed that it was Fang Xiu who was corrupting his.


    Lin Ziyang suddenly felt thatpared to Fang Xiu, he was the real human.


    Just as he was about to retreat, he was horrified to find that he couldn''t move.


    It was like he was a small boat in a vast sea, with countless negative emotions forming huge waves, constantly crashing against him, overturning him.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu''s voice echoed in his mind.


    Fang Xiu''s voice had changed. It was no longer calm like still water but utterly terrifying and sinister, sounding like a demonic tune from hell.


    It seemed as if everything outside was just his facade, and the real him was within his soul.


    Fang Xiu smirked, "This is the pain you''re feeling? Too weak! Let me show you what real pain is! Hehehe!"


    With a terrifyingugh, the next moment, endless darkness surged toward Lin Ziyang.


    It was Fang Xiu''s dark Spiritual Energy, containing all the pain he had ever experienced.


    "No!!!" Lin Ziyang let out his final scream, and then he was engulfed by boundless torment.


    Outside, Fang Xiu, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.


    At that moment, both his eyes had fully recovered, and his vision was back to normal.


    However, his right eye was blood-red, with a pitch-ck pupil in the center, like a bottomless abyss.


    The next second, as he focused his thoughts, the blood-red in his right eye slowly faded, revealing a clear ck and white eye.


    "Blood Pupil? Is this Lin Ziyang''s ability?" Fang Xiu mumbled to himself.


    After Lin Ziyang died from endless pain, Fang Xiu became the master of the Blood Pupil and understood its power.


    The ability of the Blood Pupil is simple: a Spiritual Energy assault, simr to a psychic attack. Simply put, it was a deadly stare.


    Making eye contact with the Blood Pupil would result in a Spiritual Energy assault that directly targeted the soul.


    Ordinary people would copse and die from just one nce, while typical psychics, when caught off guard, would at least be momentarily dazed or at worst fall into aa. It was a perfect tool for surprise attacks.


    This was the inherent ability of the Blood Pupil, but after undergoing a mutation due to uncontrolled Spiritual Energy, its power changed.


    It gained the ability to create illusions, causing hallucinations through eye contact.


    Fang Xiu spected that during the mutation, Lin Ziyang''s Spiritual Energy might have surpassed its limits, making this eye evolve into the realm of a second-tier psychic.


    The manifestation of a first-tier psychic was the initial disy of their abilities.


    A second-tier psychic, on the other hand, had their abilities enhanced.


    Clearly, the Blood Pupil''s power had been strengthened, gaining the ability to create illusions.


    This brought a long-awaited sense of joy to Fang Xiu.


    Currently, only two things could stir his emotions: ughtering Specters and gaining strength.


    Of course, gaining strength was just a means to more effectively ughter Specters.


    Apart from acquiring the Blood Pupil and the candlestick, his own Spiritual Energy had grown to 5%. Fang Xiu spected that this can be attributed to his absorption of Lin Ziyang''s Spiritual Energy.


    Although Lin Ziyang had died, his entire Spiritual Energy went out of control and surged into the mutated Blood Pupil, which meant that when Lin Ziyang died inside Fang Xiu''s soul, all his Spiritual Energy was absorbed by him.


    Lin Ziyang''s death gave Fang Xiu a hint, a path of getting stronger by absorption.


    Other psychics dared not absorb other psychics'' Spiritual Energy, as it would deepen the soul''s corruption and cause Spiritual Energy to lose control. However, Fang Xiu had no fear.


    He couldpletely walk the path of absorption.


    But now there was a problem: Fang Xiu doesn''t know how to absorb Spiritual Energy.


    This opportunity only came because Lin Ziyang had willingly abandoned his body to enter Fang Xiu''s soul.


    Such chances might not happen again.


    Perhaps the Ace of Spades knows.


    Fang Xiu had kept Lin Ziyang''s word in mind. ording to him, Ace of Spades yed a significant role in his Specter transformation.


    Otherwise, even if a psychic''s Spiritual Energy went out of control, it wouldn''t necessarily concentrate all its energy into the Blood Pupil, causing it to fully mutate.


    As for who the Ace of Spades really was remained unknown to Fang Xiu, but whatever he had done had left Fang Xiu quite satisfied.


    Fang Xiu began cleaning up the aftermath. He threw Lin Ziyang''s corpse into a meat grinder, turning it into dog food.


    With the dog food, he got in the car and drove away.


    After feeding the stray dogs, Fang Xiu casually abandoned the car somewhere and left.


    Lin Ziyang''s car was nice, a luxury vehicle worth a million, but Fang Xiu couldn''t afford to keep it, as it might attract the attention of the Bright Club.


    The bronze candlestick was also the Specter Gadget of the Bright Club''s leader and was lent to Lin Ziyang.


    Fang Xiu could easily imagine that once the Bright Club found out, they''d send someone for revenge and to retrieve the bronze candlestick.


    To nip potential threats in the bud, he should take the chance to eliminate the Bright Club.


    That was the trouble with worldly affairs: killing one person often meant having to kill all rted ones.


    There was a saying Fang Xiu strongly agreed with: the underworld wasn''t just about fighting and killing; it was about worldly affairs.


    So, he should eliminate them all, cutting off his worldly ties.


    However, the time wasn''t right. The leader of the Bright Club was a second-tier psychic, and he had a significant number of subordinates. Among the various private organizations in Greenvine City, they were considered one of the most influential. Such power wasn''t something Fang Xiu could contend with at the moment.


    At the same time, at the ck Rose Bar


    From the outside, it appeared as a regr bar with average business and not many patrons.


    But only those within the psychic circle knew of its prestigious reputation.


    The ck Rose was the underground ck market of Greenvine City and a crucial hub where most regr psychics traded Spiritual Energy materials and information.


    Here, as long as you had money, you could buy many precious materials, like spiritual coins, spiritual incense, and even Specter Gadgets.


    Beyond buying and selling, the ce also facilitated various information trades, such as information on Specters, personal information on psychics, and even contract killings.


    Fang Xiu pushed open the doors of the ck Rose Bar and slowly walked in. He had learned about this underground market from Lin Ziyang.


    His arrival didn''t draw much attention from the patrons, but he could feel a sense of scrutinying from all around.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu was concealed under arge ck hood, his head bowed, and his face obscured by shadows, making it impossible to discern his features.


    He walked up to the counter, where a young man dressed as a bartender was intently polishing a ss.


    "Wee to the ck Rose. What can I get for you?" the bartender asked with a smile.


    "

 Chapter 57: The Black Rose

    Chapter 57: The ck Rose


    "I need a ck rose with twenty-four petals," Fang Xiu said calmly from under the ck hood.


    The attendant slightly stiffened and hesitated, saying, "I''m sorry, sir, we don''t have that kind of drink here."


    Fang Xiu shook his head. "I''m not asking for a drink, I want a flower."


    The attendant''s demeanor instantly became respectful. "Please, follow me."


    With that, he led Fang Xiu to a room behind the bar. There was a door secured with a code. After the attendant scanned his fingerprint, the door opened with a bang, revealing a long corridor.


    The hallway was dim, with just enough light to make out the path.


    "Please proceed. Someone inside will assist you."


    Fang Xiu nodded and entered. The door closed behind him.


    As he reached the end of the corridor and took a turn, he was met with an elevator. Next to it stood two burly men dressed in ck, their waists bulging, clearly concealing weapons.


    "Sir, please present your membership card."


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu produced Lin Ziyang''s membership card.


    The card was anonymous, so he confidently disyed it. The ck Rose was particr about client confidentiality. They issued membership cards only to qualified individuals, without mandatory registration.


    ording to Lin Ziyang, there was a mighty force behind the ck Rose, likely not local, with branches in many cities.


    After verifying the membership card, one of the men said, "Sir, entering the trading market requires a routine check. No conflicts are allowed inside. Please be noted."


    Fang Xiu nodded and let them scan him with their devices.


    Of course, they were only checking for firearms, bombs, and the like. Anything psychic in nature, they wouldn''t dare to touch.


    After the check, Fang Xiu entered the elevator, which then descended.


    It was clear that, like the Investigative Bureau, the underground market was literally underground.


    When the elevator doors opened, Fang Xiu walked into the trading hall. There weren''t many people, just a scattered dozen or so, but the ce was vast, roughly the size of a ser field.


    And this was just the main hall, not including separate rooms.


    Of those scattered few, except for a very rare number who wore no disguise, most were masked to some extent, with some even donning grand masks.


    This wasn''t surprising to Fang Xiu. Psychics were already rare, and there might be fewer than a hundred in all of Greenvine.


    The fact that there were a dozen people in this trading market was evidence of its influence.


    Just two steps in, a young woman with a striking face, an elegant figure, and dressed in ck professional attire approached him. She greeted him with a respectful yet radiant smile, "How may I assist you, sir?"


    "I want someone killed," Fang Xiu said tly.


    The woman''s expression remained unchanged, seemingly unphased by Fang Xiu''s request. She continued with her smile, "Very well, sir. Please,e this way."


    Fang Xiu was led to a discreet meeting room. After pouring tea, the woman excused herself.


    Shortly after, a man dressed in a sharp suit, wearing a delicate silver mask, appeared.


    "Good day, sir. I''m the manager of operations. My name is Cheng. So, who do you wish to eliminate?"


    "How much for the leader of the Bright Club?"


    Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion passed through Cheng''s eyes, but his professional demeanor didn''t let it show.


    He exined, "The leader of ''Bright'' is a second-tier psychic, and one of the best at that. To target him, you''ll need at least a second-tier psychic. Assassinating him means waging war against the entire ''Bright'', which means you''ll need significant manpower to handle his subordinates. The resources involved would be immense. Local assassins might not suffice. If you''re serious, we''ll need to call in people from outside, and that won''t be cheap."


    "How much?" Fang Xiu pressed.


    "For someone of that caliber, we don''t take money, only spiritual coins or material. Roughly, it would be about five thousand spiritual coins."


    This didn''t surprise Fang Xiu. After all, the head of a psychic force, with a lot of subordinates, couldn''t be cheap to take down.


    "How much for Tan Guangyuan of the Bright?"


    "Tan Guangyuan might not be a second-tier psychic, but he''s a core member with considerable strength. His assassination would cost at least a thousand spiritual coins."


    Fang Xiu remained silent, wishing he could have more coins in his pocket now.


    "What about Li Zhiwei?"


    "That''s cheaper, only two hundred spiritual coins."


    "Oh?" Fang Xiu was slightly surprised, "Why so cheap for him?"


    "Sir, your questions are now delving into valuable information. Unless you''re sure you want to eliminate Li Zhiwei and pay a deposit of a hundred spiritual coins or separately purchase the intel, I cannot reveal more."


    THUD!


    Fang Xiu ced a ck briefcase on the table. A clinking sound emanated from inside, unmistakably the sound of coins shing.


    Cheng inspected the contents of the briefcase and, upon verifying the exact amount of one hundred spiritual coins, he responded with a beaming smile.


    "Since you''ve ced an order, consider this piece of information aplimentary gift. Although Li Zhiwei is a core member, his ability is sensory in nature, meaning he isn''t strong in directbat. Hence the lower price. Another thing to note, Li Zhiwei is the cousin of the leader of ''Bright''."


    _''Another cousin? Doesn''t matter. I''ll kill this cousin, too.'' _


    Fang Xiu then asked, "When will the hit take ce?"


    "That''s a trade secret, and I''m afraid I can''t disclose it. However, we should be able to give you feedback within a week. You can download the ''Killed Yet?'' app. It''s an in-house developed mini-program, and you can monitor the assassin''s activities and track your order in real time. Or you can gather intel from external sources. Given that Li Zhiwei is a significant figure, news of his death shouldn''t be hard toe by. Once the deed is done, you have a month to gather information. If the assassination is sessful, you''ll need to pay the bnce within that month," Cheng exined with a smile.


    "And if the job isn''tpleted?"


    "If the assassination fails, we offer two options. First, we refund half of the amount paid for the task. Alternatively, you can add more money, and we''ll hire a more skilled assassin."


    Fang Xiu nodded, "Let''s draft the contract."


    Cheng quickly prepared a contract. "You can sign with your real name or a pseudonym."


    Fang Xiu was slightly taken aback, "A pseudonym is allowed?"


    Cheng nodded, "You''re a psychic. Try sensing the contract."


    Fang Xiu immediately picked up the contract and felt faint Specter energy fluctuations emanating from it.


    He instantly had a hunch, _''This contract is imbued with the power of a Specter Gadget.''_"

 Chapter 58: New Kill Order

    Chapter 58: New Kill Order


    Cheng''s eyes shed with surprise. Recognizing it as the Specter Gadget indicated that the guest in front of him might possess a Specter Gadget, or at least had hands-on experience with it. Otherwise, he couldn''t have identified it so urately.


    "The guest has a keen eye. Indeed, the contract is powered by the Specter Gadget. But rest assured, its force is harmless. It only ensures the contract''s effectiveness. If the assassination seeds and you don''t pay the bnce within a month, the contract will burn, turning into a wisp of Specter essence around you, making it easier for us to trace you for the payment."


    Fang Xiu nodded, ready to sign, when Cheng''s phone chimed with a system alert. He checked it, followed by an automated announcement. "You have a new ''Kill Order''. Please check."


    After a brief nce, Cheng apologized to Fang Xiu with a smile. "Sorry, a new order came in. Please continue."


    Fang Xiu nced at him, then wrote the number ''6'' on the contract. Without a word, he turned and left. Cheng respectfully stood up, bowing slightly. "Safe travels, sir. We wee you back anytime."


    After leaving the ck Rose Bar, Fang Xiu wandered around for a while, using his blood pupil to ensure he wasn''t followed. Then he returned home.


    Spending two hundred spiritual coins wasn''t a big deal for him. After all, it was money easily found. He could always ask Yang Ming for moreter.


    Eliminating Li Zhiwei was worth it. With his sensing ability, he was like the eyes of Bright Club. Removing such a threat might give Fang Xiu some peace for a while.


    Fang Xiu was never one to wait. If he had already offended Bright Club, he''d act first. Why wait for retaliation?


    So he skipped the middle steps and went straight for revenge.


    Why hire an assassin? Simple. He got the idea from reading novels. He''d read many stories where viins hired killers to target heroes and realized he could do the same.


    With this in mind, upon learning about the ck market, Fang Xiu immediately sought out an assassin. If it weren''t for ack of funds, he''d have offered money for the assassination of the leader of Bright Club. That way, he could permanently im the bronze candlestick.


    Whether the assassination seeded wasn''t important. Even if it failed, it would cause trouble for Bright Club, buying Fang Xiu some time.


    The next day, Fang Xiu reported to the Investigation Bureau. As a rookie psychic, he would typically undergo a series of training and only execute tasks upon passing.


    Zhao Hao had also joined the Investigation Bureau, under the arrangements of Wang Dehai. Both he and Fang Xiu started their training together.


    In the morning, there were theory sses, where specialized instructors taught them about the various characteristics of Specters, ways to deal with Specters, and how to better control their Spiritual Energy.


    The afternoon was dedicated to practical exercises: firearms, cold weapons, and hand-to-handbat. Though firearms were not very effective against Specters, it was essential to learn. After all, the enemies faced by the Investigation Bureau were not always Specters; they could also be humans.


    So, Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao trained rigorously for a week. During this time, through the bureau''s channels, Fang Xiu learned about Li Zhiwei''s death and made the final payment.


    One day, in the director''s office, Wang Dehai was talking to Yang Ming.


    "Headquarters actually decided not to transfer Fang Xiu and let him continue working in Greenvine?" Yang Ming was surprised.


    "Correct. ording to headquarters, Fang Xiu is still a first-tier. His foreseeing abilities can''t be maximized yet. They said we should wait until he reaches second-tier," Wang Dehai replied solemnly.


    Yang Ming seemed slightly puzzled. "Isn''t that good news? Fang Xiu staying here could be of significant benefit. Why the long face?"


    Wang Dehai sighed, "Do you really think headquarters left Fang Xiu here because they think he can''t be very useful right now? Take Bai Qi''s case, for example. If not for Fang Xiu, we in Greenvine would''ve lost a top member. Is that ''not very useful''?"


    Yang Ming''s expression turned grim. "Director Wang, are you suggesting that headquarters is keeping Fang Xiu in Greenvine because it''s safer for him here than at headquarters?"


    Wang Dehai nodded. "Exactly. The situation nationwide is getting worse. Headquarters is facing internal and external threats. Even within, it''s not safe. That''s why they chose not to transfer Fang Xiu for now."


    A sh of anger crossed Yang Ming''s face. "With the increasing Specter incidents, it''s true that headquarters bears the greatest burden. But it''s also where the highest concentration of top psychics are. It should be the safest ce. Why would it be dangerous?"


    Wang Dehai looked deeply into Yang Ming''s eyes. "Sometimes, the enemy is not only external. In these turbulent times, some people have different ambitions. Some corporate groups and even families have secretly cultivated their own psychics. Some have even colluded with foreign psychic forces."


    Yang Ming mmed his hand on the desk, furious. "Specter invasions are a global disaster. In the face of such catastrophe, how can anyone dare to engage in such treacherous activities?"


    "Power struggles have always been a part of history," Wang Dehai sighed. "Let it go, don''t get too worked up. Our priority now is to strengthen ourselves and train Fang Xiu. How''s the investigation into Ace of Spadesing along?"


    Yang Mingposed himself, saying, "We have some preliminary leads. Ace of Spades is indeed backed by arge organization called the Pokers. This group is very secretive and likely not based in Greenvine. Their root may very well be near headquarters."


    Wang Dehai thought it over for a moment and said, "Continue to investigate the Poker organization. By the way, how is Bai Qi''s condition?"


    "He''s mostly regained his mobility but is not ready forbat."


    "It seems his injuries were indeed severe. I initially nned to send him to handle the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone. Looks like we''ll have to send someone else."


    Yang Ming looked puzzled. "Green Mountain Mental Hospital is just a Grade D Specter Zone with no signs of spreading. Why the urgency?"


    Wang Dehai scoffed, "Willow Hill is Greenvine City''s affluent area, home to the rich and powerful. The developers behind it are several big-name bosses. Naturally, they''re pressuring the bureau to resolve the issue quickly to prevent damage to their assets."


    Yang Ming sneered, "These bastards. Ignoring more serious Specter incidents and focusing on the less threatening Green Mountain Mental Hospital. One day, I''ll deal with them."

 Chapter 59: Blackwater Village

    Chapter 59: ckwater Vige


    "Fine, stopining. Those developers pressured me through their connections. Besides, the Green Mountain Mental Hospital is part of the Specter incidents; it has to be dealt with sooner orter. I n to send Yang Kunpeng''s team."


    "Yang Kunpeng is a seasoned psychic; he should have no problem handling a Grade C Specter Zone. What about Fang Xiu? He''s been to Green Mountain Mental Hospital before. Is he going with them?"


    Wang Dehai shook his head. "Fang Xiu is a valuable asset. Besides, he''s still a rookie. He should be gaining experience from Grade-Ds for now. Once he umtes enough experience and his Spiritual Energy levels up, then we can talk about Grade C zones."


    Yang Ming smirked. "Aren''t you being overly protective? What''s the difference between C and D?"


    Wang Dehai''s face darkened. "Idiot! For a third-tier psychic like you, C and D may seem the same. You have the power of luck; you''re indestructible. So, you don''t care. If you or Bai Qi were leading, then Fang Xiu could go to Green Mountain Mental Hospital or even a more dangerous Specter Zones. But neither of you can be deployed right now, so it''s better to be safe than sorry!"


    "A man should go through trials of blood and fire, not be coddled."


    "Get out! Go bring Fang Xiu to me!" Wang Dehai roared, sending Yang Ming out of the room.


    Yang Ming reluctantly scratched his ear and left to fetch Fang Xiu.


    In Greenvine City''s downtown, a group of men and women gathered on the rooftop of a tall building. From the way they were dressed, it was obvious that they were elites.


    The leader was a tall man in his twenties, d in a custom-made white suit. He held an expensive red wine ss in his hand and sipped it with a stern expression.


    The others, too, wore a somber expression and remained silent.


    Suddenly, the man in the white suit broke the silence. "Lin Ziyang has disappeared, the candlestick is missing, and my cousin has been assassinated. Who the hell did this?!"


    SMASH!


    He violently threw his wine ss onto the ground, shattering it and spilling wine everywhere.


    Seeing the man in the white suit lose his temper, the faces of the others turned uneasy; some even showed a hint of fear.


    "This is a deliberate attack on me! On Bright Club! Investigate! Dig deep!"


    At that moment, a sultry woman in a burgundy long dress and high heels sauntered over. She sashayed her slim waist and sat on the man''sp.


    "Come on, cool down," she said, offering him a wine ss marked with her red lipstick.


    He took the ss, downed it in one gulp, and threw it to the ground again.


    Swearing loudly, he said, "Did you eat fish? Why is there such a fishy taste?"


    The woman giggled. "You know me. I don''t like fish. I was just with some other guy and forgot to rinse my mouth, that''s all."


    The man in the white suit froze for a moment, his face contorted in rage, as if he''d eaten something disgusting.


    He abruptly tried to push away the woman, but she had already anticipated his move, skillfully dodging with a yfulugh.


    "You wretched woman, you"


    "Come on, don''t be mad. You''ll scare me, and I really do love you, you know."


    The man in the white suit grew angrier, "You dare to say you love me while you''ve been kissing others?"


    "Don''t make it sound so nasty. Whatever happened with them was just for show. My real feelings are for you."


    At this point, the man in the white suit seemed truly infuriated. He stood up abruptly, his face intimidating, his eyes fierce, like a tigering down a mountain.


    Seeing him truly angry, the woman quickly changed her tune. "Darling, leave this mission to me. I promise you''ll be pleased within a week."


    She turned and ran toward the door, pausing to blow a kiss at him. Seeing him about to get angry again, she quickly dashed out with a gigglyugh.


    At the Investigation Bureau, Fang Xiu entered Wang Dehai''s office.


    Wang Dehai looked serious.


    "Fang Xiu, I''ve called you here for an important mission."


    "If it''s unrted to Specter, I''m not interested," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    "Don''t worry, the main focus of our bureau is tobat Specter. Your assignment is to investigate and resolve the Specter situation in ckwater Vige. This is a very important and dangerous mission, Fang Xiu. It''s initially rated as a Grade C, but the rating was temporary, meaning it might even go higher," Wang Dehai said gravely.


    At the same time, he secretly thought to himself that the rating could also go lower. In fact, the initial C rating for ckwater Specter incident was downgraded to D after it was found that only one viger had died without further danger spreading.


    Wang Dehai chose his words carefully, fearing Fang Xiu''s youthful bravado might make him underestimate a D mission, especially considering his strong resentment toward Specters.


    "ckwater?" Fang Xiu looked somewhat puzzled, as he had never heard of the vige.


    "It''s normal you haven''t heard of it. It''s a remote mountain vige in the Greenvine area. Due to its inessibility, it''s scarcely popted, so not many people know about it," Wang Dehai said.


    Then, he began to exin, "ckwater Vige has a river with the same name, named for its dark waters. In recent years, many vigers have drowned in it. Initially, people thought these were just ordinary drowning cases, but ording to the vigers, there''s a water Specter in the river that grabs your feet while you''re swimming. More bizarre incidents urredter. One viger woke up to find himself half-submerged at the riverbank after going to sleep at home. Had he not woken up in time, he would have drowned."


    Without a pause, he continued, "Given these numerous ounts of Specter-rted activities and the actual deaths, the Investigation Bureau has provisionally determined that a Specter lives in ckwater. The Specter is codenamed ''Diver''. Your mission this time is to investigate and resolve the Water Specter incident. Since it''s your first mission and your abilities are top secret, Shen Lingxue, who is in the know, will lead the team. You, Zhao Hao, and another rookie psychic will carry out this mission."


    "Understood," Fang Xiu nodded. He was eager to take on this assignment, having not encountered a Specter for a week now.


    He relished the thought of driving a scalpel into a Specter.


    Moreover, the fact that this mission was initially rated as C, with the possibility of being upgraded to B, pleased him even more."

 Chapter 60: Dont Even Try To Pretend

    Chapter 60: Don''t Even Try To Pretend


    With Fang Xiu''s current skill setutilizing only 5% of his psychic energy, equipped with the scalpel and the bronze candlestick, the blood pupil, along with his ability to inflict painmundane Grade D missions had ceased to hold any allure for him.


    Plus, since he had hired some assassins, he was now in desperate need of cash.


    There were extra rewards for handling Specter problems at the Psychic Investigation Bureau. Dealing with a Grade D Specterted you 10 spiritual coins, a Grade C with 100 spiritual coins, and a Grade B with 1000 spiritual coins. It only went up from there.


    Fang Xiu had a special deal. He had asked for it, and Wang Dehai agreed, so he got double the reward. So, if he handled a Grade C Specter problem, he''d get 200 spiritual coins. He could then assassinate someone else from Bright Club.


    He thought that if he kept making money, he could one day buy the life of the leader of the Bright. And if he had 5,000 spiritual coins, he''d probably be stronger than that leader anyway.


    "Before you go on your mission, the Bureau is giving you a partner to handle the small jobs, like Shen Lingxue''s partner Li Wenhao you''ve met. Every official psychic gets paired with a regr agent," Wang Dehai suddenly said.


    _''A partner?''_


    Fang Xiu didn''t refuse. Having someone handling small stuff would be great. Seeing Fang Xiu didn''t mind, Wang Dehai picked up his office phone and called someone.


    "Kexin, get to my office," he said.


    Fang Xiu could hear the sounds of chairs moving from the phone. It sounded like someone had just stood up.


    "Ah, okay, okay, sir,ing right over," a soft, slightly pained female voice said.


    After hanging up, Wang Dehai said, "Kexin might seem a bit all over the ce, but she is very dedicated when ites to work. She graduated from a prestigious university and does a great job here at the Bureau."


    Wang Dehai started to say more, but Fang Xiu stopped him.


    "As long as she''s not in the way, that''s all I need," he said.


    A bitter, Fang Xiu heard quick footstepsing closer. They slowed down just before getting to the office, followed by the sound of someone adjusting their clothing and a faint pep talk.


    "Come on, Kexin, you can do it!"


    "Even if psychics are tough, if you put in effort, you''ll get noticed. Keep going!"


    She took a deep breath.


    KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!


    Someone was knocking on the door.


    "Come in."


    With a creak, the office door swung open, and a small young woman with pale skin and dainty features stepped in.


    She stood about 160 cm tall and wore a business suit that was a bit too big, making her already tiny size seem even smaller. Herrge ck pupils stared straight ahead, and her mouth held a somewhat stiff, nervous smile.


    She was obviously trying to seem professional, but her eyes clearly showed she was inexperienced.


    In short, she was a tiny woman in every way except for herrge eyes.


    "Hello, Director Wang," she said respectfully, while her eyes quickly nced over at Fang Xiu.


    Wang Dehai nodded and introduced her. "Kexin, meet Fang Xiu. You''ll be working with him from now on."


    The young woman quickly turned to Fang Xiu, bent over in a 90-degree bow, and nervously but politely said, "Hi, Mr. Fang. My name is Su Kexin, and my badge number is 1327."


    Before she could say anything else, Fang Xiu was already on his feet, looking at her without much expression. "Skip the pointless details. Just send me your phone numberter. Unless I contact you first, don''t call me unless it''s something important."


    "Huh?" Su Kexin looked up, herrge eyes showing a mix of confusion and hurt.


    Fang Xiu didn''t bother giving her more attention and started walking toward the door.


    "Your acting," he mumbled as he walked past her, "isn''t too bad. But cut it out next time."


    He left the room, not caring about the surprised look on Su Kexin''s face.


    After he was gone, Su Kexin held back her hurt feelings and softly asked, "Director Wang, does he not like me?"


    Wang Dehai consoled her, "Kexin, don''t worry about it. Psychics are just hard to get along with. You''ll have to get used to it."


    Su Kexin pushed aside her sad feelings, clenched her small fist, and dered, "I''ll definitely do my best!"


    Not long after he stepped out, Fang Xiu got a text from Su Kexin. It had her phone number, her name, and a brief message.


    "Mr. Fang, maybe you have some misunderstandings about me, but it''s okay. One day, I''ll prove myself to you with my job skills. Please take care of me going forward."


    After saving her number in his phone, Fang Xiu paid it no further attention.


    Even though Su Kexin seemed to fit the mold of a naive and innocent youngdy on the surface, Fang Xiu wasn''t buying it. He believed Su Kexin was way smarter than she was letting on.


    First off, Su Kexin had graduated from a prestigious university and had special training at the Investigation Bureau. She was no rookie. Even if it was her first time working with a psychic, she shouldn''t be excessively nervous.


    Next, as a partner, she should have some understanding of psychics and their heightened senses. But she still chose to give herself a pep talk right outside the door, which seemed more like it was meant for someone to hear.


    It wasn''t out of the question that Su Kexin really had that personality, but it didn''t make a difference to Fang Xiu. All he wanted in a partner was for them not to act independently and be a hindrance.


    The next day, a ck SUV rolled out of the Investigation Bureau, heading straight for the hilly ckwater area. At the wheel was Shen Lingxue, and riding along were Fang Xiu, Zhao Hao, and a plump man.


    Today, Shen Lingxue ditched her work clothes and wore a sporty white outfit, highlighting her already slim and attractive figure. If it weren''t for her somewhat aloof expression, she could easily pass for a youthful and athletic girl.


    Fang Xiu and the others were also dressed casually.


    Inside the car, the plump man started introducing himself. He assumed the role of a senior agent and said to Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao, "You guys are Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao, right? Nice to meet you. Just to introduce myself, myst name is Liu, and my first name is Shuai, just the single character that means ''handsome''. I''ve been around the Investigation Bureau for a bit, so you can just call me ''Handsome''."

 Chapter 61: Teleportation

    Chapter 61: Teleportation


    Zhao Hao looked at Liu Shuai''s 300-pound build and struggled to actually call him "Handsome."


    But then Liu Shuai said, "Since we''re all on this mission, let''s share what our abilities are. I''ll start. I''ve got spatial abilities."


    The phrase "spatial abilities" instantly made Zhao Hao gasp. Anybody with a littlemon sense would know that powers linked to space were super powerful.


    "Handsome, are you seriously a spatial psychic?" Zhao Hao asked, amazed.


    Liu Shuai grinned. "Yep, I''m a spatial psychic. I can teleport."


    Hearing this, Zhao Hao couldn''t hide his jealousy. "Teleporting, wow! That''s so cool. I thought my ability was awesome, but yours is even more amazing!"


    "What''s your ability?" Liu Shuai wondered.


    Zhao Hao paused, shooting an awkward look at Shen Lingxue, who was at the wheel. For some reason, he didn''t seem eager to say it.


    Noticing this, Shen Lingxue snorted, "If you''ve got such a power, no need to be shy. As team leader for this mission, I''ll list everyone''s abilities to make sure we all know. Fang Xiu has perception skills, Zhao Hao has a sex-rted ability, and our chunky friend Liu Shuai already told us his. Me, I control fire."


    When she said ''sex-rted ability,'' Zhao Hao went beet-red. Liu Shuai looked at him like he was some kind of freak and eximed, "Man, you''re really something!"


    Then Liu Shuai startedughing. "Seriously, a sex-rted ability? How do you n on fighting Specters? You gonna sleep with them?"


    The moment the words "sleep with Specters" were said, Zhao Hao''s face turned an even deeper shade of red.


    Just then, Shen Lingxue cut in, "Chunky, quit yourughing. You''re messing with my tunes. Besides, what''s so awesome about your power? You can only teleport like ten centimeters an hour. Nothing to brag about."


    Liu Shuai''sughter suddenly stopped, his face showing both frustration and anger, but he didn''t dare to say anything back.


    However, anotherugh joined in. "Haha, teleporting ten centimeters? That''s not even half as far as I can reach."


    The oneughing was Zhao Hao.


    Annoyed, Liu Shuai shot back, "Ten centimeters was before! I''ve gotten better. Now I can go twenty centimeters in half an hour!"


    "Haha, twenty centimeters? The second I use my ability, I can go farther than that!"


    "You''re so full of it. I don''t believe you!"


    "Enough!" Shen Lingxue yelled, making both of them shut up. "If either of you says one more thing, I''m kicking you out of this SUV, and you can jog to ckwater yourselves!"


    Both Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai instantly mmed up, not daring to chuckle or make a sound. They had been part of the Investigation Bureau long enough to know Shen Lingxue''s formidable abilities and no-nonsense attitude.


    Setting aside her personality, just in terms of her psychic powers alone, Shen Lingxue was a top-tier senior psychic. Her Spiritual Energy was already ignited at over 10%, a level that could easily overpower rookies in the psychic field.


    Coupled with her destructive fire ability, her strength was anything but insignificant among first-tier psychics.


    As Shen Lingxue''s mood soured, the inside of the car fell dead silent, except for the soft background music that continued to y.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu was deep in thought the whole trip, eyes closed. However, he felt slightly baffled.


    _''A Grade C Specter event, and they''re sending just one seasoned, first-tier psychic along with three neers? In the agency''s assessment, Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai were basically nonbatants, and I was not considered much better. Is this really the way to handle a C mission? Or is the agency so understaffed that they have no other option?''_


    Several hourster, their ride finally pulled into ckwater Vige. Encircled by steep mountains and hazardous terrain, a lengthy river meandered through the settlement.


    This was the ckwater River.


    Possibly due to some geological factors, the river''s waters looked dark and unfathomable, appearing ck when viewed from afar. As they arrived, the dimming sky and the setting sun created a spooky glow over ckwater.


    The ckwater River looked even more mysterious, resembling a ck python twisting around the mountain.


    Once they reached the outskirts of ckwater, Shen Lingxue opted to proceed on foot, as the mountain roads were too dangerous for the vehicle. The team collected their bags and cameras and began to walk.


    Shen Lingxue had used her connections at the bureau to pose as a TV crew, even coordinating with ckwater''s vige chief to set up a news story.


    After roughly an hour of trekking, they entered the territory of ckwater. By this time, the surroundings were shrouded inplete darkness.


    Shen Lingxue took out her phone to make contact with ckwater''s vige chief. Shortly thereafter, a young man assisting an older man slowly came into view. They were holdingnterns that gave off a subdued light.


    The flickering luminescence seemed to sway with their movements, casting a surreal pattern of light and shadow on their faces, enhancing the eerie ambiance of the mountain vige.


    "Are you Miss Shen from the TV station?" The elderly man asked, his voice quivering.


    Undeterred by the surrounding darkness, Shen Lingxue stepped forward, confirming, "Yes, I''m Shen Lingxue. You''re Chief Wang, I assume?"


    By this point, the elderly man had moved close enough for thenterns'' soft glow to illuminate everyone, fully revealing the facial features of the two vigers. Chief Wang had dark, weather-beaten skin and a somewhat stooped posture.


    His face was a roadmap of fine lines, etched by years of experience, and his eyes were slightly cloudy, hinting at his advanced years. Strikingly, his head was absent of any white hair; rather, his hair was dark and glossy, almost as if it had been oiled.


    The young man supporting him shared some physical traits with Chief Wang. He too had dark, glossy hair and a sun-tannedplexion. But his face was wrinkle-free, albeit slightly rough.


    When he saw Shen Lingxue, his earnest but awkward smile became even more uneasy. Had it not been for the covering darkness and his naturally dark skin, he probably would have turned a shade redder.


    Standing next to Chief Wang and his grandson, Shen Lingxue looked almost ethereal. Her refined features and smooth, porcin-like skin gave off the impression that she hailed from an entirely different universe.


    It was as if a radiant star had made anding in this remote, disadvantaged mountain vige.


    "My name is Wang Yougui, and this is my grandson, Wang Fugui. Fugui, go ahead and greet our visitors," Chief Wang instructed. His voice was robust and filled with a weing chuckle.


    The young man, now identified as Wang Fugui, awkwardly scratched his head before finally saying, "Hello Miss Shen, and greetings to everyone else here."


    **Trantor''s note: The grandfather and his grandson both have the character "Gui" in their names, which means "Expensive, noble" in Chinese. However, in China, it''s umon for three generations to share the same character in their names, a contrast to Western culture.**"

 Chapter 62: An Easy Mission

    Chapter 62: An Easy Mission


    Shen Lingxue nodded. "Pleased to meet everyone. Allow me to introduce our crew. They are Fang Xiu, Zhao Hao, and Liu Shuai from the TV station. Chief Wang, I assume you''re already aware of why we''re here, am I right?"


    Chief Wang grinned as he nodded. "Absolutely, I''m well aware. The city aims to boost tourism, and you''vee to film the natural beauty of ckwater to help market it. This is a positive turn for ourmunity. We''re delighted to host you all for theing days. Sorry if we''ve brought you any inconvenience."


    "This is our job, so it''s no inconvenience. We''d appreciate your full support, Chief."


    "Absolutely, without a doubt. However, since it''s already evening, let''s schedule the filming for tomorrow. We don''t have any hotels, so you''ll be guests in my home. I can''t guarantee it will suit your city tastes."


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they followed Chief Wang to his residence.


    Inparison to the brick-and-tile dwellings of the other locals, Chief Wang''s home was noticeably cozier. Comprising several one-story buildings, it had the feel of a modest courtyard house.


    "Guifang, our visitors from the city have arrived. Get some food ready, quickly."


    Upon hearing Chief Wang''s call, a robust middle-aged woman emerged from the house.


    She appeared slightly bewildered by the sudden influx of city guests and seemed uncertain about what to do with her hands.


    "This is my daughter-inw, Wang Guifang. My son is working in the city, so it''s just us three living here. Make yourselvesfortable. Guifang, go ughter a chicken and stir-fry some mushrooms and wild vegetables for our guests."


    Wang Guifang swiftly exited, seemingly eager to evade the awkwardness and get started on dinner.


    Zhao Hao immediately spoke up, "Chief Wang, there''s really no need to go to such lengths. We had some food in the car earlier, so we''re not hungry."


    Shen Lingxue added, "Exactly, Chief Wang. We''ll pass on dinner. We''ve been on the road all day and we''re pretty worn out. We''d like to get some rest soon."


    "Oh, understood. My apologies for the misunderstanding. Guifang, hold off on the meal preparation. Boil some hot water instead. Fugui, guide Miss Shen and her crew to their sleeping quarters."


    "Sure thing, Grandpa."


    After some organized scurrying, Fang Xiu and the others settled into spaces within Chief Wang''s residence.


    Given the spacious nature of the home and only three inhabitants, there was ample room for everyone to have their own private area.


    Later that evening, when Chief Wang and his household returned to their rooms for the night, Fang Xiu and the team convened in one of the rooms.


    "Has anyone noticed anything out of the ordinary?" Shen Lingxue asked.


    Liu Shuai shook his head; nothing unusual had stood out to him.


    Zhao Hao, on the other hand, said, "Back when I was working in the city, I thought I had it rough. Butparing my situation with that of Chief Wang, my difficulties now appear insignificant."


    "The Wangs aren''t exactly rich, but they were willing to cook chicken for us," Liu Shuai suddenly pointed out. "That''s the real reason you said we ate in the car earlieryou didn''t want to put them out financially."


    Zhao Hao nodded in agreement, "Once we''re done with our assignment, I''m thinking of making a donation to ckwater."


    With her arms crossed, Shen Lingxue said evenly, "You''re not doing well yourself and struggle with the unpredictable nature of Spiritual Energy, yet you can''t stand to see others go through tough times?"


    Zhao Hao appeared slightly self-conscious but countered, "You also opposed eating the chicken, didn''t you?"


    "My objection was based on cautionwe''re on a mission and unaware of the Specter''s location. It''s more prudent not to ept food from strangers. Besides, while chicken may be a preciousmodity to them, they have other assets," Sheng Lingxue said.


    Then, "This is ckwater, a secluded mountain vige rich in natural resources. They''ve even built a brand name around their wild mountain chickens, selling them in urban markets for several times the price of ordinary chickens."


    This made Zhao Hao feel even more ufortable, akin to a poor person contemting donating to the rich.


    "So, those high-priced ckwater wild mountain chickens in the supermarkets are from this very vige?" Liu Shuai asked, astonished.


    Shen Lingxue nodded, making Zhao Hao feel even more embarrassed.


    "If nobody has discovered anything suspicious, let''s get some sleep. Tomorrow, we head to ckwater River. ording to the information, it''s the most likely location rted to the Specter. Also, since you three are neers, it''s best to sleep in the same room and take turns keeping watch. Remember, when ites to dealing with Specter events, the absence of abnormalities is the biggest anomaly," Shen Lingxue cautioned.


    Zhao Hao asked Shen Lingxue, "What about you? Aren''t you going to stay in the same room with us?"


    She scoffed dismissively, "After someone bes a psychic, their personality can be influenced by Specter powers, often intensifying negative emotional traits. Given the specific type of power youve awakened, its obvious how youve been affected."


    Zhao Hao hurriedly retorted, "What are you implying? I didn''t suggest that we all sleep together for any reason other than safety, given the Specter situation in ckwater."


    "Do you actually believe yourself?" Shen Lingxue responded, her tone dripping with skepticism. Without another word, she turned and left.


    Usually, when on a mission involving Specter incidents, Shen Lingxue would never choose to be alone in a room. In fact, she might not even sleep, given the potentially fatal risks. But this time was differentshe was in the know.


    This Specter incident wasn''t a Grade C task, as they''d said; it was actually a D. It was possibly even one of the easiest ones among the Ds.


    Wang Dehai was currently cing significant importance on Fang Xiu and didn''t want to expose him to too much risk. Yet, for the sake of skill enhancement, Fang Xiu still needed field experience. So, this particr Specter incident was handpicked by Wang Dehai as a training exercise specifically for Fang Xiu.


    And Shen Lingxue? She was essentially the babysitter.


    With her current power level, a Grade D mission wouldn''t offer any real benefits in terms of her skill advancement. So, she was here purely to take care of things. Wang Dehai had sent her to protect Fang Xiu and the others.


    Fang Xiu had enormous potential and could not be put at risk. As for Liu Shuai, even though his teleportation ability only covered a distance of twenty centimeters, the agency believed that once he advanced to the second tier, he would be a force to be reckoned with.


    Zhao Hao, on the other hand, was there mainly to make up the numbers and was includedrgely because of his rtionship with Fang Xiu.


    All of this contributed to Shen Lingxue''s growing sense of irritation.


    "

 Chapter 63: No Specter At All

    Chapter 63: No Specter At All


    After Shen Lingxue walked away, Zhao Hao drooped his head, his face etched with regret. "Hey, Chunky, why doesn''t she believe me? I was just trying to help."


    Zhao Hao had given up calling Liu Shuai "Handsome" when it didn''t really suit the man, now opting for "Chunky."


    "Um, maybe next time, clean your drool before talking. And stop calling me Chunky. I was in the Investigation Bureau before you. Call me ''Handsome'' or ''sir.''"


    "Who do you think you are, you idiot? What do you mean by clean my drool? You think you''re some kind of saint?" Zhao Hao immediately red up.


    "Haha, you were eyeing her corbone the whole time. You think we can''t see? She was practically bundled up; only her neckline was a bit exposed, and you couldn''t take your eyes off of it. If you guys slept in the same room, who knows what you''d do."


    "That''s nonsense! If you knew where I was looking, that means you were staring too!"


    Fang Xiu watched them fighting with a nk expression. Right then, he fully grasped the meaning of "useless teammate."


    Turning his back on them, he made his way to his room to get some rest.


    "Hey, where are you going, Xiu? Aren''t you staying with us? Don''t we have to keep watch tonight?"


    Ignoring the voice, Fang Xiu continued walking.


    He wasn''t so much worried about keeping watch as he was about the likelihood that Specters wouldn''t show up if there was a crowd.


    Plus, something else had caught his attention todaypeople''s hair.


    The vige chief and others seemed to have incredibly healthy hair. Wang Guifang and Wang Fugui were rtively younger, but the vige chief was close to eighty and had no gray hair.


    Fang Xiu had wondered if they might have dyed their hair, but that seemed improbable.


    In this remote mountain vige, nobody cared about hair dye; everybody knew each otherparticrly someone elderly like the vige chief. Moreover, obtaining hair dye here would be difficult; one would have to trek for hours to the nearest town.


    What raised Fang Xiu''s suspicion most was the fact that since arriving in ckwater, he had not encountered a single Specter!


    He couldn''t definitively say there were no Specters in ckwaterhe hadn''tbed through the whole vige, and the visibility was poor outside.


    Yet, this alone was enough to make him feel uneasy.


    In the city, Specters were all over the ce, and even on the journey to ckwater, though rare, they did exist.


    But since reaching ckwater, he had seen absolutely no Specters.


    There was only one other time Fang Xiu had experienced thisIn the Specter Zone of Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    _''Is ckwater also a Specter Zone?''_


    That thought perplexed Fang Xiu. His phone still had a signal, which was unlike his previous experience in Green Mountain Mental Hospital, where he lost all connectivity.


    This deepened his suspicions about the vigers'' unusually healthy hair. He knew in his gut that something in ckwater was amiss. Given his cautious nature, even the smallest irregrity seemed amplified.


    With his mind awash in these questions, Fang Xiu drifted into sleep. He wrapped himself in two nkets; despite having psychic abilities, he was still a mortal, not some invincible superhero.


    Late into the night, around three in the morning, the noise of water flowing reached Fang Xiu''s ears. He sensed an increasing dampness in the air, and the temperature seemed to drop around him.


    WHOOSH!


    Fang Xiu''s eyes shot open.


    "Has it finally shown up?"


    He murmured to himself before sitting up abruptly to survey his environment. He was greeted by pitch darkness; he couldn''t see a thing.


    Oddly enough, it felt as though the bed beneath him was shifting.


    Snapping into action, he swiftly grabbed his phone and activated the shlight.


    The powerful beam cut through the enveloping darkness, revealing what was under his bed. It wasn''t the firm limestone floor he remembered but waterriver water, to be exact!


    His bed was actually afloat on the ckwater River!


    The sound he had heard was indeed the ckwater River''s currents. In the shlight''s beam, he saw a few dim figures. Upon closer inspection, they were Shen Lingxue, Zhao Hao, and othersall in deep slumber.


    Just like Fang Xiu, their beds were also floating on the river''s surface."

 Chapter 64: Black Water

    Chapter 64: ck Water


    As the light flooded in, the ever-alert Shen Lingxue woke up instantly and she abruptly sat up in her bed.


    Her nket slid off, but she was fully clothed, so there was no awkward exposure. At most, her cor was a bit disheveled from sleep, revealing much of her fair corbone. It was a pity that Zhao Hao, who was particrly fond of that feature, was asleep and missed it.


    "Who''s there!"


    Shen Lingxue couldn''t make out Fang Xiu''s face as he shone a shlight at her.


    "It''s me," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    "When did you get into my room?" Shen Lingxue seemed quite displeased.


    "Look around before you speak."


    Fang Xiu waved the shlight, illuminating the dark river surrounding them.


    Realizing where they were, Shen Lingxue''s face turned ashen.


    "Is this ckwater River? What the hell happened? Did a Specter appear?"


    Her urgent voice woke up Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, who were sharing the same bed. The two jolted awake and almost fell into the water when they recognized their surroundings.


    "What the heck is this ce? We were sleeping just fine in bed; how did we end up in a river? This doesn''t make any sense!" Liu Shuai was pale as a ghost, clinging onto Zhao Hao like a lifebuoy.


    "Liu Shuai, don''t move around! With your weight, you''ll tip us over!" Zhao Hao was also terrified, holding on to Liu Shuai tightly.


    Ignoring the pair''s emotional embrace, Fang Xiu calmly surveyed the scene. He noticed that the bed was slowly drifting toward the center of ckwater River.


    Shining his shlight toward it, he faintly saw a dark whirlpool, like the gaping maw of an abyss, ready to swallow them whole.


    Seeing the whirlpool, the rest panicked, thinking of all sorts of dire possibilities.


    "That whirlpool''s gonna swallow us, let''s get out of here!"


    "Run? Where to? I can''t swim."


    "Don''t worry, I can."


    "What good does that do? The Specter might be underwater. If you go in, you''re noting back up."


    Listening to Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai argue back and forth, Shen Lingxue felt like her head was buzzing.


    "Shut up, all of you! No one gets in the water. Paddle with your hands!" she ordered.


    So Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai started paddling, but not Fang Xiu. He just stood there, observing silently.


    In his eyes, paddling was a foolish act. A Specter capable of silently transporting everyone to the ckwater River wouldn''t let them paddle away that easily.


    He was pondering, if they had been silently moved by the Specter, or they had actually been residing on ckwater River all along. Before long, Liu Shuai''s panicked voice rang out.


    "It''s useless! We''ve been paddling for so long, but we haven''t moved an inch! It''s as if something under the water is pulling the bed!"


    As his words echoed, everyone''s expression shifted slightly. Staring at the inky ckness beneath the bed, a nameless fear surged in their hearts, something akin to *thssophobia.


    It was like in the depths of the sea, there was no light, only endless ck water everywhere.


    "Not only are we not moving, we''re actually elerating towards the whirlpool in the center of the river," Shen Lingxue said gravely.


    "We absolutely can''t get close to that whirlpool. Once in the water, ourbat effectiveness will be severely reduced. This Specter has the ability to control the water, making the river its turf. We''ll unquestionably lose. Besides, my powers are me-based. In water, I''d be highly restricted, only capable of protecting myself."


    Shen Lingxue''s exnation nearly made Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai wet their pants. Zhao Hao instinctively turned his eyes toward Fang Xiu.


    "Xiu, what do we do?" Zhao Hao asked. After all, he only had survived Green Mountain Mental Hospital and be a psychic by following Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu calmly scanned the increasingly distant shore and finally set his eyes on a fairly robust tree. He opened the backpack on the bed, which was pre-packed with ropes, military shovels, handguns, and other tools. He grabbed a rope and a military shovel, connected them, and hurled it powerfully.


    The shovel, trailed by the rope, arced gracefully through the air andnded precisely on the tree trunk, wedging between the branches. Being a psychic, his control had reached an extraordinarily precise level, capable of feats that would require intensive training for ordinary people.


    "Everyone, grab onto my bed."


    At Fang Xiu''smand, their faces lit up. The three hurriedly moved closer to Fang Xiu''s bed; thankfully, the distance wasn''t great and the rope was there to help. Everyone quickly gathered together.


    Fang Xiu then started pulling the rope with force. Under the counterforce, they finally started moving toward the shore.


    Shen Lingxue looked at Fang Xiu as he pulled the rope and a flicker of surprise shed in her eyes.


    She realized that not everyone in her team was as useless as Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, who couldn''t help and just screamed. Fang Xiu''sposure surprised her. Not everyone could make urate judgments in a perilous situation; most would panic.


    One meter, two meters, three meters... They were getting further and further away from the whirlpool in the center of the river.


    Just then, something bizarre happened. The whirlpool began to slowly fade away. Shen Lingxue, who had been vigntly watching for any surprises, immediately noticed.


    "The whirlpool''s gone."


    _''Gone?''_


    Fang Xiu felt a twinge of suspicion. If the whirlpool was conjured by Specter, then its disappearance likely signaled the Specter''s location.


    But now, the whirlpool was gone, it probably means the Specter was nning something new, maybeing at them!


    Just as this thought crossed his mind, they abruptly felt themselves sinking. To be more precise the bed was sinking.


    Shen Lingxue''s face turned ashen. "This Specter is pulling the bed!"


    She quickly shone her shlight into the dark water below, but the abyss seemed to swallow the light itself. Barely visible were strands of hair, darker than the river water, undting beneath the surface.


    Shen Lingxue flipped her hand, and a hot, bright me appeared. With a forceful toss, the me hit the water.


    SIZZLE!


    Steam billowed as the river water boiled. Yet the bed continued to sink, now more than halfway submerged. It seemed that the water was going to swallow them whole.


    Shen Lingxue looked increasingly grim. Even above water, she couldn''t hurt a finger of this Specter, let alone beneath the surface.


    _''Is this where we meet our end?'' _she thought to herself.


    Shen Lingxue didn''t give in, continuously summoning more mes and hurling them into the water. But the elusive Specter dodged with ease, seemingly unafraid of her attacks. All she had done was waste a lot of Spiritual Energy.


    Finally, the bed sankpletely, and everyone was submerged. The moment they hit the water, a bone-chilling cold spread throughout their bodies. If they weren''t psychics, they would have been frozen stiff.


    "I can''t swim!" Liu Shuai struggled frantically, swallowing gulp after gulp of icy water.


    Zhao Hao acted swiftly to save him, but attempting to rescue a drowning person as an amateur could be dangerous, especially when that person was heavyset.


    In his panic, Liu Shuaitched onto Zhao Hao, making it impossible for him to stay afloat. Both started to sink, choking on water.


    With a chop to the neck, Fang Xiu knocked Liu Shuai unconscious. Only then could Zhao Hao finally break free to the surface.


    "Damn it! This fat guy almost killed me," Zhao Hao gasped for air, supporting the unconscious man with one arm.


    Shen Lingxue sensed something was off. "Why isn''t the Specter attacking?"


    Fang Xiu answered her question. "It''s waiting."


    "Waiting?"

 Chapter 65: Count On Me

    Chapter 65: Count On Me


    Fang Xiu exined, "Once you''re weakened, your earlier haphazard attacks weren''t entirely useless; they had a bit of a deterrent effect. Water and fire sh, and this Specter clearly doesn''t want to fight head-on with you. It''s just biding its time. This ckwater River is frigid to the bone. Even for a psychic, it''s hard to stay in the water for long. The cold will drain a lot of your energy and weaken you until you can''t fight backthen it''s the Specter''s turn to strike."


    "Damn it!" Shen Lingxue gritted her teeth. As a person who is already sensitive to cold, being fully submerged in the river was torment. Having already spent her Spiritual Energy attacking the water, she now felt chilled to the bone. Her normally fair face turned ghostly pale, and her lips lost their color.


    She never expected that, as a seasoned psychic, she would mess up during a Grade D mission. She began to suspect something was off. Could a Specter capable of moving ake really be a Grade D? Is it special abilities, or is it really that powerful?


    "Shen Lingxue, make a fire," Fang Xiu suddenly said.


    Shen Lingxue was taken aback. "My mes may be hotter than ordinary ones, but if you think I can boil this river dry, that''s not happening."


    "I''m not asking you to dry up the river. Just raise your hand and make some mes. It''ll provide some warmth. The cold water is draining your stamina; we need to conserve energy with the situation still unclear."


    Shen Lingxue hesitated for a moment.


    _''Am I supposed to be a human torch? Or a personal heater?''_


    Nheless, she followed the advice. Raising her pale, waterlogged hand, a burst of intense, warm light blossomed, dissipating some of the cold.


    "Ah, it''s so warm, like soaking in a hot spring," Zhao Hao made an ill-timed joke.


    Shen Lingxue shot him a cold re. "Usually, if you feel warm in extreme cold, it means you''re close to freezing to death."


    "What!?" Zhao Hao was scared enough to press the unconscious Liu Shuai against himself, trying to absorb some warmth.


    Maintaining the me, Shen Lingxue''s face regained a bit of color, but her expression became grimmer. "With my current Spiritual Energy, I can only keep this me up for maybe ten minutes. After that, my Spiritual Energy will be drained. What will we do when the Specter shows up?"


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at her. "Doesn''t matter. I''ll take care of it."


    "You''ll take care of it?" Shen Lingxue was highly skeptical. In her eyes, Fang Xiu''s ability was to foresee the futurea powerful skill, no doubt, but useless in directbat.


    But Zhao Haopletely trusted Fang Xiu. From their time in the mental hospital, Fang Xiu always remainedposed, even when facing the most menacing Specters. It was as if he had everything under control.


    "Xiu, do you see a way out?" Zhao Hao initially wanted to ask if Fang Xiu had seen the future, but remembering his confidentiality agreement, he cautiously rephrased his question.


    Fang Xiu gave a faint nod, offering no exnation.


    "Fantastic, Xiu! We''re counting on you!" Zhao Hao''s demeanor changed. He acted as if they were already out of danger.


    In reality, however, Fang Xiu hadn''t seen the future, nor had he even seen what the Specter looked like. But that didn''t matter.


    His actual motive for having Shen Lingxue create mes was to deplete her Spiritual Energy. He guessed that the water Specter''s reluctance to show itself was due to fearing theirbined strength.


    _''So who would the Specter be wary of?''_ Fang Xiu mulled it over. _''It must be be Shen Lingxue, a seasoned psychic with fire powers''_


    As time passed, the me in Shen Lingxue''s palm dimmed, nearing dying out. She was about to snuff it out to save some fighting strength, but Fang Xiu stopped her.


    "Keep it burning."


    Shen Lingxue nced at Fang Xiu''s calm face and ultimately chose to believe him. This was also due to the various mysterious feats Fang Xiu had demonstrated before at the Investigation Bureau.


    Facing someone who could seemingly predict the future, people are generally inclined to believe.


    Finally, Shen Lingxue couldn''t hold on anymore.


    "I can''t go on. My Spiritual Energy is depleted."


    As her words fell, the me in her palm instantly went out, plunging their surroundings into darkness.


    All that could be heard was the sound of flowing water. Everything else was eerily quiet.


    "S-something''s in the water!" Zhao Hao suddenly eximed in horror.


    Fang Xiu and the others immediately looked in the direction Zhao Hao was pointing and saw that the ck river seemed to be teeming with even darker shapes that were snaking around like water serpents.


    "What do we do now?" Shen Lingxue looked nervously at Fang Xiu. Devoid of her Spiritual Energy, she was now a sitting duck, with her hopes for survival entirely pinned on Fang Xiu.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Shen Lingxue felt that there was an intense, repressed excitement in Fang Xiu''s eyes.


    It wasn''t an illusion; Fang Xiu was genuinely excited.


    He hadn''t encountered a Specter for more than a week now. At this moment, he felt like a parched traveler who had just spotted a seductive oasis.


    Without a second thought, he dived into the water.


    Shen Lingxue and the others were immediately shocked.


    They couldn''t believe that Fang Xiu would act so boldly.


    Underwater, all Fang Xiu could see was darkness, with shapes resembling water serpents moving swiftly toward him.


    Fang Xiu immediately activated his blood pupil. Countless blood-red veins appeared in his right eye, densely interweaving until the white of his eye was covered in red, leaving only a pitch-ck pupil.


    Using his blood pupil, Fang Xiu finally saw what those ck serpentine shapes were.


    They were strands of slick, pitch-ck hair!


    The hair resembled what he had seen on the vige chief and others before. Equally thick, equally glossy.


    It seemed like the hair wanted to entangle Fang Xiu and drag him underwater.


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t about to give it a chance. A sh of silver light appeared in his hand, and he was now holding a scalpel that emitted a chilling Specter power.


    SWISH! SWISH!


    With a few shes, he immediately severed the strands of hair."

 Chapter 66: Body Under Water

    Chapter 66: Body Under Water


    The strength of the hair was unknown, but it couldn''t possibly resist the de of a Specter Gadget. Once the strands were cut, they snapped back to the riverbed like severed tentacles, disappearing without a trace.


    Fang Xiu was annoyed. He loathed these kinds of Specters. Not only were they elusive, but they also retreated after a single blow, depriving him of the pleasure of ughtering them. Without a second thought, Fang Xiu dove deeper, agile as a fish with his activated psychic power.


    Guided by his blood-pupil, he followed the direction the hair had retracted. Atst, upon reaching the bottom of theke, he saw the Specter''s true form.


    It was a female corpse!


    She was dressed in white, her skin pallid and her face unrecognizable due to swelling and decay. Even her eyeballs were gone, leaving only dark, empty sockets.


    Her long, sleek, ck hair floated at the river''s bottom, constantly writhing. From a distance, it resembled a thick nest of snakes. Excitement glinted even brighter in Fang Xiu''s eyes, and his blood-pupil faintly shimmered.


    He charged directly toward the female corpse.


    Perhaps angered by his actions, the corpse suddenly opened her lipless mouth and emitted a muffled roar. Her hair, like tens of thousands of water snakes, surged toward Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu was restricted in his movements underwater. It was impossible for him to cut all the hair with just a scalpel. However, he remained calm and showed no panic.


    A bloody light radiated from his right eye. Under its glow, the female corpse seemed as if hit by a hammer, letting out a shrill scream. The hair that had been attacking him suddenly retreated in fright, like an octopus pulling in its tentacles.


    Seizing the moment of her agony, an increasingly thrilled Fang Xiu aggressively swam toward her. By now, he started to feel a bit oxygen-deprived, a light dizziness setting in, but he didn''t stop. The Specter was right before him; he needed to make her feel pain.


    Sensing the approaching danger, the corpse extended her swollen, pale hand, lunging at Fang Xiu menacingly. But Fang Xiu didn''t care. His excitement was almost tangible in his eyes, and the calm expression on his face had vanished, reced by an involuntary, twisted grin.


    The next moment, the female corpse managed to grab Fang Xiu''s neck. Her grip was as cold and unyielding as iron. The sensation of piercing pain and suffocation hit him. Far from halting him, however, it only inmed his grim and terrifying expression even further.


    SWISH!


    Fang Xiu swung the scalpel in his hand fiercely, the sharp de cutting down from the forehead of the female corpse, slicing effortlessly and continuing its downward path. The forehead, between the brows, the nose bone, and the mouthall these areas instantly split open, forming a wound several centimeters deep.


    Fang Xiu even saw the rotten brain and white bones within the wound. With just that one strike, amplified by his pain-inflicting abilities, the female corpse couldn''t even muster a scream. Her whole body convulsed as if electrocuted.


    Her hands, which had been choking Fang Xiu''s neck, instinctively released their grip.


    Seeing the corpse in agony only fueled Fang Xiu''s excitement. Without giving her any time to recover, he shed againthis time, a horizontal cut.


    This second cut intersected with the first, forming a cross on the corpse''s face. If you''ve ever sliced a watermelon, you know that after you make a horizontal and a vertical cut, the flesh will open up like a blooming flower. That was exactly what happened to the corpse''s head at that moment.


    Concerned for her ''well-being,'' Fang Xiu intentionally refrained from using his full pain-inflicting abilities; he wanted her to suffer slowly. But the moment the second cut was made, the convulsing body of the corpse froze, seemingly bing just a lifeless corpse.


    Fang Xiu almost couldn''t believe that the Specter was this fragile.


    Before he could even react, the corpse''s hair sprang to life, detaching from her head and forming into a floating ck ball that whooshed away at an incredible speed, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.


    Seeing this, a cold sh burst in Fang Xiu''s eyes. He realized that the body was not the real Specter; it was the hair.


    He wanted to give chase, but he was at his limit. The suffocating feeling was bing increasingly unbearable, and the dizziness clouded his mind. Reluctantly, he resurfaced.


    SPLASH!


    Fang Xiu burst out of the water.


    Shen Lingxue and the others anxiously looked over. They were relieved to see Fang Xiu, but their faces filled with concern at the sight of the dark red handprint on his neck.


    "Xiu, are you alright? What about the Specter? Zhao Hao asked urgently.


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer right away but took several deep breaths to regain hisposure. "It got away. The real body of this Specter seems to be her hair."


    "Hair?"


    "Let''s not talk about this now. While the Specter has fled, let''s see if we can make it to shore!" Shen Lingxue said urgently.


    Everyone nodded and swam toward the shore.


    This time, the shore didn''t retreat as before; it stayed in ce.


    Soon, Fang Xiu and the others managed to drag Liu Shuai, who was like a dead fish, ashore. After reaching thend, they didn''t stop to rest but ran quite a distance away. Only after they were far from the water''s edge did they take a moment to catch their breaths.


    "Save him first!" Shen Lingxue ordered, immediately beginning to perform chestpressions on Liu Shuai. She didn''t stop until Liu Shuai spat out several mouthfuls of ice-cold river water.


    However, Liu Shuai still hadn''t regained consciousness, and his face was as pale as a sheet.


    "We need to give Liu Shuai a mouth-to-mouth. Who''s going to do it?" Shen Lingxue''s eyes shifted between Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao.


    Fang Xiu remained expressionless, while Zhao Hao looked visibly horrified. He nced at Liu Shuai''s chubby lips and felt that eating feces might be a better option.


    "Why don''t you do it?" Zhao Hao retorted.


    Shen Lingxue sneered, "Ever heard of the concept that men and women should not even touch hands when giving or receiving things? Why should I be the one to do it when there are two grown men here?"


    "So it''s fine if it''s guy-to-guy?" Zhao Hao shook his head vehemently, every hair on his body bristling with refusal.


    At this moment, Fang Xiu started walking toward Liu Shuai.


    A strange look crossed Shen Lingxue''s eyes, and Zhao Hao looked even more horrified. He wanted to say something but held back, fearing that Fang Xiu would ask him to step in.


    Just as everyone thought Fang Xiu was about to administer mouth-to-mouth...


    SMACK!


    Fang Xiu delivered a resounding p across Liu Shuai''s face.


    Liu Shuai let out a miserable scream and abruptly sat up.


    "Ow, who hit me?"


    "He''s awake now?" Zhao Hao was dumbstruck.


    Shen Lingxue''s expression turned unpleasant, and she red menacingly at Liu Shuai, "Were you pretending to be unconscious?"


    Liu Shuai immediately cried foul, "Pretending? What are you talking about? I genuinely passed out."

 Chapter 67: Modern Technology Vs. Specter

    Chapter 67: Modern Technology Vs. Specter


    "Did you really pass out?" Shen Lingxue simply couldn''t believe it. "You fainted from ack of oxygen, and you woke up from a single p without needing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?"


    Zhao Hao watched them and couldn''t help but add, "Wow, Shuai, trying to scam my first kiss, are you?"


    Liu Shuai felt utterly wronged; nobody believed him, no matter what he said.


    Only Fang Xiu knew the truthLiu Shuai really did faint. He woke up from a p because Fang Xiu channeled a bit of his pain-inducing ability. The intense pain effectively shocked him awake.


    After a few rounds of bickering, Shen Lingxue had had enough and put a stop to it. "Enough, Liu Shuai. We can talk about thister. Right now, we need to focus on how to deal with the water Specter in ckwater River! Fang Xiu, what exactly happened when you went underwater? Why did you say that the Specter is actually the hair?"


    "I saw a female corpse underwater," Fang Xiu began. "The thing that attacked us earlier was the hair of that corpse. After I dealt with the corpse, the hair seemed toe alive and detached itself. It ran away. So, my guess is that the hair is the real form of the Specter, and the corpse is just a puppet it controls."


    Shen Lingxue thought it over. "Dealt with the corpse? Even if the corpse isn''t the real Specter, it''s being controlled by one. This Specter can control ckwater River, so it must be powerful. How did you manage to handle the corpse?"


    "I have my ways," Fang Xiu replied, offering no further exnation.


    Shen Lingxue gave Fang Xiu a doubtful look. She wondered if perhaps this water Specter simply had a unique ability but was weak in directbat. Yet, something felt off.


    Noticing Fang Xiu didn''t want to borate, she dropped the subject. "Let''s head back for now. Once my Spiritual Energy recovers, we''lle back to ckwater River once it''s daylight and deal with the water Specter."


    Fang Xiu remained unmoved and asked, "So, what''s your n for handling the Specter tomorrow?"


    Shen Lingxue thought for a moment and said, "If even a rookie psychic like you can repel it, it''s clear that the Specter isn''t strong in fighting directly. The issue is its advantage in ckwater River, which makes it hard for my fire abilities to work. The best approach is to lure the water Specter ontond. Once someone manages to lure it out, I can easily take care of it with fire."


    After she spoke, she found Fang Xiu looking at her as if she were an idiot.


    It infuriated her. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have a better idea?"


    "Its hard for me to believe that you''re an experienced psychic from what you just said," Fang Xiu replied calmly. Although his tone wasn''t mocking, his words were.


    He took out an encrypted phone issued by the Investigation Bureau and started dialing.


    "Who are you calling? Let me guess, you''re reaching out to the Bureau for backup, asking other psychics to help?" Shen Lingxue said mockingly. "I''d put the phone down if I were you. The Bureau is already short-staffed, and they won''t send psychics for a Specter that hasn''t shown direct harm."


    However, Fang Xiu ignored her.


    Soon, the call connected.


    Su Kexin''s sleepy and soft voice came from the other end of the line, "Mr. Fang? Why are you calling sote"


    Fang Xiu cut her off, "Inform the higher-ups to send me a special ops team. Make sure they bring the highest-powered water pumps they have, as many as possible. To ckwater."


    Special ops teams consist of professionally trained soldiers. They are ordinary people but highly capable. Although they don''t possess Spiritual Energy, they are generally used to assist psychics in tasks such as crowd control, reconnaissance, and rescue operations.


    "Huh?" Su Kexin, who was still half-asleep, didn''t catch on right away. "Mr. Fang, what are you saying? Water pumps? Weren''t you on a mission? What do you need water pumps for?"


    "You don''t need to know why; just do as I say. If there are any questions, go talk to Wang Dehai. Tell him I said to do it."


    With that, Fang Xiu hung up.


    He turned back to Shen Lingxue and the others, only to find them staring at him, mouths agape.


    "Xiu, you''re not nning on draining ckwater River, are you?" Zhao Hao asked in shock.


    Fang Xiu nodded, saying, "From what we''ve seen, this Specter is smart and cunning. It avoids direct confrontation. So, luring it out would require someone to serve as bait. Otherwise, it won''t fall for it. In that case, the best course of action is to drain ckwater River, leaving it with nowhere to hide. We have the backing of the Investigation Bureau and can mobilize huge resources. Why not take advantage of that? Why go for the dangerous underwater fight? Besides, although ckwater River is long, it''s only deep in the middle. The rest is too shallow for hiding. We just need to block the upper and lower parts of the river and drain the middle."


    At this point, Shen Lingxue felt too embarrassed to meet Fang Xiu''s calm gaze. She looked away, speechless.


    She thought Fang Xiu was calling for backup from other psychics. She didn''t think he''d use modern technology to deal with the water Specter, an approach she had never considered. Yet she couldn''t deny it made perfect sense.


    Mobilizing a special ops team and some water pumps would certainly be resource-intensive, but it''s far less risky and far more effective than sending psychics to risk their lives. After all, the life of a psychic is far more valuable.


    Shen Lingxue had fallen into a mindsetmon among psychics. Although they might not openly say it, almost all psychics subconsciously considered themselves superior to ordinary people.


    In the same vein, they firmly believed that the only ones capable of dealing with Specters were psychics. Therefore, when faced with a Specter, their first instinct was always to solve it using psychic abilities, rather than involving regr people.


    Fang Xiu was different. He didn''t have the arrogancemon among psychics. Or, to put it another way, he simply didn''t care for such matters; he only cared about the Specter. As long as he could make the Specter suffer, he would use all means necessary.


    "Also, we can''t return to the vige chief''s house tonight," he added.


    "Why not?" Liu Shuai asked, shivering. At this point, everyone was drenched, and the mountain was quite chilly at night.


    Fang Xiu exined, "Didn''t you notice something off about the vigers'' hair? The vige chief should be around 70 to 80 years old, yet his hair is as ck and shiny as a young man''s. His grandson and daughter-inw also have the same crazy good hair."


    "Xiu, the chief could''ve just dyed his hair, right?" Liu Shuai started calling Fang Xiu by his first name since learning he singlehandedly fended off the Specter.


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at him and said, "The hair of the vige chief and his family is identical to the hair of the corpse I saw at the river bottom. If you want to risk death, you can go back."


    Hearing this, Liu Shuai couldn''t tell if he was more scared or cold, and involuntarily shivered. He chuckled nervously, "Well, camping doesn''t sound so bad then."


    Faced with Fang Xiu''s arrangements, everyone chose toply; even Shen Lingxue didn''t object. She was supposed to be the team leader, but now the one giving orders was Fang Xiu. The power dynamics had quietly shifted.


    So, they all found a spot far from ckwater River, built a fire, and spent the night around it."

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68


    The next morning, Fang Xiu received a phone call. The Special Operations Squad had made it near the mountain region close to ckwater. However, due to the difficult mountain roads, they couldn''t drive further, so they were walking toward ckwater and expected to arrive in about an hour.


    After setting up a meeting point, Fang Xiu went to the vige with the others. He also wore sunsses that he had readied ahead of time.


    He wanted to test a theory. He hadn''t seen other vigers yesterday because it had gotten toote, but today, he was eager to inspect their hair closely.


    Strolling through the vige, they immediately drew the attention of many vigers. Most of them were already out workingsome were farming, others were looking after livestock.


    Fang Xiu and the others'' outfits made it clear they were not from around here; they were city dwellers, which drew a lot of eyeballs. Yet, the vigers appeared more curious than unfriendly, probably because the vige chief had told them that they were journalists.


    As the vigers eyed them, they were also doing the same. What caught Fang Xiu''s attention was that all the vigers, without exception, had hair that was jet ck and lustrous.


    "Xiu, what''s the deal? Have all these people been munching on ck sesame seeds from childhood or what?" Zhao Hao asked, his voice quivering.


    "How could any ck sesame seeds be that potent? I''ve noticed some elderly vigers, and their hair is just as ck and glossyno sign of any gray strands," Liu Shuai chimed in.


    While the others were preupied with the vigers'' hair, Fang Xiu scanned the area.


    _''No Specters! Absolutely none!''_


    Fang Xiu now felt confident that there wasn''t a single Specter in the whole of ckwater.


    _''But why? If we''re in a Specter Zone, which would make the Specters invisible, then why is there still cell service? Is it because we are using encrypted phones from the Investigation Bureau?''_


    Taking out his own phone, Fang Xiu could see that it also had reception, although the signal was weaker due to the mountain area.


    Fang Xiu was baffled. The mystery surrounding the Specters was huge, and he felt like he had only begun to peel back theyers. Many strange things remained unexined.


    At that moment, he walked up to an elderly man basking in the sun. This senior looked much older than the vige chief, his face a maze of deep creases. He was contentedly puffing on his tobo pipe while soaking up the sunlight.


    "Excuse me, sir, may I ask how you keep your hair so dark and glossy? For someone your age, it looks more vibrant than that of young people."


    The old man shot Fang Xiu a confused look. "Why would a city folk like you mock an old man like me? My hair turned gray a decade ago. It''s not dark or even glossy."


    Upon hearing his words, Shen Lingxue and the others were immediately taken aback. They stared intently at his rich, shiny ck hair, a shiver running down their spines.


    Fang Xiu, however, kept his cool and calmly said, "I''m sorry. I must''ve been mistaken."


    After offering this apology, he turned and walked away with Shen Lingxue and the others.


    When they were far enough away, Zhao Hao couldn''t resist asking, "So, was that old guy''s hair actually ck or gray? Am I seeing colors wrong? Because it looked pretty ck to me."


    "I thought it looked ck too," Liu Shuai chimed in.


    "These vigers are certainly not normal; they must''ve been affected by the Specters," Shen Lingxue dered. "People who are influenced by Specters often exhibit strange traitslike being frail, emotionally unstable, and mentally exhausted. But there are other symptoms as well."


    Fang Xiu nced at her and calmly asked, "How can you be so sure that it''s the vigers who are affected and not us?"


    The rest were shocked hearing that. Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai looked noticeably paler.


    Just then, they heard voices in the distance.


    "Miss Shen, so you''re here."


    The individual approaching them was none other than Wang Fugui, the grandson of the vige chief.


    Out of breath, he asked, "You are all early birds, aren''t you? I came to invite you to breakfast but found your rooms empty."


    The group''s eyes immediately zeroed in on Wang Fugui''s lustrous ck hair, their expressions turning strangeparticrly Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, who now seemed more guarded.


    Fortunately, Shen Lingxue, a seasoned psychic, didn''t let any emotions show. "Yes, our work often requires us to wake up early," she replied.


    "Do you n to start filming soon? I could guide you to some beautiful spots."


    "We''ll decline for the moment; we intend to do some solo exploration today and will reach out if we need your assistance."


    Wang Fugui looked somewhat disappointed but relented, "The mountains can be quite dangerous, you know, what with wild boars and such. Having a guide might be helpful."


    "It''s alright. We''re experienced in fieldwork and have ample survival skills. We''ve been to more remote ces than this. For now, we''ll explore on our own and touch base with youter in the day."


    Seemingly unustomed to rejecting offers, Wang Fugui finally nodded in agreement.


    "However, steer clear of the central area of ckwater River," he cautioned.


    Maintaining her poise, Shen Lingxue asked, "Oh? Why should we avoid that ce?"


    Wang Fugui''s expression shifted to one of fear, as if he were recalling something terrifying.


    "Anyway, please don''t ask further. My grandfather doesn''t want to spread superstition, but there''s more than one person in the vige who ims that something strange happens there. So, better steer clear."


    Shen Lingxue nodded in understanding, and shortly afterward, Wang Fugui took his leave.


    Not too long after that, Fang Xiu''s phone buzzed.


    "Agent Fang, Team Ten of the Special Operations Squad has reached the designated area."


    "Understood, we''ll be there shortly," Fang Xiu replied before hanging up.


    Turning to the group, he dered, "Let''s put the vigers'' oddities aside for now and focus on the Specter situation at ckwater River."

 Chapter 69: Sudden Change

    Chapter 69: Sudden Change


    Once they got to ckwater River, Fang Xiu and his team moved quickly. Up ahead, they spotted a group in ck tactical uniforms and armed with submachine guns. These guys were big and stood up straight, obviously well-trained.


    But right in front of this Special Operations Squad stood a guy and a girl dressed like they were going on a hikewearing windbreakers, trekking boots, and carrying hiking poles and backpacks. They seemed to be having a heated discussion with the Special Operation Squad.


    "What''s the deal with kicking us out? You don''t own this ce. We''re just soaking in the view."


    "Exactly, this isn''t some tourist hotspot, but even if it was, we could just get tickets."


    "We''re on a specific mission. No one without authorization cane near. Please leave right now," said a member of the Special Operations Squad.


    Just then, Fang Xiu and his team showed up.


    One of the squad members jogged over and gave them a salute. "Agent Fang, Team Ten of the Special Operations Squad at your service."


    Fang Xiu gave a nod. Just as he was about to say something, the hiker and hispanion came up to him. The guy was tall, built, and had a rugged look, while the girl was also tall, had a tan, and looked like the outdoorsy type.


    "Are you the one in charge here? Who are you to"


    Fang Xiu cut her off mid-sentence, "Get them out of here."


    "Got it."


    The Special Operation Squad didn''t waste any time. Two of them started leading the man and woman away.


    The guy looked like he wanted to put up a fight but thought better of it when he saw how many of them there were and the guns they had. The girl, on the other hand, was making more noise than anyone else.


    "This isn''t over yet! You know who I am? My dad knows the Public Security chief, so you''ll"


    They slowly disappeared from view, still being led away.


    Zhao Hao shook his head, "Wow, some people. I used to think those videos online were fake, you know, folks thinking they can go toe-to-toe with armed forces. Yet here they are, brave enough to get in the faces of a fully-armed squad."


    "One of them said they''re adventurers who like off-the-grid spots. They showed up not long after we got here," a squad member chimed in.


    Fang Xiu nodded again, "Did Director Wang send you guys?"


    The guy nodded and showed his ID, "Yeah, Director Wang sent us to back you up."


    Fang Xiu wasn''t shocked; that was his privilege as a psychic possessing special power. Any other newbie withmon powers wouldn''t get this level of trust without a formal briefing. For him, one phone call did the trick.


    "Everything good to go?"


    "All set and ready."


    "Okay, let''s kick this off."


    At Fang Xiu''s orders, the Special Operations Squad got down to business.


    They moved quickly and skillfully. Some were digging holes and channeling water with their shovels, others were cing bunches of stic pipes, and a few were setting up pumps and generators.


    There were even team members specifically tasked with making sure the area was secure from any outside interference.


    It was clear they''d done their homework on rerouting the river water into adjacent low-lying areas. Before long, the noisy hum of machines echoed around them. Assisted by numerous pumps, the water level in the river started to drop fast.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai were both super impressed.


    "Is this what it''s like to be a pro? These guys really know their stuff."


    "Absolutely, if regr weapons were any good against Specters, we wouldn''t even need psychics."


    A few hours down the line, the riverbed was finally seen. They could see mud and scattered pools of water, as well as fish struggling in the muck and even some turtles.


    Throughout all of this, Fang Xiu and his team were on high alert for any water Specters that might show up, but none did.


    "There''s a woman''s body in the mud!" Zhao Hao yelled, pointing at the riverbed.


    Lying half-submerged in the mud was a headless female body.


    "Man, who could''ve done this? They''ve sliced her face into four sections!"


    Fang Xiu didn''t reply. Instead, he activated his blood pupil.


    While everyone was focused on the grim scene, he scanned the muddy terrain with the sunsses covering his eyes. A few secondster, his eyes fixed on a small puddle in the middle of the dried riverbed.


    Deactivating his blood pupil, he pointed his finger toward the puddle, "Shen Lingxue, hit that puddle with your fire."


    Without hesitating, Shen Lingxue did as told, fully aware that Fang Xiu had the power of foresight. She figured he must''ve known where the Specter was hiding.


    She opened her hand, and a zing fireball materialized, instantly heating up the area. Sheunched the fireball with force, aiming straight for the puddle Fang Xiu had pointed out.


    BOOM!


    The fireball burst, sending a wave of hot air across the vicinity. The water in the puddle instantly boiled away, and the surrounding wet mud began to dry and crack.


    Right at that moment, a piercing scream erupted from the depths of the puddle. After that, a mass of hair, squirming and giving off a burnt scent, shot up from the ground.


    "A Specter''s showing up!" Zhao Hao yelled, quickly ducking behind Fang Xiu for cover.


    The hair levitated, swirling around in a frenzy. Some strands, still on fire, were thrown off, simr to how a gecko sheds its tail.


    Angered, the hair started to spread outward like a rapidly expanding spider webit grew to five meters, then ten, then twenty, seemingly wanting to trap everyone there.


    That was when Shen Lingxue decided to act, fueled by a desire to get back at the coldke water she had been submerged in the previous day.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Intense, fiery mes formed in her palms, and sheunched them mercilessly at the writhing hair.


    Just then, Fang Xiu caught the sound of bullets being loaded into chambers. He squinted, directing his gaze at the Special Operations Squad.


    A gut feeling told him something wasn''t right. He wondered why these well-trained soldiers, who knew full well that firearms didn''t work against Specters, would be loading bullets without being told to.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai also chimed in, "Hang back and let Shen Lingxue handle this. Her powers are the perfect counter to this Specter."


    But in the next heartbeat, something shocking happened. Completely ignoring everyone''s advice, the Special Operations Squad lifted their guns and pointed them at Fang Xiu and his team.


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What''s going on? Aren''t we on the same team?" Zhao Hao screamed, panic-stricken.


    "Move, move! We can''t control ourselves!" one of the Special Operations Squad members managed to yell out, his voiceced with a rigid tension."

 Chapter 70: Killing Attempt

    Chapter 70: Killing Attempt


    "What!?" Shen Lingxue was horrified. She took her focus off the nearly burnt Specter and turned, aiming her fire at the members of the Special Operations Squad. But she found herself frozen, unable to actually go through with it.


    In that split second of her hesitation, the Special Operations Squad pulled their triggers.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Bullets surged out, mes dancing around them, zeroing in on Fang Xiu and hispanions. If it had been just a single pistol or only one shooter, maybe Fang Xiu could have dodged. But when up against a team wielding submachine guns, he was left with no alternative but to brace for impact.


    He also chose not to use his blood pupil ability, as it was designed to target one person only.


    In a matter of moments, Fang Xiu and the others were riddled with bullets, copsing into puddles of their own blood.


    When Fang Xiu opened his eyes again, he found himself back in ckwater, amidst vigers carrying on with their daily activities.


    He then heard Zhao Hao''s quivering voice. "Xiu, what''s the deal? Have all these people been munching on ck sesame seeds from childhood or what?"


    "How could any ck sesame seeds be that potent? I''ve noticed some elderly vigers, and their hair is just as ck and glossyno sign of any gray strands," Liu Shuai chimed in.


    Fang Xiu pieced together the timeframe he was incasually walking through ckwater. Soon enough, the Special Operations Squad would show up. Together they''d drain the river, uncover the hair Specter, and Shen Lingxue would take it on. Ultimately, they''d get shot by their supposed allies.


    _''So this hair Specter can manipte people?''_ Fang Xiu wondered.


    He thought back to the headless female corpse that had been under the Specter''s control. He never expected that the Specter could manipte so many people simultaneouslylike the entire Special Operations Squad.


    _''Why didn''t she directly control us? Is it because we''re shielded by Spiritual Energy?''_


    Fang Xiu felt something was wrong.


    _''Is the timing of that couple''s arrival a bit too convenient? Who goes to such a remote and barren ce for fun?''_


    After thinking it over, he decided to take control of the situation.


    As time rolled on, circumstances developed until they were once again by the ckwater River. The Special Operations Squad was in position, but this time, they hadpanya man and a woman, both wearing windbreakers.


    "What''s the deal with kicking us out? You don''t own this ce. We''re just soaking in the view."


    "Exactly, this isn''t some tourist hotspot, but even if it was, we could just get tickets."


    "We''re on a specific mission. No one without authorization cane near. Please leave right now," said a member of the Special Operations Squad.


    Watching the familiar situation y out, Fang Xiu guided his group forward.


    One squad member ran over quickly and saluted. "Agent Fang, Team Ten of the Special Operations Squad at your service."


    Fang Xiu nodded but stayed silent. Just then, the man and woman from before walked up. The woman started to question him arrogantly, just like before.


    "Are you the one in charge here? Who are you to"


    Studying the man and woman carefully, Fang Xiu didn''t notice anything unusual. Still, his philosophy had always been: when in doubt, act.


    WHOOSH!


    A swish of silver, and the woman''s voice abruptly cut off. Even the area seemed to fall silent. Shen Lingxue, the Special Operations Squadeveryone was staring, shocked at Fang Xiu and the woman.


    A scalpel was now shoved into the woman''s pale neck, held in ce by Fang Xiu.


    No one saw iting. Fang Xiu had attacked and killed without any warning. The woman was barely into her question when she was silenced forever.


    Ignoring the stunned expressions, Fang Xiu searched the woman''s face for any signs or tells. Her expression was mysterious, a blend of disbelief, confusion, and fear.


    With a huff, Fang Xiu yanked out the scalpel. A gush of blood erupted from the woman''s neck. He was no rookie; he knew to hit a major artery for a quick death.


    As the de came out, the woman gave a muffled groan, her eyes losing focus before she copsed.


    Fang Xiu slightly frowned._ ''Did I act so fast she couldn''t react? Or was I mistaken, and she''s just a regr person?''_


    "Fang Xiu! What the heck just happened?" Shen Lingxue''s voice, thick with shock and anger, shattered the silence.


    "They seemed off," was all Fang Xiu offered as an exnation.


    "He just killed her!" The man who''d been with the woman finally snapped out of it, screaming in terror as he turned to flee.


    WHOOSH!


    Another quick sh of silver. Now, the man had a hole in his neck as well. He was gone.


    By now, Shen Lingxue had already cautiously put some distance between herself and Fang Xiu.


    "Fang Xiu, I''m really starting to think you''ve gone off the deep end with your Spiritual Energy. You owe me an exnation!"


    "When I say they seem off, you can bet something''s fishy," Fang Xiu replied.


    Zhao Hao seemed to catch on and hesitantly asked, "Xiu, did you pick up on something?"


    Fang Xiu nodded.


    Shen Lingxue looked doubtful, but she had a bunch of questions she couldn''t just ask here. After all, Fang Xiu''s abilities were top secret.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t bothered by the doubt. He knew he''d soon go through a reset. Killing the two was just a way to cross them off the list of suspects. They showed up at very suspicious timing, and he wasn''t totally sold on the idea that the Specter was controlling the Special Operations Squad.


    Sure, there were other ways to check out his suspicions, but killing them was definitely the quickest route. Whether or not the couple was messing with things, offing them now would soon make it clear if the Special Operations Squad was still under someone''s control.


    Next, Fang Xiu turned to the Special Operations Squad andmanded, "Drop your weapons, now."


    The squad leader seemed unsure for a moment but ultimately did as told. Once they were all unarmed, Fang Xiu told them to start pumping out water."

 Chapter 71: The Best Way To Steer Out Of Abnormality

    Chapter 71: The Best Way To Steer Out Of Abnormality


    A few hourster, the bottom of ckwater River was seen once again.


    "Shen Lingxue, hit that puddle," Fang Xiu instructed.


    With a skeptical look at Fang Xiu, Shen Lingxue got down to business. Bright mes erupted from her hands, and she shot them right at the puddle. Just like before, the Hair Specter was blown out of the water.


    But this time around, Fang Xiu wasn''t focused on the Specter. Instead, he was keeping a close eye on the Special Operations Squad.


    While Shen Lingxue battled it out with the Specter, the Special Operations Squad sprung into action. Their hands and feet moved in a weird, jerky way, like puppets on strings. But after a quick couple of seconds, their actions suddenly became coordinated.


    One by one, they lunged at Fang Xiu and his crew like hungry predators.


    "Watch out! We''re losing control of ourselves!"


    The Special Operations Squad was quick, but Fang Xiu, who was ready for them, was even quicker. Going up against a group of unarmed Special Operations Squad members was no big deal for him.


    The scalpel with a creepy cold edge twirled in his hand like a graceful butterfly. He darted through the squad like some kind of shadow.


    In an instant, multiple streaks of silver light crisscrossed, drawing fine lines of blood on the legs of several Special Operations Squad members. At first, the lines were barely visible but quickly turned darker and redder, gushing blood. Then, the people with the cuts fell over.


    Even after losing the ability to stand, they didn''t seem to feel any pain. They kept crawling, trying to attack Fang Xiu and his friends.


    "Shen Lingxue, wipe out the Specter now! They''re all being manipted. I''ve got this," Fang Xiu calmly said, moving through the crowd like a ghost. Each time he showed up, more Special Operations Squad members would drop.


    Upon hearing that, Shen Lingxue''s eyes lit up with fury, the mes in her hands seeming to burn even hotter. She conjured two bright, zing fireballs in her hands and lifted them above her head, fusing them into an even bigger fireball.


    "Go to hell!"


    With a shout from Shen Lingxue, the enormous fireball, looking like a tiny sun, crashed down on the Specter.


    KABOOM!


    The Hair Specter was swallowed up by the fireball and reduced to ashes.


    "It''s over." A glimmer of happiness appeared in Shen Lingxue''s eyes.


    However, Fang Xiu was quick to squash her excitement, "The control hasn''t been broken. Either this isn''t the thing controlling them, or it''s not actually dead."


    "What!" Shen Lingxue stared in disbelief, realizing that the Special Operations Squad was still attacking.


    Fang Xiu tackled almost the entire squad by himself, while Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai were pursued by just two squad members. Even though Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai had activated their Spiritual Energy, boosting their strength to superhuman levels, they were too kind to hurt their ownrades and were short on battle experience. It left them at a disadvantage against well-armed squad members.


    Eventually, Shen Lingxue joined the fight. But instead of using her fire powers, she chose to knock everyone out using just her fists. A few momentster, the entire Special Operations Squad was out cold.


    Fang Xiu surveyed the unconscious squad members, lost in his thoughts._ _


    _''If it isn''t the couple or the Hair Specter pulling the strings, then who was controlling the Special Operations Squad?''_


    He had defeated the Specter, but the real truth seemed even more hidden, creating more questions than answers.


    While Fang Xiu was deep in thought, Shen Lingxue observed him, visibly puzzled. She suddenly remembered Fang Xiu''s earliermand for the Special Operations Squad to disarm themselves.


    _''Had he predicted this oue?''_


    Shen Lingxue''s mind drifted to his ability to foresee the future. Without his advanced nning, they would have been toast against a fully-armed Special Operations Squad in close quarters. What Shen Lingxue didn''t realize was that she had already experienced death once.


    "So, Fang Xiu, whats our next move?" Shen Lingxue broke the silence, clearly acknowledging him as the decision-maker.


    "Tie them up for now. We''ll discuss it once theye to," Fang Xiu directed. Everyone followed his instructions.


    Luckily, the squad had brought ropes, so supplies were plentiful.


    About half an hourter, some squad members starteding to their senses.


    "Whats happening here?"


    "Why are we all tied up?"


    "Do you guys remember anything?" Fang Xiu stepped closer to ask.


    They all shook their heads, clearly in confusion.


    It seemed that they had no idea that the control on them had been lifted. Fang Xiu wondered if it was because the Specter had been taken out, or maybe because the real puppeteer could only sustain the control for a limited period. However, currently, there wasn''t enough evidence for Fang Xiu to draw any conclusions.


    Another half-hour passed, and by this time, most of the squad members were awake, yet none could remember recent events. Seeing this, Fang Xiu told them to tend to their own injuries and sent them away. For the moment, they were too unreliable; there was no telling when they might flip again.


    In the meantime, Shen Lingxue made a phone call to report the incident and asked for a detailed examination of the affected squad members. Once everything was sorted out, Fang Xiu dered, "Let''s head back to the vige."


    "What? We''re going back? Didn''t we already take care of the Specter?" Liu Shuai blurted out.


    "It''s not over yet," Fang Xiu said, his voice steady, as he led the group back toward ckwater Vige.


    Once inside ckwater Vige, Fang Xiu checked the vigers and their ck hair, deep in thought.


    Shen Lingxue voiced her concerns, "In theory, if the vigers'' weird hair was the work of the Specter, it should have gone back to normal now that we''ve taken care of it."


    "Don''t even bring it up; the more I look at these people, the more they creep me out," Zhao Hao said, nervously taking cover behind Liu Shuai.


    "Whoa, whoa, don''t hide behind me! If you''re freaked out, what do you think I am?" Liu Shuai blurted out.


    Shen Lingxue shot a disdainful look at both of them. She couldn''t fathom how, despite being new psychics like Fang Xiu, their performance was terrible; they were nothing but burdens now. "You two should team up and call yourselves ''Team Scaredy-Cats.''"


    Just at that moment, Fang Xiu suddenly asked, "Does the bureau have any effective strategies for handling these kinds of unusual circumstances?"


    Shen Lingxue pondered for a second and answered, "First, we could conduct a thorough search of ckwater for any leads. After that, we could call in the agency. They have experts with specialized tools who can assess the vigers and figure out what''s causing these anomalies."


    Fang Xiu shook his head, saying, "That''ll take too long. The entire process could stretch on for days. And contemporary equipment might not even pick up a Specter''s presence. Let''s choose my way instead."


    As he said this, Fang Xiu began to walk toward an old man.


    A feeling of unease suddenly washed over Shen Lingxue. She quickly asked, "What exactly is your way?"


    Without breaking his stride, Fang Xiu retorted, "The best way to deal with abnormalities is to kill all the abnormalities until what remains is, in your opinion, normal."


    By this point, Fang Xiu had arrived where the old man sat. He was lounging in a homemade rocking chair, basking in the sun and enjoying a smoke from an old pipe. This was the very same elder Fang Xiu had chatted with earlier.


    Standing before him, Fang Xiu blocked the sunlight, casting a shadow across the elder. The old man, who had been momentarily resting his eyes, opened them and appeared somewhat puzzled by the young man standing in front of him.


    "Young man, what brings you here?"


    "Sir, I need to ask you something. I''d appreciate it if you''d be honest with me," Fang Xiu said.


    "What would you like to ask? I make it a point never to lie," the old man replied."

 Chapter 72: Hell of Hair

    Chapter 72: Hell of Hair


    "Can I ask if your natural hair color is ck or white?" Fang Xiu asked coolly, eyes fixed on the old man''s head of dark hair.


    The old man seemed truly surprised, "I''ve had white hair for thest decade."


    Fang Xiu burst intoughter then. A grin spread across his pale, calm face, showing off his bright teeth as he slowly said, "Ever been dead before?"


    The old man was shocked, then angrily said, "What kind of nonsense is that! You"


    "Stop!" Shen Lingxue''s shout of warning rang out from not too far away.


    A sh of silver zipped through the air, and the sharp scalpel cut the old man''s throat.


    The old man''s eyes popped wide open, his body trembling, his expression one of pure shock.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai werepletely taken aback. Just like when he had killed that couple, and now the old man, Fang Xiu seemed like a ruthless devil, quick to kill over any disagreement.


    Shen Lingxue stormed over, clearly furious, as she sted Fang Xiu, "What are you doing! You just killed a regr guy! You"


    She didn''t get to finish. Fang Xiu interrupted her, "He''s no regr guy."


    Fang Xiu gestured to the old man''s neck, and Shen Lingxue''s eyes followed, and she froze.


    Instead of blood, ck hair spilled out from the cut on the old man''s throat!


    "Hair?!" she blurted out.


    Just then, the atmosphere got heavy, and the whole vige drowned in a terrifying silence.


    It was as if someone hit the mute button. Everything went dead quiet.


    Vigers on the street just stopped, frozen like statues.


    "Everyone, watch out!" Shen Lingxue immediately knew something was off, urgently signaling them all to stay alert.


    But the old man Fang Xiu had just cut was lifting his head, his eyes void of life, making unearthly noises, as the chopped hair at his neck started to reconnect.


    Fang Xiu made another quick cut at the neck, stopping the healing and the transformation, disrupting the dark magic.


    The head came off this time, the neck ending in a stubble of ck hair.


    This time, the hair stopped growing. Fang Xiu had used his pain-inflicting power, and under its effect, the hair didn''t just stop; it began dying off.


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t relieved. After all, the vige was full of people.


    There were at least a hundred folks in ckwater Vige, and right now, the ones nearby were already closing in.


    And from every direction, more vigers kepting.


    Right now, the vigers didnt look simple or kind; instead, their faces were filled with an eerie chill. The shiny ck hair on their heads started growing out of control, twisting like thin, dark snakes.


    Even Shen Lingxue, a seasoned psychic, couldn''t hide her despair when she saw the sheer number of vigers.


    "Shoot! All these vigers are Specter ves! The info we got was off. A Specter that can handle this many Specter ves isn''t just a D; it''s got to be at least C+, maybe even B!" Overwhelmed, Shen Lingxue let slip the harsh truth.


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t bothered about the grades, as he had just solved a mystery: why there hadn''t been a single Specter he could detect in ckwater.


    The whole vige was devoid of life!


    Those Specters, no matter what shape they took, were all after one thing: people. They hung around where there were people to be found.


    ckwater Vige was isted in the mountains and sparsely popted. Now, with every viger turned into a Specter ve, it meant for miles around, there wasn''t a soul alive. Naturally, that meant no Specters hung around this ce because there weren''t any resources avable for them anymore.


    That was why there was no Specter Zone in ckwater Vige and no Specters to be found.


    Suddenly, the vigers let out a wave of otherworldly roars and surged toward them like a horde of zombies.


    Shen Lingxue looked serious. Biting down on her lip, she said, "We can''t take them straight on. I''m going to burn a path for us soon. Stick close behind me to break out. Fang Xiu, I''m guessing the scalpel you''ve got is a Specter Gadget, right? That de''s really sharp, and it can slice through hair. These hairs are tough; my fire takes a good few seconds to burn them up. Right now, you and I are the only ones who can fight these Specter ves. I''ll lead, and you handle any stragglers. Liu Shuai, Zhao Hao, you two follow Fang Xiu, get moving!"


    With that, Shen Lingxueunched two fireballs into the crowd.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The fireballs hit, scattering the vigers in their path, some catching fire and burning intensely.


    They had a momentary opening, and the group pushed toward it, but they barely moved before the vigers swarmed in again.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Shen Lingxue didn''t stop, hurling fire at any viger that got close. Despite her incredible power, she could only take out a few at a time, and this intense fighting was draining her energy fast.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai were scared, but they pulled out their guns and kept firing at the approaching vigers.


    Unfortunately, the handguns didn''t do much against the Specter ves. Even a bullet hole would close up with hair in moments, leaving them undamaged, only slowing them down for a short time.


    They had only gotten a few feet back when more and more vigers closed in on them.


    Worse yet, Shen Lingxue was almost out of Spiritual Energy. The fireballs she created got smaller, her skin turned paler, and despair started to show in her eyes.


    Just then, a scream cut through the chaos.


    It was Zhao Hao.


    Hair, as if alive, crept on him and wrapped around Zhao Hao''s throat.


    The hair tightened suddenly, choking him with such strength he was yanked down and pulled toward the mass of vigers.


    Zhao Hao grabbed at the tightening hair at his neck, his eyes wide, his face going red.


    "Xiu, save"


    With a quick sh of silver, the hair around Zhao Hao''s neck was cut through.


    "Whoa!" Zhao Hao sucked in the air, narrowly escaping death.


    But they weren''t safe yet. In the next second, more hair rose up, aiming at Zhao Hao like des, forming a huge that swallowed him whole in seconds.


    Fang Xiu kept slicing with his scalpel, but it was too small, and there was too much hair. Cutting strand by strand, he couldn''t keep up  not even a full-time hairdresser could handle this much hair in days.


    And that was when they lost Zhao Hao."

 Chapter 73: Kill Myself Before Specters Did

    Chapter 73: Kill Myself Before Specters Did


    Another yell cut through the silence.


    It came from Liu Shuai.


    His legs got caught up in a mass of hair, yanking him down hard, leaving a trail of blood behind that stretched out for half a meter as he scrambled to grab onto the earth.


    "I don''t want to die! Help"


    But his call for help got cut off when he was yanked into the crowd of vigers. Tons of ck hair burst out, looping over him, even poking through his mouth, nose, ears, and any opening.


    Shen Lingxue was in a tight spot too, her Spiritual Energy all used up, her fire gone, with nothing left but her physical strength.


    But without her Spiritual Energy, it was like she was a great fighter who''d lost their secret edge, not even able to take down a nobody, and she got hauled off into the vigers just like Liu Shuai and Zhao Hao.


    ck hair wrapped around her, slipping like snakes into her mouth, nose, and every gap in her body.


    Now, only Fang Xiu was left standing.


    He wasn''t the strongest; Shen Lingxue was better in a fight with her powerful fire that could wipe out a bunch of vigers, but it used up too much energy and didn''tst.


    Fang Xiu, though, with his sharp scalpel and the weird strength of pain, seemed to hold up a little easier.


    To get rid of these Specter ves, just a little hit of his pain-powered ability did the trick, because the agony it caused was just too much.


    But Fang Xiu''s time was running out without his crew to back him up. He couldn''t handle attacksing at him from every angle, and even if using pain didn''t burn much energy, he had only awakened five percent of his Spiritual Energy, which wasn''t going tost as long as Shen Lingxue''s had.


    He had onest ace up his sleeve, but it wasn''t the right moment to y it, since the main bad guy hadn''t shown up yet. Using it now wouldn''t fix the Specter problem.


    Even with things looking grim, Fang Xiu stayed cool. Feeling his Spiritual Energy nearly gone, he put the scalpel to his forehead and pushed it in.


    "As long as I kill myself fast enough, no Specter''s gonna take me out," Fang Xiu thought, sticking to his game n.


    He did that mostly because the way Shen Lingxue and the others went out was pretty rough, especially since, apart from eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, they got into other ces too.


    As the de went into his head, a brutal pain hit him, and a secondter, Fang Xiu cked out.


    "Xiu, what''s the deal? Have all these people been munching on ck sesame seeds from childhood or what?"


    "How could any ck sesame seeds be that potent? I''ve noticed a few elderly folks, and their hair is just as ck and glossyno sign of any gray strands."


    The voice of the deceased Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai echoed once more.


    Fang Xius attention snapped back, his look deep and tranquil, like a vast, mysterious abyss.


    He took in the sight of the local vigers who hadn''t changed yet, piecing together a hypothesis in his mind.


    It appeared that these vigers would go on with their everyday routines until someone noticed who they really were.


    This time, he held back from attacking the vigers since it was pointless; they were just Specter ves. Wiping them out wouldn''t put an end to the Specter trouble.


    To get to the root of it, he had to track down the Specter''s original form.


    Clearly, the being in theke was a decoy, just another Specter ve like the vigers, controlled by hair.


    Yet, Fang Xiu wondered, _''with the army of Specter ves able to take us out with ease, why the Specter would bother drawing us to ckwater River and sending the Specter ve under water to act? Was the Specter tricking us, leading us to think the woman''s body was the key? So that once she was taken out, we''d believe the job was done and head back to report our win?''_


    But then, there came another puzzle: _''what was up with the Special Operations Squad being under its control?''_


    At their first meeting, the squad was wiped out by their own guns.


    If the Specter wanted them dead, it had plenty of chances, especially when they stayed at the vige chief''s ceit didn''t need anyplex traps.


    Also, the way the Specter controlled the vigers and the squad was different; it used hair for the vigers, making each one a host, but not for the squad.


    The pieces weren''t fitting together right. Fang Xiu had a hunch there was a clue in this mess, but with so few facts, he couldn''t make the call.


    Bymon sense, they should probably start with the drowned woman. _''Who is she? What led to her death? Why does the Specter keep her moving underwater?''_


    Answering these might shed light on where the Specter was hiding.


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t about to y it by the book.


    Solving mysteries was a detectives work. Facing a Specter, his job was to eliminate, not investigate.


    Fang Xiu pulled out the bureaus secure phone and started dialing.


    "Su Kexin, tell the Special Operations Squad to turn back right away, hit the nearest gas station, buy up all the fuel, and bring it here."


    After themand, he hung up.


    Shen Lingxue and the others gave him puzzled looks.


    "Xiu, why do you need all that gasoline?" Zhao Hao asked, intrigued.


    "It''s got a purpose," Fang Xiu said with a steady tone.


    With the n set, Fang Xiu repeated what he had done, but this round, he didn''t finish off a man and a woman; he drove them off instead.


    As for the Special Operations Squad, Fang Xiu instructed them to set up the water pumps, dig trenches, and then he told them to get out fast so they wouldn''t fall under control.


    He had watched a few times and had a basic idea of how to empty out ckwater River and knew how to work the machinery himself.


    After draining the river, the hair Specter showed up again, and Shen Lingxue fought it hard.


    At the same time, Fang Xiu was checking the gasoline and diesel. The Special Operations Squad had followed orders perfectly, bringing almost a hundred barrels of fuel.


    By the time Shen Lingxue was done fighting, she had turned the hair mess to ash.


    "We''re done here; time to head back," she said.


    "It''s not finished," Fang Xiu shook his head, "That was just a piece of the Specter. The real one is still in ckwater."


    Shen Lingxue was surprised and asked carefully, "You can feel it?"


    "Yes, and there''s more. Every single person in ckwater is under the Specter''s control; there aren''t any survivors. The only thing left is to find the original Specter to end this whole thing for good."


    Fang Xiu said this with an unsettling level of calm."

 Chapter 74: I Dont Care About Death?

    Chapter 74: I Don''t Care About Death?


    "What?!" Shen Lingxue and others were immediately filled with horror.


    "Are you sure there''s been no mistake in what you''ve sensed?"


    "I don''t make mistakes with my senses."


    "Fang Xiu, if what you''re saying is true, then this Specter must be around ss-B. We''re not equipped to deal with that. The smartest move is to inform the Investigation Bureau and hold out for backup," Shen Lingxue advised with seriousness.


    Fang Xiu gave her a look. "How many psychics are on staff at the Bureau? A mere ten, or at most twenty? And how many of them are just beginners? Considering how stretched they are, handling all the Specter happenings in Greenvine City, how soon do you really think help will get here?"


    "But even if help isn''t on the way right now, we should head back. I''m not about to let you put yourself in danger!"


    Upon hearing this, the clueless Liu Shuai sneakily looked from one to the other, even nudging Zhao Hao to say, "Don''t you think there''s something odd about these two? Shen Lingxue seems to be concerned about Fang Xiu beyond the usual."


    Zhao Hao, privy to what was really going on, stayed silent, just giving an eye roll.


    Of course, Fang Xiu wasn''t going to listen to Shen Lingxue. Despite the power of the Specters in ckwater, he was confident in his grip on the situation.


    When it came to facing a Specter, if it was a type with such an overwhelming power that Fang Xiu''d have no chance even if he could try over and over again, like his wife, he''d choose a tactical withdrawal. Otherwise, he was prepared to battle to the end.


    Having been killed twice already by the Specter of ckwater, he was determined to settle the score this time.


    "Zhao Hao, take Liu Shuai and stay back. Shen Lingxue and I need to have a word in private."


    "Got it, Xiu."


    Zhao Hao answered, pulling Liu Shuai away with him.


    Liu Shuai''s face broke into a knowing ''I told you so'' grin, convinced of his hunch about their hidden romance.


    With the two of them gone, Fang Xiu shared in a steady tone, "There''s no need to alert our superiors; I''ve predicted what will happen."


    Shen Lingxue''s face showed her astonishment. "What do you mean ''what will happen''?"


    "The kind of victory where we deal with the ckwater trouble once and for all."


    "That so?" Shen Lingxue questioned, her mind going back to how Fang Xiu had done in the test before joining them.


    Fang Xiu was never one to shy away from a fight with a Specter, even at the risk of his own life.


    "When have my predictions ever missed the mark?"


    "True, they haven''t, but..."


    "No ''buts.'' Life is valuable; do you really think I''d throw mine away without good reason?"


    Her thoughts echoed Shen Lingxue''s image of Fang Xiu as someone who stayed level-headed in crisis, not someone to act on a whim, always thinking his ns through before he made a move.


    Even as someone experienced with psychic stuff, she sometimes felt like her mental toughness wasn''t quite up to Fang Xiu''s level.


    Just then, Shen Lingxue''s quick nce caught a massive drum of gasoline. A lightbulb went off in her head, and she burst out, "You didn''t get that gasoline to burn down the vige, did you?"


    Fang Xiu gave a small nod, his tone even as he confirmed, "Yes, ckwater shouldn''t exist anymore."


    With that, Fang Xiu didn''t wait for Shen Lingxue to make up her mind, he just turned and walked off.


    "Hey, you"


    Shen Lingxue started to say something but stopped. Mostly because Fang Xiu''s moves were consistently too unexpected.


    This was her first encounter with a psychic tackling a Specter situation quite like thisIf the Specter was hiding in the water, then drain the water. If the vige was overrun with Specter ves, then burn the ce down. These strategies were, no doubt, startling to Shen Lingxue.


    Somewhere else, in a hidden part of the forest by ckwater


    The pair, a man and a woman who were previously in windbreakers, were now down on their knees on the ground, their faces expressionless, eyes dull.


    Where they had once looked human, they now seemed more like two dolls being manipted.


    Standing before them was a captivatingdy in a mink coat, with a deep wine-red dress beneath.


    The dress in wine-red trailed to the ground, yet it was split high up the side, shing a pale, smooth leg from time to time.


    The woman in the dress watched the two kneeling people thoughtfully.


    "I put a lot of work into nting agents in the Special Operations Squad with you two dolls, hoping I could get them to off Shen Lingxue and the rest in the confusion. But that Fang Xiu just let the squad go back. Did he do it by ident? Or did he smell a something wrong? Either way, Fang Xiu''s no simple guy. If he''s got the bronze candlestick, that probably means he''s killed Lin Ziyang. Being a rookie psychic, yet he could take down Lin Ziyang, there''s got to be some trick with him."


    While talking, the woman in the dress let out a sigh, "Geez, my luck''s pretty bad. I figured I could finish, but now I''ve got to hang around in these woods who knows how much longer. Why can''t Fang Xiu and his crew just roll over?"


    She posed the question to the pair on their knees, but they were as still as statues, offering no answer.


    "Now I''m getting really ticked off;e here and help me cool down."


    "Yes, Master," they responded mechanically, and then the woman got up, heading towards thedy in the wine-red dress.


    CRASH!


    The woman actually dropped to the ground, supporting herself on hands and knees, her back t like a bench, creating a sort of human chair.


    The woman in the red dress carefully adjusted the material over her hips, fitting the dress perfectly to her form, then lightly took a seat on the human bench.


    Settled in, she allowed one smooth, perfectly shaped leg to show, sliding out from the high cut of her dress like a sculpted piece of ivory.


    Just then, the man previously kneeling started to shift. He raised his head and began to crawl toward her, resembling someone moving through a dog door.


    The clock swiftly turned to nine in the evening.


    Fang Xiu and his group were concealed at the edge of ckwater, shrouded by the darkness.


    He had opted not to make a move in daylight to stay unseen, choosing instead the night, betting on the vigers being asleep in their houses.


    Mountain life doesnt offer much for nighttime fun, leading folks to go to bed early and wake with the sun. By nine, the streets were pretty much deserted.


    "We should split up and cover the vige in gasoline," Fang Xiu directed.


    "Got it, Xiu."


    Zhao Hao and the rest took two gasoline drums each and stealthily started their task.


    Fang Xiu was right there with them, dousing the area in gas.


    _''This Specter loved a show, doesn''t it? It''s about to witness a spectacr fire.''_


    An hourter, at ten o''clock, they had sprinkled gasoline around every home in ckwater. The mountain chill was a blessing the gasoline would stay put without evaporating too fast.


    "Shen Lingxue, set it on fire."

 Chapter 75: I Decide The Winner

    Chapter 75: I Decide The Winner


    Shen Lingxue paused for a moment but then chose to put her faith in Fang Xiu.


    She reached out with her delicate, pale finger, and with a gentle ''poof'', a small me sparked to life at her fingertip. With just a quick snap, the little fire jumped onto the gasoline.


    The fuel caught fire in a sh, and a massive ze roared up into the sky. The hungry mes rapidly consumed everythingtrees, houses, chicken coops, piles of logsall showing no mercy in the fiery rampage.


    The high-reaching mes lit up ckwater, making the night as bright as if it were day. The intense heat made Fang Xiu and his group instinctively back away.


    "Xiu, are you absolutely sure that all of ckwater''s people are Specter ves? If you''re wrong, we''ve just done something terribly wrong," Liu Shuai voiced his worry.


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer; he just kept his eyes fixed on ckwater Vige, the reflection of the fire dancing in his dark eyes.


    "Doesn''t it seem too silent to you?" Zhao Hao asked, as if he had a sudden realization. "I mean, if these vigers were ordinary humans, wouldn''t there be screams? Why isn''t anyone running out of their houses in such a massive fire?"


    By now, ckwater Vige was entirely engulfed in mes. Out of nowhere, a deep, muffled roar echoed through the fire, the sound so powerful that it made Fang Xiu and the others'' ears ring even from a distance.


    "DIE!!"


    All at once, a sharp and deadly female voice pierced the air.


    BOOM!


    A building on the northwest side of ckwater blew up, scattering embers everywhere.


    A flicker of thrill gleamed in Fang Xiu''s right eye. Lit by the ze-filled sky, a young woman stepped out from the debris. Her build was slight, her skin coarse, and arge ck birthmark marred her left cheek.


    She was dressed in a red floral shirt, resembling a farm girl, yet her waist-length, silver-white hair was startlingly odd.


    As she showed up, a bone-chilling Specter power began to fill the air. It was so cold it seemed to overpower the heat of the fires, making the air several degrees cooler.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised by the sight of the strange silver-haired woman. If the brain behind all this had been the vige head or someone like Wang Fugui, now that would have been a shock.


    After all, a true schemer would have stayed hidden, avoiding any action that might blow their cover.


    They wouldn''t act like they were in a TV show where the bad guy keeps showing up, basically handing the hero a clue.


    "I didn''t want to kill you, but you dared to wreck my home. Now, you''ve left me no choice but to end you!" The silver-haired woman''s deration was like a battle cry.


    Immediately, one after another, vigers came out of the zing houses. They were all ame, their skin scorched to a crisp, with hair that was also burnt but bizarrely kept growing back, only to catch fire again in a continuous loop. They were silent in their agony, resembling souls trapped in eternal suffering.


    Fang Xiu expected this. He knew regr fire wouldn''t be the end of these Specter ves but would only injure them. Their hair seemed fragile but was actually as durable as metal cables.


    The Specter ves rallied around the silver-haired woman, positioning themselves as if they were the devoted protectors of their leader. Then, with a wave from the woman, a surge of potent Spiritual Energy pulsed in the air. Sounds of churning water roared from the direction of the ckwater River.


    In the next instant, an unbelievable sight urred: a gigantic tidal wave, towering more than ten meters tall, appeared to be summoned and rolled from the ckwater River towards the vige.


    WHOOSH!


    The huge wave crashed over everything, smothering the massive mes that had consumed ckwater.


    The fire on the Specter ves was also extinguished. But by then, they didn''t look human at all, only retaining a human outline. Their forms wereposed entirely of hair, as dark as the night, resembling mummies not wrapped in cloth but in strands of hair.


    Shen Lingxue couldn''t hide her astonishment, having sensed the robust Spiritual Energying from the silver-haired woman.


    "She''s not just any Specter; she''s a psychic. And a second-tier psychic at that! The water maniption we just witnessed was her doing," Shen Lingxue said.


    At her words, the reddish glow that had been flickering in Fang Xiu''s eye faded.


    "She''s a psychic? But then what''s the deal with those hair Specter ves?" Zhao Hao asked, taken aback.


    "She is a psychic, yes, but her hair is Specter material! I bet this hair Specter is a parasitic type, having taken over her," Shen Lingxue surmised.


    Upon understanding this, the reddish light in Fang Xiu''s eye sparked back to life. He was piecing the puzzle together.


    The silver-haired woman had been the one beckoning them to ckwater River on that first night, manipting the water with her psychic abilities and controlling the female corpse with the power of the hair Specter.


    "Kill them!" Themand from the silver-haired woman set the hundred Specter ves in motion as they roared and surged toward the group.


    "Help!"


    "Xiu, they have us outnumbered. Should we back off for now?"


    "Fang Xiu, you were confident we''de out on top. So what do we do now?" Shen Lingxue asked, her voice filled with worry.


    Though she knew she was strong, Shen Lingxue recognized that taking on a second-tier psychic along with hordes of Specter ves was no longer about self-belief but sheer survival.


    This kind of formidable force could pose a serious challenge even to the likes of the investigation bureau''s head, Captain Yang Ming, or his second hand, Bai Qi.


    As the Specter ves rushed forward, Fang Xiu''sposure didn''t waver; he even cracked a dark smile. "We have the upper hand!"


    Shen Lingxue was taken aback. "Fang Xiu, this is no time for jokes"


    "Just keep those Specter ves at bay. I''ll handle the silver-haired psychic."


    In fact, the wisest move then would have been to choose death and reset the situation. With the Specter''s true identity known, Fang Xiu could devise a strategic n, bide their time, and make a surprise attackperhaps even bring in heavy weapons and strike her down unexpectedly.


    While heavy weapons are usually useless against Specters, the silver-haired woman was human. This method would be the most effective.


    Yet, this was not Fang Xiu''s choice. Such a tactic seemed too dull for him. His battle was not just with one Specter but with all Specters worldwide. Encountering powerful Specters often, if he always took the easy way out, he would never be able to sharpen his Spiritual Energy on the brink of life and death. Thus, he could never get stronger.


    The silver-haired woman stood before him in her most powerful form: a second-tier psychic, nked by a legion of Specter ves and a ss-B Specter.


    Fang Xiu, however, decided to engage in this battle. After all, his goal was to challenge the strongest. Only if he defeated this Specter would he be able to continue his journey of bringing more pain to the Specters around the world.


    "

 Chapter 76: How Dare You Ignore Me?

    Chapter 76: How Dare You Ignore Me?


    In thest encounter surrounded by Specter ves, Fang Xiu had no intention of fighting back hard, as the real Specter hadn''t appeared, and fighting would have been useless, unable to harm them at all. But now, things were different; the mastermind behind the scenes had shown up, and Fang Xiu was ready for a full release of his powers.


    As the Specter ves drew closer, Fang Xiu finally pulled out his scalpel and shed at Liu Shuai.


    "Ah! What are you doing!" Liu Shuai cried out, clutching his bleeding hand.


    "Take this," Fang Xiu said, passing him a bronze candlestick.


    Catching it reflexively, Liu Shuai asked, "What is this?"


    Shen Lingxue, standing beside them, suddenly realized, "This is a Specter Gadget!"


    "This Specter Gadget uses blood containing Spiritual Energy as fuel. Once lit, it can defend against Specters. Liu Shuai, you''re a big guy. You have more blood, so you''ll hold it," exined Fang Xiu.


    "This is why you suddenly cut me?" Liu Shuai was astonished.


    Despite hisint, he gripped the bronze candlestick with his bloodied left hand. As soon as his blood touched the candlestick, it seemed toe to life. The bronze patterns began to move slowly, twisting into an ugly mouth that greedily sucked the blood from his hand, startling him.


    As his blood continued to flow, the candlestick ignited without me, casting a sinister green light that enveloped them all. The light was chilling to the bone.


    By now, hundreds of Specter ves had rushed up to them. Zhao Hao, terrified, hid behind Liu Shuai.


    "It''s all on you now!" they encouraged him.


    Liu Shuai, trembling and pale with fear, was speechless. He gripped the candlestick so tightly his veins bulged.


    The moment the Specter ves entered the green light, a sizzling noise filled the air. The green light, like acid, corroded their bodies, causing their hair to twist, deform, and emit ck smoke. Their movements slowed down significantly within the light, showing the damage it caused.


    Shen Lingxue and the others were overjoyed at the effectiveness of the candlestick. However, Liu Shuai couldn''t share in their happiness as his face visibly paled, his plump lips losing color.


    "Be quick. I can''t hold on much longer," he urged.


    With a sh of silver, Fang Xiu cut down the head of a Specter ve with a swift, clean cut. Shen Lingxue also sprang into action, her hands conjuring intense mes to bombard the Specter ves.


    This time, the battle was much easier for Fang Xiu and the others, thanks to the bronze candlestick. Under its influence, the Specter ves were not only slow, but also their hair, which they used as a weapon, became less resilient, turning them into easy targets.


    The Specter ves tried to unleash their abilities, manipting their hair to attack as they had done before, with a nket of hair assaults. However, under the effect of the bronze candlestick, the hair, which normally defied gravity, started to erode as soon as it left their bodies, making their attacks ineffective.


    The group steadily advanced toward the silver-haired woman. But their ease was short-lived as Liu Shuai''s blood was draining at a terrifying rate.


    The candlestick''s nature was such that the stronger the Specter, the greater the energy consumed. Although the individual Specter ves weren''t very powerful, their sheer number was overwhelming.


    Liu Shuai felt as if he had donated blood many times in an hour, feeling dizzy and seeing ck spots. At this moment, Zhao Hao cut his own palm and took over the bronze candlestick, telling Liu Shuai to rest.


    Fang Xiu, noticing their predicament, ordered Shen Lingxue to clear the path. Although she didn''t know what Fang Xiu nned to do, her only option was to trust and follow his lead. With a fierce expression, she spread her hands, and the temperature around her rose dramatically. They felt like they were in a furnace.


    In the next second, she conjured two immense balls of fire in her hands, which rose and merged above her head into a giant fireball resembling a mini sun. The inferno around her made her look like a goddess of fire, her delicate features shining brilliantly in the dark night.


    Holding the mini sun in one hand, she turned to Fang Xiu and said, "This is all I can do. Whatever you''re nning next, it has to work!"


    Just as she was about to hurl the mini sun, shouting, "You damned Specters, take this," a torrent of cold water poured from the sky, extinguishing her fireball and chilling her to the core.


    Caught off guard, Shen Lingxue was mmed to the ground by the unexpected pouring water. Her once flowing hair now hung limply, her white sportswear stained with mud, and her delicate makeup smeared. Worst of all, she fell face-first into the dirt, which, mixed with water, turned to mud, smearing her face as if she had applied a seaweed mud mask.


    It was then that the silver-haired woman spoke up in a dark tone, "You damned bitch, how dare you ignore me?" It seemed her ugliness made her particrly hostile toward Shen Lingxue.


    There''s a saying about water and fire being opposites, but whether water ovees fire or fire ovees water depends on which is stronger. Clearly, the silver-haired woman, a second-tier psychic, was more powerful than Shen Lingxue. And because the woman was a psychic, the bronze candlestick couldn''t block her attacks.


    "How How dare you!" Shen Lingxue, furious and humiliated like never before, struggled to rise from the muddy water.


    SPLASH!


    Another ton of water descended from above, pinning her back down. The scene almost seemedical for a moment.


    "I will kill" she started.


    SPLASH!


    Once more, she was interrupted and damped by a torrent of water."

 Chapter 77: Its Time

    Chapter 77: It''s Time


    The silver-haired woman suddenlyughed, finding amusement in seeing the beautiful woman in such a difficult situation. She was jealous of Shen Linguxue and was so happy to see her humiliated.


    During this intense interaction, Fang Xiu didn''t just stand by. He was busy fighting off the Specter ves that were swarming around them. Despite killing many of these creatures, he had only moved a few meters forward.


    The situation was horrifying. The green light from the bronze candlestick was like a giant ss cover, trapping Fang Xiu and his team. With Shen Lingxue down, their ability to clear the Specter ves was greatly reduced. They werepletely surrounded.


    Zhao Hao was severely injured and barely able to stand. Now, he was supported by Liu Shuai.


    Fang Xiu watched calmly, aware that their team was reaching its limit. Shen Lingxue was buried in the ground, and Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai were losing too much blood.


    After killing several Specters, Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy was halved. He couldn''t afford to use it carelessly because he needed to reserve it for activating his special ability, the blood pupil.


    His original n was to use the candlestick and Shen Lingxue''s fire attacks to clear a path. This would allow him to get close to the silver-haired woman and use his blood pupil to cut her head down.


    However, she was still tens of meters away, too far for the blood pupil to work. The blood pupil, an evolution of Lin Ziyang''s mutation, was a powerful second-tier ability but required close distance.


    Fang Xiu hoped to use the blood pupil to cut the woman''s head and then finish her off, making use of her moment of weakness. Killing a second-tier psychic like her could be done with a single strike, given Fang Xiu''s ability.


    He had nned to enjoy the thrill of defeating the silver-haired woman and the Specter ves. However, ns often didn''t keep up with changes. From the moment the mastermind behind the scenes appeared, the odds of victory started to tilt.


    Everyone initially thought the mastermind was a Specter, but it turned out to be abination of a Specter and a psychic, a much more formidable opponent.


    As Fang Xiu weighed his optionseither to reset by dying or use hisst resort nowa confident, sunny, and charming voice came from behind him, "Xiu, please move aside."


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly, surprised to find an unfamiliar person suddenly behind him.


    Turning around, he saw a man about 1.85 meters tall, with well-defined facial features, pale skin, slicked-back hair, and a physique like a model, smiling confidently at the Specter ves surrounding them.


    The man''s smile, though light, was full of confidence and brightness. It seemed to dispel the gloom and terror around, possessing a convincing power. He looked like a cheerful, sunny guy.


    It was said that a slicked-back hairstyle could either enhance someone''s charm or worsen their appearance, and this man definitely belonged to the former category. His slicked-back hair added to his charisma instead of seeming cheesy.


    Fang Xiu was puzzled looking at this sunny, cheerful guy. He looked very simr to Zhao Hao, like an upgraded version of him. He even called him "Xiu."


    Fang Xiu remembered Zhao Hao''s abilityafter 11 p.m., he would be taller, more handsome, and muscr with slightly enhanced physical attributes, mainly increasing his sexual performance.


    This made Fang Xiu involuntarily nce at the man''s lower body and notice it was indeed more prominent than Zhao Hao''s used to be. Just this one look was enough for Fang Xiu to confirm that this man was Zhao Hao, whose sexual ability was so notable that people tended to overlook his other qualities.


    Now, seeing Zhao Hao''s transformation, it was clear he wasn''t lyinghe really was well-suited for... unconventional work. His ability should be called the ''Magic Mike Transformation'' rather than just sexual prowess.


    "Are you Hao?" Fang Xiu questioned.


    The sunny guy smiled. "Yes, it''s me. Xiu, I know you''re surprised, but don''t be yet. There''s more surprising stuffing up."


    With that, Zhao Hao casually handed the bronze candlestick to Liu Shuai. Then, he confidently stepped past Fang Xiu, hands in his pockets, a proud look on his face, walking alone toward the Specter ves. Despite being surrounded, he walked as if he was the one surrounding them.


    Soon, Zhao Hao stepped out of the protective range of the candlelight. The Specter ves, sensing their prey, rushed toward him like sharks smelling blood.


    Finally, Zhao Hao took his hands out of his pockets, cracking his knuckles with a clear sound.


    Facing the oing Specter ves, he smiled proudly and said, "It''s time."


    Before his words even fell, Zhao Hao disappeared from his spot like a ghost. He charged into the group of Specter ves like a tiger pouncing down the mountain.


    Zhao Hao swiftly spread his arms, instantly grappling the Specter ves on either side with his iron-like grip.


    With just one charge, he knocked down more than twenty of them. Each Specter ve possessed strength far beyond a normal human, their hair-like bodies as tough as steel wires. Such strength is usually only manageable by psychics with enhanced abilities, yet Zhao Hao did it effortlessly.


    With this charge, Zhao Hao reached the center of the Specter ves. There, he was like a heavy tank, rampaging and striking without restraint. Each punch he threw exploded a Specter ve''s head into a cloud of ck hair, scattering in the wind. His kicks sent several Specter ves flying like bowling pins.


    At this moment, Zhao Hao''sbat ability was off the charts!


    Fang Xiu was reminded of the first time Zhao Hao had called him after awakening his ability.


    "My ability is to be handsome after 11 p.m., and my physical fitness improves, bing more muscr. But the physical enhancement is just a side effect; the strongest part is my sexual prowess! I''ll tell you what You can put a 100-kilogram weight there, and it''ll still hang!


    _''So, this is just the ''side effect''? No Zhao Hao was totally wrong.''_


    Fang Xiu pondered. He wondered why Zhao Hao had made such a big mistake when recognizing his own ability."

 Chapter 78: Help Me, Xiu!

    Chapter 78: Help Me, Xiu!


    The saying goes, "The more a personcks something, the more they care about it." That was why Fang Xiu suddenly understood Zhao Hao''s mindset.


    If just "side-effect" physical strength was this formidable, then it only meant Zhao Hao''s sexual power was even more capable. Maybe his bragging about his stamina and hardness was true.


    As for Zhao Hao''s saying, ''It''s time,'' that was easy to grasp. His ability activated between 11 PM and 1 AM, precisely the time hey in bed fantasizing.


    Now, Fang Xiu wondered if the adult films on Zhao Hao''s phone were really all he had. _''Can watching private tutoring, plumbers, and convenience store theft themed movies awaken such powers?''_


    He really suspected Zhao Hao had other films hidden away, like ''Superman vs. Catwoman'' or ''Batman Interrogating Harley Quinn.''


    Liu Shuai, standing nearby, was dumbstruck by Zhao Hao''s disy of power.


    He watched as Zhao Hao easily lifted a Specter ve over his head and tore it in two. His eyes were wide with disbelief.


    "Zhao Hao is so powerful!" Liu Shuai murmured, dazed.


    "Did you see the whole process of Zhao Hao transforming?" Fang Xiu suddenly asked.


    Liu Shuai swallowed hard and nodded, "Just now, he was weak and scared in my arms. But as soon as it hit 11 PM, a white light shed over him, and he seemed to be a different person, full of confidence."


    Fang Xiu cut him off, "I only want to know one thing. Zhao Hao''s transformation making him taller and more handsome is exinable by his powers. But can anyone exin his slicked-back hair? Does this power magically produce hair gel?"


    "Uh, actually, that''s not hair gel. That''s saliva. I saw Zhao Hao spit in his hand and then slick his hair back with it after transforming."


    Fang Xiu rolled his eyes, speechless.


    Nearby, Zhao Hao, still fighting, seemed to hear something. He nearly stumbled and fell, but quickly pretended as if nothing had happened and continued fighting.


    However, his movements became more forceful and showy.


    Watching him, Liu Shuai felt a mix of dizziness and inferiority. "Am I the only useless one in the team? No, at least I have more blood."


    Comforting himself with this thought, the chubby Liu Shuai clenched his bronze candlestick, trying to extract more blood, glowing and heating it up.


    Then, he cked out from blood loss. As he fainted, the candlestick rolled out of his hand, sparing him from being drained to death.


    At this point, the bronze candlestick was no longer needed because Zhao Hao had attracted the attention of all the Specter ves.


    Thismotion naturally caught the attention of the silver-haired woman. She frowned upon seeing Zhao Hao''s impressive disy. Her shift in focus gave Shen Lingxue, who was trapped in the mud pit, a chance to strike. Enraged, she climbed out andunched a me at the silver-haired woman, yelling, "Go to hell!"


    However, the silver-haired woman, without even ncing at Shen Lingxue and focusing entirely on Zhao Hao, casually summoned a thick column of water from the sky, putting out Shen Lingxue''s mes. This also shattered Shen Lingxue''s illusions about her own power, knocking her back into the mud pit and breaking several of her bones.


    Shen Lingxue then rolled her eyes and fainted.


    The silver-haired woman never looked at Shen Lingxue during this entire episode. The battle between second-tier water and first-tier fire was a clear mismatch.


    After dealing with Shen Lingxue, the silver-haired woman turned to Zhao Hao and waved her hand. The hair Zhao Hao had torn from the Specter ves began to rise, twisting like tiny ck snakes. Soon, all of it lifted into the air, forming a massive ck web under the moonlight, enveloping Zhao Hao.


    The web was so extensive that itpletely blocked Zhao Hao''s escape, trapping him inside. Zhao Hao, however, remained calm and confident, even adjusting the web to avoid messing up his slicked-back hair.


    "You think this little trick can hold me? You still don''t grasp the gap between us," Zhao Hao boasted. With a burst of his tremendous strength, he tore a huge hole in the web.


    But then, the silver-haired woman smirked. Suddenly, the torn hair began to grow back at a visible pace, quickly repairing the web. Zhao Hao''s expression turned cold as he frantically tore at the hair, but it kept regenerating, seemingly endless.


    "Damn it!" Zhao Hao cursed, not so much worried about being trapped but frustrated that his show was immediately countered.


    In his frenzy, he didn''t notice the umting hair strands at his feet. These strands began to move like tadpoles, swarming towards Zhao Hao, aiming for his eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, and every other opening in his body.


    Trapped in the web of hair, Zhao Hao couldn''t dodge the swarm of hair fragments rushing at him, and he panicked.


    "Xiu, help me!"


    Suddenly, a sh of silver light descended from the sky, slicing through the hair with lightning speed.


    It was Fang Xiu.


    Miraculously, the hair cut by Fang Xiu didn''t regenerate. This was because he had used the power of pain.


    Zhao Hao quickly crawled out of the hair, frantically brushing off the hair fragments. Once he was clear, he stood up, once again arrogantly smirking.


    "You''ve pushed me to this extent. You should be proud. But this ends now!" Zhao Hao yelled, bending his legs slightly and then propelling himself forward with great force, leaving deep footprints in the ground. He shot towards the silver-haired woman like a cannonball.


    The silver-haired woman, seemingly infuriated by his contemptuous attitude, snorted coldly and flicked her head, sending her silver hair towards Zhao Hao like a fierce waterfall.


    BOOM!


    "Ah!"


    Zhao Hao was sent flying back even faster than before, crashing through the forest, plowing through numerous trees, and leaving a long trail before finallying to a stop in a heap of trees, stirring up a cloud of dust.


    Clearly, this was the true power of the silver-haired woman, far surpassing the Specter ves that Zhao Hao had easily defeated.


    After dealing with Zhao Hao, a hint of satisfaction shed in the silver-haired woman''s eyes. But before she could savor her victory for long, suddenly, an unexpected turn of events urred."

 Chapter 79: The Puppet Master

    Chapter 79: The Puppet Master


    A bone-chilling silver light, with the moon''s glow, came down from the sky. The silver-haired woman instinctively looked up to find Fang Xiu diving down, wielding a scalpel imbued with Specter power, aimed directly at her.


    The bright moon served as a backdrop, its pale light blending with the gleam of the scalpel, both reflecting in the woman''s eyes. This was the moment Fang Xiu had been waiting for.


    Despite not recognizing the scalpel, the silver-haired woman, a second-tier psychic, could sense the power within it. Her silver hair reacted instantly, stretching out like a thick tentacle at high speed towards Fang Xiu''s arm.


    Fang Xiu''s right hand, holding the scalpel, was tightly mped by the hair, immobilizedpletely. The strength of the silver hair far exceeded that of the ck hair. To prevent Fang Xiu from using his left hand, another strand of silver hair quickly wrapped around it.


    Now, both of Fang Xiu''s hands were restrained, and he was suspended in mid-air. The silver-haired woman smiled triumphantly, ready to enjoy Fang Xiu''s fear and panic. But to her surprise, Fang Xiu looked down at her like a victor, his face shadowed by the moonlight. In the shadow, a blood eye suddenly lit up, emitting a sinister and ominous vibe.


    "Look into my eyes!" a chilling voice echoed in the woman''s ears. As their eyes met, a wave of Spiritual Energy burst from the blood eye, shooting straight into the woman''s gaze


    The woman''s brain was hit hard, a ringing noise overwhelmed her, and she rolled her eyes back, fainting.


    With her unconscious, the silver hair released Fang Xiu. As he fell from the air, he thrust the scalpel towards the woman''s neck. But just then, several sounds came from afar.


    WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!


    Three silver throwing knives, arranged in a triangle, flew towards Fang Xiu. Unfazed by the sudden attack, Fang Xiu even smirked slightly.


    _''So they''ve finally decided to show themselves.'' _He quickly redirected his scalpel, cutting through the air at an incredible speed.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG


    The three knives were instantly split in half. The force of the knives, however, knocked him back several meters.


    Then, from behind a nearby hill, two women and two men slowly emerged.


    The leading one was a woman in a wine-red long dress. Following her were the traveler couple and a muscr, broad-shouldered man over two meters tall, his body concealed under a ck hooded cloak.


    The woman in the wine-red dress didn''t say anything and immediately issued amand: "Kill him!" Upon receiving the order, the traveler couple immediately pulled out pistols and started shooting at Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu couldn''t withstand bullets. He swiftly dodged and took cover behind arge rock. At such a distance, and with only two pistols, it was difficult to hit a psychic who had activated five percent of their Spiritual Energy.


    It seemed, however, the woman''s intention wasn''t really to shoot Fang Xiu, as even when he took cover, she didn''t order her subordinates to stop firing. Only when the bullets ran out did the traveler couple stop, standing emotionlessly like puppets, as if waiting for new orders.


    Fang Xiu rose slowly from behind the rock, looking towards the woman in the wine-red dress, now understanding her true intention.


    She''s here for the silver-haired woman!


    The silver-haired woman, who had fainted earlier, was now nowhere to be seen, apparently carried away by the tall, muscr man.


    "Quick! Bring her to me!" The woman in the wine-red dress eyed the silver-haired woman brought by the muscr man with an uncontroble ecstasy in her seductive eyes.


    Finally, as the silver-haired woman was brought to her, the woman in the red dress, with her long, pale hands and bright red, diamond-studded nails, reached out in a frenzy.


    She ced her hand on the silver-haired woman''s forehead, and a wave of Spiritual Energy flowed into her, like a parasite invading her brain.


    What happened next was even more shocking. The silver-haired woman, previously unconscious, stood up on her own. However, her eyes were lifeless, and her body was rigid, like a puppet.


    The silver-haired woman knelt before the feet of the woman in the wine-red dress.


    "Wang Erni greets you, master," she said, then voluntarily leaned in to kiss the exposed foot in a gesture of submission.


    The woman in the wine-red dress burst into ecstaticughter, her face flushed with excitement, as if basking in the afterglow of her triumph.


    "A second-tier psychic! A ss-B Specter! Now they are all mine! With such powerful forces, once I return, I will be an S! The president! Hahaha"


    "Have you finishedughing?" A calm voice interrupted the woman''s hystericalughter.


    "Ah?" The woman slowed herughter, looking seductively at Fang Xiu. then she yfully blinked at him. "Fang Xiu, is it? You dont seem surprised to see us."


    "People from the Bright showing up isn''t really surprising to me," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    The woman in the wine-red dress appeared even more intrigued. "You know me?" she asked with interest.


    "Wang Yanyan, the Puppeteer, a core member of the Bright." Fang Xiu stated her identity calmly. He had information gathered from Lin Ziyang, including Wang Yanyan''s appearance, personality, abilities, and status. Though he had never met the Puppeteer before, her recent disy of abilities allowed him to make a confident guess.


    Fang Xiu had suspected the involvement of someone like Wang Yanran since the Special Operations Squad was controlled. The method used to control the vigers by the silver-haired woman was clearly different from that used on the Squad, who had no hair in their bodies. Additionally, the silver-haired woman was powerful enough to control all the Specters in the vige to kill them at the vige chief''s house that night, but she didnt. Instead, she went to great lengths to lead them to ckwater River.


    It wasnt hard to deduce that from the beginning, the silver-haired woman had no intention of killing them. Considering her attachment to ckwater, treating it like home, it was not difficult to infer her motive. Her likely goal was to create a decoy, let them kill it, and then went back, thing they hadplete their mission.


    However, Wang Yanyan came here andplicated matters, escting the situation.


    "

 Chapter 80: Cant Possibly Lose

    Chapter 80: Can''t Possibly Lose


    "I can''t believe I''m so famous now," Wang Yanran chuckled. "Fang Xiu, I really should thank you. If it wasn''t for you and a few others fighting desperately, and you finally knocking Wang Erni unconscious, I wouldn''t have had the chance to control a second-tier psychic. By controlling Wang Erni, I gained control of her hair Specter. You really helped me a lot. As thanks, I''ll give you the highest honor. Come kiss my feet and be my puppet. Then you can live."


    Facing Wang Yanran''s insult, Fang Xiu remained calm and said lightly, "You talk too much, and you made me wait so long. I thought you wouldn''t dare to show up."


    "Oh?" Wang Yanran''s eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Waiting for me? Are you saying that your recent tough fight with Wang Erni was all an act, just waiting for me to appear and reap the benefits?"


    "What else?"


    For some reason, looking at Fang Xiu''s calm expression, Wang Yanran suddenly felt a surge of anger rising from her heart.


    "Heh, handsome, I thought you knew the situation. But you can''t seem to see what''s really going on here. You''re the only one left with fighting power on your side. On my side, I have two psychics with more than ten percent of their Spiritual Energy awakened, one second-tier psychic, a ss C Specter, and dozens of Specter ves. With such a powerful team on my side, you''re bound to lose."


    Saying this, Wang Yanran seemed to lose interest in Fang Xiu, and with a wave of her hand, she ordered, "Kill him."


    At hermand, the remaining dozens of Specter ves roared and rushed toward Fang Xiu. The tall, muscr man beside her also roared, and his muscles instantly swelled.


    RIP!


    His clothes burst open, revealing iron-blue muscles that shone with a metallic luster. He charged at Fang Xiu like a gigantic tank.


    Also attacking was Wang Erni. Countless silver hair strands transformed into a sky-covering arrow rain, shooting straight at Fang Xiu.


    Although Wang Yanran seemed reckless, she was actually cautious. Even with her team, which was sure to win, Fang Xiu''s unusual calmness still made her uneasy. So, she went all out right from the start, aiming to nip any danger in the bud.


    Then, a scene of despair unfolded. Under the cold moonlight, Fang Xiu stood alone on the ground, his slender shadow stretched long. Surrounding him were enemies surging like a tide. The Specter ves made of ck hair strands, the muscr man with metallic-gleaming muscles, and the sky-covering silver hair strands shooting toward him.


    As for his teammates, Shen Lingxue was lying in the muddy water, Zhao Hao was thrown tens of meters away and lost, and Liu Shuai passed out due to excessive blood loss.


    Facing this situation, even a second-tier psychic would be in despair and give up. Fang Xiu, however, justughed. The next moment, he controlled his Spiritual Energy to detonate the Specter power in the scalpel, which was stored from cutting countless Specters.


    BOOM!


    Terrifying and patterned Specter breaths rose from the scalpel, turning into strands of ck smoke, howling out.


    Each strand of ck smoke seemed to contain a terrifying Specter roaring. These ck smokes, like giant ck pythons, coiled around Fang Xiu, churning, and then crazily surged into him through his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, dyeing all of them ck.


    With the continuous merging of Specter power, his mind became more twisted, his power stronger, and hisughter increasingly distorted. A terrifying, hideousugh echoed throughout the ce, sounding like a ghost from theherworlding to im lives.


    "Is this it? How can I possibly lose!!"


    When the Specter power from the scalpel entered Fang Xiu''s body, his suppressed mind was finally unleashed. Calmness had always been his coverto protect himself from being discovered by those Specters.


    Madness, on the other hand, was his true nature.


    Suppressed and hideousughter squeezed out from his throat. At this moment, he seemed like apletely different person, with ck energy swirling around him. Within the ck mist, numerous Specter shadows condensed, and his right eye shone crimson, turning his former calmness into madness.


    Seeing this, Wang Yanran was instantly shocked. "Quick! Stop him! He''s mutating!"


    But it was already toote.


    With the terrifyingughter, Fang Xiu moved. Holding the bright silver scalpel in one hand, his figure vanished from the spot like a ghost.


    SWOOSH!


    On the dark ground, a silver lightning seemed to light up. This lightning streaked across the field, and when Fang Xiu reappeared, he was already on the other side of the battlefield.


    The silver light pierced the Specter ves. One by one, they became rigid, as if on pause.


    The next moment, a dozen Specter ves'' heads ttered to the ground. After their heads fell, the hair forming their bodies instantly scattered on the ground, twisted and withered.


    Then, the silver "arrow rain" arrived, dense and overwhelming, seemingly sealing off all escape. However, Fang Xiu''s figure turned into ck afterimages, continuously moving swiftly and elegantly through the silver arrow rain.


    His movements were graceful and rapid, his expression mad and ferocious, like a dark dancer under the moonlight, forcefully finding a sliver of life in this overwhelming attack.


    Even while dodging the arrow shower, Fang Xiu''s scalpel whirled continuously in his hand, reaping the lives of Specter ves like the scythe of the Reaper. In just a short moment, the Specter ves were almostpletely eliminated.


    "What! How is this possible!" Wang Yanran was shocked.


    "He dares to let such immense and chaotic Specter power enter his body. He''s nning to go down with me! Madman! He''s a madman! Everyone, attack!"


    Wang Yanran sent Wang Erni into the fight, determined to eliminate Fang Xiu.


    Even the ordinary trekking couple joined the attack, armed with handguns. However, they approached quickly and died just as fast.


    Fang Xiu didn''t even spare them a nce; with a kick, he sent two shards of stone flying like bullets, embedding them into their foreheads. The two fell to the ground, eyes wide open in anger and shock.


    Soon, Wang Erni joined the battle. Her power was at full strength, her silver hair whirling and growing incredibly fast, reaching dozens of meters in length in an instant.


    The next moment, billions of silver hair strands intertwined, solidifying into a giant, conical silver spike, like a scorpion''s tail, viciously piercing toward Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu''s right eye zed with blood-red, a ferocious smile appearing on his lips. Facing such a terrifying strike, he didn''t dodge or evade but raised his scalpel to meet it head-on.


    The contrast of the scene was dramatic: on one side was a giant silver spike tens of meters long, and on the other, a small scalpel less than 20 centimeters in length. The two werepletely mismatched in scale.


    But then, a jaw-dropping moment urred.


    CLANG!


    A loud metallic shing sound echoed! Astonishingly, the small and thin scalpel easily blocked the giant silver spike, preventing it from advancing an inch. The scene was like an ant lifting an elephant, a tiny insect shaking a mighty tree.


    Upon seeing this, Wang Yanran''s face stiffened."

 Chapter 81: Too Weak

    Chapter 81: Too Weak


    "This is impossible! To unleash such powerful Specter strength is not something a first-tier psychic can do with his weak body! The Specter power should have transformed him into a monster immediately. Why hasn''t he mutated yet?"


    At that moment, Fang Xiu moved. He swiftly swung his scalpel, slicing off the tip of the silver spike in a sh, scattering silver strands all around. He continued to sh, as if he intended to chop the entire silver spike into pieces, much like a chef slicing potatoes.


    Wang Erni seemed enraged, waving the silver spikes from all directions at Fang Xiu. However, this only resulted in shorter and shorter hair. The sound of the scalpel shing against the silver strands grew more intense.


    "Too weak! Too weak! Why can''t you entertain me more!" A distorted voice came from Fang Xiu. His face was shrouded in darkness, looking horribly twisted, with a blood-red eye shining. He wasn''t a Specter, yet definitely more terrifying than one.


    He swung his de faster and faster, almost reaching Wang Erni as she yelled, "Iron ve, kill him now!"


    A muscr man roared like a tiger, lunging at Fang Xiu.


    At first, Fang Xiu was too fast for him, a tank-like fighter, to catch up. But now, with Fang Xiu''s speed reduced from cutting the hair, Iron ve saw an opportunity.


    However, when Iron ve reached Fang Xiu, raising his huge fist to crush his skull, Fang Xiu didn''t even nce at him.


    In a sh of silver light, a line of blood appeared on Iron ve''s neck. He then fell, eyes wide with rage and veins bulging. He began to convulse as if in extreme pain.


    "Did something juste over here?" Fang Xiu wondered in the smoke, continuing to cut hair.


    Wang Yanran watched in shock. Iron ve was a psychic puppet of hers, with 15% of his Spiritual Energy awakened.


    He also had a steel skin ability. His skin was as hard as steel, impossible for normal weapons to cut through.


    Because of this ability, Iron ve''s defense, vitality, and strength were incredibly impressive. Now, however, Fang Xiu had easily defeated him without even a nce.


    In fact, Fang Xiu''s ability was a perfect counter to Iron ve, a typical tank fighter with high defense, a long health bar, and great strength.


    Fang Xiu was more like an assassin, with high attack power, low health, and quick speed. Normally, a confrontation between two such types wouldst for a while.


    But Fang Xiu''s attack power was extraordinarily high. His scalpel, having sliced through numerous Specters in the psychiatric hospital, was exceptionally sharp. With his scalpel, Iron ve''s steel skin was like a hot knife through butter. That was why Iron ve met such a clean and swift end.


    As Fang Xiu continued his onught, Wang Erni''s silver hair got shorter and shorter, and the distance between them closed.


    Suddenly, Wang Erni screamed, emitting intense Spiritual Energy waves. The ground shook, and the sound of waves hitting the shore came from the direction of the ckwater River. A hundred-meter-long dragon, formed entirely from river water, roared behind Fang Xiu.


    It was as if Fang Xiu had eyes on his back. He didn''t even turn his head. He lightly tapped the ground and soared into the air, elegantly arcing under the night sky, avoiding the water dragon andnding gracefully.


    Wang Erni swung her arms, and the water dragon turned sharply toward Fang Xiu.


    With a sinister smile, Fang Xiu charged toward the water dragon. Just as they were about to collide, he leaped lightly, narrowly avoiding the dragon''s attack andnding atop its head.


    He continued his assault, effortlessly moving along the dragon''s body as if walking on solid ground. Illuminated by the bright moonlight, his scalpel trailed a long silver afterimage in the night sky.


    In just a moment, he had moved from the dragon''s head to its tail, clearly targeting Wang Erni near the tail.


    Wang Erni, now a puppet, showed no emotion on her face. But Wang Yanran, watching from afar, was terrified. She had witnessed the power of the scalpel, which had instantly killed Iron ve.


    Despite Wang Erni being a second-tier psychic, her physical strength was no match for Iron ve. If Wang Erni were to get close, it would surely be another one-hit kill.


    This was something Wang Yanran couldn''t ept. After all, Wang Erni was her newly acquired, powerful puppet. Losing her to Fang Xiu would be a heartache she''d carry forever. Moreover, if Wang Erni, her strongest fighter, died, her own death wouldn''t be far behind.


    Therefore, as Fang Xiu rapidly closed in, both Wang Yanran and Wang Erni took action. Wang Yanran lifted the slit of her wine-red long dress, revealing a row of shiny silver throwing knives strapped to her fair thigh.


    The throwing knives were made from Mind Steel. Although not 100% pure, each knife contained at least 50% Mind Steel.


    The reason for using Mind Steel was that Wang Yanran''s puppet ability allowed her to control not just people but objects as well. However, objects couldn''t conduct Spiritual Energy. Only when infused with Mind Steel, which could conduct Spiritual Energy, could they be controlled.


    These throwing knives were her onlybat weapon aside from her puppets. Due to the nature of her abilities, she had never been strong in directbat.


    Several throwing knives, tracing elegant arcs and controlled by her puppet ability, shot toward Fang Xiu from different directions, curving in mid-air.


    At the same time, Wang Erni acted. Her silver hair strands explosively grew and shot toward Fang Xiu like steel needles, covering the sky.


    Fang Xiu was surrounded, with every possible escape route blocked by attacks. Those hair cut off his retreat route and seemingly sealed his life.


    However, the next moment, a miraculous scene unfolded.


    Fang Xiu moved, his figure ghostlike, darting and weaving through the narrow space. The dark energy swirling around him turned him almost into a ck shadow, making his form nearly invisible.


    Miraculously, all attacks missed him. Whether it was the sharp throwing knives or the piercing hair needles, they all narrowly missed. It was as if he could predict their trajectories. No matter how dense or fast the attacks were, he elegantly found gaps, dancing through them with ease.


    For those attacks he couldn''t dodge, he deftly used his scalpel to cut through them, turning into shes of silver light under the night sky, effortlessly severing all assaults. What was a dangerously intense battlefield became, at that moment, like a stage for his solo dance."

 Chapter 82: I Can Do Anything

    Chapter 82: I Can Do Anything


    "How can this be!?" Wang Yanran eximed in disbelief. It wasn''t the first time she had said these words, but she couldn''t help but yell them again, astonished by Fang Xiu''s continual shocking attacks.


    "You''re too slow! Is this all a second-tier psychic can do? It seems like the two hundred spiritual coins I spent on hiring a killer were a waste," Fang Xiu''s twisted and suppressed voice echoed during a break in the attack.


    Seemingly bored, Fang Xiu suddenly swung his scalpel, which burst into a dazzling silver light, outshining the moon for a moment. Then, the silver light transformed into a sword-like beam, piercing the sky and cleaving through all attacks, creating a clear path.


    Fang Xiu, like a phantom, darted through the gap, his figure shing in the night sky. When he reappeared, he was already behind Wang Erni, his bright silver scalpel deftly positioned at her throat.


    "No!" Wang Yanran was horrified at the sight.


    But Fang Xiu, with a sinister smile, watched her coldly and then made a light cut. A wound appeared on Wang Erni''s neck, but instead of blood, dense silver hair emerged. Clearly, as the host of the hair Specter, she had long been transformed beyond human.


    Human or Specter, the pain was equal for all. With a thud, Wang Erni copsed to the ground.


    As she fell, the roaring water dragon dispersed, turning into a shower that fell to the earth. The fluttering silver hair rapidly retracted to its original form.


    After dealing with Wang Erni, Fang Xiu didn''t look relieved, only dissatisfied. "Why are there no screams? No wails of agony?"


    A momentter, as if realizing something, he tilted his head and stared intently at Wang Yanran with his bloody red eyes. His voice, twisted and suppressed, said, "I understand now. It''s because you turned her into a puppet. Well, then you will have to experience the pain in her ce."


    Under the cold moonlight, Fang Xiu, enveloped in ck mist, slowly walked toward Wang Yanran. His steps were slow, but each one seemed to press heavily on Wang Yanran''s heart, tightening it with every step.


    Wang Yanran finally understood the feeling of falling from heaven to hell. The euphoria of having gained a second-tier psychic and a ss B Specter puppet had vanished. Now, she just wanted to survive.


    She also realized why Fang Xiu had said he was waiting for their arrival. He had indeed been waiting, waiting for all the puppeteers behind the scenes to show themselves before capturing them all at once.


    Still, there was one thing she couldn''t understand. Fang Xiu was filled with such immense and chaotic Specter power, as if he was possessed by dozens of Specters simultaneously. And yet, Fang Xiu still retained his sanity and hadn''t mutated.


    As Fang Xiu drew closer, Wang Yanran didn''t choose to run. She knew all too well that with his ghostly speed, escape meant certain death.


    Instead, she considered that begging for mercy might offer her a slim chance of survival. This strategy, especially effective with men, had worked for her in the past. After all, few could resist a delicate beauty pleading for her life.


    She had encountered men with stronger wills, who would superficially agree to spare her in exchange for a moment of pleasure, nning to kill her afterward. But by then, it was toote for them, as they had already be her puppets.


    Psychics, though difficult to enve, were most vulnerable during such intimate moments, making it the perfect time for her to invade their Spiritual Energy.


    "Not running? Fang Xiu now stood beside Wang Yanran, his tall frame blocking the moonlight and casting a shadow over her. The wisps of ck mist rising from his body entwined around him, with countless Specters writhing and roaring within.


    Frightened by this sight, Wang Yanran was unsure if her usual tactic would work on this man. He was unlike any she had met before. Her long, fair legs suddenly bent, and she knelt in the mud, creating a stark contrast between the ck mud and her white skin.


    Her alluring face was filled with fear, her eyes red and seemingly brimming with tears. "Please, don''t kill me. I was only following orders from the head of Bright Club," she pleaded.


    Fang Xiu''s lips curled into a sinister smile. "Don''t worry, I won''t kill you. I just want to infuse my pain into you, that''s all."


    ''Pain? Infusion?''


    Wang Yanran paused, wondering if he was using a new ng term for something else.


    ''Could this be my chance?''


    She quickly grabbed Fang Xiu''s trouser leg, her face wearing a pleading look mixed with subtle seduction. Then she said with a pleading and ttering smile, "I''d be willing to do anything for you as long as you spare my life."


    Lifting her neck, her sensual face was a picture of vulnerability mixed with a hint of temptation. Kneeling, especially with her head raised and wearing a deep wine-red long dress, revealed her fair skin and enticing cleavage.


    However, Fang Xiu remainedpletely unmoved by Wang Yanran''s attempts at seduction. Instead, his right eye glowed a more intense crimson, and the smile on his lips grew even more sinister.


    "OK, this is what you deserve," Fang Xiu remarked, lifting his scalpel. The shadow it cast on Wang Yanran''s face resembled a mantis raising its forelegs, ominous and threatening.


    Wang Yanran''splexion changed drastically as she realized her mistake. The ''pain'' and ''infusion'' Fang Xiu referred to were not what she had thought. The scalpel was already at her throat.


    "No, please, don''t do this, I beg you. I was wrong to attack you. I''ll do anything you want, just spare me. I can bring you pleasures like you''ve never experienced before. I''m skilled in many ways; it''s sure to satisfy you. You can try first, and if you''re not satisfied, you can kill me at any time," she pleaded, even daring to lick Fang Xiu''s fingers.


    Wang Yanran locked eyes with Fang Xiu, her gaze full of tenderness and allure. She had been told many times that her eyes were her most attractive feature, capable of captivating any man. She believed even Fang Xiu wouldn''t be an exception.


    Indeed, under her gaze, Fang Xiu''s previously fierce expression began to soften, and the ck mist surrounding him slowly dissipated. He looked intently into Wang Yanran''s eyes, his own eyes revealing an unusual fascination, and even reached out to gently touch her smooth cheek.


    Wang Yanran was overjoyed, continuing her silent but powerful seduction. She knew that silence could be more effective than words at such a moment.


    "These eyes, they are so simr," Fang Xiu said all of a sudden.


    "

 Chapter 83: Your Misery Has Nothing To Do With Me

    Chapter 83: Your Misery Has Nothing To Do With Me


    Wang Yanran, good at reading men''s thoughts, quickly caught on.


    _''Simr to someone''s eyes? Could it be a childhood sweetheart? A former girlfriend? Or perhaps his wife?''_


    "Do my eyes remind you of someone?" Wang Yanran asked, feigning innocence and curiosity.


    "Your eyes... they look so much like my wife''s," Fang Xiu replied.


    Wang Yanran''s heart jumped with joy, believing she had just stepped back from death''s door. But before she could fully be happy, Fang Xiu''s expression changed dramatically.


    He lowered his head and leaned closer to Wang Yanran, revealing a face contorted with hatred and terror.


    A suppressed, crazed voice whispered in her ear, "That''s why you must die!!"


    Hearing that, Wang Yanran was paralyzed with fear, her mind shing back to her first encounter with a Specter. The sheer, indescribable terror of that experience was enough to drive anyone to despair.


    Yet now, she felt that fear again. But she couldn''t understand why resembling someone''s wife would bring such hatred.


    _''As the old saying goes, a night of marriage equals a hundred days of grace. Can''t he let go of whatever grudge he held?''_


    She concluded bitterly that men were truly no good.


    As Fang Xiu raised his scalpel, Wang Yanran''s pupils dted in uncontroble terror, her thoughts a mess. The scalpel, now a streak of silver light, was inches from her neck. Time, which should have been fleeting, felt agonizingly slow.


    Her mind wandered back to her first Specter incident. Back then, she was treated like a princess by men, enjoying free drinks and fruit tes in any lounge, even getting paid for herpany. But that life changed overnight when she identally wandered into a Specter Zone. Trapped without food or escape, she encountered many men, their negative emotions amplified by fear.


    Like a sheep amongst wolves, she was toyed with mercilessly. Yet, she didn''t give up. Surviving on scraps from these men, she managed to outlive them all as their strength waned. Eventually, she activated her power and became a psychic. Perhaps her desire to be in control, after being treated like a ything, awakened her puppeteer abilities.


    Wang Yanran often wondered if things might have been different had she not been so vain in college, desiring luxury bags, which ultimately led her down a path that brought her face-to-face with Specters during her night shifts.


    Her thoughts were abruptly cut off as a sh of silver light passed. The cold scalpel pierced her fair neck, and warm blood flowed along the de.


    "Enjoy my pain!"


    With Fang Xiu''s sinisterugh, Wang Yanran''s descended into unbearable pain. Momentster, she twitched and died.


    Perhaps Fang Xiu was unaware of Wang Yanran''s tragic past, but even if he knew, it likely wouldn''t have changed his actions. In his view, her suffering was irrelevant to his cause. The reason behind that was simplethose who kill must be prepared to be killed.


    After dealing with Wang Yanran, Fang Xiu turned at the sound of movement behind him. Wang Erni''s silver hair, which had fallen out, was moving rapidly on the ground like a spider. Surprisingly, it headed straight for Shen Lingxue, whoy in a muddy pit.


    In a swift movement, the silver hair attached to Shen Lingxue''s ck hair, transforming it from ck to silver.


    As the silver hair took hold, Shen Lingxue, previously unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes. They were filled with confusion, then rage, hatred, and anger.


    Her body twisted as she stood up, covered in mud, and a Specter''s energy began to emanate from her. The silver hair started to float and dance wildly, signaling the rise of a new host for the hair Specter.


    With a ghost-like swiftness, Fang Xiu appeared before Shen Lingxue and pped her across the face, disrupting whatever transformation was taking ce. The intense pain sent her into unconsciousness once again, and she copsed back into the mud. The silver hair, which had been lively, fell limply.


    With a quick motion of his scalpel, Fang Xiu cut the silver hair and then grabbed it. Shen Lingxue''s previously long and ck hair was now reduced to a buzz cutall that was left uninfected.


    Fang Xiu had removed the hair as close to the scalp as possible to avoid any remnants of the Specter power.


    The silver hair in Fang Xiu''s hand writhed like a live octopus, its strands trying to wrap around his arm, seemingly attempting to climb onto his head.


    "You want to parasitize me? As you wish," Fang Xiu said with a smile, pressing the writhing silver hair onto his head.


    After feeling an itch on his scalp, Fang Xiu checked his reflection on his phone. His ck hair had vanished, reced by silver ones.


    He then sensed an evil Specter power attempting to invade and twist his mind. However, when this power reached his consciousness, he remained unfazed, almost amused.


    _''Is this it?''_


    Fang Xiu then used his dark, ink-like Spiritual Energy to counteract the silver hair. As his power, filled with pain and endless hatred, surged into the hair, it reacted as if startled, puffing up dramatically. For a moment, Fang Xiu''s hair stood this way and that.


    However, with a cold snort from Fang Xiu, the silver hair quickly retracted and shortened, adapting snugly to his head. Eventually, it reverted to Fang Xiu''s original hairstyle and color.


    Having dealt with all his enemies, Fang Xiu sheathed his scalpel at his waist. The terrifying ck mist and the howling Specter shadows surrounding him gradually dissipated.


    The blood-red light in his right eye faded, revealing clear, distinct pupils. His face, no longer contorted with malice, regained its usual calm demeanor."

 Chapter 84: The Power of Silver Hair

    Chapter 84: The Power of Silver Hair


    The next second, there was a sudden burst. And then came the sound of exploding blood vesselsFang Xiu''s skin suddenly erupted with crimson blood. In just a moment, he was drenched in blood, and his bones also sounded like they were breaking.


    His whole body was in immense pain, like every part of him was being crushed.


    However, this pain didn''t cause any change in Fang Xiu. His expression remained as calm as still water, It was as though nothing had happened, but his body couldn''t hold up any longer and fell straight to the ground.


    Just when his face was a few inches from the ground, Fang Xiu''s body astonishingly stopped in midair, as if some force was holding him up.


    He remained calm, seemingly expecting this.


    "Rise," hemanded.


    Then, a miraculous scene unfolded. His body stood up straight again, defying gravity.


    If someone had walked in at that moment, they would have seen countless thin strands of hair wrapped around Fang Xiu''s body. Yes, this was the ability of the hair Specter.


    Though Fang Xiu couldn''t move his body, his hair was still responsive. He controlled his hair, wrapping it around his body like a puppet on strings, except in this case, the puppeteer was himself.


    After standing up, he again controlled his hair. At a thought, numerous silver strands stealthily extended from his ck hair. These silver strands, like needles, pierced into his body, beginning to mend his wounds and broken blood vessels. In just a short time, Fang Xiu''s bleeding wounds had stopped.


    The hair didn''t stop there. It worked diligently like a busy worker, splitting into countless strands and spreading out. Some strands went to the corpses of Wang Yanran and others to search them, some cleaned up the battlefield, collecting scattered pieces of throwing knives, while others went into the ruins of ckwater, retrieving unburned money, gold, and silver jewelry.


    These strands of hair were incredibly tough and strong, easily lifting dozens of spiritual coins with a single wrap.


    After clearing the battlefield, the hair quickly retracted, storing all the spoils of war in a backpack picked up from somewhere, and then ced it onto Fang Xiu''s back. Another strand then extended from his head, lengthening into his pocket, coiling around a cellphone, and handed it to him.


    Fang Xiu began to dial Su Kexin''s number. On each of his fingers, there was a nearly invisible silver strand of hair, manipting his fingers to gently tap on the screen. Soon, the call connected.


    "Missionplete. Send someone to ckwater to pick us up and bring the medic," he said, then hung up.


    Looking around at the chaotic battlefield and his injured body, Fang Xiu knew his decision was right. He had waited until thest moment to reveal his trump card and use the Specter power in the scalpel. This power was so immense that using it felt like being possessed by countless Specters, greatly damaging both mind and body. Although his mind could withstand it, his body couldn''t.


    A brief surge of power left his bodypletely powerless. Had he used it earlier, like during the first attack by the Specter ven, even if he had dealt with them, it might have scared Wang Erni. She was hidden in the shadows, and it could have deterred her from appearing. Then, once the effect wore off and his body copsed, she could have easily taken him down.


    Then, if he had used the Specter power to deal with Wang Erni, Wang Yanran hiding in the shadows wouldn''t have revealed herself. So, to lure out all enemies, he chose to hide, waiting for a chance to defeat them all in one strike.


    Fortunately, his patience paid off.


    Next, Fang Xiu, controlling his own body, went to find Zhao Hao to check if he was alive.


    As for Shen Lingxue and Liu Shuai, there was no need to worry.


    Shen Lingxue had fainted from the pain he inflicted, triggering her brain''s protective mechanism,monly known as being knocked out by pain, so she wasn''t in mortal danger.


    Liu Shuai had just lost too much blood and fainted, which could be considered a form of forced weight loss.


    Only Zhao Hao''s situation was uncertain, as he had been flung away, and it was unclear where he hadnded.


    However, Fang Xiu suspected he was probably alright. Zhao Hao, in his Magic Mike transformation, had shown incredible physical power, hisbat strength nearly matching that of a second-tier psychic. If he hadn''t faced abination of a second-tier psychic and a B-grade Specter, the oue might have been different.


    Even Fang Xiu hadn''t expected Zhao Hao, the weakling, to have such great abilities. He was capable of challenging opponents beyond his level. But he didn''t envy him, as this power came at the cost of being ordinary most of the time, needing a whole day to charge for just two hours of use.


    Quickly, following the trail of destruction through the woods, Fang Xiu easily located Zhao Hao.


    At this moment, Zhao Hao had already changed to his original, less capable self. He was pinned under several damaged trees, his right leg seemingly trapped.


    He was wailing in pain, his eyes red and brimming with tears.


    "Help! Xiu! Where are you? Help me!" he cried out.


    Due to the darkness, Zhao Hao hadn''t noticed Fang Xiu approaching slowly from the shadows. However, Fang Xiu, with his enhanced vision, could see Zhao Hao''s miserable state clearly  pathetic and tearful.


    It was a starkparison to his earlier confident and proud demeanor. If Fang Xiu hadn''t known it was Zhao Hao, he might have doubted if it was the same person.


    During the day, Zhao Hao was calling for Xiu to save him, but at night, when the time came, he transformed into someone else entirely.


    Fang Xiu checked the time on his phone; it was only midnight, not yet one o''clock, and the two hours hadn''t passed, yet Zhao Hao had already changed back from his transformation.


    It seemed Zhao Hao''s im ofsting two hours was under nonbat conditions. Originally, when he first tested his abilities at home, it was a test of sexual stamina,sting for two hours. The specifics of that test were known only to Zhao Hao himself.


    While Zhao Hao was panicking, the trees pressing on him suddenly began to crack. He turned pale and trembled. "Is it going to copse? I''m done for. I don''t want to die! I''m still a virgin!"


    At that moment, Fang Xiu''s voice came from the darkness. "You haven''t been one for a long time."


    "

 Chapter 85: My Hair!

    Chapter 85: My Hair!


    "What do you mean? That was a Specter! So it didn''t count!" Zhao Hao instinctively argued, then suddenly paused, his face lighting up with joy. "Xiu! You''re amazing. I knew you woulde to save me! Xiu, I''m so"


    "Stop! Don''t say stupid things."


    Then, with a rumbling noise, the trees pinning Zhao Hao were flung away one by one. Due to the cover of the night, Zhao Hao didn''t see how Fang Xiu cleared the trees, thinking he used his hands. In reality, Fang Xiu used his new ''hair.''


    Soon, Zhao Hao was rescued, but one of his legs was twisted unnaturally, clearly broken.


    "Your leg is broken, you shouldn''t move. Just wait here; I''ve already contacted the bureau. They''ll send someone soon."


    Zhao Hao, wincing in pain, finally said, "Xiu, did you take care of that silver-haired witch?"


    "Mmhm, she''s dead."


    Zhao Hao looked at him admiringly. "Impressive, dude! Even my ''It''s Midnight'' abilities couldn''t handle her, but you took care of her so easily."


    "You call your power ''It''s Midnight''?"


    "Yeah! Sounds cool, right?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond but thought it was less impressive than the Magic Mike transformation.


    He briefly exined the situation to Zhao Hao, then returned the way he came to find Shen Lingxue and Liu Shuai. With a forceful nudge at eachpowered by a little jolt of pain he sessfully woke them up.


    Shen Lingxue had several broken ribs, and Liu Shuai had lost some blood, but their conditions weren''t serious.


    After a brief exnation, Fang Xiu took them to meet Zhao Hao. They started a fire and waited for the rescue team from the bureau. However, the moment the fire was lit, Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai froze, staring at Shen Lingxue in shock.


    Shen Lingxue frowned in displeasure. "Why are you both staring at me? It''s just some mud."


    She didn''t realize the gravity of the situation, thinking they were staring because she was covered in mud from falling into a pit. She knew well how some men liked to see women looking disheveled.


    "It''s not the mud, it''s your hair," Liu Shuai said, staring at Shen Lingxue''s cropped hair.


    "Hair?" Shen Lingxue grew even more displeased.


    _''My hair''s definitely a mess with all the mud, which makes me look unattractive, but why does he have to point it out?''_


    Just as she was about to get angry, a cool mountain breeze blew at them.


    Shen Lingxue felt an unusual chill on her scalp, causing her to pause and instinctively reach up to touch her head. To her shock, she felt nothing where her once smooth, long hair used to be.


    Panicked, she quickly checked her head, finding her once soft hair now felt rough, like a man''s short crop.


    She hastily took out a mirror and frozepletely at the sight. The mirror slipped from her grasp, shattering as it hit the ground, just like the breaking of Shen Lingxue''s heart.


    It was silent for a moment, then two. Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream shattered the calm.


    "My hair! Where is my hair? "


    Shen Lingxue, seemingly forgetting her broken ribs, jumped up. Her face was smeared with mud, but her rage was unmistakable. Her eyes reddened with intense anger, as if she was on the verge of bursting into tears from frustration.


    Calmly, Fang Xiu replied, "The hair Specter ate it."


    Her initial confusion quickly turned into renewed shouting. She seemed to vent her anger, upset that Fang Xiu had earlier said the hair Specter was dealt with ''perfectly.''


    Liu Shuai and Zhao Hao watched in stunned silence as Shen Lingxue raged like a furious tiger. The two were too scared to utter a word.


    Then, unexpectedly, Shen Lingxue ran off without a word. The two men exchanged looks of confusion.


    After a while, Liu Shuai asked, "Do you think she''s so upset about her hair that she might do something drastic?"


    Zhao Hao was shocked. "No way, it''s just hair. It can grow back. Is that really something to lose your life over?"


    Liu Shuai shook his head. "You don''t understand the importance of hair to a woman. I once saw a girl crying outside a hair salon because the stylist cut her long hair too short, turning it into a bob. She cried there all afternoon. In the end, the salon owner didn''t charge her and even fitted her with extensions."


    "That serious? Should we check on her, just in case she''s really distressed?"


    "You''re right, we should. They say a woman is most vulnerable when she''s at her weakest. It could be an opportunity to offerfort."


    Hearing this, Zhao Hao felt a surge of motivation, but unfortunately, his broken leg made it impossible for him to act on it.


    Zhao Hao bit his lip and said, "Handsome, can you help me over there?"


    Liu Shuai rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Oh, now I''m ''handsome''? Dream on!" He then floated toward the direction Shen Lingxue had gone, leaving Zhao Hao in frustration, unable to follow.


    Soon after, from the nearby woods, there came several agonizing screams. Not long after, the chubby figure appeared beside the fire. He looked even worse for wear, with a swollen face and seemingly even rounder than before.


    "Ow, it hurts! I was just trying tofort her, and she hit me?"


    Zhao Hao, trying to suppress hisughter, asked, "How exactly did youfort her?"


    "I was just being my usual. I said, ''Lingxue, even without hair, you''re pretty. I''ve seen many with hair on the streets who aren''t as good-looking as you without it. Besides, what''s wrong with no hair? It even saves you the hassle of washing it every day.''"


    Hearing this, Zhao Hao gave him a stunned thumbs-up. "Brilliant! You totally deserved the smack."


    Liu Shuai was baffled. "Why? Was it something I said?"


    "Of course, dumbass! I might not have had a girlfriend, but I know whenforting someone, you shouldn''t keep reminding them of what hurts them. Just think, how many times did you mention Shen Lingxue''sck of hair in your forting'' words?"


    After a brief count, Liu Shuai''s already pale face from blood loss turned even paler. "It''s over. I''ve ruined my chancespletely."


    Seeing him dejected, Zhao Hao suddenly perked up, reveling in his misfortune."

 Chapter 86: Im Invincible

    Chapter 86: I''m Invincible


    Fang Xiupletely ignored the pointless chatter between them. His focus was entirely on the sudden appearance of Liu Shuai. If his senses were right, Liu Shuai had just teleported from a meter away.


    "Liu Shuai, how far did you teleport just now?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Liu Shuai was slightly startled, then said, "The same as before"


    He suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Soon, his face erupted with joy. "I just teleported one meter!"


    He quickly checked his Spiritual Energy, his happiness intensifying. "Five percent! My Spiritual Energy has actually increased to five percent! I was only at two percent before! Is this the power of a ss B Specter? A three percent increase!? No wonder so many people rush to join the vice-captain on ss B missions. They''re so rewarding!"


    "Vice-captain? Why not Captain Yang?" Zhao Hao curiously asked.


    Liu Shuai looked at him disdainfully and said, "Who would want to go on a mission with Yang? All the benefits go to him, and we''re left with the bad luck."


    "Huh?" Zhao Hao was a bit stunned, "Is Captain Yang really that bad? He doesn''t seem like someone who would steal all the credit."


    "You''re naive. Who said Captain Yang is a bad person? Have you forgotten his ability? His ability is luck. If you''re with him, all the good things will naturally go to him, and you''ll be left with nothing but misfortune."


    "Now that you mention it, Captain Yang sounds like a protagonist from a Gary Stu novel, always encountering adventures. Meanwhile, everyone around him ends up in terrible fatesbrothers, rtives, families, colleagues..."


    Zhao Hao suddenly shuddered. "We''re his colleagues. Won''t we also be unlucky? In a fantasy novel, that''s like being his sect brothers, doomed to be destroyed because of him, and then he avenges us."


    "Stop talking nonsense. It''s not that serious. The worst that might happen is not having a seasoning packet with your instant noodles, dropping your phone in the toilet while using it, or pulling off the ring when opening a can."


    Zhao Hao''s face turned pale, "I think I''ll keep my distance from Yang in the future."


    "Hey, by the way, Xiu, Hao, how about your awakened Spiritual Energy now?" Liu Shuai asked, curious.


    "Five percent," Fang Xiu calmly replied.


    "Same as me? What about you, Hao?" Liu Shuai didn''t doubt Fang Xiu''s words. After all, they had experienced the same Specter event.


    He had increased from two to five percent, and he thought Fang Xiu had gone from one to five percent, an extra one percent more than him. That seemed reasonable, given that Fang Xiu had been fighting continuously.


    Everyone''s spiritual strength varies, which was like the capacity of the "dantian" in Wuxia novels. If an average person''s "dantian" capacity was a hundred, a genius''s capacity would be a thousand. Even if both had only five percent of their internal energy, there was a tenfold difference in essence.


    Also, what Liu Shuai didn''t realize was that Fang Xiu''s "five percent" was an increase in Spiritual Energy, not his total.


    During the battle at ckwater, Fang Xiu used the Specter power in his scalpel and even absorbed the power of the silver-haired Specter. Thisbination boosted his Spiritual Energy by a full five percent, reaching a total of ten percent.


    It was well-known that the higher the percentage of awakened Spiritual Energy, the more difficult it is to increase.


    Ten percent was the threshold that separates newbie psychics from experienced ones. This level was a small threshold; in terms of fantasy novels, it was like breaking through a minor realm. One could distinctly feel their body''s potential being further unlocked, their senses bing sharper, and their overall strength significantly improved.


    Thus, it was only natural that Shen Lingxue was always so proud of herself as an experienced psychic. After all, there was a clear gap between new and experienced psychics, not only in physical fitness and senses but also in the endurance of using abilities.


    New psychics, with their limited Spiritual Energy, often found themselves exhausted after using their abilities a few times. Fang Xiu had experienced this limitation many times.


    His "Pain Power" was hardly sufficient initially. During his first encounter with the "doctor," just one punch would use up his Spiritual Energy.


    Now, with ten percent Spiritual Energy, Fang Xiu finds it much easier to wield his power, avoiding the awkward situation where a single basic attack drains all his energy.


    In fact, if someone else had undergone the same battle, their improvement would likely exceed five percent, too.


    First, they would be corroded by the countless Specter powers in the scalpel, followed by possession by a ss B Specter. Moreover, it was possession, not justbat.


    Typically, psychics passively absorb Specter power through life-and-death battles, thereby activating their psychic powers. However, possession offers a more direct and sustained contact, resulting in a greater absorption of Specter power.


    Under these circumstances, a fifteen percent increase in the existing Spiritual Energy base wouldn''t be surprising.


    Yet, Fang Xiu only experienced a five percent increase. This was because his spirit was different from ordinary peoplerepeated brushes with death have transformed his spirit, elevating it beyond the ordinary human realm.


    Based on the analogy of the "dantian" in Wuxia novels, if an ordinary person''s "dantian" capacity was one hundred and a genius''s was one thousand, then Fang Xiu''s "dantian" capacity would be at least ten thousand.


    Therefore, when the same amount of internal energy entered the "dantian," his percentage increase was the smallest. This exined why, after he absorbed Lin Ziyang''s Spiritual Energy, it only reached five percent.


    Lin Ziyang was a psychic with twenty percent of his Spiritual Energy illuminated, one of the strongest in the first tier, so even considering some loss during the distortion process, the remaining energy shouldn''t have been so little.


    "I''m also at five percent!" Zhao Hao said excitedly. Liu Shuai was slightly surprised but soon understood, given that Zhao Hao had also fought in his transformed state for a long time. Increasing from one to five percent was reasonable.


    Although everyone''s spirit is different, among ordinary people, the differences are generally minor. Therefore, Liu Shuai assumed that his five percent increase was roughly equivalent to Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao. However, the exact details of this were unknown to anyone.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai excitedly chatted away, each boasting about their strengthsone iming to be invincible at midnight, the other bragging about limitless teleportation.


    Their excitement grew as they spoke, eventually not even considering Captain Yang a challenge. Zhao Hao even boldly imed that at midnight, he would be unbeatable to those below the captain''s level and could match the captain one for one.


    Fang Xiu didn''t join their bragging. Instead, he was quietlymunicating with his hair. Previously, when he controlled the hair Specter, he had vaguely sensed some fragmented memories from within the Specter but hadn''t had time to explore them. Now, while waiting for rescue and having nothing better to do, he decided to investigate.


    As he absorbed these memory fragments into his spirit, disjointed images appeared in his mind. He saw Wang Erni when she had ck hair, ying with a beautiful girl of the same age. Then, he witnessed this girl being driven to suicide by the vigers. Afterward, he saw Wang Erni crying by the ckwater River, her intense negative emotions attracting the Hair Specter.


    From these images, it wasn''t hard to guess Wang Erni''s story. Her close friend was driven to suicide by the vigers for some reason. Then, Wang Erni, with the help of the Hair Specter, avenged her by killing all the vigers in ckwater, forming a clear and simple revenge story.


    However, when Fang Xiu fully absorbed and understood all the memories, he smiled.


    "

 Chapter 87: The Villages Fault

    Chapter 87: The Vige''s Fault


    Fang Xiu finally understood why the Specter chose Wang Erni as its host.


    Wang Erni was born in ckwater, an orphan due to the early death of her parents. She also bore arge birthmark on her face, which made her unattractive. Because of this, she faced discrimination from a young age and struggled to make friends with other kids.


    This continued until a beautiful woman arrived in the vige.


    This woman was the corpse found at the bottom of a river, named Lin Mengxi. Her family name alone indicated that she wasn''t from ckwater. Indeed, Lin Mengxi had been abducted and brought to ckwater to marry the vige chief''s grandson, Wang Fugui.


    Life in ckwater was harsh for her. She attempted to escape multiple times, but being unfamiliar with the terrain, she was always caught, only to face more abuse.


    Yet, she never gave up, and her resilience made her an outcast.


    By a twist of fate, two isted souls foundmon grounds in each other''s life. Thus, Lin Mengxi and Wang Erni became close friends.


    Lin Mengxi didn''t judge Wang Erni for her looks, believing her to have a beautiful soul, far superior to the other vigers. Wang Erni treasured this friendship, her first and only friend, valuing it more than her own life.


    Over the year, Lin Mengxi became pregnant several times but terminated the pregnancies, notably in a vige without clinics or contraceptives. Then one day, Lin Mengxi revealed to Wang Erni that she had figured out an escape route and asked her to set a fire as a distraction.Wang Erni questioned why Lin Mengxi was so desperate to leave. Lin Mengxi exined she had family and friends outside the mountains.


    This made Wang Erni doubt their friendship, suspecting Lin Mengxi was using her just like the others in the vige, only befriending her to n her escape and use her as a cover.


    Despite her doubts, Wang Erni agreed to help. Lin Mengxi smiled genuinely for the first time since Wang Erni had known her.


    On the night of the escape, Lin Mengxi unusually gave Wang Fugui all he wanted, until he fell asleep in exhaustion. That was when Lin Mengxi made her escape.


    With many households owning dogs and night patrols in ce to keep wild animals at bay, arge fire was necessary for her n.


    Instead of setting the fire as nned, Wang Erni secretly went to the vige chief and betrayed Lin Mengxi''s escape n.


    Wang Erni''s reasoning was simple: she couldn''t bear to lose her only friend, Lin Mengxi, and wanted to keep her by her side forever. Wang Erni instructed the chief to keep her betrayal a secret and promised to act as a spy in the future.


    The vige chief agreed, and he, along with the vigers and hunting dogs, began searching for Lin Mengxi.


    Realizing her escape had been exposed when she saw the numerous torches in the vige, Lin Mengxi understood she''d soon be captured and face more abuse.


    She also realized that Wang Erni, her best friened, must have betrayed her. Overwhelmed by this betrayal and her circumstances, Lin Mengxi chose to end her life by jumping into the ckwater River.


    Upon learning of Lin Mengxi''s death, Wang Erni was devastated. She didn''t believe she was at fault, as she only wanted to keep Lin Mengxi close.


    In her mind, it was the vigers of ckwater who had driven Lin Mengxi to her death. With these twisted thoughts, Wang Erni attracted the attention of the hair Specter and became its host. Under the Specter''s influence, she naturally became a psychic.


    Bing a psychic required two conditions: being in a state of near-death or experiencing immense mental trauma, oring into contact with a Specter. Wang Erni fulfilled both.


    The hair Specter, a parasitic type, continuously corrupted Wang Erni''s already distorted mind, rapidly increasing her Spiritual Energy. Eventually, she transformed into a monstrous being, neither fully human nor fully Specter, as evidenced by the silver hair revealed when her neck was cut.


    As a monster, her Spiritual Energy seemed to grow without limit, unlike regr psychics who needed constant life-and-death experiences.


    With the hair Specter''s assistance, she went up to a second-tier psychic.


    After massacring her entire vige, she felt lonely and turned the vigers into Specter ves.


    This was the life of Wang Erni.


    Fang Xiu, after learning about her story, grew more intrigued by the psychicmunity, a group distorted by the use of Specter powers. As their strength grew, so did their entanglement with the Specter world. Fang Xiu wondered what would happen when a psychic''s Spiritual Energy reached 100%.


    _''Will they be a Specter?''_ he wondered. _''Perhaps the ultimate end of a psychic is to transform into a Specter.''_


    Wang Erni''s rapid increase in Spiritual Energy highlighted a crucial point: the more a human psychic resembles a Specter, the faster their Spiritual Energy grows. This suggested a grim reality for psychics: their transformation into something non-human seems inevitable, a truth that could be quite despairing for humanity.


    However, Fang Xiu was free from these concerns. He was indifferent to the nature of Specters or who became one. His only belief was that in the struggle between himself and the Specters, only one can survive, and he was determined not to be the one who perished.


    After an undefined period, Shen Lingxue returned, oddly wearing a dirty, half-burnt hat that seemed like it was found abandoned. Despite its tattered state, she clung to it.


    Eventually, the rescue team from the Investigation Bureau arrived. With their assistance, the group sessfully left ckwater.


    Back at the headquarters of the Investigation Bureau, in the director''s office, the news of the team''s severe injuries had shocked Director Wang Dehai. He was particrly concerned about Fang Xiu and, upon learning that Fang Xiu was rtively unharmed, felt somewhat relieved.


    Wang then questioned the circumstances of the mission. He found it hard to believe that, with Shen Lingxue, an experienced psychic, leading the team on a D mission, the entire team still ended up severely injured."

 Chapter 88: 3000 Spiritual Coins

    Chapter 88: 3000 Spiritual Coins


    The subordinate looked troubled and said, "Director Wang, we don''t have the full picture yet. After all, they are injured and currently receiving treatment. I didn''t ask for details. The only one with minor injuries is Agent Shen. Although she''s physically fine, she seems deeply traumatized and unwilling to answer my questions. She just bandaged her wounds quickly and rushed home."


    Wang Dehai''s expression tightened. "Shen is an experienced agent and has dealt with many Specter incidents. If even she''s suffered such a trauma, this must be a serious incident."


    The subordinate hesitated and then added, "Well, it might not be much rted to the Specter incident. The thing is... it seems Investigator Shen has lost her hair."


    Director Wang was startled. "What did you say? Shen is bald? How did she suddenly be bald? Never mind, I can''t get any information from you. As long as they are safe, that''s fine. Let them rest today, and I''ll visit them tomorrow."


    The next day, Fang Xiu had just woken up in the hospital bed when he saw Wang Dehai arrive in a hurry.


    Seeing Fang Xiu covered in bandages, a look of concern appeared on Wang Dehai''s face. He quickly approached and said, "Hey, hey, don''t get up. You''re injured. We don''t stand on ceremony here in the bureau. Just lie down."


    Before Wang Dehai could finish, Fang Xiu had already gotten out of bed and calmly looked at him, and then he turned and walked into the bathroom. Wang Dehai''s outstretched hands froze in ce.


    He thought to himself, _''Don''t get angry. Psychics are all weirdos like this. I''m used to it.''_


    After mentally preparing himself, Fang Xiu came out of the bathroom, and Wang Dehai seemed to regain hisposure and posture as the Bureau Chief. He briefly asked about Fang Xiu''s health, then began asking about the ckwater Vige incident.


    Fang Xiu didn''t hide anything. He directly told him about Wang Erni, the Specter, and the puppeteer, Wang Yanran.


    Wang Dehai''s expression grew more serious as he listened, especially when he heard about the Bright Club''s involvement. He seldom looked angry, but this time he did.


    "What? People from the Bright Club dared to openly attack the Investigation Bureau agents? What are they trying to do? Start a rebellion?"


    "What? You say you stole their Specter Gadget first and even killed a core member? Oh, then it''s fine."


    "What? You used the power of the Specter Gadget? How severe is the psychic contamination? Lin! Hurry and get a spiritual incense from the Bureau, no, make it two."


    Soon, Fang Xiu received two spiritual incense and 3000 spiritual coins as a reward. Since the Hair Specter was a ss B, the reward for resolving such a Specter was 1000 spiritual coins.


    Fang Xiu''s privilege of doubled rewards meant that he received 2000 spiritual coins for resolving the incident. However, since the ckwater Vige incident was not just a singr Specter event but also involved a second-tier psychic and interference from civilian forces, the final reward was increased to 3000 spiritual coins.


    The value of spiritual incense is also high. One stick has an official price of about 100 spiritual coins, but in the ck market, the price can double or even triple. This item is lifesaving; when a psychic is on the verge of losing control of their Spiritual Energy, they would be willing to spend all they have for just one stick.


    Fang Xiu really got lucky this time. The reward from the Investigation Bureau, along with the spoils from Wang Yanran enabled him to afford an assassin to kill the Bright Club''s chairman. However, as he had said before, when he could afford to take the life of the Bright Club''s chairman, he would be ready to take on the job himself.


    He had already killed a second-tier psychic, so it should be easy for him to handle the chairman of the Bright Club, too, because the guy was also a second-tier psychic.


    His victory this time was partly because Wang Erni was still inexperienced inbat, but he had faced more than just Wang Erni in the fight. She had teammates, a real strong one. It was a one-to-two battle, yet Fang Xiu was the winner.


    Moreover, after this battle, Fang Xiu''s awakened Spiritual Energy reached 10%, enabling him to harness more power from his scalpel and with the help of the Hair Specter, his strength had increased. With his ability to try things again and again, he could definitely take the chairman of the Bright Club down.


    Fang Xiu knew that the Bright Club must be eliminated. After he killed Lin Ziyang, Wang Yanran, and stole the bronze candlestick, he was already a wanted man of the Bright Club. If he didn''t put the Bright Club down, they woulde for him.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t particrly interested in killing; his interest was in Specters. Now, however, he didn''t seem to have a choice.


    He could have been a good person who focused solely on killing Specters for the benefit of humanity, but he was constantly pushed into a corner. To protect himself, he had no choice but to pick up the ughter knife.


    "Fang Xiu, I will give you a satisfactory solution regarding the Bright Club, but currently, our vice-captain Bai Qi is seriously injured, and captain Yang Ming is on a mission. I will send them to the Bright Club in some time," said Wang Dehai.


    Fang Xiu calmly nodded, not really considering Wang Dehai''s words, as he had already decided to take action himself.


    "For now, don''t do anything and focus on healing. I''ve arranged for some cell repair fluids from the Bureau for you. A few injections and you''ll be ready to leave the hospital in a week. The file for the ckwater incident has been updated to Grade B+, code-named ''the Hair Specter.'' All these will be recorded in your file as honors that will stay with you for life. The Investigation Bureau will never forget any hero. Remember to rest well, y games, watch anime, and enjoy some light-hearted videos. Just rx."


    After that, Wang Dehai quickly rified, worried about causing misunderstandings, "Don''t get me wrong. The rapid increase in your Spiritual Energy might seem like a good thing, but in the long run, it poses a risk. A sudden surge in Spiritual Energy means you''ve internalized a lot of Specter power, increasing the risk of losing control. In your young people''s terms, it''s like cultivating too quickly and risking a Qi deviation, which could lead to side effects."


    Fang Xiu showed no reaction to the mention of deviation. Wang Dehai, used to the quirks of psychics, made some awkward small talk before leaving.


    Soon after he left, Zhao Hao, hobbling on crutches and with a stered foot, came in excitedly. "Xiu, you should have seen the nurse who gave me an IV. She was so pretty, and her nurse outfit If only she wore white stockings... Ah, her hands were so soft and smooth. I deliberately moved around just so she would touch me more."


    Fang Xiu nced at the needle marks on Zhao Hao''s hands, realizing that his side effects had manifested. The old Zhao Hao was weird, but not to this extent.


    Then, Zhao Hao sneakily took out a piece of spiritual incense, about as thick as a little finger and dark red in color. "Xiu, Director Wang gave each of us a third of a spiritual incense stick, saying that our Spiritual Energy had grown too fast, and that might bring side effects. But I think he''s overreacting. I feel fine. Hey, I heard this incense is valuable. I was thinking of selling it for cash to get a sports car and impress girls. What do you think?"


    "I suggest you keep it for yourself," Fang Xiu replied, shaking his head slightly. Zhao Hao''s obsession with girls had indeed worsened.


    "Right, Xiu, do you have a spiritual incense? Since it was divided into three parts for us, do you get none? If you don''t, I can give you mine," Zhao Hao offered.


    "I have some already," Fang Xiu responded. In fact, he had two, but he didn''t mention that. Bragging about such things wasn''t necessary.


    "I knew it. You were the key to our survival; of course, you''d have spiritual incense. But take mine too, Xiu. Using the Specter Gadget can worsen psychic contamination, and I don''t want you to run out. Actually, I secretly lit my spiritual incense."


    Zhao Hao then whispered, "This incense doesn''t suit me. Lighting it was so ufortable. It felt like being in a state of emptiness, like after... after lots and lots of sex. Everything felt meaningless, you know the feeling, right? Even when the nurse came to give me an injection, I couldn''t get it up."


    Fang Xiu didn''t quite understand why getting an injection could turn Zhao Hao on.


    Zhao Hao, seemingly eager to prove his point to Fang Xiu, took out a lighter and re-lit the spiritual incense.


    Soon, thin wisps of blue smoke began to drift around the hospital room. As they breathed, the smoke from the spiritual incense entered their nostrils. The scent was somewhat pungent.


    With the incense taking effect, Zhao Hao''s originally lewd expression gradually turned serene and listless, as if he had lost all interest in life.


    On the other hand, Fang Xiu frowned. He felt as if his spirit was being contaminated. It was as though twenty monks were surrounding him, chanting and urging him to let go of his hatred. This only made him more irritable, even to the point of wanting to kill a couple of Specters to lift his spirits.


    "Enough, put it out," Fang Xiu said.


    Zhao Hao extinguished the spiritual incense and quickly became excited again. "See, Xiu? I wasn''t lying. This spiritual incense really isn''t pleasant. Once it''s lit, life seems to lose its vor."

 Chapter 89: Green Mountain Mental Hospital

    Chapter 89: Green Mountain Mental Hospital


    Fang Xiu nodded in agreement.


    He realized that spiritual incense was indeed harmful, trying to corrupt his mind. He decided it was time to sell all his spiritual incense.


    Also, he began to consider dealing with the matters of Green Mountain Mental Hospital. He had always been curious about the items left by the hospital''s leader, Zhou Qingfeng, and the true nature of this world.


    Even now, he was unclear about who wrote the bloody message on the ceiling when he first arrived in this world, along with many other mysteries.


    Previously, Fang Xiu was too weak to be privy to these secrets, but now, with his newfound strength, he felt ready to uncover them.


    Meanwhile, at the Investigation Bureau, a major incident urred.


    "What did you say! Yang Kunpeng''s Spiritual Energy is getting out of control?" Wang Dehai, in his office, roared in disbelief, "How could this happen? Green Mountain Mental Hospital is a grade C. Even if Yang Kunpeng''s team was wiped out, how could he end up in such a state? He has been unconscious for three days, and now he''s losing control of his Spiritual Energy? Didn''t the doctors say he wasn''t injured?"


    It turned out that the day before Fang Xiu went to ckwater Vige, Yang Kunpeng''s team had been sent to Green Mountain Mental Hospital''s Specter Zone.


    Wang Dehai had issued two tasks that day: one to ckwater and the other to Green Mountain Mental Hospital. Yang Kunpeng''s team departed the same day, while Fang Xiu and the others went to ckwater Vige the next day.


    Yang Kunpeng''s team returned from Green Mountain Mental Hospital the following day, but only Yang Kunpeng showed up, soon falling into aa, regaining consciousness only today.


    A subordinate, frightened by Wang Dehai''s outburst, reported, "Director Wang, ording to Yang Kunpeng, the intel we had was incorrect. In the hospital''s Specter Zone, there were many Specters roaming around, including the two we had been informed of. Yang Kunpeng said he saw at least three more. If not for his ability to be invisible, he would have likely died."


    "Three more Specters!?" Wang Dehai broke out in cold sweat, recalling Fang Xiu''s previous im that there were dozens of Specters in Green Mountain Mental Hospital, locked in wards. Initially, Wang Dehai and Shen Lingxue had dismissed this, because such a gathering of dozens of Specters was unprecedented.


    The headquarters had once mentioned that Specters, with their diverse characteristics, rarely coexist peacefully, making it unusual for them to form groups. This was as improbable as solitary animals living together in the wild, defyingmon sense. Just like the saying "two tigers cannot share one mountain," of course, unless they are a male and a female.


    Furthermore, Fang Xiu, being a new psychic and previously a regr person, had limited exposure to Specters. Hence, they naturally assumed that the Specters Fang Xiu saw in his visions were actually Specter ves, which, to the untrained eye, seemed indistinguishable from real Specters.


    But now, Yang Kunpeng, an experienced psychic, had encountered three more Specters in the Green Mountain Mental Hospital''s Specter Zone, challenging thismon understanding. This suggested that Fang Xiu''s ims about the presence of dozens of Specters, not just Specter ves, in the hospital might be true.


    This was an important revtion. If true, it would overturn the long-held belief that Specters do not congregate, making Green Mountain Mental Hospital''s Specter Zone in Greenvine City a unique case worldwide.


    "Where is Yang Kunpeng now? Take me to him!" Wang Dehai urgently demanded.


    "He''s in the interrogation room, Director Wang, but he''s close to mutating. It''s too risky for you to go."


    "Has Yang Ming returned yet?"


    "No, not yet."


    "What about Bai Qi? Is he fully recovered?"


    "Vice-Captain Bai hase back to work, but he doesn''t seem to be fully recovered."


    "We can''t worry about that now. Get Bai Qi to my office. And Fang Xiu, too. He''s involved in this."


    "Yes, Director Wang."


    Ten minutester, Fang Xiu arrived at Wang Dehai''s office, unsure why he had been summoned, especially during his recovery period.


    Upon entering, he saw a tall, handsome man with a paleplexion sitting across from Wang Dehai. The man was sitting upright, expressionless, exuding an aura that seemed to keep everybody away.


    This man had neat, disheveled ck hair, delicate features, and a cold expression reminiscent of Satan himself. His sharp eyes and a high nose bridge were paired with thin, cold lips. Overall, he appeared as a dominant figure, typically reserved and imposing. However, his unnaturally pale face and asional coughs betrayed a hint of illness."

 Chapter 90: My Contribution To The Bureau

    Chapter 90: My Contribution To The Bureau


    "Fang Xiu, you were supposed to be resting and healing, but this is an urgent situation, and since you''re directly involved, we had to call you in. Oh, let me introduce you. This is Vice Captain Bai Qi. And Bai Qi, meet Fang Xiu."


    Fang Xiu and Bai Qi exchanged nces, not saying a word. Fang Xiu was calm, and Bai Qi seemed quite indifferent. It made Wang Dehai feel a bit awkward.


    Suddenly, Bai Qi said, "I don''t like owing anyone anything. If you need something from me in the future, feel free to reach out to me."


    Fang Xiu nodded. He understood what Bai Qi meant. The guy wanted to repay him for saving his life. After all, without Fang Xiu''s timely phone call, Bai Qi would have been long gone.


    As for Bai Qi''s indifferent demeanor, Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised. With psychics, acting too normal is actually the most abnormal.


    "Let''s leave the small talk forter. We have an urgent situation. Here''s what happened: I sent Yang Kunpeng to lead a team to the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone, which was previously a Grade C zone."


    "Grade C?" Fang Xiu''s eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn''t expected the Investigation Bureau to ssify Green Mountain Mental Hospital that low, especially since he had just resolved the B+ ckwater incident and still wouldn''t dare to explore the hospital lightly.


    In his opinion, Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone was at least an A, maybe even an S!


    Seeing Fang Xiu''s reaction, Wang Dehai showed a mix of embarrassment and guilt.


    "This is my fault. I misjudged the information. I thought the dozens of Specters you mentioned were Specter ves, so I ssified the zone as Grade C. If I had listened to you, I wouldn''t have sent Yang Kunpeng but rather Yang Ming, and maybe the oue would have been different. Now, only Yang Kunpeng survived."


    _''Is this about Yang Ming''s power of luck?''_ Fang Xiu wondered


    It wasn''t that he underestimated Yang Ming, a third-tier psychic, but he had a feeling that Green Mountain Mental Hospital was no ordinary Specter Zone. If Yang Ming had gone, he probably would have died too. Yet, due to Wang Dehai''s mistake, Yang Ming, who was supposed to go, didn''t.


    _''Is this coincidence, or is it Yang Ming''s luck ability at y? Can luck be that powerful? Well, given Yang Ming''s already a third-tier, his luck ability might really be able to clear huge disasters out of his way.''_


    Wang Dehai continued, "ording to Yang Kunpeng, he encountered three other Specters in the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone, in addition to Nightmare and Physician. This breaks all our previous assumptions. So, I''m guessing, Fang Xiu, the dozens of Specters you mentioned might not all be Specter ves."


    Fang Xiu didn''t offer any exnation, as what had happened couldn''t be undone. He couldn''t go back to the mental hospital to check.


    He gave it some thought, then asked, "How did Yang Kunpeng survive?"


    This was what concerned Fang Xiu the most. He was very interested in Green Mountain Mental Hospital, or more precisely, in what Zhou Qingfeng had left behind.


    Wang Dehai exined, "Yang Kunpeng''s ability is invisibility. He survived by using this ability to hide. Also, thanks to the emergency exit you provided earlier, he managed to escape. However, Yang Kunpeng is in a bad state now, on the verge of losing control of his Spiritual Energy. We need to talk to him to get the details. The reason I called you here is to meet with Yang Kunpeng and understand what happened. This way, we can make an urate judgment about the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone."


    "Alright, let''s go," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    Right now, the only thing that really interested him was Specters, and among them, he was most concerned about two things: his wife and Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    Knowing the urgency of the situation, Wang Dehai didn''t say much and immediately led Fang Xiu and Bai Qi to the interrogation room.


    In the interrogation room, white smoke wafted through the air, enveloping the room in a tranquilizing scent. It was spiritual incense.


    Upon entering and smelling the spiritual incense, Fang Xiu instinctively frowned. On the table in the room, a stick of spiritual incense was burning. In front of the table, a row of steel bars enclosed a skinny young man who couldn''t stop trembling.


    The man had bleached blonde hair, his pale face drenched in cold sweat, and his bloodshot eyes shifted restlessly. He was like a drug addict in deep addiction. Every now and then, he''d nce over his shoulder, as if constantly wary of an unexpected attack from behind.


    Seeing this, both Wang Dehai and Bai Qi frowned.


    "His Spiritual Energy is so out of control that even spiritual incense can''t suppress it," Wang Dehai said grimly, his voice tinged with regret.


    Bai Qi''s expression grew colder. "Given his current state, if the spiritual incense goes out, he''ll likely mutate. Director, ask whatever you need to quickly. Once you''re done, I''ll take action."


    Wang Dehai understood what Bai Qi meant by his words, but it was a necessary measure when dealing with uncontroble Spiritual Energy.


    "Yang Kunpeng, Yang Kunpeng," Wang Dehai called several times before Yang Kunpeng finally snapped out of his daze. He looked up, bewildered, and upon seeing Wang Dehai, his face instantly showed a mix of relief and tion, as if he had seen a lifesaver.


    "Director Wang, please save me. I''ve shed blood and earned honors for the bureau. I don''t want to turn into a monster."


    Wang Dehai''s eyes flickered withpassion. Then heposed himself and said, "Kunpeng, calm down. The bureau will never abandon its agents. We will do everything we can to save you. Right now, you need to tell us everything you saw at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone. That''s the only way I can help you."


    Yang Kunpeng nodded frantically, his face filled with terror as if he was recalling something horrifying. "Specters! The ce was full of Specters! My team explored the mental hospital''s Specter Zone. At first, we encountered the Physician. It was strong, and it took a lot of effort from our team to deal with it. Then we went deeper, and then, then"


    He began to tremble violently, seemingly too afraid to continue.


    "What happened then?" Wang Dehai asked urgently.


    "I... I saw many wards, the seals on the doors were weakening, and there were so many Specters howling inside. Then the door of one ward opened, and a little girl came out, she she had no face."


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu''s mind raced._ _


    _''Wards with seals? A faceless little girl? So, the wards had seals on them. No wonder the Specters were confined and couldn''t get out. Where did these seale from then?''_


    Being a new psychic, there were many things Fang Xiu didn''t know, including these so-called seals.


    As for the faceless girl, Fang Xiu recalled his own experiences in the mental hospital. He had indeed seen this faceless girl before."

 Chapter 91: Not Dead Yet?

    Chapter 91: Not Dead Yet?


    Yang Kunpeng was visibly shaken as he recounted the harrowing events.


    "She just reached out and ripped off one of my team member''s face and then fixed it onto her own. The faceless team member suffocated to death since he couldn''t breathe without his nose and mouth. She didn''t seem to like that face and kept taking more, killing half of my team. The rest of us ran for our lives. She didn''t chase us but kept fiddling with the faces she had collected. That little girl must be at least a ss B Specter, maybe even an A. We stood no chance against her."


    "While escaping, we encountered another humanoid Specter with its head on backward, growing out of its back. It broke several people''s necks effortlessly, and our attacks seemed like mere scratches to it. Then there was a Specter covered in red incense sticks, dark red candles sticking out of its flesh, emitting red smoke. The smoke was alive!"


    As he spoke, Yang Kunpeng suddenly vanished right before everyone''s eyes, only to reappear a secondter, continuing his story, "One of my teammates inhaled that smoke and was in extreme pain."


    Then he disappeared and reappeared again, flickering in and out of existence like a glitchy movie.


    Bai Qi and Wang Dehai exchanged looks, knowing full well that Yang Kunpeng couldn''t control his Spiritual Energy anymore, causing this instability. His ability was invisibility, and now he was unable to control it, hence the intermittent disappearing and reappearing.


    "The red smoke was not smoke but tiny red insects. In the end, only three of us survived. Thankfully, we had some escape routes provided by Fang Xiu. At the emergency exit, we saw Nightmare," he said, his flickering bing more frequent, clearly terrified.


    "That Nightmare was no ss C Specter. It was an A! It had no physical form, so no attack could harm it. It was invincible, immortal!"


    Fang Xiu, who had previously encountered Nightmare, wasn''t surprised. Nightmare was indeed elusive and had no physical form, appearing only as ck smoke with a pair of blood-red eyes, so it was possible that it was immune to attacks. However, Fang Xiu was also aware that Nightmare was just hard to kill at most, not immortal.


    Fang Xiu might even be able to prove it next time he was at the hospital.


    "The line between dreams and reality blurred. Everything felt too real; it wasn''t an illusion but another world! Self-harm was useless. Everyone has their own fears; even if you know it''s fake, you can''t ovee it. Fear can''t be conquered!"


    Upon hearing this, Wang Dehai and Bai Qi instinctively looked toward Fang Xiu. He had previously categorized the Green Mountain Mental Hospital as Grade C partly because Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao, who were ordinary humans at the time, managed to escape. He had thought that Nightmare wasn''t that powerful, assuming that knowing it was fake and having a bit of courage would be enough to handle the situation.


    Now, Wang Dehai realized his huge mistake.


    It was truly hard for humans to ovee fear. It was not about just shouting and closing your eyes in the face of fear. It required real indifference. Knowing it was fake beforehand wouldn''t make any difference.


    It was like watching a horror movie; everyone knew it was not real, but it still scared the hell out of most people. Nightmare''s ability isn''t a horror movie, but a dream so real it''s indistinguishable from reality.


    Watching Yang Kunpeng''s near-breakdown, Fang Xiu suddenly realized something was off. "If you didn''t ovee your fear, how did you get out?" he asked.


    Yang Kunpeng froze at Fang Xiu''s question; his flickering ceased, and his face turned from terror to confusion. "Yeah, how did I get out?" he muttered. "Why could I leave? Wasn''t I dead?"


    These words sent a chill down Wang Dehai''s spine; even Bai Qi frowned and became alert.


    Yang Kunpeng then burst into hystericalughter, "I remember now, I remember everything! You don''t have to worry about me mutating anymore because I''m already dead!"


    As heughed maniacally, veins popped on his face, and his skin bulged, forming a massive red tumor. More tumors appeared on his body as the bulging noises grew louder.


    Suddenly, Bai Qi opened the iron-barred door and walked in coldly, standing in front of Yang Kunpeng. He slightly moved his right hand...


    In the next moment, Yang Kunpeng''s head fell to the ground, blood spurting out as the mutation ceased. Fang Xiu''s pupils constricted, unable to discern how Bai Qi had moved so quickly, nor even see the weapon he used. The speed was astounding, befitting Greenvine City''s top psychic.


    Fang Xiu was almost certain that Bai Qi must be at the peak of the second-tier, just a step away from the third-tier. However, unlike Yang Ming, Bai Qi hadn''t been as lucky, thus dying his breakthrough.


    "What a heavy loss for the bureau," sighed Wang Dehai, nearly traumatized by the sight of Yang Kunpeng''s tragic end. With the increasing number of Specter incidents and the loss of a team, the bureau was facing a severe setback.


    "Have someone take care of Yang Kunpeng''s body, and as per ourpensation policy, provide his family with subsidies and a martyr certificate," Wang Dehai ordered. Then, turning to Fang Xiu and Bai Qi, he suggested, "Let''s go to my office to talk."


    However, Fang Xiu remained fixated on Yang Kunpeng''s corpse. Noticing this, Wang Dehai and Bai Qi stopped. "What''s wrong, Fang Xiu?" Wang Dehai asked.


    "It doesn''t add up," Fang Xiu replied calmly. "He never exined how he escaped from Nightmare. He was so terrified yet managed to survive. There must be something we''re missing."


    "What could that be?" asked a concerned Wang Dehai.


    "It''s very likely that Nightmare let him go on purpose."


    "Why would Nightmare do that?" Wang Dehai asked, shocked.


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer; instead, he pulled out the scalpel. Wang Dehai had told Fang Xiu to use it less often due to its side effects. While Fang Xiu wasn''t the only one in the bureau with a Specter Gadget, others like Yang Ming, blessed with luck, certainly had his own."

 Chapter 92: Nightmare Unleashed

    Chapter 92: Nightmare Unleashed


    Fang Xiu held the scalpel, slowly approaching Yang Kunpeng''s body. He wanted to confirm his guess.


    "Nightmare couldn''t leave the mental hospital before. To be precise, those Specters shouldn''t be able to leave either. But Nightmare''s power enables it to enter people''s dreams. Now, Yang Kunpeng hase out alive, filled with fear."


    As he spoke, Wang Dehai and Bai Qi''s expressions changed slightly.


    Suddenly, there was a sh of silver, and Fang Xiu''s scalpel swiftly aimed toward Yang Kunpeng''s severed head on the ground. However, just as he was about to hit, a wisp of ck smoke shot out from the head.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes shed coldly. He saw a pair of blood-red eyes in the ck smoke. It was Nightmare!


    Nightmare was quick, deftly dodging Fang Xiu''s attack.


    At this moment, Bai Qi moved. Fang Xiu finally saw his weapona short knife with no extra decoration,pletely dark gold, and very high quality. Fang Xiu recognized it instantly as a knife made from 100% pure Mind Steel, so it had the same color as spiritual coins.


    Bai Qi, holding the dark gold short knife, disappeared from his spot like he had just teleported. When he reappeared, he was already beside Nightmare.


    With a swift cut through the air, he struck hard. The attack was so fast that Nightmare couldn''t dodge it. However, the knife seemed to pass through Nightmare.


    Nightmare coldly smiled. "Oops, any attack is pointless against me."


    Bai Qi frowned and shed several more times. Each hit was urate but was also ineffective.


    "Is that so?" a calm voice spoke. It was Fang Xiu.


    The scalpel shimmered with silver light, aiming straight for the blood-red eyes in the ck smoke. Nightmare panicked and fled. It seemed to have no physical form, easily passing through the walls of the interrogation room.


    "Fang Xiu, this isn''t over yet! I''ll get back at you!" Nightmare''s restrained and hoarse voice echoed in the room.


    Bai Qi also disappeared, chasing after Nightmare. Fang Xiu didn''t move, knowing he couldn''t catch up with a being that could ignore physical barriers.


    It seemed his guess was right. Yang Kunpeng had survived because Nightmare wanted to use him as a vessel to escape the mental hospital.


    When he and Zhao Hao had escaped the hospital, Nightmare probably had the same n, but it failed. Fang Xiu had broken the dream, and Zhao Hao had banged his way out.


    Reflecting on it, Zhao Hao''s escape from the dream might not have been due solely to his unique traits and his ability to bang everything in any dangerous situation.


    ording to Yang Kunpeng''s description, to escape alive, you had topletely ignore fear. Although Zhao Hao had ovee fear with another instinct, he hadn''t truly eliminated it. Probably, the real reason he escaped the dream was that he managed to make Nightmare fear him.


    Fang Xiu also noticed something elseNightmare seemed to deliberately avoid his attacks.


    _''If it''s truly invulnerable, it won''t do that. And it only dodged my attacks, not Bai Qi''s. If Nightmare could truly ignore any attack, it won''t need to dodge at all.''_


    Fang Xiu then realized that he must have a power that Nightmare feared.


    _''Is it the power of pain or the scalpel?''_


    Fang Xiu couldn''t decide yet. The scalpel had cut through dozens of Specters at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital, so Nightmare might fear it. But it could also be the power of pain.


    With insufficient information, he couldn''t be sure.


    However, he had a feeling it wasn''t the scalpel. As its owner, he knew that although it was sharp, it was still a physical attack, not mental. So, Nightmare likely feared the power of pain more.


    Soon, Bai Qi reappeared like a phantom.


    Wang Dehai urgently asked, "How did it go?"


    Bai Qi shook his head expressionlessly, "It has no physical form. We have no way to get it."


    Wang Dehai''s face turned ugly. A Specter escaping right under their noses was a great embarrassment for him as the director. Especially a dangerous Specter like Nightmare, ignoring attacks and killing in dreams. If such a Specter were left loose among people, it could wreak havoc and cause significant death.


    "Find it immediately, Bai Qi. We can''t let Nightmare do as it pleases," he ordered.


    Bai Qi nodded and vanished again.


    Wang Dehai turned to Fang Xiu with a troubled expression. "I hope you can help too, Fang Xiu. You walked out of the dream alive, so Nightmare probably can''t hurt you. And it seems to fear the scalpel you brought from the hospital. This is my fault; I''ll take responsibility and confess to the higher-ups. If I had listened to you earlier, this might not have happened."


    Fang Xiu nodded. The matter concerned the Green Mountain Mental Hospital, and he wouldn''t ignore Nightmare regardless. Perhaps he could learn something about the hospital from Nightmare.


    The Specter Zone at Green Mountain Mental Hospital was likely man-made, and the director, Zhou Qingfeng, might be human, or at least once was.


    Fang Xiu didn''t agree with Wang Dehai''s belief that listening to him earlier would have prevented the current situation.


    Even if Wang Dehai had truly believed him and ced high importance on Green Mountain Mental Hospital, it wouldn''t have made a difference. Nightmare''s abilities were too extraordinary, even evading attacks from Bai Qi, the strongest in Greenvine. This implied that practically no one in Greenvine could handle it.


    Considering Nightmare''s strength, Fang Xiu pondered about the other Specters in the psychiatric hospital. Having faced these Specters, he knew the terrifying power they emitted. Nightmare wasn''t the strongest among them; it was just tricky due to its abilities.


    The seals in Green Mountain Mental Hospital were weakening, and if the Specters broke free, even all the psychics in Greenvine Citybined might not be able to handle the Specter Zone there.


    If Wang Dehai had sent Bai Qi and Yang Ming previously, the oue would likely have been the loss of both, resulting in more severe consequences than the current situation.


    Thus, for the Investigation Bureau, this misjudgment turned out to be somewhat fortunate.


    Regarding Nightmare''s escape, Fang Xiu chose not to use his reset ability. It wasn''t that he wanted Nightmare to escape; he wished it remained trapped in the psychiatric hospital, and he could just go and kill it.


    The main reason was that Yang Kunpeng had gone to Green Mountain Mental Hospital before he went to ckwater. Even if he reset it, he couldn''t stop Yang Kunpeng from entering, making it an unchangeable past event.


    Yang Kunpeng had escaped the psychiatric hospital the day after he entered, meaning even if Fang Xiu rewound to ckwater and abandoned the ckwater event to kill Yang Kunpeng in the psychiatric hospital, it would be toote to prevent Nightmare''s escape.


    Fang Xiu''s reset point was the day after he entered ckwater, but Yang Kunpeng had escaped much earlier than that.


    When Fang Xiu set off, it was the same time Yang Kunpeng had escaped."

 Chapter 93: Nightmares Weakness

    Chapter 93: Nightmare''s Weakness


    In the following days, Fang Xiu returned to the hospital to heal from his injuries, receiving a scheduled cell repair injection every day.


    This miraculous medicine, developed by the headquarters, was incredibly effective in treating injuries. It could even heal severed limbs as long as the pieces were still there and treated within a certain period.


    Psychics, like Fang Xiu, had stronger bodies and healing abilitiespared to ordinary people. Despite his severe injuries, his natural recovery power and the cell repair fluid can heal him in less than a week.


    He didn''t join Bai Qi in searching for Nightmare. After all, he knew very well that with Nightmare''s abilities, it would be almost impossible to find if it chose to hide.


    Nightmare could simply enter anyone''s dreams; it was like finding a needle in a haystack. The only option was to wait for Nightmare to reveal itself.


    One day, Wang Dehai visited Fang Xiu''s ward again.


    "How are you feeling, Fang Xiu?" Wang Dehai asked with a tired smile, his eyes bloodshot fromck of sleep.


    "Much better. Any news on Nightmare?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Wang Dehai nodded, anger shing in his eyes. "We haven''t found Nightmare, but it has struck again. Yesterday, the entire Xiyuanmunity on Yuhua Road West fell. Everyone in themunity is in aa, with a few casualties. Several families have died in their dreams. The authorities had to take measures to keep the media from revealing this to the public."


    Wang Dehai handed a report to Fang Xiu, which included several photos. In them, men and womeny with their eyes closed, their faces etched with terror.


    It was clear that they were victims of Nightmare''s ughter, killed by fear in their dreams.


    Fang Xiu spected that fear might be the source of Nightmare''s powerIt can grow stronger from it.


    "I think Nightmare feeds on fear to strengthen itself. We must keep this quiet to prevent panic. If the general public bes fearful because of this, Nightmare might grow too powerful for us to handle. The report shows that the sleep epidemic started with one family and spread like a gue, indicating that Nightmare is growing stronger," Fang Xiu observed and exined.


    Wang Dehai nodded gravely. "Your assessment is correct. The department has discussed this. Nightmare indeed grows stronger through fear, and its range is expanding."


    "But the problem now is that we currently have no effective way to deal with Nightmare. Those in aa cannot be awakened, no matter what we do," Wang Dehai expressed his concern.


    "Did you send anyone on it?" Fang Xiu asked.


    "Yeah, I sent Bai Qi, but it seems Nightmare is wary of him. Even though Bai Qi stayed in Xiyuanmunity for several days, he couldn''t enter the dreamscape to resolve the issue," Wang Dehai replied.


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu had a thought. _''Nightmare is wary of Bai Qi? Why? Does this mean Bai Qi could harm it in the dream?''_


    After thinking it over, Fang Xiu calmly said, "It seems Nightmare''s weakness lies within the dreams."


    Wang Dehai''s gaze sharpened. "Are you saying that to defeat Nightmare, we must do it in a dream?"


    Fang Xiu nodded. "Correct. If I''m guessing it right, Nightmare has no physical form, so most attacks can''t harm it. But it''s different in a dream because we also enter a dream without a physical form. We are in the same state as Nightmare, so we can only fight it in a dream."


    "Then this mission must fall to you and Zhao Hao. Only you two have ever defeated Nightmare," Wang Dehai said.


    Fang Xiu shook his head. He did defeat Nightmare, but Zhao Hao''s situation was a bit different.


    Fang Xiu replied, "Nightmare was as sneaky as humans. That may be why it never allowed Bai Qi into its dreams. If Zhao Hao and I go, we might also not be able to get into the dreams either."


    Wang Dehai''s expression grew grimmer. "Is there really no way to handle it? And we''re just gonna watch as Nightmare pulls everyone into its realm?"


    "Yes, I think that''s all we can do for now."


    "Wait? For now? Until when?"


    "Until Nightmare is strong enough, until it feels we''re no longer threatening to it. Only then will it pull us into the dream," Fang Xiu said the harrowing fact calmly.


    Frustrated, Wang Dehai said, "Come on, you really think that''s gonna work? Once Nightmare is strong enough not to fear you, and it pulls you into the dream, how will you fight it? Damn it! I feel like it''s killing all of us. It holds all the initiative, attacking when it wants and using ordinary people''s fear to strengthen itself. This already puts it in an invincible position!"


    "Then we will see who is stronger at that time," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Seeing Fang Xiu''s calm demeanor, Wang Dehai immediately asked, "Do you see a chance for victory in the future?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head. "No, I dont."


    Fang Xiu hadn''t used his death reset ability for a long time, but even if he had, things would still be the same.


    If Bai Qi, the top psychic in Greenvine, couldn''t enter the dreamscape, neither could Fang Xiu. So, resetting to go to the Xiyuanmunity would only mean watching the residents fall into the dream over and over.


    As for evacuating the residents in advance to prevent Nightmare from absorbing fear and gaining strength That wouldn''t work, either. For ordinary people, Nightmare was overwhelmingly powerful. Even if Xiyuanmunity was empty now, there would always be ces for it to find a new group of victims.


    This was almost meant to happen when Nightmare broke loose; it was destined to kill many people.


    After a bit more conversation, Wang Dehai left in frustration.


    Soon after, Shen Lingxue, looking anxious and furious, hurried into the ward, followed by her partner, Li Wenhao.


    Li Wenhao, too, appeared worried and seemed to want to hold Shen Lingxue back in ce, but as an ordinary human, he was unable to hold back a psychic, not to mention one in a rage.


    Shen Lingxue was now wearing a wig and looking as she did before. She confronted Fang Xiu. "Fang Xiu! Why didn''t you make it clear that there were dozens of Specters in Green Mountain Mental Hospital? Do you know that because of you, Yang Kunpeng''s squad was wiped out, and now the entire Xiyuanmunity is in aa? They might all die! Do you know that?


    "

 Chapter 94: Im No Pushover

    Chapter 94: I''m No Pushover


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at the furious Shen Lingxue and said softly, "You deaf or something? So you didn''t hear what I said before?"


    Shen Lingxue, still angry, replied, "You did say something, but you weren''t clear. How was I supposed to know whether you meant Specter or Specter ve?"


    "Stop it, Agent Shen," Li Wenhao quickly tried to intervene, but Shen Lingxue pushed him away. The force was so strong that Li Wenhao hit the wall, grimacing in pain.


    Shen Lingxue pressed on aggressively, "Fang Xiu! You knew I didn''t believe you back then. Why didn''t you try to convince me?"


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu pped her, leaving a bright red mark on Shen Lingxue''s delicate face.


    Shocked at first, she quickly became enraged and was about to react when she was hit with another p.


    Completely losing her temper, Shen Lingxue tried to fight back, but a strong hand gripped her slender neck tightly. The force threw her against the wall, knocking off her wig and revealing a buzz cut.


    Indifferent, Fang Xiu spoke in a calm voice, "Miss Shen, don''t get me wrong. Just because I''m always talking nicely to you doesn''t mean I''m a pushover."


    Shen Lingxue struggled but couldn''t free herself from Fang Xiu''s grip.


    Lying on the ground, Li Wenhao panicked and apologized to Fang Xiu, "Mr. Fang, please don''t be angry. Agent Shen didn''t mean it. She''s just worried because her only brother lives in Xiyuanmunity."


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu smiled and whispered in Shen Lingxue''s ear, "Actually, I already knew what would happen in Xiyuan. But I didn''t say anything. If I had told you earlier, your brother wouldn''t have been trapped in a dream, but many others would have been. What would you have chosen, being as ''kind'' as you are?"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Lingxue''s anger zed. Her hand shot up, and a bright, hot me appeared, instantly raising the temperature in the room.


    But the next moment, with a sh of silver light, a sharp scalpel pierced through Shen Lingxue''s delicate hand, pinning it to the wall. The mes extinguished, and she twisted in pain, her body convulsing.


    "Ahh!" A muffled scream filled the room.


    Fang Xiu looked at Shen Lingxue''s beautiful, twisted face in pain and thought she looked even more beautiful in this state.


    "Stop! Please stop!" Li Wenhao, seeing his secret crush hurt, rushed forward with bloodshot eyes, but Fang Xiu simply kicked him away.


    After that kick, Li Wenhao spat out blood, wracked with severe pain, unable to stand up.


    Meanwhile, Shen Lingxue''s face had turned purple fromck of oxygen, clearly on the brink of death.


    "Don''t kill her! She didn''t mean it!" Li Wenhao pleaded anxiously. "She''s just been unstable since returning from ckwater. Her Spiritual Energy grew too fast and, with a bit of provocation, got out of control!"


    "Oh, so now everything in the bureau happens due to losing control of Spiritual Energy? In my view, Spiritual Energy going awry is like alcoholit amplifies but doesn''t create from nothing. Just like if you harbor a desire to kill, you might not dare to act on it until you''re drunk.


    "But someone without murderous intent won''t kill, no matter how much they drink. If Shen Lingxue didn''t have these thoughts, even if she lost control, she wouldn''t have confronted me. But don''t worry, I won''t kill her. Simply killing her would mean she''d never realize her mistakes. I''ll make her wish she was dead."


    "What are you going to do?" Li Wenhao panicked, his imagination running wild at the mention of a fate worse than death. He struggled to get up, ignoring his injuries.


    But as he tried to rise, Fang Xiu''s right eye glowed crimson. Li Wenhao copsed immediately, his eyes rolling back as he spat out blood and fainted.


    Then, Fang Xiu turned to Shen Lingxue, who was close to suffocating, and said calmly, "Look into my eyes."


    Suddenly, the crimson glow intensified. Specter''s Spiritual Energy surged through Shen Lingxue''s eyes, prating her soul.


    "From today, you will worship me as a god!"


    As his words fell, Shen Lingxue''s eyes gradually lost their luster, as if her soul had been extracted, leaving only endless pain.


    THUD!


    Shen Lingxue''s delicate body fell heavily to the ground.


    Fang Xiu created a torturous illusion for Shen Lingxue. In this illusion, everything she did was wrong, leading to endless criticism and condemnation.


    She waspletely negated, leading to self-doubt. Since she was so arrogant to think others were always in the wrong, Fang Xiu crafted a world where she alone always made mistakes.


    In this illusion, her brother also appeared, cing her in a dilemma. If she chose to save her brother, countless ordinary people would die as a result. Her brother wouldn''t be grateful but would me her for causing so many deaths.


    If she chose to sacrifice her brother for the greater good, his spirit would haunt her daily, questioning why she didn''t save him.


    Every choice was wrong.


    The most tormenting punishment is not physical but mental. Dealing with someone as arrogant as Shen Lingxue required breaking down her pride, trampling and shattering her self-righteous dignity.


    Previously, Fang Xiu couldn''t use his Blood Pupil to this extent, but now his awakened Spiritual Energy had reached 10%, significantly enhancing his power. The Blood Pupil, a second-tier ability, needed substantial backing to unleash its full potential.


    Shen Lingxue was particrly vulnerable at this moment, her Spiritual Energy somewhat out of control and her mind at its weakest, making it easy for Fang Xiu to invade and leave an indelible mark on her psyche.


    In the illusion, Shen Lingxue was alone in an endless darkness, with a spotlight seemingly fixed above her head. No matter how she moved, the spotlight stayed locked on her, illuminating a narrow area around her, like a prison of light from which she couldn''t escape.


    Overwhelmed with pain, Shen Lingxue couldn''t focus on anything else as the agony engulfed her like a tidal wave. And then, in the distance, another spotlight flickered on."

 Chapter 95: Shen Lingxue Melt Down

    Chapter 95: Shen Lingxue Melt Down


    Shen Lingxue struggled to look forward, only to see Fang Xiu sitting calmly on his throne, looking down at her indifferently as if he were a god. He held his chin in one hand, his eyes cold and distant.


    "Fang Xiu! Did you create all this?" Shen Lingxue shouted.


    Fang Xiu didn''t reply. Instead, he coldlymanded, "Kneel."


    His voice was like an emperor''s decree, filled with an undeniable authority. Hearing this, Shen Lingxue panicked, realizing she couldn''t control her body anymore, as if something was manipting her.


    "My body... it''s not under my control, Fang Xiu! What are you trying to do?"


    With a thud, Shen Lingxue found herself kneeling on the ground. This act of submission was humiliating for her, who had always been proud. She had never knelt before anyone, let alone before a man she despised.


    "Crawl over here," Fang Xiu ordered.


    Shen Lingxue, now filled with fear and anger, protested weakly, "No, don''t"


    Despite her struggles, she was powerless. She crawled toward Fang Xiu, step by step, like a dog.


    Then, she felt a sharp pain in her face as Fang Xiu ruthlessly stepped on it, forcing her to kneel with her face under his foot.


    "I''ll kill you!" Shen Lingxue screamed, her voice muffled and somewhat funny due to her position.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu snapped his fingers, and the dark surroundings transformed into the Xiyuanmunity.


    Shen Lingxue saw a nightmare unfold where her brother was being chased by Nightmare, who had turned into a butcher and was wielding a cleaver. The butcher toyed with her brother, asionally shing him, causing blood to stter.


    Upon seeing this, Shen Lingxue''s eyes reddened with rage. "No! Don''t hurt him!"


    In this illusion, overwhelmed by pain, she lost her ability to think clearly, much like someone unaware they were dreaming.


    Fang Xiu''s indifferent voice broke the silence, "Want to save him?"


    "Fang Xiu, what do you want? Don''t hurt my brother! Come at me instead!"


    "Beg me," Fang Xiu said coldly.


    Shen Lingxue''s heart trembled. Her pride wouldn''t allow her to beg for mercy. The next moment, however, seeing her brother''s arm being cut off, she couldn''t bear it any longer. Tears of humiliation rolled down her cheeks.


    "Please, please save my brother!" she begged, her voice weak and broken.


    "Louder," Fang Xiu demanded.


    "Please! Save my brother! Please, please," Shen Lingxue cried.


    With a snap of his fingers, Fang Xiu dispelled the darkness, and his figure vanished. The scene shifted back to Shen Lingxue''s home. Her brother sat on the couch, expressionless.


    Rushing to him, Shen Lingxue hugged him, crying uncontrobly. To her shock, her brother coldly pushed her away, using her, "Why did you save me? Don''t you realize that because you chose to save me, Nightmare went to the city center? Now everyone there is trapped in a deep sleep, never to wake again."


    Suddenly, the TV turned on, showing news reports of chaos in the city center. Police tape cordoned off the area, and outside, countless people were crying and kneeling on the ground.


    "Please, save my child!"


    "Let me in. My wife is still in there!"


    Shen Lingxue was struck with immense guilt, despair, and self-reproach.


    "Do you see, sister? You caused all this! They''ve lost their families, their homes, everything, because of you! Why did you save me?" her brother yelled.


    Then, in a frenzy, he ran to the window and jumped out from the fifteenth floor.


    "No!" Shen Lingxue copsed in despair.


    The scene shattered like a mirror, returning to darkness. In the dim light, Fang Xiu sat on his throne, calmly watching the weeping Shen Lingxue.


    "Kneel, crawl over here."


    Once again, Fang Xiu stepped on her, but this time, Shen Lingxue didn''t resist. She was like a broken puppet.


    With a snap of his fingers, the scene of her brother being chased by the nightmare reappeared.


    "What will you choose this time?" Fang Xiu asked indifferently.


    Shen Lingxue saw her brother again, her eyes regaining some life. But as she thought of saving him, the images of the grieving people and her brother''s tragic death flooded her mind.


    A look of agony and struggle shed in Shen Lingxue''s eyes. After a long while, she closed her eyes in despair, remaining silent. Meanwhile, in the scene, her brother was being mercilessly tortured by the butcher. His screams echoed in her ears.


    "Ah! Please, let me go! Sister! Where are you? Come and save me!"


    Shen Lingxue kept her eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down her face and her body trembling uncontrobly. She wanted to speak several times, but each time, she stopped herself.


    The scene shifted again. Shen Lingxue found herself back in her empty home but without her brother. Then, suddenly, her brother appeared, his face ashen like a ghost.


    "Sister, why didn''t you save me? Do you know I am trapped forever in this nightmare, eternally tormented?"


    "Why didn''t you save me? Why?!"


    Shen Lingxue copsed in despair. She rushed to embrace her brother, only to feel like she was hugging a cold, lifeless body.


    "I''m sorry, so sorry," she cried until her voice was hoarse and weak. But her brother remained unaffected, repeatedly questioning her, "Why didn''t you save me? Why?!"


    Everything plunged into darkness again, and Fang Xiu reappeared. The previous scenes and choices yed out repeatedly, like a cycle.


    Once, twice, three times


    On the eighteenth repetition, Shen Lingxue crawled over to Fang Xiu even before he spoke, her beautiful face marred by tears.


    "Please, please, don''t torture me anymore. I know I was wrong."


    Fang Xiu remained unmoved, his voice cold as ever, "What will you choose this time?"


    "No, no, no! No! I won''t choose! I refuse to choose anything!"


    But avoiding the decision was useless. The cycle continued relentlessly."

 Chapter 96: Eliminating Bright Club

    Chapter 96: Eliminating Bright Club


    After a long while, Fang Xiu left the hospital room. Shen Lingxue sat in the corner, hugging her knees and silently crying. She looked like a little girl who had been bullied,


    He was almost fully recovered now, ready to take action. But the action he nned wasn''t to deal with Nightmare; it was aimed at Bright Club. There was no proactive way to tackle the Nightmare issue; he could only wait to be pulled into the dream realm to have a chance of winning.


    Fang Xiu was sure that Nightmare would eventually pull him into a dream because they had a feud.


    At the ck Rose Bar, Fang Xiu met Manager Cheng of ''Kill Yet?'' again. Manager Cheng, still in a fitting suit, tall and slender with a mask, looked very refined.


    "Wee! How can I help you?" Manager Cheng greeted with a smile.


    "I''ll take all the jobs rted to Bright Club," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Manager Cheng was momentarily surprised. "All of them? Just a friendly reminder, the jobs targeting Bright Club do exist, but they''re low-paid, and nobody wants them. It''s not worth confronting Bright Club for such a small amount."


    "It doesn''t matter. I n to wipe out them out and just make some extra money on the side."


    Hearing this, Manager Cheng was utterly shocked.


    "Wipe out the Bright? It seems we have a remarkable guest today. If I remember correctly, you spent two hundred spiritual coinsst time to buy the life of Bright Club''s leader''s cousin. And now, you''ve decided to take action yourself.


    "But aren''t you afraid of leaking this news by telling me so easily? Wiping out Bright Club is no small matter. They''re a major force in Greenvine City''s psychicmunity, and their elimination could cause great turmoil."


    "I''m telling you this so you can sell the information. It should be worth quite a bit of money, right? I guess Bright Club would be very interested in buying it at a high price."


    "Seriously? I can do that?" Manager Cheng was dumbfounded. He never imagined encountering such a client. This was like squeezing every bit of value out of Bright Club for him.


    This also implied something elseManager Cheng realized that the client in front of him had absolute confidence in his abilities, confident enough to let Bright Club know his n in advance.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t nning an assassination; this was a bold and open challenge. Manager Cheng wondered when this formidable guy showed up here in Greenvine.


    He took a moment to process all this before saying, "If you''re truly set on eliminating Bright Club, this piece of information will be very valuable. However it''s not that I''m doubting you, but it would be best if you could provide some evidence to prove your ims. Only then can I sell this information. Otherwise, if I sell it and you don''t follow through"


    BANG!


    Fang Xiu mmed a bronze candlestick onto the table. Manager Cheng''s pupils shrank instantly upon seeing it. "This is a Specter Gadget! It belongs to Ma Wenbin, the leader of Bright Club. They had even offered a reward for information on this Specter Gadget."


    Fang Xiu''s mind started whirling after this. It seemed Wang Yanran hadn''t shared the information about the Specter Gadget with Ma Wenbin, or perhaps she was nning a surprise


    But now, the surprise was impossible since Wang Yanran was dead. Wang Yanran was well-informed; even what Bright Club couldn''t find through their rewards, she had discovered on her own.


    Fang Xiu, however, wasn''t surprised. He knew Wang Yanran had her ways of gathering information, especially with her ability to seduce men.


    "The reward for the Specter Gadget''s information, I''ve taken it. You can tell Bright Club that I have it. Also, keep this Specter Gadget as proof of my intention to act against them. You can sell the news now. Oh, and my name is Fang Xiu, currently an agent at the Investigation Bureau," said Fang Xiu as he removed his mask, revealing a handsome and calm face to Manager Cheng.


    Manager Cheng scrutinized Fang Xiu, quickly recalling his profile.


    Fang Xiu, a 20-year-old local from Greenvine, a rookie at the Bureau with a foreseeing ability. Manager Cheng was astonished.


    _''What makes the rookie bold enough to im actions against Bright Club? Is his Spiritual Energy gone out of control?''_


    But no matter how Manager Cheng looked at Fang Xiu''s calm face, he couldn''t see any signs of Spiritual Energy instability.


    _''Is it that the Bureau''s nning to move against Bright Club, using Fang Xiu as a front?''_


    That was the only proper exnation Manager Cheng could think of.


    _''Yes, that has to be it. As a member of the Bureau, Fang Xiu must have insider information about their ns against Bright Club and was looking to make a profit from it. Since Bright Club is destined to be taken down by the Bureau sooner orter, he may as well ept all the jobs and earn as much as possible.''_


    Upon realizing this, Manager Cheng''s eyes lit up. He was impressed and thought Fang Xiu was talented indeed, adept at seizing opportunities.


    "Mr. Fang, you should download the Kill Yet app. I''ll send you all the requests rted to Bright Club," suggested Manager Cheng.


    Fang Xiu nodded and, under his guidance, downloaded the Kill Yet app, creating his ount with the nickname "Bright yer" and the note: "epting all requests rted to the Bright."


    Seeing Fang Xiu''s nickname and note, Manager Cheng''s mouth twitched.


    _''What a grudge this must be! Not only has Fang Xiu stolen their Specter Gadget, but he''s also nning to kill all of them.''_


    Despite that, Manager Cheng didn''t dare say a thing as Fang Xiu was clearly a ruthless and dangerous person.


    Using a Specter Gadget as a deposit and daring to show his face without fear of targeted assassination, such a guy was either mad or hiding a very deep hand. Either way, he wasn''t someone to be trifled with.


    Manager Cheng then began sending requests to Fang Xiu.


    "Ding! You have a new kill order. Please check."


    "Ding! You have a new kill order. Please check."


    Fang Xiu opened the requests and saw they were mostly rted to people from Bright Club, but the prices were so low that they had remained unepted for a long time.


    He soon came across a familiar nameWang Yanran.


    The note on the order read, "This despicable woman was dating eight men behind my back and ranked me as the ninth? She hurt my feelings, stole all my money, she deserves to die!!"


    The reward was five spiritual coins.


    Seeing the reward of five spiritual coins, Fang Xiu found the note was quite an honest one. The guy must have been swindled out of all their money; otherwise, the reward wouldn''t have been so low.


    _''The guy seemed close to losing control, not because Wang Yanran was dating eight men, but because they were ranked ninth Such a bizarre sense ofpetition,''_


    Still, Fang Xiu was no longer surprised by this. After all, it was the psychic world where astonishing and shocking statements weremonce."

 Chapter 97: Fang Xiu Exposed

    Chapter 97: Fang Xiu Exposed


    Fang Xiu had met many unusual psychics. For example, Lin Ziyang, who was too proud, Wang Yanran, who was too good at flirting, Wang Erni, who always med others for her errors, and Shen Lingxue, who got angry quickly. So, when he met someone more worried about being low on his girlfriend''s list of boyfriends than her being unfaithful, Fang Xiu wasn''t impressed.


    He was used to this. All he could say was, "Hmm, that sounds like what a psychic would say."


    Fang Xiu often criticized others reflecting on what he himself had done or said. He would say dramatic things like, "I want the world to suffer! Honey, I''ll get back eventually one day and let you suffer all I''ve suffered! No one can kill me eighteen times and get away with it!"


    As a weird psychic himself, he couldn''t really judge others.


    "Mr. Fang, why did you mark ''finish'' on Wang Yanran''s task?" Manager Cheng asked, surprised.


    "Because I''ve already defeated Wang Yanran."


    Fang Xiu calmly showed a badge from Bright Club with Wang Yanran''s name on it.


    Seeing the badge, Manager Cheng was shocked and became more polite. "Okay, Mr. Fang, we''ll send your reward after confirming Wang Yanran''s death."


    "I alsopleted the mission about Lin Ziyang. I killed him too. It looks like he lost control of his energy and lost his badge. I disposed of his body, so it might be hard for you to check."


    Manager Cheng was scared and suddenly felt a bit fearful to look at Fang Xiu.


    For someone who talked so calmly about such harsh actions, it was better for him to show as much respect as he could.


    "Okay, Mr. Fang, we''ll check it thoroughly."


    Fang Xiu nodded and left. Manager Cheng bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Mr. Fang, take care ande back anytime!"


    After Fang Xiu left, Manager Cheng quickly called someone and said, "Hurry! Contact the leader of Bright Club, Ma Wenbin. I have important news, five hundred energy coins! Now, quickly! Or he may die!"


    That night, Greenvine''s psychicmunity was shocked, knowing that a guy named Fang Xiu was challenging Bright Club.


    The psychics didn''t know much about Fang Xiu, but the organization he was under, the Investigation Bureau, was well-known and respected in the psychic world.


    Fang Xiu''s actions against Bright Club sent a signal and people couldn''t help wondering if the Investigation Bureau was behind it.


    Inside the main office of Bright Club, Ma Wenbin was smashing things in anger. He threw his expensive wines onto the floor, causing sses to break and fly everywhere.


    "What''s happening with Fang Xiu? Why is the Investigation Bureau going after Bright Club? Can someone exin what''s going on? I need to talk to a Feng Shui expert to understand why I''m having so much bad luck this year! Why is everything going wrong? Did any of you make someone angry?"


    The people around him looked at each other, speechless.


    "Boss, you know me. I''ve been calm and peaceful recently. I haven''t upset anyone."


    "Boss, as you know, if I had upset someone, they wouldn''t be there alive toin, not to mention revenge."


    "Boss, you should realize, you''re the one who''s most likely to invite trouble."


    "Shut your trap!" Ma Wenbin, furious, threw his phone at the man. "I''m too busy to argue with you. I need to make a call. Wait, where''s my phone?"


    "Boss, you just threw it."


    Ma Wenbin stopped, then got even angrier. "Pick it up! Get the phone!"


    "Boss, it''s broken."


    "Then give me yours!"


    The man hesitated, looking at his phone, "Let me clear its browsing history first."


    "Forget it! Just hand it over! Damn it"


    Soon after, Ma Wenbin made a call, and his expression changed.


    "What? Wang Yanran attacked Fang Xiu and others from the Investigation Bureau and was defeated because of it? Fang Xiu took all the tasks rted to Bright Club? He has the bronze candlestick too? You''re saying, Lin Ziyang and Wang Yanran''s death are all Fang Xiu''s deeds, and now he''s challenging Bright Club? Who is this Fang Xiu? Why is he going after us?"


    The next day, Fang Xiu was called to Wang Dehai''s office. He thought it was about his conflict with Shen Lingxue, but it was actually about Bright Club. To Fang Xiu''s surprise, Shen Lingxue didn''t tell Wang Dehai about their confrontation.


    "Fang Xiu, here are two thousand energy coins from Bright Club. Ma Wenbin says the attack on our team was his people acting on their own, not the Club''s doing. I know about your issues. I hope you''ll ept this as a settlement since Greenvine is in trouble. We need all the help we can get."


    Wang Dehai looked serious.


    "Latest update: the entire west part of the city has been overtaken. We tried to move people, but some couldn''t leave in time. Even though we''re keeping the bad news quiet, the impact is huge. The whole city is panicking."


    Due to the public''s panic and fear, Nightmare was growing stronger and spreading faster. Already, many psychics had been dragged into its dream realm.


    "We''ve already asked for backups from headquarters, but they are also short-staffed. It would take at least two days for the backups to arrive."


    "Do you really think we can count on the Bright to fight against Nightmare? Instead of letting them feed the Nightmare, it might be better to eliminate them beforehand," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    His words were harsh but true. Nightmare wasn''t a simple Specter that could be ovee simply by numbers. On the contrary, the more useless people there were, the more fear they would provide. The more psychic Spiritual Energy Nightmare consumed, the stronger it became.


    "True, but in the face of such a terrifying enemy, if the Investigation Bureau acts against Bright Club, it will cause unrest among the people"


    The sounds of hurried footsteps interrupted Wang Dehai, and suddenly, the door was pushed open with a loud bang.


    A staff member with an anxious expression burst into the room.


    "Sir! Bai Qi has been pulled into the dream realm!"


    "What!" Wang Dehai stood up abruptly. "When did this happen?"

 Chapter 98: Hair Specter Effect

    Chapter 98: Hair Specter Effect


    "I''m not sure," said the staff member. "After Bai Qi went to sleep yesterday, he hasn''t woken up. We''ve tried calling him, but he won''t wake up. We don''t know when he entered the dream realm!"


    Wang Dehai''s expression turned grim immediately. ording to Fang Xiu''s spection, Nightmare was cunning, only pulling someone into the dream realm when it felt strong enough to confront them.


    Now that Bai Qi was in the dream realm, Fang Xiu wondered if that meant Nightmare had grown strong enough to handle Bai Qi.


    "Where is Bai Qi now? Take me to him," Wang Dehai said. Then, he quickly turned to Fang Xiu and said, "You see how serious the situation is, Fang Xiu. Please don''t let personal grudges interfere with the bigger picture."


    With that, Wang Dehai hurried off with the staff member.


    Fang Xiu watched them go, deep in thought. Bai Qi had been pulled into the dream, and he might soon be the next one.


    Bai Qi was far stronger than Fang Xiu, yet Nightmare chose him first. Therefore, it was almost certain that there was something on Fang Xiu that Nightmare feared, probably the power of pain.


    _''Right, since I can''t take the scalpel into the dream, it must be the power of pain that Nightmare feared.''_


    Fang Xiu also stood up and left. He had to erase the Bright Club before Nightmare. Bai Qi was trapped; he doubted the Bright Club''s people could make much difference. They would only be fodder for Nightmare.


    Before he took off, he took the two thousand spiritual coins the Bright Club had sent with him. He epted their apology, but he still needed to deal with them.


    It seemed like Fang Xiu had an advantage, having eliminated two members of the Bright Club and gotten a Specter Gadget. But in reality, he had been killed twice because of the Bright Club, once by Lin Ziyang and once by Wang Yanran. This was a grudge he had to settle.


    At night, Greenvine City was quiet, with almost no one on the streets.


    Normally, this would be the time when the nightlife started. But with the fear of the Nightmare, and even though the Investigation Bureau tried to keep it a secret, many people felt that something was wrong.


    They didn''t immediately think of Specters but were afraid of the rumors of an unknown virus, a virus that made people fall into a sleep they couldn''t wake up from. Because of these rumors, many people left the city, while others, who were skeptical, stayed but were too scared to go outside.


    In this strange silence, a person wearing a ck hood appeared on the empty streets. The streetlight stretched his shadow long across the ground.


    It was Fang Xiu.


    He stopped in front of a buildingthe headquarters of the Bright Club.


    The Bright Club was wealthy, owning the entire building. Currently, the building was dark except for a few lit floors.


    At the entrance stood two security guards, tall and robust, clearly not ordinary men. They were mercenaries hired by the Bright Club.


    Since psychics were rare and often unconventional, the security work was entrusted to those strong and experienced mercenaries.


    Ignoring the two mercenaries, Fang Xiu walked straight toward the building and was soon intercepted.


    "Sir, this is private property. Please do not enter."


    SWOOSH!


    Following a glint of silver light, a fine line of blood appeared on the necks of the guards, followed by excruciating pain engulfing their bodies.


    They fell to the ground, motionless. Fang Xiu didn''t stop and entered the building.


    Inside, dozens of mercenaries were patrolling.


    They worked in teams of three, rotating to ensure no corner was breached.


    The team closest to the entrance included Paul, John, and Daisy. They were foreign mercenaries, each withbat experience from serving special military forces.


    Suddenly, John, walking at the rear, drew his knife and stabbed it fiercely into Paul''s heart.


    Paul, their team leader, groaned and fell instantly.


    Daisy, the only woman on the team, turned around in alert and witnessed the scene. She was shocked, raising her gun at John. "John! What are you doing? Why did you kill him?"


    John looked panicked, arguing, "It wasn''t me!"


    "Not you? You''re gonna deny it with the bloody knife in your hand?" Daisy said as she had her gun''s safety off, ready to shoot.


    John, increasingly panicked, insisted, "It''s not me, my body got out of control!"


    While exining, he didn''t stop his movements, raising the knife and lunging at Daisy.


    Daisy, a veteran mercenary, didn''t hesitate and pulled the trigger.


    John was shot in the head and fell into a pool of blood.


    Daisy was about to report the situation when she heard a noise behind her. She turned to see their leader Paul standing up, his chest still bleeding.


    Daisy was relieved, "Paul, you''re alive?"


    "Daisy, why did you kill John?" Paul asked.


    Then, he started shooting, and Daisy fell into the pool of blood.


    Suddenly, Paul''s radio crackled to life. "Paul, what''s happening there? Why are there gunshots?"


    Paul replied stiffly, "Daisy suddenly went mad. She killed John and attacked me. I need backup."


    Soon, two nearby squads rushed over, finding Paul covered in blood, and John and Daisy lying in a pool of their own.


    "Paul, you"


    Before they could finish, Paul opened fire without hesitation, killing several people caught off guard.


    The remaining mercenaries reacted quickly, returning fire.


    Paul was riddled with bullets and fell to the ground.


    The survivors, both shocked and enraged, called for more backup while approaching Paul, John, and Daisy''s bodies.


    "All three are dead, sir."


    "Damn it, what happened here?"


    Suddenly, the three presumed dead bodies started moving. Their skin began to fall off, but instead of flesh and blood underneath, there was hairthick, ck strands. This hair was dense and glossy, obviously very healthy.


    "Argh! What the hell is that?"


    The three people, now made of ck hair, attacked the mercenaries with frenzy, impervious to bullets.


    In just moments, they ughtered the remaining mercenaries.


    After all were dead, countless silver strands emerged from the corner, slithering like snakes into the corpses. Soon, the bodies rose, their skin peeling off to reveal dark, glossy hair underneath.


    Fang Xiu stepped out from the corner, observing the scene with interest and satisfaction.


    The Specter ves gathered around him, kneeling on one knee as if paying homage to their emperor."

 Chapter 99: Human Or Specter?

    Chapter 99: Human Or Specter?


    The Hair Specter''s ability was indeed useful.


    By injecting a single silver hair strand into a human body, the strand would frenziedly devour the person''s flesh and blood, transforming them into a Specter ve made entirely of ck hair, simr to those residents of ckwater.


    These ck-haired Specter ves were merely of low ranks; there were also the more advanced silver-haired Specter ves,posed entirely of silver strands.


    These silver-haired Specter ves surpassed the ck-haired ones in strength, speed, and defense. However, creating a silver-haired Specter ve required a substantial amount of silver hair, making it too costly to mass-produce.


    At that moment, an rm had sounded. Footsteps echoed from all directions inside the building, apanied by the sound of cocked guns.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised. After all, he knew that the building was under surveince.


    Soon, teams of mercenaries in ck bulletproof vests had swarmed out, each armed with a submachine gun. Upon seeing Fang Xiu and the Specter ves, they opened fire without hesitation.


    A barrage of gunfire had enveloped Fang Xiu.


    Unfazed, he stood still.


    Then, his hair suddenly turned silver and grew rapidly, enveloping his entire body in a cocoon made of hair. The bullets had struck the silver hair, producing a symphony of metallic ngs and sparks.


    In themanding room, Ma Wenbin, the leader of Bright Club, along with three members, was watching closely.


    "Is he the only one who came?" Ma Wenbin asked.


    "We''ve checked; it''s just him," someone replied.


    Ma Wenbin smirked coldly, "It seems this isn''t some operation led by the Investigation Bureau, but Fang Xiu''s personal act. He''s got courage, daring toe here alone."


    "What should we do, sir? Killing him might provoke the Investigation Bureau," another asked.


    Ma Wenbin snorted, "Provoke? I''m the one who''s provoked! We''ve been attacked, so killing him is nothing but self-defense. Even the Investigation Bureau can''t fault us for that. Besides, I''ve been sending so much money to the headquarters every year, you think that''s for nothing?"


    His subordinate said, puzzled, "Sir, the files say Fang Xiu is a sensory ability user Why is he able to control hair and manipte others with it now?"


    "Why are you asking me? How the hell would I know that?" Ma Wenbin retorted.


    As they were discussing, the situation on the monitors suddenly took an unexpected turn.


    The cocoon around Fang Xiu burst out with countless thin, silver hairs, spreading wildly like a spider''s web.


    The mercenaries were terrified. They kept shooting, but no matter how many bullets they fired, they couldn''t shake those silver hairs.


    In just a moment, the silver hairs had covered thempletely. They screamed in pain, but soon, the screams stopped, as they were all wrapped into silver cocoons.


    As the hairs tightened, sounds of breaking bones could be heard. Blood slowly seeped out of the silver cocoons, turning them into blood-red ones.


    The scene was terrifying. In the empty hall, dozens of bloody cocoons stood still.


    Then, the silver hair slowly withdrew, absorbing the blood on it. From the cocoons, ck-haired Specter ves emerged.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu moved. He calmly walked deeper into the building, followed closely by dozens of eerie and terrifying Specter ves, like controlled puppets.


    In the control room, Ma Wenbin and others were horrified by this sight. Someone even eximed in fear, "What kind of power is this? Is Fang Xiu a human or a Specter?"


    "Sir, what do we do now? Should I go and meet him?" a member bravely offered.


    Ma Wenbin cursed, "Have you watched too much Japanese anime? You want to go meet him? Do you want me to act like a viin in those mangas, sending my men to die one by one, and then I''ll wait for him at the top of the building for a final fight? Are you all foolish? This is our territory, we have more people, and he''s just here alone. Of course, we should go together!"


    Ma Wenbin then led a few people downstairs to find Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu was leading the Specter ves and marching forward when suddenly a thick white fog appeared in the corridor. It spread like a tide, covering the entire corridor in an instant.


    The fog was very thick, making visibility extremely low.


    When Fang Xiu met the fog, however, he didn''t retreat. Instead, he walked straight into it.


    Instantly, he was enveloped in the white mist, unable to see anything.


    The fog seemed to suppress his psychic senses, making his sensitive perception greatly hindered. The fog was so dense that moving through it felt like moving underwater, greatly resisting every movement.


    Deep in the white fog, Ma Wenbin and his group watched Fang Xiu intently.


    At this moment, Fang Xiu couldn''t see them.


    A man in his thirties with a grim face smirked, "He''s like an ignorant fool, daring to walk right into my fog. He''ll bepletely blind in it. No matter how many pawns he has, they''ll be useless. Sir, it looks like you won''t need to act. Leave it to me."


    As soon as the man finished speaking, he pulled out a dagger and jumped into the fog. He moved very swiftly, almost as if he was more at ease in the fog.


    "Sir, is it okay for him to go alone? This Fang Xiu doesn''t seem as simple as he looks," said a man with a scar on his face, holding two guns.


    Ma Wenbin watched Fang Xiu grimly and said coldly, "Let him try first. You look for an opportunity to find a weakness and use Spiritual Energy bullets to kill him. And you, Zhao, quickly cast a Wanning Curse on Fang Xiu. This kid is too calm; it''s abnormal."


    Zhao, who looked schrly with gold-rimmed sses, replied, "Of course, sir."


    He then stretched out his hand toward Fang Xiu in the fog, sending a subtle wave of Spiritual Energy that instantly hit the man.


    Fang Xiu suddenly felt drained. He felt like he had a severe cold, unable to muster any strength.


    The situation was extremely dangerous.


    The man who started the fog was hiding, slowly approaching Fang Xiu''s back, nning to ambush him.


    The man with the guns had already raised his weapon, aiming at Fang Xiu through the fog, waiting for him to show a weakness.


    The man with the gold-rimmed sses continued to cast the Wanning Curse, draining Fang Xiu''s strength.


    Ma Wenbin was watching eagerly from the shadows.


    Suddenly, the man in the fog made his move, quick like a ghost. He fiercely stabbed Fang Xiu''s back."

 Chapter 100: Fierce Fight

    Chapter 100: Fierce Fight


    CLANG!


    The sound of metal shing rang out.


    In a sh, Fang Xiu''s hair turned into a waterfall of silver, blocking the attack aimed at his back.


    The man was surprised when his attack missed, and he quickly retreated into the fog. He sneered, "You''re quite skilled to block my strike, but you won''t be so lucky next time. No one can beat me in my fog!"


    As he spoke, he moved swiftly around Fang Xiu, his voice echoing from all directions, eerie and unsettling.


    "Your eyes, throat, heart, abdomenguess where I''ll strike nextouch!" In the midst of his rush, the man suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.


    _''What tripped me?'' _he wondered, looking down to find a fine silver hair wrapped around his foot. Following the hair, he was shocked to see that the ground around Fang Xiu was covered with a densework of silver hairs, like a spider''s web.


    Then, the silver hairs extended, prating his eyes, throat, heart, and abdomen.


    Just as the man seemed doomed, two clear gunshots rang out.


    Two glowing bullets shot rapidly toward Fang Xiu. These were not ordinary bullets but made of Spiritual Energy.


    The shooter was Scarface, a former mercenary. He relied on his guns on the battlefield and trusted thempletely. After experiencing a Specter event, he awakened the ability to shoot Spiritual Energy bullets.


    Facing the iing Spiritual Energy bullets, Fang Xiu, as if foreseeing them, tilted his head slightly and easily dodged them. His movements were swift and precise, the bullets barely missing his scalp.


    Seeing this, Zhao, the man casting the Wanning Curse, was shocked and gasped in disbelief.


    In fact, it wasn''t Fang Xiu, but his hair, that made him dodge. If the three looked closer, they would find countless fine silver hairs connecting to Fang Xiu''s body.


    Once again, like controlling a puppet, Fang Xiu was maneuvering his own body. That was why he dodged the attack under the Wanning Curseit was him who got weakened, not his Specter hair.


    Scarface saw Fang Xiu dodge the bullets and smirked. With a flick of his fingers, the two Spiritual Energy bullets that had missed Fang Xiu suddenly turned back.


    WHOOSH! WHOOSH!


    The bullets traced long lines in the fog, heading straight for Fang Xiu.


    Just as Scarface thought he had seeded, Fang Xiu moved sideways like a crab. With just a swift step, he easily dodged the two Spiritual Energy bullets again.


    Scarface was almost in disbelief. Dodging the first attack was understandable, and now Fang Xiu dodged bullets that turned midair.


    _''How did he see thating? Is he even human?''_


    Moreover, Spiritual Energy bullets, being non-physical, were much faster than regr bullets and incredibly powerful. Only psychics with speed abilities could dodge them, but Fang Xiu, whose speed wasn''t that fast, dodged as if he had foreseen the move.


    Meanwhile, the man in the fog had quietly died. The silver hair had invaded his body, shredding his organs into a pulp and draining his Spiritual Energy.


    The brightness of the silver hair intensified.


    _''No wonder Specters feed on human spirits and psychics'' Spiritual Energy. It''s how they grow stronger.''_


    Fang Xiu could feel the hair Specter rejoicing. However, he never intended to make any Specter happy. All he wanted was to see them suffer. Thus, he infused pain into the Hair Specter, causing it to wilt immediately.


    After the fog man''s death, the mist in the hallway vanished, revealing three people: a sullen Ma Wenbin, Scarface, and Zhao, the schrly man with sses.


    Fang Xiu calmly said, "You''re Bright Club? Just three people?"


    His contempt, and fog man''s death, drove Ma Wenbin to a rage.


    "Kill him!" Ma Wenbin ordered coldly. Nothing else mattered to him now, all he wanted was Fang Xiu''s death.


    Unfortunately for them, it was still Fang Xiu''s lucky day today.


    Scarface immediately started firing relentlessly, bullets of Spiritual Energy spraying out.


    Fang Xiu, calm and unchanging in his demeanor, steadily walked toward the shooter.


    Then, something incredible happened.


    Freed from the fog, Fang Xiu''s speed increased so much that he left afterimages.


    The Spiritual Energy bullets kept passing through these afterimages, unable to touch Fang Xiu at all.


    This was also the power of the hair Specter. The silver strands connecting his entire body enhanced his movements, strength, and speed.


    Human strength paled inparison to that of a Specter. A body controlled by the hair Specter could unleash greater strength and speed. However, this required perfect unity between the person and the hair, allowing the hair to move in harmony with the person''s will for such precise maneuvers.


    Even Wang Erni couldn''t achieve this level of control, but Fang Xiu made it. The hair Specter had be an extension of his body, making it more flexible than his fingers.


    The Spiritual Energy bullets were powerful, and even the silver strands couldn''t resist them. While they wouldn''t cause direct injury, Fang Xiu would still feel the impact, causing a dy. Any dy could lead to continuous attacks, so the best strategy was to dodge.


    Fang Xiu avoided the first wave of attacks, but the Spiritual Energy bullets turned and came at him again.


    This time, under Scarface''s control, they formed a dense, sealing off Fang Xiu''s movements and leaving no space to dodge.


    At that moment, a dozen knives, glinting with a dark golden light, flew out from Fang Xiu''s waist, heading straight toward the Spiritual Energy bullets."

 Chapter 101: Sowing Discord

    Chapter 101: Sowing Discord


    The sounds of metal shing kept ringing, clear and sharp.


    While he was in recovery, Fang Xiu had spent loads of spiritual coins to make these new throwing knives. They were made of Mind Steel, from those Wang Yanran had left behind.


    These knives could conduct spiritual energy well, and they were tough and sharp. They were weaker than spiritual energy bullets, so they kept getting knocked away. But every time after getting hit, they''d flip around like they were alive and go right back at those bullets.


    In just a short moment, all the spiritual energy bullets were knocked down.


    Scarface was totally shocked, "Your knives can turn corners?!"


    Ma Wenbin, standing nearby, saw what was up. He shouted, "It''s his silver hair! Every knife is connected to a strand of his silver hair!"


    "Darn it! What''s up with his hair? It''s like it can do anything!" Scarface cursed.


    Fang Xiu''s hair could control people, attack, defend, and even handle knives. It was like some kind of superpower they had never seen before.


    Ma Wenbin, a second-tier psychic, figured it out right away. "His hair isn''t a psychic power. It''s a Specter, the possessing kind!"


    "What!? A Specter!? He''s got a Specter attached to him, is he even human anymore?"


    Ma Wenbin didn''t answer because Fang Xiu was already charging at them. He had this shiny scalpel in his hand, his silver hair flowing as he ran, and behind him were dozens of roaring Specter ves.


    It seemed like the three were surrounded, even though they were in their own territory.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu vanished.


    Secondster, he appeared like a shadow on the wall of the corridor, running super fast, sticking close to the wall.


    Sparks flew from his scalpel as it scraped against the wall.


    He wasn''t going for Ma Wenbin, the strongest one, but for Zhao.


    Zhao wasn''t that strong in a fight, but his Wanning Curse was really annoying. If it wasn''t for Fang Xiu''s hair Specter, a hit from Zhao would have made him vulnerable, unless he used up the Specter power in his scalpel to break through the Wanning Curse.


    However, the power in the scalpel was strong yet short-lived. If he didn''t finish the fight quickly, his own body would copse. He didn''t want to use it unless absolutely necessary.


    Fang Xiu knew that Nightmare was always after him. He knew if he got seriously hurt, Nightmare would probably drag him into a dream.


    Zhao freaked out when he saw Fang Xiuing for him. He was just a support and stood no chance against someone as fierce as Fang Xiu.


    Just then, Ma Wenbin, who hadn''t made a move yet, finally stepped in.


    Suddenly, blood started oozing from all his openingseyes, ears, nose, mouth, and even from the pores all over his body. In a sh, he looked like a blood-soaked man.


    His blood seemed to be drawn by some force and shot out like a blood arrow straight at Fang Xiu. But Fang Xiu''s silver hair shot up to meet it, like a whip. The moment they touched, there was a sizzling sound. His hair started corroding as if he hade into contact with acid.


    WHOOSH!


    Fang Xiu cut off the corroded part of his hair. It turned out that Ma Wenbin''s blood was highly corrosive. Now that he was a second-tier psychic, his blood could corrode the silver hair.


    Fang Xiu''s silver hair, however, seemed endless.


    Soon, the hair stood on ends like a porcupine''s quills, shooting out tens of thousands of hair needles toward the three men. They were also surrounded by golden knives floating in the air and dozens of Specter ves.


    Ma Wenbin looked stressed. He could handle Fang Xiu''s attacks, but his Specter ves? Not so many. He probably never thought he''d be on the receiving end of a beatdown. Back in the day, he was the one leading his club to gang up on others. And now times had changed.


    He kept flinging his blood, trying to block the endless attacks. His crimson blood formed a protective bubble around them.


    All the attacks and Specter ves were hitting the bubble, making a constant sizzling sound. Somehow, it blocked everything.


    Fang Xiu''s hair was melting, and the Specter ves were getting torn apart.


    From inside the blood shield, Ma Wenbin sneered, "Fang Xiu, that''s all you''ve got? You can''t touch me!"


    Fang Xiu replied calmly, "Oh really? How long do you think you can protect those two weaklings? Bigger defense means more energy drain. I just have to keep attacking, and you''re burning three times the energy to defend."


    Ma Wenbin''s face darkened. Fang Xiu was right. If it was just him, he wouldn''t be using so much energy. He could even counterattack. But now, protecting his two sidekicks, his energy was draining faster, and he could only take hits like a sandbag.


    If this kept up, once his spiritual energy ran out, he''d be dead.


    All the while, Fang Xiu didn''t stop his attack. The maimed Specter ves kept charging at the blood bubble, fearless.


    Fang Xiu''s silver hair kept shooting, causing ripples on the blood shield. It was like a battle of enduranceMa Wenbin defending with all he had, and Fang Xiu relentlessly attacking.


    "Give up already. Let go of those two burdens. It''s not worth risking your life for them," Fang Xiu''s voice prated the blood bubble, sounding like a devil tempting him.


    Ma Wenbin''s two sidekicks looked terrified hearing this. "Boss, please don''t listen to him! We''re your most loyal men. Don''t abandon us!"


    Ma Wenbin''s expression shifted, appearing somewhat contemtive as if he was considering it.


    Then, Fang Xiu added, "I''m only after Ma Wenbin. If you two turn on him now and help me take him down, I''ll let you go. I could even get you into the Investigation Bureau."


    The three men''s faces all changed upon hearing this.


    "Fang Xiu! You think we''d fall for your trick?" Ma Wenbin yelled. He then turned to his men, "Don''t worry, I won''t abandon you. Remember our pledge when we joined the club? The Bright Club only exists as long as you''re here."


    Zhao''s eyes showed a flicker of gratitude, but in a split second, a blood arrow pierced his heart. Scarface too was impaled. Their blood flowed out, all moving toward Ma Wenbin.


    "How could you!" they cried out, eyes filled with anguish.


    Ma Wenbin, however, smiled, "Don''t me me for this. me Fang Xiu. Protecting you two would have been my end. Better to use your blood to strengthen myself and avenge you. As for Bright Club? Sorry, it survives only as long as I do."


    As he spoke, the blood shield faded away, revealing a blood-drenched Ma Wenbin and his two dying subordinates."

 Chapter 102: Fate

    Chapter 102: Fate


    SWOOSH!


    As soon as Ma Wenbin appeared, countless silver hair strands shot out at him. However, as soon as they touched the blood on his body, they were corroded.


    Ma Wenbin was right. With his strength, if he hadn''t been protecting the two burdens, he would have already counterattacked because Fang Xiu''s silver hair couldn''t pierce through theyer of blood on his body.


    Fang Xiu made his move again. His silver hair suddenly surged and attacked Ma Wenbin.


    Ma Wenbin smirked, "Never learn, do you?"


    But he froze in shock immediately. The silver hair didn''t attack him but instead turned and plunged into Scarface and Zhao.


    As Ma Wenbin felt the growing Specter energy from the silver hair, he realized what was happening.


    "Damn it! You''re absorbing their Spiritual Energy!?" Ma Wenbin eximed.


    Fang Xiu looked at him calmly, "Aren''t you also absorbing their blood?"


    The scene was eerie. Ma Wenbin had two blood arrows extended from his body, inserted into the two men, frantically absorbing their blood like a pipeline.


    Simrly, Fang Xiu had two silver hair strandsing from his head, inserted into them, crazily absorbing their Spiritual Energy. In reality, it was the Hair Specter absorbing the energy, as Specters are born to devour Spiritual Energy.


    Both Fang Xiu and Ma Wenbin were well-fed, with Scarface and Zhao suffering.


    Having lost many silver hair strands earlier, Fang Xiu was replenished with Spiritual Energy.


    Simrly, Ma Wenbin, who had lost a lot of blood, also replenished his supply.


    To each his own.


    Soon, Scarface and Zhao were sucked dry, turning into mummies.


    The battle started in an instant.


    Fang Xiu, with his silver hair, kept attacking Ma Wenbin. Ma Wenbin''s blood was shooting out from his pores, turning into blood arrows.


    While they were fighting, on the outskirts of Greenvine, two figures in ck stood high up, overlooking the city.


    They were both dressed in ck, covering their skinpletely and wearing masks from the Pokers. One had the ck Ace of Spades mask and the other had the ck King of Spades mask.


    "The people from the Investigation Bureau headquarters are on their way to Greenvine. K, you go and stop them," said Ace of Spades.


    King of Spades nodded, "I can hold them off for a bit, but I don''t know who they are sending. If it''s one of those top fighters, I won''t be able to stop them."


    "The headquarters is busy and there are many internal conflicts. The top fighters won''t leave easily," Ace of Spades said coldly.


    King of Spades replied, "Okay, then I''ll do it. But people are fleeing Greenvine, and Nightmare will get less fear. How will we test Yang Ming''s ability?"


    Ace of Spades sneered, "I''ll seal off Greenvine City so no one can escape. I''ll also enhance Nightmare by releasing a new fear gas in the city to speed up its evolution."


    King of Spades was surprised. "Aren''t you afraid Yang Ming will die? The president never said to kill him. What about the gift prepared for him at Green Mountain Mental Hospital?"


    "If Yang Ming dies so easily, then the director was wrong about him. I''ll take his ce and receive the president''s gift," said Ace of Spades.


    "You''re crazy! You want to go against the president''s orders?"


    "I just want to see if Yang Ming deserves the president''s gift. Why did he choose him? Just because of luck?"


    King of Spades shook his head, "He''s now a third-tier. His power isn''t luck, maybe we should call it ''God''s n.''"


    Ace of Spadesughed, "God''s n? I helped him advance! I wanted to kill Bai Qi to push him, but he advanced even when Bai Qi didn''t die. Yeah, that irony sounds more like God''s n now. If not for the president''s sake, I would have easily killed him!"


    King of Spades didn''t argue. He knew Ace of Spades wouldn''t listen. In his view, God''s n had worked, and that was why the director chose him. That was also why Ace of Spades could kill him but didn''t dare to, and even helped him advance.


    Even though Ace of Spades kept saying he could easily kill Yang Ming, the fact was Yang Ming kept getting stronger due to various reasons. This clearly seemed like God''s n.


    Soon, King of Spades disappeared into the night.


    Ace of Spades coldly watched over Greenvine and then turned into a dark shadow. He mmed his hands on the ground and shouted, "Into the Evernight!"


    Endless shadows surged from his hands, spreading across the entire Greenvine. A dark shadowy dome enveloped the city, sealing it.


    Greenvine, already in the darkness of night, became even darker, with the moonlight blocked by the shadows.


    Ace of Spades was clearly strained by this action, his shadow bing fainter. But he didn''t care. He entered the city to spread panic and fear gas, nning to release all the Specters hiding in the corners of the city.


    Greenvine was a mega city and had always had Specter events, keeping psychics busy. Some Specters were fixed in specific ces, while others hid in dark or less popted areas. His n was to bring all these Specters to the city center, aiding Nightmare in gaining a lot of fear.


    Back at the Bright Club, Fang Xiu and Ma Wenbin were in an intense battle. The corridor was in ruins, with blood, silver hair, and ss shards everywhere. Fang Xiu''s right eye had turned into a blood pupil, attempting tounch a surprise attack on Ma Wenbin with it.


    However, Ma Wenbin, the leader of Bright Club and a top second-tier psychic, was not an average opponent. He was fearless against the blood pupil attack, his body and eyes covered in blood,pletely ignoring the blood pupil attack.


    Fang Xiu had expected this, as Lin Ziyang, that crazy man, would have defeated Ma Wenbin and be the leader himself if he could. So, Ma Wenbin must have had a way to counter Lin Ziyang''s blood pupil."

 Chapter 103: Joining Hands?

    Chapter 103: Joining Hands?


    Fang Xiu tried closebat with the scalpel. Just a small cut and he''ll be the victor, but Ma Wenbin''s blood-covered body didn''t allow him to get close. Whenever Fang Xiu tried, Ma Wenbin''s blood would burst out, forcing Fang Xiu back.


    The situation was at a stalemate. As long as Ma Wenbin''s blood didn''t run out, Fang Xiu really had no good way to kill him, so it turned into a battle of attrition.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t afraid of this, as his hair was from the Hair Specter, and he was using its power, not his own.


    Ma Wenbin, however, was draining his own blood.


    Ma Wenbin realized that if the fight dragged on, he would undoubtedly lose. "Theres no point in continuing this fight. Why not just stop here?" he tried to suggest.


    Fang Xiu ignored him and kept attacking.


    Frustrated, Ma Wenbin shouted, "Fang Xiu! You already took my spiritual coins and Specter Gadget. Why are you insisting on a fight to the death?"


    Fang Xiu calmly replied, "Those spiritual coins and Specter Gadget are mine. You were merely keeping them for me. You just hadn''t realized it."


    Ma Wenbin argued, "What are you talking about? Forget about the coins, but the bronze candlestick base has my name on it!"


    Fang Xiu said, "Oh, I see So, why did you engrave your name on my Specter Gadget?"


    Ma Wenbin exploded with anger. He had never met someone so shameless. He was furious but still rational. He knew continuing like this would lead to his blood running out.


    Ma Wenbin said, "Fang Xiu, what do you have against Bright Club? You were the one who killed Lin Ziyang and Wang Yanran first. We didn''t evene to you for trouble, and now you''re attacking us. Why the hell is that?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head and said, "You missed one thing Your cousin was also killed by someone I hired."


    Ma Wenbin was shocked, then furious. "What do you want, Fang Xiu? How did Bright Club offend you that you''re so intent on destroying us?"


    Fang Xiu replied, "I''m just preventing you from seeking revenge. After all, I''ve killed people from Bright Club. You would definitelye after me. So, to be safe, I should just kill you."


    Ma Wenbin was incredulous at Fang Xiu''s reasoning. "Are you even listening to yourself? Are you mutating or something? If you are, just say it, I have spiritual incense!"


    The mention of spiritual incense reminded Fang Xiu of his past experience with it, making him attack even more fiercely.


    Suddenly, after a sh, both of them retreated quickly, creating distance.


    Fang Xiu frowned, realizing something was off, while Ma Wenbin sensed a strong Specter power around them.


    "This is a Specter Zone!" Ma Wenbin said, looking around, rmed. As a second-tier psychic, his senses were much sharper than Fang Xiu''s.


    Feeling a familiar Specter power, Fang Xiu realized they had entered a Specter Zone, simr to when he previously entered the Specter Zone at Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    He then sensed a familiar Specter energy.


    _''Nightmare! Have I entered Nightmare''s dream? But this feels different fromst time. Has Nightmare be so powerful that it can affect reality?''_


    Ma Wenbin, looking around cautiously, said, "Fang Xiu, this is a Specter Zone! The fact that it pulled us in without notice means this Specter is extremely powerful. This isn''t the time for us to fight. How about we stop here?"


    In response, Fang Xiu unleashed a thousand silver hair needles toward Ma Wenbin.


    Ma Wenbin''s face contorted in effort as he used his blood to block the needles. He looked at Fang Xiu, exasperated.


    "Fang Xiu, don''t be so obstinate. What''s the real problem between us? You''ll get both of us killed if you don''t stop!" Ma Wenbin''s voice carried a mix of frustration and urgency.


    Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the corridor. Both men turned toward the sound, only to see the hallway engulfed in darkness. A huge, swollen figure emerged from it.


    It was a Specter, three meters tall and two meters wide, with exposed, crimson flesh like a 500-pound person skinned alive. Its flesh, tumor-like, quivered and surged with each step, leaving behind stinking, bloody footprints on the ground.


    This Specter was sorge it almost blocked the entire corridor, its arms and legs brushing against the walls, leaving trails of blood.


    Seeing the Specter, Ma Wenbin''s face drastically changed. He urgently said to Fang Xiu, "Fang Xiu, the Specter is here. Whatever our issues are, we should join forces against it. Against a Specter, humans must stand together."


    Fang Xiu nodded, "We should indeed join forces, but I''ll be joining it."


    A bad feeling arose in Ma Wenbin''s heart.


    In the next second, Fang Xiu''s silver hair suddenly grew longer, enveloping himselfpletely. He transformed into something like the cocoon of his ck hair Specter ves, but in silver.


    When Fang Xiu waspletely covered in silver, Ma Wenbin sensed that the human smell on Fang Xiu had disappeared. The silver hair kept it all inside, leaving only the Specter smell of the Hair Specter exposed.


    Ma Wenbin was stunned at the sight.


    _''What the hell? How is that even possible?''_


    Looking at the Specter slowly approaching him, Ma Wenbin panicked.


    He was trapped. With Fang Xiu on one side and the flesh Specter on the other, he had no way out.


    In a moment of desperation, he decided to charge at the Specter.


    His idea was simple: having fought Fang Xiu for so long without sess, he might have a better chance against this unknown Specter. Maybe it wasn''t as strong as it appeared."

 Chapter 104: The Flesh Corridor

    Chapter 104: The Flesh Corridor


    Ma Wenbin rushed crazily toward the Flesh Specter like a shadow made of blood.


    BOOM!


    He waved a punch, and the blood on his body burst, turning into a red flood that fiercely struck the flesh Specter''s chest.


    BANG!


    His punch sted a huge hole in the Specter''s chest!


    Seeing this, Ma Wenbin smiled, happy he was rightthis Specter was a weak one.


    Before he could celebrate, however, the Specter roared wildly as if provoked. The roar spread like a visible wave, deafening. Then, the Specter''s flesh swelled rapidly, like tumors fighting to grow inside it.


    It grew bigger and bigger, filling the corridor with flesh, even sealing the hole in its chest. It kept swelling, and the ceiling and walls creaked under the pressure.


    Ma Wenbin knew he was in great trouble now, but he had to face Fang Xiu''s attack from behind. He blocked the silver hairpins with his blood and, without thinking, punched the Specter again.


    The red flood hit it hard. This time, though, something strange happened. The Specter exploded like a bomb as if a chemical reaction happened inside.


    It blew up.


    Bloody flesh chunks, tumors, organs, and intestines exploded, covering the corridor. Ma Wenbin wondered if it had self-destructed.


    The explosion was big, but Ma Wenbin and Fang Xiu, protected by blood and silver hair, blocked the flesh bomb.


    Ma Wenbin didn''t have much time to think. Seeing his path was cleared, he quickly tried to escape. But then, a flesh wall rose in front of him.


    The flesh on the ground grew like it was alive. It swelled and connected, forming a flesh wall.


    As the flesh wall formed, other flesh pieces also grew and connected. In a moment, the whole corridor was covered in flesh, making a Flesh Corridor.


    The flesh kept moving, and even acid leaked out. It was like being inside a creature''s stomach.


    SWISH! SWISH!


    Many tentacle-like growths came out of the Flesh Corridor, attacking Ma Wenbin fiercely.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t attacked, as the Flesh Specter seemed to mistake him for another Specter. After all, the Specter wanted humans more than their kind.


    However, Fang Xiu wasn''tpletely safethe stomach acid corroded many of his silver hair strands. Luckily, his hair kept growing and repairing itself, so he could hold on for a while.


    In contrast, Ma Wenbin wasn''t so lucky. He was under direct attack.


    Countless tentacle-like flesh growths attacked him from all directions. He had no choice but to keep swinging his blood to attack them. However, these acid-releasing flesh growths seemed highly resistant to corrosion, rendering Ma Wenbin''s blood attacks almost useless.


    "Aaaaah!" Momentster, amidst Ma Wenbin''s desperate screams, the growths enveloped him, sucking his blood like countless leeches.


    "No!"


    Just then, Fang Xiu acted. With his silver hair, he pierced Ma Wenbin''s brain through the gaps between the sprouts, absorbing the Spiritual Energy first.


    This movepletely enraged the Flesh Specter.


    The next moment, numerous flesh growths grew from the ground beneath Fang Xiu, and the flesh under his feet started moving, threatening to swallow him like a swamp.


    Facing this danger, Fang Xiu smiled. He knew he was the Flesh Specter''s nemesis. The Flesh Specter, not fearing corrosion and able to absorb blood, was still vulnerable to someone like him who excelled in closebat and could exploit its exposed flesh.


    SWISH!


    A scalpel flew out, charged with Fang Xiu''s dark Spiritual Energy, stabbing fiercely into the Flesh Corridor.


    The power of pain erupted.


    The Flesh Corridor instantly wailed in agony as if cursed fatally. Its flesh boiled like hot water and then began to wither and burst.


    Momentster, all the flesh turned into a pool of blood, and the Flesh Corridor disappeared.


    Ma Wenbin, now a dried-up corpse,y dead on the ground, beyond any hope of life.


    Soon, stillness settled in.


    Indeed, the Flesh Specter was strong but not strong enough against the power of pain.


    After dealing with Bright Club, Fang Xiu felt a bit relieved, as he now had fewer enemies.


    It wasn''t all because he held grudges; he just couldn''t share the world with his enemies, as it made him ufortable.


    After absorbing the Spiritual Energy of Ma Wenbin and hisckeys, the hair Specter not only recovered from its previous exhaustion but seemed to have grown stronger.


    If this continued, Fang Xiu felt his hair might eventually be an S-ss Specter. "My hair, an S-ss Specter?" That didn''t sound too bad.


    Just then, Fang Xiu''s phone rang. He pulled out the encrypted phone from the Investigation Bureau and saw that it was a call from Su Kexin.


    Upon answering, he heard Su Kexin''s soft and anxious voice.


    "Agent Fang, are you alright? Director Wang has asked all investigators toe to headquarters. There''s a situation in Greenvine! Nightmare''s Specter Zone seems to have evolvedit can affect reality now."


    "Understood," Fang Xiu replied calmly, then hung up.


    The call wasn''t much of a surprise to him. After all, with Greenvine invaded by Nightmare''s Specter Zone and Nightmare seemingly gaining epic-level strength, the Bureau would act sooner orter.


    However, Fang Xiu didn''t trust what Su Kexin saidpletely. After all, he had encountered simr situations in Nightmare''s dreamscapes.


    Everything in a dream could be false.


    But he still needed to visit the Investigation Bureau. If it really was a trap by Nightmare, it meant Nightmare might be in the Bureau too.


    After leaving the Bright, Fang Xiu stepped onto the streets and was startled to find Greenvine shrouded in shadows.


    The shadow, like a cage, had sealed off the entire city.


    The moon was no longer visible in the sky, reced by a pair of massive scarlet eyesNightmare''s eyes! They hung in the sky like two bloody moons, indifferently overseeing all life below.


    The street scenes took on a surreal quality; the once lively buildings now seemed distorted, as if the picture quality had suddenly dropped from high definition to standard.


    Fang Xiu walked calmly on these eerie streets, his clear, lone figure contrasting with the blurry, distorted surroundings.


    As he walked, at the end of the street, a vintage rocking horse machine appeared out of nowhere.


    It rocked on its own without any coins inserted, as if an innocent child was joyfully riding it. A cheerful children''s song was ying from the horse, adding to the eerie atmosphere."

 Chapter 105: Better Idea

    Chapter 105: Better Idea


    Fang Xiu remained calm and continued walking forward.


    As he blinked, more and more amusement park rides began to appear out of nowhere on the empty street. There were merry-go-rounds, bumper cars, and roller coasters. It felt like an amusement park scene was loading into reality.


    So far, the scene was still iplete and a bit unreal.


    Fang Xiu guessed that this was the Nightmare''s Specter Zone gradually invading reality from a dream. It hadn''tpletely taken over yet, but as fear increased, the whole Greenvine would soon be engulfed in this dreamlike state.


    He walked straight through the amusement park, ignoring the strange surroundings, and headed directly to the Investigation Bureau. He needed to get there quickly because the reality was changing, and he might get lost if he dyed.


    Soon, he passed by a merry-go-round and noticed a little girl in a white dress who hadn''t been there before.


    The girl was partly visible, smiling innocently andughing happily.


    "Come dance with me!" she invited Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu stopped and looked at her calmly. With a flick of his hand, a scalpel tied with silver hair flew straight out.


    WHOOSH!


    The scalpel went through the girl''s body like it was air.


    Fang Xiu retrieved the scalpel and smiled at the girl. "When you fullye to reality, I will dance with you properly." Then he walked away without looking back.


    The amusement park was empty, only the girl''s happyughter filled the space.


    As Fang Xiu moved forward, more weird things appeared. There were faint whispering sounds on the empty streets, shadowy figures moving in the dark corners, and the sound of footsteps following him.


    The once-busy buildings disappeared, reced by eerie graveyards. But all this seemed iplete, and Fang Xiu moved freely without being attacked.


    He saw many panicked people, some walking aimlessly, some driving recklessly, and others worshipping the blood-red eyes in the sky. Most were hiding in their homes, trembling.


    As the scene changed faster, Fang Xiu used his silver hair like Spiderman''s webs, swinging through the sky between buildings.


    The sky was still somewhat recognizable, so he could tell where to go.


    Soon, Fang Xiu reached the Investigation Bureau.


    Inside, the atmosphere was tense and panicked, and there were fewer staff members than usual.


    Su Kexin was anxiously waiting at the entrance. She wasn''t wearing her work clothes, but casual attire instead. Her hair was a bit messy, and she even wore pinkdies'' slippers, showing her delicate, pale toes.


    When she saw Fang Xiu, she was overjoyed and hurried over to him. "Agent Fang, you''re finally here. Hurry to the meeting room. Director Wang and the others are waiting for you."


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at Su Kexin and said, "Come with me."


    He then took her to a quiet corner where no one was around.


    Su Kexin stood against the wall, looking confusedly at Fang Xiu, unsure of what he intended to do. As he inched closer, she became flustered and stepped backwards. With her body against the wall, she was trapped and had nowhere to go.


    "Agent Fang, is there something you need? Director Wang is waiting for you," Su Kexin said, looking down and avoiding his gaze.


    She was nervous because it seemed like Fang Xiu was going to pin her against the wall. She even wondered if Fang Xiu didn''t like uniforms, as he seemed more interested in her now that she was in casual clothes and slippers.


    "Look up," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Su Kexin instinctively looked up, meeting his calm, still gaze. She nervously bit her lip, unsure of what to say next.


    "It seems that the naked eye can''t tell," Fang Xiu suddenly said, confusing Su Kexin.


    Before she could react, a sh of silver light appeared, and a scalpel was embedded in her neck. Her expression turned to one of disbelief, fear, and confusion.


    Her pupils dted and blood spilled from her mouth. Soon, she breathed herst breath and slumped to the ground, blood gushing from her neck.


    "Was she real and not part of the dream?" Fang Xiu murmured, wiping the bloody scalpel on Su Kexin''s clothes before heading to the meeting room. "I need more information. Maybe more tests."


    Upon entering the meeting room, Fang Xiu caught the attention of everyone inside. He looked around and saw familiar faces like Wang Dehai, Yang Ming, Shen Lingxue, Zhao Hao, and other psychics he didn''t recognize.


    Among those present were members of the Investigation Bureau and some civilian psychics. Given the severe situation, it was clear that the Investigation Bureau had mobilized all avable forces.


    When Wang Dehai saw Fang Xiu arrive, he subtly signaled Yang Ming.


    Yang Ming approached Fang Xiu, holding a Spiritual Energy lie detector in his hand. "Fang Xiu, you''re finally here. What were you doing before? Why are you sote?"


    "I was dyed by something on the way," Fang Xiu replied calmly, then looked at the Spiritual Energy lie detector in Yang Ming''s hand. "What''s the meaning of this?"


    Yang Ming exined, "Fang Xiu, you''ve experienced Nightmare''s dreamscapes. You should know that anything in a dream can be fake. Now, Nightmare has undergone some mutation, and the dreamscapes have turned into the Specter Zone, beginning to invade reality. Although the invasion isn''tplete yet, we have to be cautious. Everyone here has been tested with the lie detector to verify their true identity. Now it''s your turn."


    "That makes sense," said Fang Xiu calmly. "But, I have a better method."


    "What is it?" asked Yang Ming.


    In a sh, a silver light streaked through the air as a sharp scalpel flew straight towards Yang Ming''s neck."

 Chapter 106: S-tier

    Chapter 106: S-tier


    Yang Ming, who usually seemed carefree, was actually a third-tier psychic.


    Fang Xiu''s sudden attack didn''t hurt him. Yang Ming stepped back slightly and easily dodged the surgical knife''s attack.


    "Are you really Fang Xiu?" he asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously.


    The other psychics stood up, looking seriously at Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond but instead activated the Specter power within the surgical knife. A fierce Specter power erupted from Fang Xiu, sending up ck mist and the roars of numerous Specters.


    He seemed to be surrounded by countless Specters. His ck hair suddenly grew longer, turned silver, and his right eye became a crimson blood pupil.


    Everyone was shocked, and some unknown psychics shouted, "He''s not Fang Xiu! He''s a Specter in disguise!"


    Then Fang Xiu attacked. He moved like a ghost and attacked Wang Dehai.


    Yang Ming, shocked and angry, quickly moved to protect the director.


    A blood light burst from Fang Xiu''s eye and hit Yang Ming. However, Yang Ming only felt dazed for a moment, it was probably due to therge gap in their Spiritual Energy.


    Fang Xiu didn''t stop attacking. He fully activated the hair Specter''s power. That could damage the Specter''s foundation, but he didn''t care.


    His silver hair spread wildly, turning the entire meeting room into a sea of silver hair.


    The other psychics changed their expressions and used their powers to block the hair. Weaker psychics, like Zhao Hao, couldn''t stop the hair Specter''s move and were pierced by the hair. Stronger ones, like Shen Lingxue, blocked the hair with their unique abilities.


    Seeing people get hurt, Yang Ming was enraged. He became serious, his casualness gone, reced by a heavy killing intent.


    Yang Ming had been careless. He didn''t know Fang Xiu''s hidden abilities, and he needed to protect many people. Then, a burst of Spectral red light came from Yang Ming''s feet, and a pair of small, delicate red embroidered shoes appeared on hisrge feet.


    As soon as the shoes appeared, Yang Ming vanished, moving through the silver storm to face Fang Xiu directly.


    Fang Xiu squinted at Yang Ming''s embroidered shoes, surprised. He didn''t expect Yang Ming, a leader with thick eyebrows and big eyes, to use embroidered shoes as his Specter Gadget.


    These shoes seemed to have the ability to ignore size and collision. It could move quickly and even teleport. Otherwise, Yang Ming couldn''t have moved through the sea of silver hair so quickly to confront him.


    Just as Yang Ming was about to act, Fang Xiu quickly raised his scalpel and, to Yang Ming''s astonishment, plunged it into his own forehead.


    "Agent Fang, you''re finally here. Hurry to the meeting room. Director Wang and the others are waiting for you," Su Xekin said to Fang Xiu.


    She was again wearing casual clothes and pink slippers, showing her delicate, white toes.


    Fang Xiu calmly responded, showing no emotion, as if he hadn''t just killed Su Kexin in the first round.


    This time, he walked toward the meeting room without attacking her. He had tested and found that the people of the Investigation Bureau were not transformed by Nightmare; this was the real Investigation Bureau.


    When he killed these people before, he let the hair Specter absorb their psychics'' Spiritual Energy. He had absorbed their power, so he confirmed they were real.


    People could be fake, but Spiritual Energy could not. The fact that the hair Specter could absorb their Spiritual Energy meant those were real psychics, not Specters in disguise or a dream.


    Of course, this didn''t mean all the people in the Investigation Bureau were human, as Fang Xiu hadn''t killed everyone. But confirming the Investigation Bureau was real was enough; he could slowly distinguish the rest.


    This was Fang Xiu''s reason for killing: he had experienced Nightmare''s dream and knew it could mimic reality. Since there was no easy way to tell the difference, he used the simplest method to test.


    In the meeting room, Yang Ming used a Spiritual Energy lie detector, which Fang Xiu calmly epted and passed.


    Wang Dehai then began the meeting.


    "Everyone, you are the biggest force the Bureau can mobilize now. Those who couldn''te are likely trapped in dreams, including Vice-Captain Bai Qi. You are Greenvine City''sst hope," said Wang Dehai.


    Hearing this, the psychics didn''t feel honored but were serious.


    One even said, "Director Wang, there''s no need for these empty words. To be honest, if Greenvine City weren''t sealed by shadows and Nightmare wasn''t pulling everyone into dreams, I would''ve run away. Since I can''t escape now, I have no choice but to fight. Just tell us your strategy."


    Wang Dehai''s expression didn''t change, knowing full well the nature of the psychics.


    Wang Dehai said truthfully, "Now, Nightmare''s Specter Zone has invaded reality, covering the entire Greenvine City. If this situation continues, once Greenvine falls, the surrounding cities will also face disastrous consequences. It could even give rise to a catastrophe sweeping across the country. Therefore, Nightmare has been ressified as an Grade-S threat, considering its terrifying growth potential and wide impact."


    At the mention of "Grade-S," a sense of fear seemed to grip the room. The air became heavy, as if a massive pressure was spreading through the meeting room.


    Someone fearfully said, "A Grade-S event! Such events are difficult even for the headquarters to handle. Can we really deal with it with just a few of us?"


    Others questioned why reinforcements from the headquarters hadn''t arrived yet.


    Wang Dehai exined in a serious tone, "The reinforcements from headquarters were attacked by unidentified individuals en route and cannot reach us soon. Plus, Greenvine is entirely covered by shadows, making it difficult for them to enter even if they arrive. In short, we cannot just sit and wait for Nightmare to grow. Once it absorbs the fear of the entire Greenvine City, it will be toote, even for the headquarters to intervene!"


    Someone eximed, "Damn it! What''s going on? Why were the headquarters'' people intercepted? Why is Greenvine under a shadow blockade? There must be a conspiracy!"


    Yang Ming, with a serious expression, said, "It''s the work of Ace of Spades. I''ve met him and know his ability involves shadows. Sealing Greenvine City and intercepting headquarters personnel is his doing. We have found out tha mmt Ace of Spades is backed by an organization called the Pokers. This organization is extremely secretive, with little information avable. What we do know is that every member of the Pokers is formidable. So, we''re not only dealing with Nightmare but also need to be wary of the lurking Pokers."


    Hearing Yang Ming''s words, the psychics'' faces darkened even more.


    Facing Nightmare was already a desperate situation, and now they also had to deal with the mysterious Pokers organization.


    Some psychics even began to wonder why the requirements for joining the Specter were so high, and if they had a chance to join the other side."

 Chapter 107: The Pen Spirit

    Chapter 107: The Pen Spirit


    "Everyone, there''re always more opportunities in dangerous situations!" Wang Dehai suddenly said.


    In that moment, everyone looked at him.


    Wang Dehai was just a human, but he was calmer than the usual psychic.


    "Nightmare has no real body in our world, but now all of Greenvine City is covered by its Specter Zone. It''s like we''re in a dream, and only a dream can hurt a dream! This is our chance. We just need to find Nightmare''s real body and beat it. Then we can get through this dangerous situation."


    "Director Wang, you make it sound easy. Never mind beating Nightmare, finding it is hard enough for us. Greenvine City is so big, and we''re in its Specter Zone. Where do we even start looking?"


    Wang Dehai didn''t seem angry at the question and the guy''s impatient tone. He looked at Yang Ming and said, "Yang, please bring out that thing."


    Yang Ming nodded and left. When he returned, he was holding a dark gold box. The box, made of Mind Steel, had no gaps and was sealed shut.


    Everyone was focused on the box.


    Then Yang Ming took a dark gold knife from his belt and cut the box open. The sound left the others cringing in difort.


    The next second, the box opened, revealing a pen. An old, ck pen, looking as if it was from thest century. As soon as the pen appeared, a cold Spectral air filled the room.


    It was as if the pen was alive, with hateful eyes staring at everyone, chilling them.


    "It''s a Specter Gadget!" someone eximed.


    Most psychics, unlike Fang Xiu and Yang Ming, had never seen a Specter Gadget. Each Specter Gadget was precious, not just anyone could have one.


    Wang Dehai exined, "Right, this pen is a Specter Gadget, called the Spiritual Pen."


    "The Spiritual Pen? Is it like the Pen Spirit game those foolish young people y?"


    "Yes. We don''t have much time. I''ll exin quickly. Using this pen, if you pay a price, you can get the answer you want."


    Fang Xiu gave it some thought.


    _''Pay a price for an answer? Isn''t that what we needed? If the pen was really so magical, I can use it to find out the truth about this world.''_


    "Director Wang, do you mean to use the Pen Spirit to find out where Nightmare really is?"


    "Yes," Wang Dehai nodded. "But the more important the question, the higher the price the Pen Spirit will ask. The price is random. Sometimes it might be a finger, sometimes your eyes, maybe your heart, or even your head."


    Hearing this, everyone fell silent.


    Losing a finger might be eptable, but losing a heart or a head meant death.


    Most psychics weren''t the selfless type. They wouldn''t want to sacrifice themselves to ask a question for others. So, everyone was silent, not wanting to speak. They thought that out of so many people present, someone would eventually step up.


    Then, a guy suggested, "This is easy. Just get a death row prisoner to ask, how about that?"


    Wang Dehai shook his head. "Only a psychic can use the Pen Spirit."


    Silence fell again. The psychics present were quiet, avoiding eye contact.


    Yang Ming, looking at the silent crowd and cursed, "Look at you cowards. I knew none of you would do it."


    Being a third-tier psychic and the captain, no one dared to talk back to him, even those who usually had a quick temper kept quiet, fearing he would challenge them to ask.


    Yang Ming picked up the pen and was about to ask.


    Wang Dehai looked worried, saying, "Yang Ming, you"


    But Yang Mingughed, cutting him off, "Director Wang, my ability is luck, remember? Maybe the price will just be my pubic hair."


    Wang Dehai rolled his eyes, but he eventually nodded. He knew that Yang Ming was now the only one who might minimize the cost.


    The other psychics obviously wouldn''t be selfless to that extent.


    They only hoped that Yang Mings luck would protect him. The Investigation Bureau couldn''t afford to lose such a high-level fighter at this crucial time.


    Just as Yang Ming was about to ask, Fang Xiu stood up, attracting everyone''s attention.


    "I''ll do it."


    The room fell silent. Shock, doubt, disbelief, curiosityall these expressions appeared on people''s faces.


    Yang Ming, with a hint of surprise in his eyes,ughed loudly. "Fang Xiu, why? Trying to steal the spotlight? I can''t let you have this chance."


    Wang Dehai, even more worried, said, "Fang Xiu, let Yang Ming do it. His ability is luck, and this kid has many tricks up his sleeve. The Pen Spirit might not even be able to kill him."


    Facing the discouragement from the others, Fang Xiu remained calm and said, "I''ll be fine."


    "Fang Xiu, now is not the time to show off. Yang Ming is the strongest and the luckiest. He is the best choice," Wang Dehai tried to persuade him.


    But Fang Xiu remained stubborn. "I said, I''ll be fine."


    Wang Dehai paused, noticing Fang Xiu''s calm expression. He guessed maybe Fang Xiu knew he would be safe, perhaps he had foreseen the future.


    Thinking this, Wang Dehai said after a moment, "Yang Ming, let him do it."


    Yang Ming, seemingly understanding his intention, nodded and gave the pen to Fang Xiu.


    The others, unaware of Fang Xiu''s reasons, had mixed feelings. Some respected him, someughed at him, and some were confused.


    They couldn''t figure out why Fang Xiu, almost like a selfless saint, was so eager to face such danger.


    But Fang Xiu had his reasons. He wanted to confirm his suspicion and use this chance, maybe even risking his life, to find answers to his deepest doubts.


    He also silently thanked Nightmare. Without it, he might never have discovered this hidden treasure of the Investigation Bureau."

 Chapter 108: The Stupid Pen Spirit

    Chapter 108: The Stupid Pen Spirit


    Fang Xiu held a pen and asked, "What should I do now?"


    Yang Ming exined, "Hold the pen, touch it to the paper, draw circles, and chant, ''Pen Spirit, you were my past life, and I am your present.'' Then, you''ll feel a cold hand grab yours, and you can ask questions."


    Fang Xiu nodded. Pen in hand, he started drawing circles on the paper, chanting the words.


    Afterpleting the process, a cold sensation spread from the pen. Suddenly, his hand stopped, not by his choice but because a cold, ghostly hand, like a woman''s dead hand, held it.


    The psychics could sense the cold presence and looked uneasy.


    _''The Pen Spirit is quite powerful,'' _they thought.


    Someone said, "It follows its own rules, not harming everyone, which is good."


    "Now you can ask," Yang Ming reminded.


    Ignoring the others, Fang Xiu asked the Pen Spirit, "What is the true nature of the Specters in this world?"


    Everyone looked shocked and worried.


    "Fang Xiu, what kind of question is that?"


    "Are you crazy? You can''t handle the cost of such a question!"


    Fang Xiu ignored them and observed the pen. Suddenly, the pen moved wildly, dragging his hand, scribbling on the paper until it tore, scratching the table.


    The cold air in the room intensified.


    "Aaaargh!"


    Then, a loud, piercing scream came from the pen, making everyone cover their ears in agony. Wang Dehai, an ordinary person, even died on the spot, bleeding from every orifice.


    Fang Xiu frowned, muttering, "Can''t you answer? Or are you scared to?"


    Suddenly, there was a loud explosion. Fang Xiu exploded on the spot, sttering blood and flesh all over the room''s walls.


    A few minutester, Fang Xiu returned to the meeting room again.


    He chanted again, and this time he asked, "Where did my resetting abilitye from?"


    BOOM!


    "Why am I the only one in this world who can see the Specters?"


    BOOM!


    "Who wrote the words on the bedroom ceiling?"


    BOOM!


    "How can I kill my wife for good?"


    BOOM!


    As the cold presence reappeared, a cold, ghostly woman''s hand grasped Fang Xiu''s.


    "You can ask now," Yang Ming reminded, just as before.


    Fang Xiu, having died several times already, realized that the Pen Spirit couldn''t or dared not answer his deep, secret questions. Asking forcefully only led to the Pen Spirit''s frenzy and his own death, indicating that those questions were too deep andplicated for him to handle now.


    "Where can I find the materialized Nightmare?" Fang Xiu asked calmly.


    This time, the Pen Spirit didn''t go mad but began writing on the paper while holding Fang Xiu''s hand. To the others, it seemed like Fang Xiu was writing by himself.


    Soon, one word appeared on the paper: Temple.


    Everyone was puzzled.


    Yang Ming cursed, "This Pen Spirit is useless! There are dozens of temples in Greenvine City; which one is it talking about?"


    Fang Xiu frowned, not expecting the Pen Spirit to be cryptic. Before he could ask which temple specifically, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.


    Looking down, he saw a gaping hole in his chest, as if something invisible was devouring it.


    His organs started to vanish, and his consciousness blurred amid the distant, fading gasps of others.


    Fang Xiu knew he was dying and thought about his terrible luck, perhaps worsened by Yang Ming''s presence.


    Upon restarting, Fang Xiu directly asked which temple. He finally got the precise answer: Putuo Temple.


    This time, the price was his head.


    "Director Wang, my ability is luck, remember? Maybe the price will just be my pubic hair," Yang Ming said,ughing and ready to draw circles with the pen.


    But again, Fang Xiu calmly intervened, saying, "No need to ask. Nightmare''s true form is in Putuo Temple."


    Everyone was stunned.


    "How do you know Nightmare is in Putuo Temple?" Yang Ming asked, confused.


    Fang Xiu calmly replied, "Don''t forget, my ability is perception. I''ve already sensed it."


    Only a few who knew the context, like Wang Dehai and Yang Ming, understood what Fang Xiu meant. It wasn''t just perception; he had foreseen it.


    Yang Ming also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Despite his luck ability and many trump cards, he didn''t really want to gamble their life with the Pen Spirit. If the Pen Spirit could easily be used, it wouldn''t have been sealed in a Mind Steel box.


    "Since you''ve already sensed it, then there''s no need for Yang Ming to ask further," Wang Dehai said.


    Hearing this, the psychics who didn''t know Fang Xiu found it hard to believe. They wondered how such a crucial decision could be made so lightly.


    Putuo Temple was dozens of kilometers away from the Investigation Bureau, and they questioned what kind of extraordinary perception could detect something so far away.


    A civilian psychic asked, "Director Wang, do you realize how far Putuo Temple is? How can a first-tier psychic like him sense Nightmare from so far away?"


    Wang Dehai replied seriously, "Fang Xiu is a special perceptive psychic, different from the traditional sense. If he has sensed it, then it must be true."


    The civilian psychic was about to say more. However, Yang Ming, the only third-tier psychic in Greenvine, interrupted, "What you need to do now is not to question but to unconditionally trust the Investigation Bureau and Fang Xiu. We''re not joking about our lives or yours."


    With Yang Ming''s authority and power, all doubts were immediately suppressed.


    "Fang Xiu, since you''ve sensed that Nightmare''s true form is in Putuo Temple, what should our next move be?" Yang Ming asked.


    The crowd was even more astonished, constantly ncing at Fang Xiu. They couldn''t believe that both the director of the Investigation Bureau and Yang Ming hadplete trust in Fang Xiu. They not only believed his perception without question but now even sought his guidance on their next course of action."

 Chapter 109: Getting Rid Of Nightmare

    Chapter 109: Getting Rid Of Nightmare


    Everyone was curious about Fang Xiu.


    _''Who is this person? Could he be the son of some big boss at headquarters?''_


    Actually, there was a very simple reason Yang Ming had asked Fang Xiu that question. He didn''t need Fang Xiu to make decisions. He just wanted to know if Fang Xiu had any important information he knew beforehand.


    Fang Xiu thought for a moment and said, "First, everyone should disclose their abilities. I need to know what you can do."


    Reporting their abilities, without a doubt, wouldn''t be a good idea for psychics. A psychic''s ability was like their secret weapon. Sometimes, by keeping it secret, they could change the oue of a battle. Not many wanted to reveal their true power.


    There was a case where a first-tier psychic, with a special ability unknown to others, secretly killed a second-tier psychic.


    Everyone fell silent, and no one spoke first.


    Fang Xiu looked around calmly and said lightly, "With your skills and power, do you really need to hide your abilities like it''s some stupid secret weapon?"


    "What did you say?"


    A hot-tempered psychic suddenly stood up, ring at Fang Xiu.


    "You, newbie"


    Before he could finish, Fang Xiu''s right pupil suddenly turned into a blood-red.


    "Ah!"


    The psychic screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his head and rolling in pain.


    Seeing this spectacle, everyone was shocked.


    No one expected Fang Xiu to have such a terrifying ability.


    Shen Lingxue, in the corner, turned pale when she saw the blood-red pupil. She trembled slightly, obviously reminded of some bad memory. She immediately looked down at her feet, not daring to look at Fang Xiu.


    "Now, disclose your abilities. Facing the Nightmare, those who are ipetent will only feed it. We don''t need them in what''sing next," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Some weaker psychics were angry but didn''t dare to speak. Those who thought they were stronger looked angry but didn''t dare to make a scene, especially with Yang Ming watching.


    Then, a Gothic guy with red hair and a raspy voice said, "My ability is singing. My voice can affect people''s emotions and make them lose their reason."


    Fang Xiu nodded and said, "Next."


    After him, more people started speaking up.


    "My ability is strength. I can have strength far beyond a normal person," said a thin, hunched man.


    "Freezing. I can immobilize people or Specters for a short time."


    As each person revealed their abilities, Fang Xiu made his judgments. He knew some of them were still hiding their true powers, but that didn''t matter much to him. He didn''t really count on others anyway. He just needed them to not hold him back and to take care of some weak enemies.


    Now, the whole of Greenvine City was Nightmare''s Specter Zone. It was obvious they would face many of Nightmare''s minions. Fang Xiu didn''t n to deal with these minions himself. He needed to save his strength for Nightmare.


    "You, step forward," Fang Xiu pointed to the red-haired Gothic Guy who had spoken first.


    Gothic Guy was slightly surprised and pointed to his nose ring. "Me?"


    "Yes, you. Sing a song for us."


    "Sing? Now?" Gothic Guy thought Fang Xiu was mocking him. But considering Fang Xiu''s power and influence, he had no choice but to folllow.


    "Alright, bro. What song do you want to hear?"


    "Good Luck Comes."


    Gothic Guy''s mouth twitched.


    "What? You can''t sing it?"


    "No, it''s not that. I just think this song is really fitting for the moment."


    "Fang Xiu, what are you trying to do? We are all in danger, and you''re in the mood to listen to music?" one psychic asked. He was already displeased with Fang Xiu''s bossy behavior and now couldn''t hold back his anger, thinking Fang Xiu was wasting time.


    Fang Xiu nced at him coolly and said calmly, "It''s hard to exin, given your intelligence."


    "You!" The psychic was furious and looked like he was about to attack, but Yang Ming stepped forward with a warning nce, and he backed down.


    "Sing," said Fang Xiu.


    "Alright, bro."


    Gothic Guy cleared his throat and began to sing.


    "Craft a thousand origami cranes, each adorned with a red ribbon, as a token of daily good wishes for kind souls. May your diligent efforts lead to a life full of beauty. Wishing you eternal health with each spring''s arrival, and may your bustling life always be graced with joyful smiles."


    His raspy voice echoed in the meeting room. Everyone who heard it looked disgusted.


    The worst part was, Gothic Guy waspletely absorbed in his singing, even nodding and swaying to the rhythm.


    It was clear he loved singing, but it was also clear he was terrible at it.


    "Enough, stop."


    "Good luckes, I wish you good luck, good luck..."


    "Stop!"


    "Oh, okay, okay." Gothic Guy saw Fang Xiu''s displeased look and quickly stopped.


    Then, Fang Xiu turned to Zhao Hao, the most timid among the psychics. "Hao, how do you feel?"


    Zhao Hao was a bit startled, not expecting Fang Xiu to ask him at this moment.


    "It''s terrible. I think even my fart sounds better than his singing."


    Gothic Guy''s face darkened. "Don''t you understand music?"


    "I''m not talking about the singing. I mean the fear. After listening to his song, did you feel less afraid?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Zhao Hao paused, then realized what Fang Xiu meant.


    "Xiu, now that you mention it, I do feel less scared. While listening to his song, all I could think about was how awful it was and wanted him to stop. I forgot about Nightmare for a while. His singing really can make people lose their minds. I almost couldn''t help but want to beat him up just now."


    Hearing Zhao Hao''s words, some of the psychics began to understand Fang Xiu''s intention.


    Fang Xiu nodded. "Good. It seems the key to this mission is his ability."


    "Me?" Gothic Guy pointed to himself in disbelief, never expecting the focus would be on him. After all, his ability was considered the leastbat-effective among the psychics.


    "Yang Ming, you take him to the broadcasting station. Start a city-wide broadcast and let him sing ''Good Luck Comes'' to lessen the city''s fear and weaken Nightmare''s power. The rest of you,e with me to Putuo Temple. We move now."


    Yang Ming''s eyes lit up. "Great idea! Nightmare''s poweres from fear. If we can reduce people''s fear to some extent, Nightmare will be weakened! I''ll take care of this. Once I''m done, I''ll join you at Putuo Temple to deal with Nightmare once and for all. Nightmare has caused so much damage to Greenvine, it must pay. We can''t allow such a powerful Specter to exist!"

 Chapter 110: Nightmares Nightmare

    Chapter 110: Nightmare''s Nightmare


    Some civilian psychics suddenly understood when they heard Fang Xiu''s exnation. They started looking at Fang Xiu differently.


    It turns out that he had a reason for making people sing, and that was why Yang Ming asked him for advice on what to do next. It seemed like Fang Xiu might have a role simr to that of a strategist in the Investigation Bureau.


    "Remember, you need to wear the embroidered shoes and run as fast as you can. The longer it takes, the stronger Nightmare will get. We need to weaken Nightmare''s power before the whole city falls," Fang Xiu advised.


    "No problem," replied Yang Ming, nodding. Suddenly, his face froze, and he asked, "How did you know about my Specter Gadget?"


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at Yang Ming and exined, "I sensed it. Remember, you have to wear those shoes and act quickly. If you''re embarrassed, you can put them on after leaving the Investigation Bureau."


    Yang Ming didn''t know what to say. He felt like Fang Xiu had something over him now. Now everyone knew he wore women''s shoes, and it was a bit embarrassing.


    Yang Ming was worrying too much. At such a critical time, no one cared if he wore women''s shoes or boots. And even if they did, they would probably be envious of his powerful Specter Gadget, not making fun of him.


    Wang Dehai then said, "I''m putting Fang Xiu in charge as the temporary leader. He has the authority to make decisions."


    The others agreed. Fang Xiu had just shown his abilities as a strategist, and everyone seemed to approve of his n.


    "Fang Xiu, have you sensed where Bai Qi is?" Wang Dehai asked.


    Fang Xiu shook his head. "No, but I think if Bai Qi is still alive, he''s probably at Putuo Temple. Ordinary Specters can''t trap someone as strong as him, so it must be Nightmare who took him."


    Fang Xiu didn''t say much more after that. He led the team out of the Investigation Bureau and to the parking lot.


    "Let''s take five people per car to avoid being easy targets. Zhao Hao, Liu Shuai, Shen Lingxue, and Cheng Xinyuan, you''re with me," he instructed.


    Cheng Xinyuan, who was skinny and had strength ability, was surprised to be picked by Fang Xiu. His physique made it clear why he had such power. He was just like Zhao Hao, who longed for the ability hecked.


    Nobody argued with Fang Xiu''s decision. Time was of the essence, and he had his reasons for choosing these people for his car. They knew Nightmare somehow feared Zhao Hao, and they could use thatter.


    Having been taught a lessonst time, Shen Lingxue had changedpletely. She became quiet and obedient, and her strength had grown since the ckwater incident. Her fire ability was perfect for clearing out areas.


    As for Liu Shuai and Cheng Xinyuan, Fang Xiu had other ns for them.


    Then, everyone got into their cars and drove out into the city.


    Greenvine hadpletely transformed. Thick fog rose everywhere, shrouding all the roads and buildings. They could only see vague outlines; everything was like a scene out of a horror movie, adding a sense of eeriness and terror.


    In the depths of the fog, shadows were moving, and asionally, non-human screams could be heard.


    "Xiu, I feel like I''m in a horror movie. Do you think we can resolve this Nightmare issue safely?" Zhao Hao asked, a bit worried.


    "Whether we can or not depends on you," replied Fang Xiu.


    Zhao Hao was confused. "Me? Come on, Xiu, stop joking. Even at my best, I doubt I could take on Nightmare. I couldn''t even beat the ss-B hair Specterst time, let alone an S like Nightmare."


    Fang Xiu shook his head. "I didn''t ask you to fight."


    Zhao Hao was even more puzzled. "Not fight? Then what?"


    "Just like what you did in the dreamst time," Fang Xiu suggested.


    Zhao Hao''s face turned red. "Xiu, it''s not the time for jokes."


    "I''m not joking. Haven''t you noticed that Nightmare has never pulled you into a dream? You''re entering dreams now because Nightmare''s Specter Zone has covered the entire Greenvine. Otherwise, Nightmare would never drag you into its realm."


    "Why is that?"


    "Because you are Nightmare''s worst nightmare."


    Liu Shuai suddenly eximed in surprise, "Wow, when did he be so powerful?"


    Zhao Hao just smiled awkwardly, not exining further.


    "Cheng Xinyuan, take it out," Fang Xiu suddenly said to Cheng Xinyuan.


    Cheng Xinyuan was initially puzzled, then his face showed confusion. "What? What are you talking about?"


    "Do you think I wouldn''t recognize you just because you changed your clothes, Manager Cheng?"


    Cheng Xinyuan became even more confused. "I don''t understand what you''re saying."


    "Wasn''t my hint clear enough? Manager Cheng from Kill Yet."


    Upon hearing this, the confusion on Cheng Xinyuan''s face disappeared, reced by a serious and alert expression. "How did you recognize me?"


    "My ability is perception. Even though you''ve hunched your body and made yourself look scruffy,pletely different from your previous image, you can''t fool my perception."


    Cheng Xinyuan smiled, "You have such a strong perception ability. No wonder Wang Dehai and Yang Ming trust you so much."


    Fang Xiu was able to see through Cheng Xinyuan''s disguise because of what happened the first time in the meeting room. When the hair Specter attacked Cheng Xinyuan, he used the bronze candlestick to defend himself. That act revealed his true identity.


    "Since you''ve admitted it, give me my candlestick," Fang Xiu demanded.


    Cheng Xinyuan''s face turned sour. Honestly, he didn''t want to give it up. In Nightmare''s Specter Zone, the bronze candlestick was a life-saving weapon. Giving it up meant losing a chance to survive.


    But refusing meant bing Fang Xiu''s enemy.


    Cheng Xinyuan knew better than to underestimate Fang Xiu. Fang Xiu was like a madman, having nearly wiped out Bright Club. Cheng Xinyuan knew he was no match for him.


    After a moment of thought, Cheng Xinyuan chose to hand over the bronze candlestick. He understood that internal conflict wasn''t helpful right now.


    The candlestick was just for survival, but if Fang Xiu could really handle Nightmare, it wouldn''t be needed anymore. Plus, Fang Xiu''s strength and ruthlessness were not to be challenged.


    "Liu Shuai, you take the bronze candlestick," Fang Xiu said, tossing it to Liu Shuai.


    Liu Shuai wasn''t happy at all. Cold sweat began to dot his forehead. "Do I have to bleed again? I haven''t even recovered fromst time. I''ve lost two pounds already. Can''t someone else do it?"


    "No," Fang Xiu replied simply.


    Liu Shuai now realized why Fang Xiu wanted him in the car. At first, he was happy, thinking Fang Xiu valued their pastradeship. Now, it seemed clear that Fang Xiu had chosen him because he had more blood to spare."

 Chapter 111: Head Lantern

    Chapter 111: Head Lantern


    "Manager Cheng, if I''m not wrong, your power isn''t just strength, right?"


    Cheng Xinyuan was truly shocked by Fang Xiu''s perception. _''Is it really perception? Or omniscience?''_


    He numbly nodded and said, "You''re right, my power isn''t just strength. Strength is just a by-product of my real ability."


    As he spoke, he took off his shirt, revealing tattoos all over his body. A tiger descending a mountain was tattooed on his chest, and a dragon over his shoulder on his back. These dragon and tiger tattoos looked incredibly lifelike as if they were real animals.


    "My ability is to control the dragon and tiger on my body. The strength is just something they give me."


    Suddenly, from the deep fog in the street, numerous non-human roars interrupted their conversation.


    Everyone looked toward the sound and felt a tightness in their chests.


    From the fog, hundreds of "people" charged out.


    To be precise, they were no longer people but Specter ves.


    With green faces and sharp teeth, their faces were fierce, and their nails had grown into sharp ws.


    They moved on all fours, like wild beasts, roaring as they rushed towards the vehicles.


    They were the transformed citizens of Greenvine who had died.


    "What do we do now, Fang Xiu?" came a voice from the walkie-talkie. It was another psychic asking from another car.


    "Drive through them," Fang Xiu replied calmly, a strange crimson light shing in his right eye.


    With a thunderous roar, the psychics drove their cars, stepping hard on the gas.


    "Shen Lingxue, Cheng Xinyuan, move!"manded Fang Xiu.


    Without any hesitation, the two sprang into action.


    Shen Lingxue released bright, hot mes, hurling fireballs through the fog at the Specter ves. The fireballs exploded among the Specter ves like grenades.


    Cheng Xinyuan also took immediate action, his skinny body bulging with muscles.


    As his muscles expanded, the tattooed tiger and dragon on his body seemed toe to life, flying off his skin.


    Transforming into a ck dragon and white tiger, they roared toward the Specter ves, clearing the way like tanks.


    The other psychics in the cars also took action, continuously making a path.


    Under the attack of the psychics, the hundreds of Specter ves couldn''t stop the vehicles'' progress.


    In just a moment, Fang Xiu and the others broke through the encirclement.


    There were some minor damages to the vehicles but no casualties.


    This initial victory greatly boosted the confidence of the psychics; some now believed that Nightmare was not that formidable.


    Then, Fang Xiu''smand suddenly rang out in all the cars.


    "Stop the cars."


    Confused butpliant, everyone stopped their vehicles.


    Fang Xiu quickly stepped out of the car, and the other psychics followed, puzzled about what he nned to do.


    Once everyone was outside, Fang Xiu made a startling announcement, "Up ahead, we''ll encounter creatures called Head Lanterns. They have eyes that shine red. If their red light hits you, you will instantly lose your head. Follow me closely if you don''t want to die. And remember, do not attack the Head Lanterns. If you do, it will trigger their killing moves, and they''ll swarm us."


    Everyone was stunned by this news. Some even asked him, "How can you know this? It''s one thing to sense the presence of Specters before they appear, but to know their killing moves too? Are you sure this is just sensing, not foreseeing the future?"


    Someone else asked, "If there really are Head Lanterns ahead, why don''t we take a different route?"


    "There''s no use," Fang Xiu replied calmly. "Head Lanterns have surrounded us. The only way is to go through them. It''s up to you to believe it or not."


    He didn''t bother exining how he knew; the important thing was to act. Ignoring themotion, he started walking forward.


    Fang Xiu had thought about going alone to avoid being slowed down. But after careful consideration, he decided to stick with the group.


    Nightmare had changed; it controlled all of Greenvine City, and many Specters were on the loose. In this situation, it was hard to seed alone. For Fang Xiu, these psychics were like tools in a game, essential for helping him defeat the boss.


    Zhao Hao followed Fang Xiu immediately, trusting him without question.


    Shen Lingxue knew more about Fang Xiu than others, and she silently followed Fang Xiu too.


    Then came Cheng Xinyuan. He didn''t believe Fang Xiu could predict the future, but he trusted him because of their past interactions.


    Seeing the others following, the rest of the group hesitated but chose to trust Fang Xiu too. After all, if the head of the Investigation Bureau and a third-tier psychic like Yang Ming trusted Fang Xiu, they thought it would be foolish to doubt him now.


    Before long, everyone was following Fang Xiu.


    After walking about a hundred meters, the group suddenly noticed thatnterns had mysteriously appeared in the dense fog ahead.


    Thesenterns emitted a red light, floating in the sky like clouds drifting with the wind.


    Recalling Fang Xiu''s earlier warning, everyone tensed up.


    Fang Xiu kept moving forward without pause. As they got closer, the group could finally see what thenterns actually were.


    They were human heads floating in the sky. The necks were severed cleanly as if cut by some sharp instrument.


    Each head was smiling with eyes open, looking almost alive.


    There were old and young, men and women, a dense mass floating in the sky, forming what seemed like an ocean of thousands of heads. This sight sent chills down everyone''s spine.


    "Everyone, stay to the right," Fang Xiu said calmly. He swiftly moved to the right side of the street.


    Zhao Hao, Shen Lingxue, and the others followed him without hesitation. The rest, after a moment of surprise, quickly reacted and followed.


    As they moved, the closest Head Lantern turned its head towards them.


    It was the head of a young, lively girl with a bright smile. Fresh blood dripped from her severed neck, indicating she hadn''t been dead long.


    As her head turned, everyone clearly saw the red light shining from her eyes, like two shlights casting beams on the ground, quickly sweeping toward the spot where the group had been standing moments before."

 Chapter 112: Perishing Together

    Chapter 112: Perishing Together


    Some people were slow to act. Two psychics, who hesitated to follow Fang Xiu''smands, were still far from safety.


    The head spun quickly, and the red light in her eyes moved along rapidly. It caught the two psychics who couldn''t get away in time. They tried to run, but it was toote.


    The two psychics felt scared, thinking their end was near, as the red light from Head Lantern seemed ominous.


    However, when the light passed over them, they appeared unharmed and kept running toward the group. Then, they noticed something weirdtheir view was getting higher.


    Originally about 1.7 meters tall, they realized they were getting taller as they ran, eventually reaching over two meters. It kept increasing to three, four, five meters. Everyone else looked tiny, as if they were standing atop a tall building, looking down.


    Feeling strange, the two psychics lowered their heads and understood what happened. They saw their own headless bodies running, which then fell down, with blooding from their necks.


    They had turned into Head Lanterns.


    Realizing this, they lost their sense of self andpletely became Head Lanterns, floating in the sky. Their faces bore blissful smiles, with red lights shining from their eyes.


    "Run!" Fang Xiu yelled, alerting everyone. This time, they followed him quickly, like loyal followers behind a leader, scared to be left behind.


    Fang Xiu moved in a strange way, like he was drunk, but no oneughed. To them, his moves were nothing short of a miracle.


    No one could guess when the Head Lanterns in the sky would change direction or how they would move. But Fang Xiu seemed to know their next moves, narrowly avoiding the red light.


    Once, when five Head Lanterns looked their way, sending out ten red lights and almost blocking every path, Fang Xiu still found a way to escape. In a moment of extreme danger, he suddenly leaped into the air, avoiding a circle of red light that was forming around him.


    The others, amazed by his incredible ability, stuck close to Fang Xiu, copying his every move. When Fang Xiu jumped, they jumped; when Fang Xiu rolled, they rolled.


    It was fortunate that this group was made up of psychics, who were much faster and more reactive than ordinary people. If they had been just regr people, even knowing how to survive wouldn''t have been enough to make it through.


    But even as psychics, they couldn''t mimic Fang Xiu''s actions perfectly. There was a slight dy between actionsFang Xiu moved, and only then could they follow, causing a tiny gap in timing. Normally, this half-second wouldn''t be important, but in this critical situation, it was the difference between life and death.


    In just two minutes, three more people died. Their heads transformed into Head Lanterns, making escape even harder. Yet everything seemed to be within Fang Xiu''s expectations, including how many would die and how many new Head Lanterns would appear, dodging them all wlessly.


    "Stay close to me. The final wave ising up!" Fang Xiu said calmly, moving quickly. The others followed silently.


    The so-called final wave was hundreds of Head Lanterns crowding the sky. They were young men and women, looking fashionable with a lot of makeup.


    They looked like they were dancing in the sky, shaking their heads from side to side. They had actually been dancing in a nearby nightclub when a Head Lantern turned them all. Now, even in death, they continued theirst dance, nodding and shaking their heads rapidly, making it even harder to get past them.


    "Light the bronze candlestick!" Fang Xiumanded.


    "Got it!" Liu Shuai replied, cutting his palm and lighting the candle.


    A faint green light spread out, covering them all. They ran through the swarm of Head Lanterns under this green light. Red ghostly lights hit them but were stopped by the green light of the candle. This strange green light brought them all a feeling of unmatched safety.


    Liu Shuai, however, didn''t feel as secure as the others. His face was white, and he felt like all his blood was being sucked away.


    Fortunately, Fang Xiu had chosen a path with the weakest red light. If they had faced hundreds of red lights, Liu Shuai might have beenpletely drained.


    Fang Xiu had learned the safest route by experiencing multiple deaths and rewinds. Under the protection of the bronze candlestick, they were close to escaping the terrifying swarm of Head Lanterns. But just then, something unexpected happened.


    A young and beautiful woman in the group suddenly grabbed her chest and fell down. It wasn''t a heart attack but a mental breakdown. The constant running and fear of dying had overwhelmed her, causing her to lose control of her Spiritual Energy.


    The state of her Spiritual Energy could have been manageable under different circumstances. If they had spiritual incense, it would have calmed her energy, and she would have been fine. But there was no chance to light such incense in their current situation.


    As everyone continued to flee, she fell outside the protective green light.


    "No, no, no!!" she screamed in terror, watching the green light move away from her. She felt utterly vulnerable, like being exposed to dangerous radiation without any protection. "Stop and save me!"


    Her cries went unheard by most of the psychics, who kept running forward, while a few looked back with pity. Just then, a pair of Head Lanterns turned toward her. As the red light targeted her, a look of madness mixed with despair appeared on her face.


    "If you won''t save me, then let''s die together!"


    "

 Chapter 113: Kill The Justice Warrior

    Chapter 113: Kill The Justice Warrior


    # **Chapter 113 Kill The Justice Warrior**


    The woman, with an angry and bitter tone, raised her hand to use her powers against Head Lantern. Fang Xiu had always told them never to do this because if they did, they would interrupt the Specters'' Killing Moves.


    That way, they would get overwhelmed by the alerted Head Lanterns in no time. They would all be trapped, surrounded by many Head Lanterns, with no way to survive.


    The woman knew this but still chose to attack, wishing harm to those who didn''t help her. She didn''t think that if everyone had helped, they could have all been in danger. Stopping among so many enemies was always dangerous.


    When they heard her bitter voice, everyone looked scared. They had always believed Fang Xiu since they saw his amazing abilities. If Fang Xiu said not to attack Head Lantern, they shouldn''t, or people would die. But they couldn''t stop the woman''s attack in time.


    Just when it seemed like there was no hope, a dark golden knife flew through the air and hit the woman in the forehead. She fell down, her eyes still open. The danger was over.


    The knife seemed to move by itself, pulling out of her forehead and flying back to Fang Xiu. Everyone understood that Fang Xiu had acted to stop her attack.


    After this, the group finally got away from the Head Lanterns and could breathe easily. But a young woman, who seemed to be the friend of the one who had died, questioned Fang Xiu.


    "If you had stopped to help her, she wouldn''t have done this. She wouldn''t have died. Why didn''t you help her?"


    Before Fang Xiu could answer, Liu Shuai said angrily, his face pale, "What are you saying? If it wasn''t for Fang Xiu, we would all be dead. And stop to help her? That would have made me lose so much blood, I might have died right there!"


    "We could have taken turns bleeding," she retorted. "That way, we would have had enough time to save her. She was wrong to fight the Head Lanterns, but you''re not right either. You could have chosen to save her. Why didn''t you?"


    "Why should I save someone who''s not helpful? Someone who can''t control their energy in such a situation only adds to the fear of the Nightmare," Fang Xiu answered calmly.


    The young woman was shocked and then turned angry. "She''s a breathing, living being! How can you be so uncaring? We could have saved her if we took turns bleeding. And the psychics who died before, if you had used the bronze candlestick earlier, they wouldn''t have died. You caused their deaths!"


    Fang Xiu agreed, "Yes, I caused their deaths. What are you going to do about it?"


    Her shock at his blunt admission quickly turned to anger. "Do you have any conscience, any sense of right and wrong? How can you just be responsible for their deaths?"


    Fang Xiu looked at her emotionlessly. "Are you just going toin? They all died because of my actions, so what will you do? Take revenge? Or leave the group and try to survive alone?"


    Realizing she was powerless to act, the young woman struggled to respond. Leaving the group was unthinkable; without Fang Xiu, surviving the Nightmare''s Specter Zone seemed impossible.


    She turned to the others. "Are you all okay with him abandoning our teammates? Should someone like him lead us?"


    The group remained silent, giving her cold stares. They were not stupid. They had seen Fang Xiu''s extraordinary abilities and knew he was their best chance for survival. In fact, they agreed with his decisions.


    They could have used the bronze candlestick earlier to save everyone, but it came at a great cost. Losing lots of blood to save just a few weaker members wasn''t worth it.


    With the journey to Putuo Temple still ahead, and unknown dangers lurking, conserving their strength was crucial. If they depleted their resources now, they wouldn''t be able to face future challenges, not to mention confronting Nightmare.


    Saving those few would give them more blood, but the weak ones would only hinder them again and again. If they couldn''t handle the current situation, what wasing next would definitely kill them.


    Fang Xiu''s decision with Head Lantern was practical. If they couldn''t grasp that, they would never be able to handle future challenges.


    Fang Xiu didn''t even look at the young woman. He just said, "Let''s go."


    As he began walking, the others quickly followed him, worried about being left behind. Their recent encounter with the Head Lanterns had taught them a harsh lesson: one wrong step could be fatal.


    Everyone walked away without saying a word to the young woman. She stood alone, believing she was right, yet felt cut off by everyone.


    Watching them go, she felt bitter and upset. She couldn''t understand why, even though she thought she was correct, the group still supported Fang Xiu, whom she saw as wrong.


    _''They''re all heartless!''_ she thought angrily. But as they got further away, leaving her alone in the dark, fear struck her. She bit her lip and quickly followed them.


    However, as soon as she caught up, Fang Xiu stopped and faced her, "What makes you think you can join us?"


    The young woman''s face went white, then red.


    Fang Xiu asked, "If you don''t respect me as the leader, why follow my group?"


    "I''m following you because I need to reach Putuo Temple to stop Nightmare and save Greenvine City. You''re heartless, but this isn''t the time for it. After Nightmare is dealt with, I''ll get justice for those who''ve died," she answered, looking stressed.


    Fang Xiu nodded, "So, to save Greenvine City, you''ll put up with me, the heartless leader, and stay in my group, nning to confront meter?"


    The young woman, a bit defiant, said, "You don''t need to tease me. You yed a big part, but that doesn''t change the fact that you''re heartless."


    Then, suddenly, a sh of silver. The young woman stopped talking as a sharp scalpelnded on her neck.


    "In these situations, you always have to deal with the justice warriors first," Fang Xiu said calmly, taking back the scalpel, while the group watched in shock.


    **Trantor''s note: Well I mean, they could''ve saved the woman just by pulling her into the candlelight, right? That wasn''t gonna take a very long time. To me, it''s like Fang Xiu had done something wrong and he killed the woman who called his bluff.**


    "

 Chapter 114: The Little Girl

    Chapter 114: The Little Girl


    THUD


    The young woman''s body hit the ground hard, stirring up dust around her.


    At that moment, everyone was silent. No one thought Fang Xiu would attack, especially not his own team members.


    Shen Lingxue shivered, remembering her own past.


    If it weren''t for the fact that she and Fang Xiu were Investigation Bureau colleagues, she might have died, too.


    "You killed her?" a young man in a leather jacket shouted, shocked.


    Fang Xiu looked at him and said calmly, "So what? Do you want to be next?"


    The man in the leather jacket was too scared to respond.


    Fang Xiu slowly scanned the group, observing their reactions. "If anyone has a problem with what I did, you''re free to go now."


    But under Fang Xiu''s intense and dangerous stare, no one made a sound or moved to leave. They''re in the dangerous Specter Zone; leaving Fang Xiu would be suicidal.


    Fang Xiu''s impressive actions had already earned their trust. Even if he hadmitted a terrible act, or even a Specter himself, they would still stick with him.


    "Alright, since nobody''s leaving, I expect full cooperation with our next steps," Fang Xiu said slowly. "Just follow my lead. That''s it. You might have guessed, but my ability isn''t just sensing thingsI can see the future!"


    This calm revtion from Fang Xiu left everyone in shock.


    They had their suspicions, but hearing it from him was still astonishing.


    Seeing the future was like having a superpower.


    "So, you knew all about the Head Lantern''s attack, its Killing Moves, and even the safest escape route?" someone asked in awe.


    Fang Xiu nodded. "My ability is a top secret at the Investigation Bureau. I''m sharing it now so you''ll trust and follow my orders, no matter how odd they seem."


    The team, now stunned, understood the huge advantage of seeing the future.


    With Fang Xiu''s foresight, they had higher chances of survival.


    Fang Xiu chose to reveal his ability partly to ensure their loyalty and partly because hiding it was no longer necessary.


    After his incredible show of skill against the Head Lantern, his abilities were clearly more than just about perception.


    His teammates were no fools; Fang Xiu knew they had their suspicions. He knew it was unnecessary to hide it anymore.


    Also, Fang Xiu wasn''t concerned about secrets leaking outin this deadly zone, some of them might not even survive.


    After all, the best secret keepers were the dead.


    "Let''s go."


    Following Fang Xiu''smand, the team sprang into action.


    Out of nowhere, someone yelled, "The body is moving!"


    They all turned, horrified, to see the young woman who was believed to be dead now standing eerily, like a zombie.


    Her pale neck, previously wounded, was now covered in silver hair instead of blood.


    While the team suspected a Specter''s illusion, Fang Xiu walked to Liu Shuai, took the bronze candlestick from him, and handed it to the ''resurrected'' woman. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    Everyone looked puzzled.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Why is he giving our life-saving tool to a Specter?''</em>


    "Don''t be afraid, she''s not resurrected. I''m controlling her now," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Liu Shuai quickly realized something and said, "Xiu, are you nning to use her to light this candlestick?"


    Fang Xiu nodded. "She was our teammate. She should still help us, even after death."


    This revtion sent a cold shiver through the team. Fang Xiu''s methods were unnerving.


    Some of the psychics in the group noticed silver strands linking the woman''s body to Fang Xiu.


    The team continued their journey, encountering groups of Specter ves and former residents of Greenvine City.


    Fang Xiu conserved his energy, allowing the team to handle these lesser foes.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''These are just minor threats. I need to save my strength.''</em>


    They found cars left unlocked on the streets, likely abandoned in haste by those fleeing or who had perished.


    Each of them got into a car and started driving. As they drove, an unusual sight appeared.


    An amusement park stood in the middle of the road, filled with the innocent sounds of children singing.


    Fang Xiu frowned. It seemed the little girl from the amusement park was looking for them.


    He tried to go a different way, but the same amusement park showed up on the new road too.


    It was as if they had to go through the park no matter what.


    Fang Xiu''s face, usually calm, now had a scary smile.


    "I wanted to deal with the Nightmare first, but it looks like she''s in a rush to be obliterated," he said.


    Then, he pressed the gas pedal hard and drove toward the amusement park. The others had no choice but to go with him.


    As they entered the amusement park, the team noticed it looked like any other park, with a variety of rides: a merry-go-round, a roller coaster, a haunted house, and a Ferris wheel. But it was eerily quiet, and the rides moved by themselves in the dark, foggy night, making the ce feel spooky.


    They drove quickly from the entrance to the park exit. But, to their shock, when they left the exit, they ended up back at the entrance. No matter how many times they tried, they always ended up in the same spot.


    "Stop trying. Everyone, get out of the cars," Fang Xiu said over the walkie-talkie.


    Once everyone was out, they all looked at Fang Xiu, waiting for him to lead the way. Fang Xiu looked at the rides and said, "Come out, little girl. I''m here to hang out with you."


    Then, they heard a child''s happyugh.


    Everyone became tense. On the merry-go-round, where there had been no one before, a little girl in a white dress suddenly appeared. She was smiling sweetly and seemed to be having fun on the ride.


    "You''re here, finally! I''ve been waiting for you!" she said, her voice sickeningly sweet.

 Chapter 115: I See Your Future

    Chapter 115: I See Your Future


    WHOOSH!


    The scalpel moved quickly through the air, aiming for the thin neck of a young girl. But when it touched her, it went right through her neck like it was cutting through air.


    Fang Xiu made a face. He waved his hand, and the silver hair pulled back the scalpel.


    _''She''s not real?''_


    "Shen Lingxue, make a fire," he ordered.


    Shen Lingxue did as she was told. She opened her palms, and two bright, powerful fires appeared. She threw them hard, and the fires flew towards the merry-go-round.


    But then, something surprising happened. The fires didn''t seem to burn anything, going right through the merry-go-round.


    The young girlughed even louder. "Haha, you two,e and y with me! Just finish a ride here, and you can go. Everyone has to y!"


    The team looked unhappy. They didn''t like dealing with this kind of Specterone you couldn''t touch and made its own rules.


    The rides seemed normal, but they all knew they would face scary dangers once they got on. Therefore, their job now was to choose the easiest ride.


    Everyone looked at Fang Xiu, hoping he would know which game was the least risky.


    Without waiting, Fang Xiu said, "Cheng Xinyuan, go on the merry-go-round."


    Cheng Xinyuan was shocked. "Me? By myself? What about the others?"


    "Yes, just you. Don''t worry, I know what will happen," Fang Xiu said in a calm voice.


    But he wasn''t telling the truth. He couldn''t see the future; he just wanted Cheng Xinyuan to try the merry-go-round first to see how dangerous it was.


    Fang Xiu only chose Cheng Xinyuan because the guy was strong and might find out more about the risk.


    Cheng Xinyuan wasn''t sure but decided to trust Fang Xiu, because after all, Fang Xiu didn''t have a reason to hurt him.


    In risky situations, every person is important, and even though he wasn''t the strongest, he was one of the best in the team. Fang Xiu wouldn''t want him dead for no reason.


    _''The merry-go-round, then?'' _Cheng Xinyuan looked seriously at the slowly turning merry-go-round and the young girl sitting on one of the wooden horses.


    He walked slowly, thinking hard. The little girl on the merry-go-round was a Specter. Normal people would stay away from her, but Fang Xiu picked the merry-go-round just for him


    Cheng Xinyuan then realized Fang Xiu''s n.


    _''The most dangerous ce may be the safest! The merry-go-round is scary because of the little girl, but perhaps she''s there on the ride to stop others from choosing it!''_


    _''But why me? It may have something to do with my skills. Fang Xiu must have seen the future, knowing that my skills can fight the danger of the merry-go-round. It all makes sense now!''_


    With this thought, Cheng Xinyuan wasn''t scared anymore. He walked faster.


    He jumped on the merry-go-round and picked a white horse, just like the one the little girl was on.


    Once he sat down, everything was quiet, and nothing happened. It felt like a normal ride on the merry-go-round.


    Cheng Xinyuan was confused.


    _''Nothing happens? It looks like Fang Xiu really did see a safe future.''_


    The others were confused too. They looked at Fang Xiu and Cheng Xinyuan, wondering why nothing happened.


    "What do you feel, Cheng Xinyuan?" one of the psychics asked.


    "Nothing unusual, just like any merry-go-round," Cheng Xinyuan answered, also confused.


    But as the merry-go-round turned, Cheng Xinyuan suddenly felt very tired. He looked around carefully but saw no danger.


    He asked the little girl, "So, I just have to sit here until the ride is over to leave?"


    "Yes," she answered, tilting her head and smiling sweetly, but Cheng Xinyuan felt a shiver ran dowm his spine.


    As the merry-go-round spun, he felt tired but didn''t face any other danger.


    Then, someone shouted, "Cheng Xinyuan! Your hair is turning white!"


    Everyone looked and saw his hair turning white at the roots. Worried, he checked with his phone and saw his hair really was bing white.


    He was surprised. "What''s happening!?"


    Then, something even more shocking happened. Cheng Xinyuan realized that he looked like he had aged ten years, with wrinkles forming on his face.


    _''Is this really me?''_ He looked at his hands and saw wrinkles there too.


    With each turn of the merry-go-round, he felt more tired, his hair became whiter, more wrinkles were forming on his face, and his vision began to blur.


    ''The merry-go-round is taking away my life!'' he realized in horror, his old-looking face showing fear. ''Every turn makes me one year older!''


    Cheng Xinyuan, now looking like he was in his fifties, panicked. As the merry-go-round kept turning, he aged even more. He tried to stand up, wanting to get off, but found an invisible force keeping him on the merry-go-round.


    He couldn''t leave!


    "I can''t get off!" Cheng Xinyuan shouted.


    He used his powers to call the ck Dragon and the White Tiger from inside him. They appeared with loud roars and attacked the merry-go-round, but the merry-go-round wasn''t affected at all, as if it was an illusion.


    "Fang Xiu, didn''t you say you saw what was going to happen? Tell me how to get out! I''m getting old and dying here!" Cheng Xinyuan yelled at Fang Xiu.


    Everyone looked at Fang Xiu, thinking he would have a way out since he was the one who told Cheng Xinyuan to go on the merry-go-round. But Fang Xiu calmly said, "Yes, I did see what would happen. I saw you dying."


    Everyone, including Cheng Xinyuan, was shocked. Cheng Xinyuan was furious and roared, "Fang Xiu! When did I ever do anything wrong to you? You tricked me! I will get you for this!"


    In his anger, Cheng Xinyuan sent the dragon and tiger toward Fang Xiu.


    But Fang Xiu was faster. The moment Cheng Xinyuan acted, he threw a dark golden knife, which hit Cheng Xinyuan in the forehead.


    Cheng Xinyuan was stuck on the merry-go-round, looking like he was in his eighties. He couldn''t move away in time and was killed right away by Fang Xiu. The dragon and tiger vanished into thin air in the middle of their attack."

 Chapter 116: I See The Future

    Chapter 116: I See The Future


    "Fang Xiu, you need to give us an exnation. Cheng Xinyuan died because he believed what you said!"


    "You have already killed one teammate, and now Cheng Xinyuan. Even if you can foresee the future, it''s hard for us to trust you now."


    Right after Cheng Xinyuan died, people came to question Fang Xiu.


    Some even suspected and asked, "Fang Xiu, are you trying to save Spiritual Energy, so you stopped foreseeing the future and let us risk our lives instead?"


    "That''s right, it must be so. He hardly ever helped us on this journey. The only one, no, two times he did, he killed our teammates!"


    As the questions grew louder, Fang Xiu remained unfazed and pointed to the roller coaster, "Who''s going to go on the roller coaster?"


    Everyone was even angrier. They couldn''t believe he was still trying to give orders without exining anything.


    Someone sneered, "Since you can see the future, why don''t you go yourself?"


    Fang Xiu ignored him and ordered Shen Lingxue, "Shen Lingxue, you go."


    Shen Lingxue, facing Fang Xiu''smand, didn''t dare to look him in the eye and silently went.


    The psychics were stunned. It seemed like she was rushing to her death.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''The young girl is pretty but seems tock sense,''</em>


    Soon, Shen Lingxue got on the roller coaster. She was scared of dying but more afraid of defying Fang Xiu, fearing a fate worse than death.


    Moreover, she somewhat trusted Fang Xiu''s judgment, as it had been the case in ckwater.


    The roller coaster started, getting faster. The wind blew about Shen Lingxue''s hair.


    One-third of the ride passed calmly, and nothing happened. But, remembering their past experience, everyone watched Shen Lingxue closely.


    Shen Lingxue looked unwell, her face pale, biting her delicate lower lip, but it seemed more out of the thrilling ride than fearing for Specters.


    Finally, the roller coaster reached its highest point, where it would drop almost vertically, the most thrilling part of the ride.


    "Aaghh!!"


    As the roller coaster dropped, Shen Lingxue screamed loudly.


    Everyone was speechless. She seemed to be really enjoying the ride.


    Then, suddenly, there was a shocking change. Shen Lingxue''s scream stopped abruptly!


    In the middle of the fall, an invisible wire in the air cut off Shen Lingxue''s head.


    Her headless body kept spraying blood on the roller coaster, sttering everywhere as the ride moved. Her beautiful head fell from the ride, hitting the tracks like a basketball, bouncing to another track, making a dull sound. Finally, itnded near the others.


    Everyone was horrified as they stared at Shen Lingxue''s head. The skull was broken; blood and brain matter was oozing out.


    "Shen Lingxue is dead?" Liu Shuai trembled in disbelief. He couldn''t believe Fang Xiu had led her to her death.


    "Is she dead? Why did she die? Did you make a mistake?" others asked.


    But all they got was Fang Xiu''s calm and cold voice. "Liu Shuai, go to the Specter House."


    Liu Shuai stared at Fang Xiu, trying to read his face, but found only calmness. He nodded and went to the Specter House.


    "Zhao Hao, go to the pirate ship," Fang Xiu ordered. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    Zhao Hao looked at Fang Xiu withplex emotions and silently went to the pirate ship.


    Then, Fang Xiu acted. His ck hair turned silver, and his right eye turned crimson. Silver hair strands attacked the people like a tide. Some strong psychics fought off the attack and kept their distance, but the weaker ones got entangled.


    Fang Xiu quickly controlled five people. As the others hesitated to attack him, he said, "I need them to test the rides. If you attack me, you''ll be the ones risking your lives next."


    Although his method was cruel, it was effective. With so many rides, not everyone could go on the same one. For example, if everyone went on the merry-go-round, they would meet the same fate as Cheng Xinyuan, dying of old age. The most effective way was to use lives to test and find the safest ride.


    In the end, no one attacked Fang Xiu. They criticized his immorality and coldness, but theypromised because they too wanted to survive.


    Afterward, Fang Xiu sent five people to different amusement rides. Minutester, all of them died. Now, Fang Xiu was alone, as the other psychics had run away.


    From being surrounded by people to being alone, Fang Xiu''s expression never changed. He walked toward the bumper cars.


    Those hiding in the corner watched him, their faces showingplex emotions. They couldn''t understand him. He seemed cold and selfish for using his teammates to test the rides, but then, he tested a ride himself.


    Fang Xiu''s thoughts were simple: there were too many rides to test alone, so it was easier and quicker to have everyone test them. He couldn''t be the only one dying again and again while others never faced danger.


    When he got on the bumper car, it started quickly. The other cars, as if crazy, kept crashing into his. With every crash, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The seemingly light bumps felt like heavy hammers smashing into his organs.


    Finally, Fang Xiu died from internal injuries caused by the relentless crashing.


    The little girl appeared again, smiling innocently. "You''re here, finally! I''ve been waiting for you! Come y with me! If you finish any ride, you can leave. Everyone has to y!"


    Everyone was terrified and focused on Fang Xiu, waiting for his instructions as if he were the brain of the team.


    Fang Xiu pointed to the tallest Ferris wheel and said, "Make groups of five and ride the Ferris wheel. I have seen the future."

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117


    Everyone looked at the tallest ride in the amusement park, the Ferris wheel. Instinctively, they felt the ride was dangerous because of its height. High up in the air is not the same as being on the ground.


    If danger struck in the air, they''d have no way to escape.


    Cheng Xinyuan kept looking at the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round. He thought that the most dangerous ces might actually be the safest. The merry-go-round had the little girl on it, but maybe it was the safest spot.


    Fang Xiu didn''t give everyone much time to think. He started walking toward the Ferris wheel.


    Behind him, Zhao Hao, Shen Lingxue, Liu Shuai, and the controlled female corpse followed.


    Seeing Fang Xiu''s decisive action, the others quickly followed. They trusted Fang Xiu because he could see the future. They believed he wouldn''t risk his life.


    "You guyse with me, the rest wait here," Fang Xiu said decisively without offering any exnation.


    For him, listening meant living; not listening meant dying. He didn''t want to waste time convincing everyone that the Ferris wheel was safe.


    The psychics who had survived until now weren''t fools. Naturally, they followed Fang Xiu''s order.


    Soon, Fang Xiu and the group got on the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel cabin, which usually seated four, now had five people. One stood in the middle, and the others sat in two rows.


    This Ferris wheel was strange. It was very old and simple and didn''t even have windows. It felt like a shaky box that might fall apart at any moment.


    As they went higher, Liu Shuai and Zhao Hao started turning pale. Due to his weight, Liu Shuai didn''t dare to move, scared that he might break the bnce of the cabin.


    Shen Lingxue appeared calm, but she was gripping her jeans tightly, clearly not at ease. She was scared of heights, which Fang Xiu knew earlier from the roller coaster. The only ones who seemed calm were Fang Xiu and the female corpse.


    Soon, their cabin was almost at the top.


    "Xiu, why hasn''t anything happened? Is this game really this easy?" Zhao Hao asked, sounding scared.


    "Light the bronze candlestick!" Fang Xiu suddenly ordered the female corpse. She did as told, taking out a dagger and cutting her palm. Blood came out as she held the bronze candlestick and lit it.


    As soon as they lit the candle, a dismal green Specter fire appeared, and everyone was surrounded by its chilly light. The moment the candle was lit, the cabin reached its highest point.


    Suddenly, whooshing winds came from all directions in the sky. Everyone looked around, shocked to see dark winds appearing out of nowhere, like a storm mixed with ck sand. These dark winds rushed in through the leaky windows of the cabin.


    There was a loud sizzling sound as the dark winds hit the green candle me. It was like water poured into a boiling pot of oil, exploding and even producing white smoke. The me flickered, looking like it might go out, but it kept burning as blood with Spiritual Energy was added to it.


    Thissted for about a minute. The cabin slowly started to go down, and the terrifying dark winds weakened. Fang Xiu and the others passed the challenge safely. But the cost was highthe female corpse turned into a mummy. The dark winds had sucked all the blood from her body.


    "Next group, remember, you five take turns using your blood. Light the candle at the highest point. When the dark winds start to weaken, stop lighting the candle and use your abilities to fight the dark winds. Otherwise, you might lose too much blood and die," Fang Xiu warned.


    After giving instructions, Fang Xiu handed the bronze candlestick to the next group. Everyone looked at the mummified woman, nodded nervously, and bravely got onto the Ferris wheel. Following Fang Xiu''s instructions, they used some of their blood and survived.


    Apart from looking pale from blood loss, they were okay. Other groups followed suit and also survived. Everyone looked at Fang Xiu with new respect and admiration. Some even felt lucky to follow a leader who could predict the future.


    Being able to find the safest ride among many dangerous ones and ensuring everyone survived was unimaginable in past Specter events. Being a psychic was risky, always close to death. Nobody could be sure they would survive every Specter event.


    However, following Fang Xiu gave them hope!


    Some clever ones even thought about joining the Investigation Bureau, mainly because of Fang Xiu. They had hesitated before due to restrictions and fear of responsibility.


    The job of the Investigation Bureau was to protect people. When a Specter event happened, ordinary psychics could choose to save themselves, but the psychics of the Investigation Bureau must go. This meant the risk of death was very high. But, if someone joined the Investigation Bureau and became part of Fang Xiu''s team, their chances of survival would skyrocket!


    Most times, the casualties and injuries in Specter events weren''t because of weak abilities but rather theck of information on the Specter and its killing moves. If they could know in advance, that could reduce a lot of harm.


    If every time was like thesest two, where they got a guide to pass the challenge, then if anyone died, it would only be their own fault.


    "Now that we''ve passed, let''s go, captain," someone suggested. Without realizing it, they started calling Fang Xiu differently.


    They were willing to call him anything, as long as he kept them alive.


    But Fang Xiu shook his head, a chilling smile ying on his lips. "No rush, I have something to deal with."


    Then, he walked toward the little girl on the merry-go-round.


    The girl tilted her head, smiling innocently. "You passed the challenge. Aren''t you leaving? Do you want to stay and y with me?"


    Fang Xiu''s smile grew wider, gradually bing sinister, revealing his sharp white teeth. "The amusement park rides weren''t fun. Let''s y something more fun."


    "What is it?"


    Fang Xiu''s right eye turned blood red, and a Specter blood wave shot out from his eye. The little girl was hit hard and fell off the white horse. As she fell, countless silver hairs rushed to her, wrapping her.


    Fang Xiu waved his hand, and the silver hair dragged the girl toward him.


    The people watching were stunned.


    _''What''s happening? The little girl couldn''t be attacked before, so howe Fang Xiu''s doing it now?''_"

 Chapter 118: Your Deaths Fun

    Chapter 118: Your Death''s Fun


    A clever psychic soon had a revtionthe only difference now was that they had finished the ride.


    Beforepleting the amusement ride, they couldn''t touch the little girl. But after they did, they somehow had a connection with the park and could touch her. It was easy to figure out, but no one thought of it. After oveing the challenge, everyone just wanted to leave quickly.


    However, Fang Xiu was different. He only cared about Specter.


    Soon, they caught the little girl and brought her to Fang Xiu.


    "Hey, kid, you like games, right? Then, let''s y one. Guess where I''ll cut you with this scalpel. Guess correctly, and I''ll cut you two more times," Fang Xiu said, his voice bing strange from the excitement.


    Ever since being killed eighteen times by his ''wife,'' he could only feel happy when he hurt a Specter.


    The little girl giggled at Fang Xiu''s threat. "You can''t do anything, mister. I''m part of this amusement park. You can''t kill me."


    When Fang Xiu heard he couldn''t kill her, his face froze. Then his eyes slowly widened, gleaming with happiness, like he found something amazing.


    A twisted and sinisterughter forced its way out of his throat, echoing through the eerie amusement park.


    "What have I found? A Specter that can''t die? This is awesome!"


    Everyone was scared and nervous watching Fang Xiu.


    "Is he okay? He''s not losing control, is he?"


    "Maybe not?"


    With a sh of a silver light, Fang Xiu aimed the sharp scalpel toward the little girl.


    The little girl had maintained a smile, seemingly making fun of Fang Xiu. After all, her body was different from them.


    But when the scalpel cut her, her expression shifted immediately. She looked pained, her eyes turned red, and she twisted in agony.


    Inhuman screams echoed throughout the amusement park.


    "That''s it! This is what I want! Make me happy!" Fang Xiu''s hand transformed into a blur, making one cut after another on the girl''s body.


    Her face, her arms, her chest.


    She howled in pain. The sound was harrowing, like a wild animal''s.


    It sent shivers down everyone''s spine. They felt as if they were the ones being cut by the scalpel. Some psychics who couldn''t handle it looked away.


    The little girl wasn''t lying. Every time the scalpel cut her, the wound healed slowly. Each time that happened, the amusement park grew older and shabbier.


    This amazing scene only fueled Fang Xiu''s excitement. He started to punish her more.


    As time passed, the little girl''s screams got weaker and weaker. She was barely alive. And many rides in the park had disappeared.


    "Why can you hurt me?" The girl couldn''tugh anymore. She was terrified.


    She was connected to the park and couldn''t die unless the park waspletely destroyed. Fang Xiu''s attacks, however, shattered her logic. The scalpel seemed magical, causing her terrible pain, and this pain was making her life force rapidly dwindle.


    Seeing the girl almost gone, Fang Xiu felt bored. "Is this all you''ve got?"


    He was careful not to kill her, only using a little Spiritual Energy to inflict pain. He didn''t expect that after about five hundred cuts, the girl was at her limit.


    He slowed down to enjoy the torture more.


    After a while, the people watching were somewhat numb. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    Someone suggested, "Should we tell Captain Fang to leave? It doesn''t seem wise to stay here too long."


    The person next to them got scared and said, "Are you crazy? Interrupting him? You want to get silenced too?"


    Upon hearing that, the first person got scared and didn''t say anything else.


    "Please, let me go! Mister, please!" The little girl''s body was almost semi-transparent, like a fading soul. She begged for mercy, hoping to appeal to Fang Xiu''s sympathy.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t care.


    The girl tried to get help from others. "Help me, sir, ma''am, please!"


    Some people felt sorry for her. Even though they knew she was a dangerous Specter, she looked so pitiful. But no one dared to stop Fang Xiu. He looked too terrifying, even more so than a Specter.


    "Ahh!" The girl seemed to break down. Her skin turned bluish, her teeth grew into fangs, and her tongue became snake-like.


    She could no longer maintain her human form. She lost her mind and just screamed meaningless words.


    Fang Xiu slowly lost his excitement, returning to his usual calm. He looked at the monstrous little girl and said, "How ugly At least your death pleased me."


    With one swift cut, he beheaded her. The little girl''s body becamepletely transparent and disappeared from the world.


    "Let''s go," Fang Xiu said calmly to the others.


    Everyone looked at Fang Xiu, who acted as if nothing had happened. They didn''t dare to look at him and made way for him to pass. Soon, they continued on their journey.


    Half an hourter, they finally arrived at the foot of Putuo Temple. The temple, built on a mountain, was a famous tourist spot in Greenvine City. It was usually busy with peopleing to pray.


    But in Nightmare''s Specter Zone, the temple was shrouded in a dark mist. It was empty, with the faint cries of Specters echoing in the darkness, making it appear creepy and terrifying.


    They drove toward the foot of the mountain but soon stopped. Ahead, there was a graveyard filled with densely packed tombstones, making it impossible for vehicles to pass through.

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119


    "Get out. Walk up the hill." Fang Xiu led the way, walking briskly toward the graveyard.


    Seeing Fang Xiu walking in front, other people felt that the eerie ce seemed less scary. So they followed him closely.


    "I remember visiting Putuo Temple before. Back then, there wasn''t a graveyard at the base of the hill."


    "This is Nightmare''s Specter Zone, where dreams and reality merge. It''s no surprise to see anything weird here."


    "Look! There''s a sign over there."


    Everyone looked where the person pointed and saw a peculiar sign standing among the graves. It was taller than the normal tombstones, sticking out noticeably.


    The sign read, "Forbidden for the Dead, Open to the Living."


    "What nonsense is this? A graveyard forbidden for the dead but open for the living?"


    "Yeah, shouldn''t it be ''Forbidden for the Living, Open to the Dead''?"


    "Let''s stay alert. Any oddity in the Specter Zone could be deadly"


    Suddenly, before the guy could even finish, there was a sh of silver light, and the stone monument split in two.


    Fang Xiu had made his move.


    Everyone was a bit taken aback. They really wanted to be cautious and not act hastily.


    However, since it was done by Fang Xiu, who could see the future, they seemed to be fine with it. They assumed he must''ve done that for a reason, which may be key to solving the puzzle.


    In truth, Fang Xiu was just testing the waters. He wanted to see if cutting the stone would stir up something.


    A few seconds passed, and nothing happened.


    "Let''s go," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    He led the way forward, and the others followed closely.


    They quickly reached the big gate at the end of the graveyard.


    How strange. This was such a spooky, sudden scene, and nothing happened?


    As they stepped out of the graveyard gate, however, they were surprised to see another graveyard.


    It seemed to be the same graveyard.


    Some skeptics walked back, and indeed, there were two identical graveyards divided by a gate.


    "Could there really be two graveyards? Or are we trapped again?"


    "Captain Fang, what''s your take?"


    "Keep going," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    So, the group continued forward, quickly reaching the gate again. After passing through, they found another identical graveyard.


    They shuttled back and forth several times, only to find the same thing: endless identical graveyards. It was as if countless graveyards were linked together.


    But when they tried to return the way they came, they were horrified to discover they couldn''t go back. The original entrance they came through also led to a graveyard.


    They were stuck in an infinite loop of graveyards.


    "Captain Fang, what do you think?"


    Ever since they knew Fang Xiu could foresee the future, everyone seemed to have stopped thinking for themselves, always asking for his opinion.


    It was like knowing the answers to an exam beforehand and not wanting to bother studying.


    "If we''re trapped, it means there''s definitely a Specter here, or it''s Nightmare''s doing. It looks like the core of the graveyard might be hidden in the graves. Everyone, start digging up the graves, and if you find bodies, reduce them to ashes," Fang Xiu calmly gave the orders.


    Everyone listened to him now and began digging up graves.


    As they unearthed grave after grave, they were surprised to find coffins in each one, all identical and painted ck. Opening these coffins, they found nothing but skeletons inside.


    There was no scene of skeletonsing back to life and crawling out of the graves.


    Although the skeletons looked creepy, they were all psychics, and the dead were thest thing they''d fear.


    Or rather, psychics never fear dead bodies; it was Specters that truly frightened them.


    So, they began to turn the skeletons to ashes. In a short time, dozens of graves were dug up and the ashes scattered.


    But even after doing as Fang Xiu instructed, nothing happened.


    Just then, a shout of surprise came from nearby.


    "Damn, what the hell? This dead dude was also named Zhao Hao!" Zhao Hao shouted, standing in front of a grave with his name written on it.


    No wonder Zhao Hao cursed his luckin such a spooky ce, seeing a tombstone with your own name on it was not a good omen.


    At first, no one paid much attention, thinking that Zhao Hao was amon name and it could just be a coincidence.


    But when Zhao Hao uncovered the coffin, a shocking turn of events urred.


    THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!


    The coffin started making loud banging noises.


    Everyone reacted swiftly, rushing over.


    "Could this coffin hold the core of the graveyard?"


    "Maybe if we kill the Specter inside, we can get out?"


    The psychics widened their circle, creating a sizable perimeter around the coffin.


    They all stared intently at the coffin, ready for any unexpected movements.


    Zhao Hao, standing to one side, cursed his bad luck. He never imagined that the Specter of this creepy graveyard would share his name.


    Fang Xiu sensed something amiss. The thudding sounds from the coffin didn''t seem like they were made by a Specter. It sounded more like a living person was inside, making faint cries for help.


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu used a strand of his silver hair to pry open the coffin lid. As it opened, everyone gasped in shock.


    Inside the coffiny Zhao Hao himself.


    The Zhao Hao in the coffin sat up abruptly, gasping for fresh air.


    Seeing the other Zhao Hao outside, his face turned pale. "Who are you? Why do you look exactly like me?" he demanded.


    The Zhao Hao outside was equally shocked. "Specter! You damn Specter, daring to take my form!" he used.


    "Nonsense! You''re the Specter, disguising yourself as me to blend in with the team!" the one in the coffin retorted.


    "And you''re popping out of a coffin and still iming you''re not a Specter?" the outside Zhao Hao shot back.


    The Zhao Hao in the coffin, desperate, turned to Fang Xiu, "Xiu, I was walking with you guys when suddenly everything went dark, and then I found myself in this coffin. It has to be him! Hes the one behind this!"


    The Zhao Hao outside was quick to defend himself, "Xiu, don''t listen to his nonsense. I''ve been with you the whole time. I''m the real one. He''s the Specter in disguise. Ask me anything only we two would know."


    "Xiu! Ask me; I''m the real one," the Zhao Hao in the coffin shouted, even divulging personal secrets without waiting for a question.


    "Xiu, you know me. I''ve battled Specters and even even fucked Nightmare! The fake one can never be as good as me!"


    There was a sudden silence.


    The others dropped their jaws.


    Hearing this, the Zhao Hao outside grew frantic and blurted out, "Xiu, you know me. My favorite movies are ''Private Lesson After School,'' ''Avatar,'' ''Superman vs. Catwoman,'' and ''Batman Interrogates Harley Quinn!''"


    The others were at a loss for words. "

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120


    Facing two Zhao Haos who kept revealing secrets about themselves, everyone was confused and couldn''t tell who was real and who was fake. They all turned their attention to Fang Xiu, hoping he could make the right decision.


    Fang Xiu looked at the two identical Zhao Haos and, without thinking, took out a scalpel. The Zhao Haos were shocked. They knew Fang Xiu''s tendency to kill without a word and were afraid he might mistake one of them for the other and kill them. They kept arguing, trying to prove they were the real one.


    Then suddenly, after a sh of silver, a scalpel was thrust into the neck of the Zhao Hao outside the coffin.


    "Xiu, you..." The outside Zhao Hao fell down with a face full of shock and disbelief.


    The Zhao Hao in the coffin cheered. "As expected, Xiu! I knew you could tell it was me!"


    Soon after the outside Zhao Hao fell, his body began to change. His flesh disappeared as if eaten by something, leaving only bones. It looked simr to those skeletons that hade out of the coffins before.


    Everyone was amazed, realizing Fang Xiu had indeed identified the real one at a nce. They were curious how Fang Xiu had made the correct judgment.


    "Xiu, how did you know I was the real one?" asked Zhao Hao, climbing out of the coffin.


    Fang Xiu calmly replied, "I didn''t figure out who was real. He was just closer to me, so I killed him."


    With the ability to rewind death, he never needed to make choices, because he could always start over if he chose wrongly. It seemed he was lucky this time and chose correctly.


    Zhao Hao''s excited expression froze. The others were also taken aback.


    _''Just because he was closer, so he was killed? This was a lucky guess, but what if it was wrong?''_


    "Xiu, you''re so funny, you must be joking, right? You definitely figured out he was a fake," Zhao Hao said with a forcedugh. "I get it, you must have thought that the outside one was likely real by normal logic, but you did the opposite, thinking Specter wouldn''t make it that simple, possibly a misdirection, so you killed the fake from outside, right?"


    Fang Xiu looked at Zhao Hao, who was seriously pondering, and nodded. "You''re right."


    Zhao Hao believed him, excitedly saying, "That''s so you, Xiu, thinking just like me!"


    The other psychics, unlike the naive Zhao Hao, felt that Fang Xiu''s initial statement about killing the one next to him might have been the truth.


    Watching Fang Xiu''s calm demeanor, they seriously suspected he was a very cold-blooded person, indifferent to whether he killed the right or wrong person. If he made a mistake, he might just kill both.


    "Since the Specter is dead, let''s hurry to Putuo Temple," Cheng Xinyuan suggested. He didn''t want to stay in the eerie graveyard any longer. So, they headed toward the gate again, but once outside, they found themselves in the same graveyard, with even some graves dug open.


    Their faces turned pale instantly.


    "What''s going on? Wasn''t the Specter killed?" someone panicked.


    Suddenly, the dull sound of knocking on wood echoed in the graveyard, just like the sound of Zhao Hao knocking on the coffin before.


    "What''s happening? Is there still someone trapped in a coffin? Doesn''t that mean another Specter has infiltrated our group?" someone said gravely.


    Everyone quickly distanced themselves from those around them, almost simultaneously, as if they had rehearsed it.


    Fang Xiu, paying no attention to the others, walked toward the source of the noise. The rest followed, finding the sounding from a grave marked "The Tomb of Shen Lingxue."


    The Shen Lingxue in the group turned pale at this.


    Everyone looked at Shen Lingxue warily, ready to attack. "I''m not a Specter! My ability is fire, Specter couldn''t use my power," Shen Lingxue said, stretching out her palm, and a bright, hot me appeared in her hand.


    However, the group remained vignt, watching her closely.


    Then, Fang Xiu used his silver hair to open the coffin, revealing another Shen Lingxue inside. The Shen Lingxue in the coffin stood up and, upon seeing the other Shen Lingxue, darkened her face andunched a fireball. The outside Shen Lingxue fought back with her fire.


    BOOM!


    mes collided and exploded in the air, creating a dazzling disy of light and sending waves of heat into the air. Everyone quickly moved back to avoid the mes.


    The power from both sides was evenly matched, and they fought fiercely.


    "Stop," Fang Xiumanded calmly. Both Shen Lingxues stopped as if they had received an order. They turned to Fang Xiu, seemingly waiting for his judgment.


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu acted. With a sh, a scalpel was embedded in the neck of the outside Shen Lingxue.


    She fell to the ground, stiff, and her body quickly turned into a skeleton.


    At this point, the group began to notice some patterns, with someone summarizing, "It seems this time the Specter has the ability to stealthily pull people into coffins, then it transforms into an identical person to blend into our group."


    Cheng Xinyuan shook his head, "This shouldn''t be the Specter''s doing, but rather the ability of Nightmare. We are in Nightmare''s Zone, and these tricks are its doing!"


    Being one of the leaders of the underground market, Cheng Xinyuan naturally knew more secrets than the others.


    "Let''s try again," Fang Xiu said and led everyone to the gate once more, only to find they still couldn''t leave the graveyard.


    He had a suspicion that they couldn''t leave because there were still Specters that hadn''t been dealt with. If Zhao Hao and Shen Lingxue could be unknowingly buried in coffins, it made no sense that others couldn''t be.


    Perhaps they needed to eliminate all the Specters to leave.


    He immediately ordered, "Everyone, follow me and look for graves with your names."


    Following hismand, the group began a thorough search.


    Soon, Fang Xiu found the tomb of Liu Shuai. Seeing this, the Liu Shuai in the group turned pale instantly.


    "Xiu, you must believe me, I am the real one, the one in the coffin is fake," Liu Shuai pleaded. But the group, barely listening to his exnations, subtly surrounded him, showing no signs of listening to his exnation. "

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121


    Fang Xiu immediately dug the grave and opened the coffin.


    Inside, as expected,y Liu Shuai.


    Seeing this, the Liu Shuai outside was shocked and barely began to speak when a scalpel was already embedded in his neck.


    "Continue searching," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    The group intensified their search, uncovering more and more graves with their own names. Each person found insisted they were the real one, but Fang Xiu didn''t listen to any exnations and killed the ones outside.


    All those killed turned into a pile of bones without exception.


    Suddenly, a scream was heard.


    "Ah! What''s..." The person stared at a tombstone, seemingly unable to speak.


    The group quickly gathered around and then turned pale. They quickly moved away from Fang Xiu, watching him warily and getting ready to attack.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu felt a bit annoyed. He approached and saw his own name on the tombstone.


    Without hesitation, he overturned the grave and opened the coffin, finding himself inside.


    The Fang Xiu in the coffin stood up calmly, looking at the Fang Xiu outside without any emotion.


    The situation worsened for the outside Fang Xiu. As the Fang Xiu inside the coffin stood up, the group sided with him, eyeing the outside Fang Xiu menacingly. "Kill him," ordered the Fang Xiu from inside the coffin.


    The group attacked immediately.


    The outside Fang Xiu didn''t surrender. He needed to test the impostor, so he detonated the Specter power within the scalpel.


    Silver hair, blood eyes, surrounded by ck mist, and the roar of thousands of Specters.


    However, the Fang Xiu from the coffin transformed in the same way, showing no distinguishable difference from the outside Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu was quickly overwhelmed, facing a dozen psychics plus a Specter identical to himself.


    In the end, Fang Xiu was defeated.


    Back at the entrance of the graveyard, Fang Xiu stood still while the others looked at him, puzzled.


    "Xiu, why aren''t you moving? Did you find something?" asked Zhao Hao.


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond, lost in thought.


    Everyone was still outside the graveyard, meaning all were real at this moment. The graveyard had the ability to pull people into coffins unnoticed and create impostors.


    From the previous tests, it seemed that the one in the coffin was real, while the one outside turned into bones upon death.


    _''But why is it that when it came to me, the one outside was real and the one in the coffin was fake?'' _


    Fang Xiu was well aware that he was killedst time because everyone thought he was the impostor, leading to a group attack. He had no way to exin, and he knew exnations wouldn''t help much.


    At this moment, Fang Xiu had doubts._ _


    _''Were those people in the coffins truly real? They had identical memories with us, could reveal personal secrets, and possessed the same abilities. What if I was wrong from the start? What if those in coffins were the impostors, and the ones outside were the real deal?''_


    Everyone watched Fang Xiu closely as he contemted, not daring to interrupt him. They thought Fang Xiu was using his ability to foresee the future, so they were waiting for him to show them the way out as before.


    After a moment, Fang Xiu opened his eyes.


    "The Specter existing in this graveyard can transform into anyone of us, identical in every way, including memories and abilities," he finally said. This revtion shocked everyone.


    "Doesn''t that mean everything is the same? Then how can we differentiate between the real and the fake?"


    "We must not separate after entering, to not give the Specter any opportunity," they discussed among themselves, with no one doubting the truth of Fang Xiu''s words.


    "Quiet," Fang Xiu said calmly, and everyone immediately fell silent, waiting for hismand. "Once we enter, everyone must follow my orders."


    "Don''t worry, Captain Fang, we will follow yourmand. If anyone dares to act on their own, I''ll teach him a lesson!"


    "Me too!"


    "Same here!"


    Fang Xiu nodded, then added, "Next, I will extend silver hair strands, wrapping them around each of you. The Specter in the graveyard can silently pull someone into a grave and rece them. These silver strands are key to ensuring your identity. Remember, even in danger, you must not let the silver strands fall off your body."


    Hearing this, everyone felt a chill. They hadn''t realized the Specter in the graveyard was so terrifying, capable of recing someone without a sound.


    If an identical copy of themselves appeared, it would indeed be impossible to tell them apart. They felt lucky to have Fang Xiu; otherwise, they might have been wiped out.


    Thus, Fang Xiu began to extend several silver strands of hair, which spread like a tide and wrapped around each person.


    No one resisted, allowing the silver strands to encircle them.


    After several life-and-death situations, their trust in Fang Xiu had solidified.


    In fact, however, letting the silver strands wrap around them was akin to having a knife held to their throats. If Fang Xiu had any malicious intent, activating the silver strands could easily kill at least half of the weaker psychics in the group.


    With the strands in ce, the scene looked somewhat eerie. Fang Xiu led the way, with silver strands extending from his hair like a spider''s web, connecting to the psychics behind him. It was as if he was leading a group of puppets.


    He guided them into the graveyard. "Now, everyone, search for graves with your names," he instructed.


    Theyplied, and the first to find his grave was Zhao Hao, as it was located closer to the edge. "Xiu, I found it. Here''s a grave with my name on it," Zhao Hao called out.


    Fang Xiu narrowed his eyes and walked over slowly. First, he checked Zhao Hao''s silver strands to ensure they were intact, then turned his attention to Zhao Hao''s grave.


    A dull thumping sound came from inside, making everyone''s faces tense with nerves.


    Fang Xiu immediately overturned the grave and opened the coffin, revealing the Zhao Hao inside.


    The Zhao Hao in the coffin was initially relieved to see Fang Xiu, but his expression changed to shock upon seeing his double.


    "Xiu, just like you said, the Specter here can silently pull people into coffins. I just felt a darkness before me, and when I came to, I was in this coffin. Xiu, the one beside you is an impostor!" he said rapidly from inside the coffin.


    "

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122


    _''So the real person and the fake have the same memories?'' _Fang Xiu wondered.


    Zhao Hao just repeated what Fang Xiu had said outside the graveyard, but it seemed that both the real and fake Zhao Hao remembered them.


    _''Is it possible that as soon as we stepped inside the graveyard, we get an identical copy?''_


    The real Zhao Hao outsideughed proudly, "You''re the fake! Look what I have in my hand!"


    He showed off a silver hair tied around his wrist, convincing everyone that he was the real Zhao Hao.


    The Zhao Hao in the coffin was shocked and searched his wrist for the silver hair, but it was gone.


    "Impossible! I had it just now. You damn Specter must''ve switched ces with me, taking the silver hair and putting me in the coffin!"


    "Ridiculous! You''re the Specter!" Fang Xiu looked at the Zhao Hao in the coffin and finally pulled out a scalpel, walking slowly toward him. He wasn''t entirely sure who the real Zhao Hao was, but decided to test by attacking the one in the coffin this time.


    "No, Xiu"


    In a sh of silver, the scalpel struck Zhao Hao in the coffin''s neck. As it was pulled out, Zhao Hao fell in the coffin, turning into bones, expression etched into fear.


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly. Maybe he had made a mistake before. Killing didn''t reveal the truth; in this graveyard, both real and fake turned to bones under the Specter''s power.


    He realized he might have killed his own teammates before.


    With a dark expression, Fang Xiu ordered everyone to continue searching, keeping them connected with silver hair to prevent recements. He started looking for his own grave, seeking revenge for being killed by a fakest time.


    Soon, Fang Xiu found his grave and smirked at the sight of his name on it. "Now that everyone is connected by the hair, it''ll prove who I am. I want to see what tricks you can y now."


    As heughed, suddenly everything went dark, and hisughter stopped abruptly.


    When Fang Xiu came to his senses again, he found himself in a tight space, surrounded by darkness. He was unable to see his own hands. He couldn''t even stretch out because the space was so cramped, as if he was lying in a coffin.


    _''A coffin!''_ Fang Xiu realized something. _''Was I pulled into a coffin? And my silver hair is gone too.''_


    Then, a calm and familiar voice came from outside the coffin. "Now that everyone is connected by the hair, it''ll prove who I am. I want to see what tricks you can y now."


    Hearing his own voice from outside, Fang Xiu felt a surge of anger toward the Specter.


    He hadn''t expected the Specter to be so cunning. Last time, everyone thought the person in the coffin was the real one, and the Specter, looking like him, led an attack against him.


    This time, everyone believed the person outside was real, and the Specter had pulled him into the coffin.


    Fang Xiu hadn''t been this angry with a Specter in a long time. The graveyard Specter had really made him mad.


    BANG!


    Fang Xiu punched the coffin hard, but it didn''t budge. He then tried to cut the coffin with his scalpel, but it couldn''t leave a mark. It was as if this ce was not a coffin but a different dimension, trapping him inside.


    Outside, Fang Xiu had gathered his team, pointing to his grave, saying, "The Specter inside has the same abilities as me. When hees out, we all attack together."


    Everyone nodded, fully believing him because they were still connected by the silver hair leading to the Fang Xiu outside.


    Inside the coffin, there were knocking and cutting sounds.


    The Fang Xiu outside smirked, "Can''t wait, can you?"


    He then overturned the grave and opened the coffin.


    BANG!


    A figure with silver hair and blood-red eyes, surrounded by ck mist flew out, attempting a surprise attack.


    The Fang Xiu outside was ready; he transformed and signaled for everyone to attack together.


    Fang Xiu was surrounded and defeated again.


    After dying and returning, Fang Xiu stood before the graveyard again, seeming more upset than ever.


    Those around him, all psychics with spiritual energy, could feel his darkening mood. Despite Fang Xiu''s calm appearance, the heavy mood was rming.


    Zhao Hao, feeling uneasy, asked, "Xiu, is something wrong with this graveyard? Why aren''t you moving?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond to Zhao Hao and kept looking at the graveyard calmly.


    He had figured out the Specter''s n, which was to make him appear as the imposter and then lead the team to attack him.


    That way, it didn''t matter whether he convinced the team that the real one was inside the coffin or outside; in the end, he would be considered the fake one.


    Fang Xiu turned calmly to his team and ordered, "Everyone, stay here. I will go into the graveyard alone."


    Zhao Hao was shocked, "Xiu, this graveyard appeared out of nowhere at the foot of Putuo Temple mountain. It''s obviously a Specter''s doing. It might be dangerous for you to go in alone."


    "It''s okay. I''ve seen the future. This Specter is unique. The more people there are, the harder it is to deal with. So, I alone am enough."


    Fang Xiu walked into the graveyard by himself.


    This time, he was telling the truth. The more people there were, the harder it would be. In the end, it would just be him getting attacked anyway.


    This time, by going in alone, he wanted to see how the Specter would deceive others to gain their trust and attack him."

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123


    **[Note: Please pay attention to the '''' while reading THIS chapter. They are part of the plot, and it may get you confused if missing.]**


    After entering the graveyard, Fang Xiu first searched around and, as expected, didn''t find any graves for Zhao Hao or the others.


    It seemed that graves only appeared for those who entered the graveyard.


    Soon, he found his own grave again. The grave was quiet, with no sounding from it.


    BOOM!


    Fang Xiu unleashed the Specter power within his scalpel, and a mass of ck mist sprayed out. Each wisp seemed to contain a Specter, all of them hissing and rushing into Fang Xiu''s mouth and nose.


    Gradually, he was wrapped in the ck mist. His hair turned silver, and his right eye shone crimson.


    Then, he overturned the grave to reveal the dark coffin inside.


    As he stared at the coffin, a cruel light shed in Fang Xiu''s eyes.


    His silver hairs grew rapidly and floated in the air like millions of steel needles, tightly surrounding the coffin. He held the scalpel in his hand, raised it high, and aimed at the coffin, with ck Spiritual Energy swirling around it. His blood-red right eye stared intently at the grave.


    He was ready to open the coffin and strike thunderously. Although the imposter had the same strength as him, striking first offered an advantage.


    Fang Xiu entered the graveyard again.


    Everything went dark, and he found himself in a coffin.


    This made him frown. He had intended to face the imposter one-on-one. If he were outside the coffin, he would be able to decide when to open the coffin and attack, but now the situation was reversed.


    It seemed he had to change his strategy. The imposter was exactly like him and would surely prepare thoroughly before opening the coffin. The moment the coffin opened, he would face a thunderous strike.


    After a moment''s thought, Fang Xiu wrapped himself in silver hair like a cocoon and took out his scalpel, cing it at his neck. He knew his own habit of attacking the neck.


    The next second, however, he moved the scalpel to his chest. If he could predict, so would the imposter, who would surely not attack the protected neck but the heart instead.


    BANG!


    Again, Fang Xiu blew the coffin lid off. As it flew off, he moved. His silver hair stabbed into the coffin, his scalpel following suit.


    Soon, he found that inside was a cocoon made of silver hair.


    The millions of silver hairs piercing it created a dense, metallic shing sound.


    A cold light shed in Fang Xiu''s eyes, and he stabbed down with his scalpel almost simultaneously.


    The strength of their silver hair was the same, so neither could ovee the other, but the sharp scalpel could easily cut through the silver hair.


    Since the imposter chose to wrap himself in silver hair, he couldn''t see where Fang Xiu''s scalpel was striking.


    SWISH!


    Fang Xiu shed fiercely. Normally, he would aim for the neck, but this time, he targeted the heart. He knew the imposter had the same memories as him, so the imposter would know his habit of attacking the neck and likely defend it in advance.


    Quickly, the scalpel pierced through the cocoon made of silver hair and stabbed the heart.


    But the next second


    CLANG!


    The scalpel was blocked.


    Fang Xiu frowned, knowing only another scalpel could block his.


    This meant the imposter had predicted his prediction.


    _''Do we even think the same way?''_


    At that moment, the cocoon made of silver hair suddenly opened, and their silver hairs intertwined tightly.


    Another Fang Xiu appeared from the coffin, holding a scalpel at his heart, both des in a deadlock.


    When they faced each other, both their right eyes shed crimson at almost the same time.


    Blood pupils!


    BANG!


    Both grunted. Fresh blood flowing from their right eyes, yet their expressions remained calm, as if the injury wasn''t to their own eyes.


    Their scalpels moved wildly, almost bing a blur.


    Both Fang Xiu kept striking. Surprisingly, their movements were incredibly synchronized, as if they knew each other''s every move.


    For a while, they were evenly matched, neither able to best the other.


    After a collision, the Fang Xiu outside the coffin was knocked back, while the one inside shuddered. The recoil pressed the coffin down further.


    The inside Fang Xiu took this chance to leap out of the coffin.


    The two identical Fang Xius stood apart, with the same silver hair, blood pupils, and scalpels, both as calm as still water.


    Neither spoke, and the next moment, they both vanished, rushing towards each other as blurs.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The air filled with the sound of metal shing and sparks flying, with ck Specter mist and silver hair in a frenzied battle. After a long struggle, their bodies reached their limits, unable to bear the Specter power in their scalpels any longer.


    The ck mist suddenly dispersed, and the blood vessels under their skin burst, turning them into bloodied figures.


    Even so, both remained calm and didn''t stop fighting, controlling their bodies with silver hair to continue the battle. Eventually, both Fang Xius reached their limits, their movements bing slow, leaving a trail of blood with every step.


    Struggling, they moved toward each other.


    Soon, both stood still, their eyesone ck, one redcalmly watching each other.


    The next second, they both raised their hands.


    Their scalpels thrust straight at each other''s necks, and the des pierced the flesh.


    They stood like two corpses, each holding a scalpel in the other''s neck, and then they fell down.


    Both Fang Xius died together.


    When Fang Xiu returned, he found two sets of memories in his mindone from the Fang Xiu outside the coffin and one from the Fang Xiu inside. As the two memories merged, he began to understand everything.


    "So, both were me!"


    The two sets of memories were like two images appearing simultaneously in Fang Xiu''s mind.


    "

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124


    In the first round of the game, one Fang Xiu was looking for a coffin with his name on it outside, and then the other one found himself inside a coffin.


    The second time was pretty much the same.


    Every time he went into the graveyard, there were two of him: one outside and one inside a coffin. Both had the same memories.


    But this time, when he died, the memories of both Fang Xius merged. The first time, the Fang Xiu outside died and only remembered what happened outside after resetting. The second time, the Fang Xiu inside the coffin died, and after resetting, he remembered being in the coffin.


    The third time, both Fang Xius died at the same time, and after resetting, he had both sets of memories.


    Fang Xiu suddenly thought of the gravestone in the graveyard.


    It said, "Forbidden for the Dead, Open to the Living."


    There were two of him, and if either died, it would trigger a reset.


    He guessed that maybe, when you enter the graveyard, you''re in a state between life and death, split into two people. If one died, death would be upon both of them.


    So, if any Fang Xiu died, it triggered a reset.


    But if both lived, he''d stayed alive.


    This meant he was wrong from the start.


    The key wasn''t to kill his double to leave the graveyard, but to leave together with his double.


    No wonder he couldn''t leave by killing before.


    "Xiu, why aren''t you moving? Is there something wrong with this graveyard?" Zhao Hao asked worriedly.


    Fang Xiu turned back calmly and looked at everyone. "What I''m about to say is important, and I want everyone to listen carefully."


    As Fang Xiu spoke, they all became very attentive.


    "This graveyard is special. It''s a unique space. Everyone who enters is in a state between life and death, split into two. You can only leave alive if both of you survive. But if one of you dies, you''ll also be dead in a way and be trapped here forever. That''s what the gravestone means by ''Forbidden for the Dead, Open to the Living.''"


    After hearing Fang Xiu''s exnation, everyone felt confused and didn''t really understand. They were puzzled by the concepts of a state between life and death and splitting into two selves.


    If it weren''t for Fang Xiu''s previous impressive actions, they might have thought he was talking nonsense.


    "Can you exin it in simpler terms? We didn''t quite get it," they asked.


    Fang Xiu understood that they were confused because they hadn''t experienced the graveyard like he had. "You don''t need to understand everything. Just follow my orders, and you''ll be able to leave the graveyard alive. If someone doesn''t follow and causes trouble, they''ll be left behind, and I won''t save them."


    His words were harsh, but in the Specter Zone, they brought a sense of security.


    Only those who were ruthless can survive here, after all.


    "Understood!" The psychics weren''t new to Specter events, and they found Fang Xiu''s instructions reasonable. He had pointed out a way to survive; all they had to do was obey. If they couldn''t even do that, they deserved whatever came their way.


    "Remember, after you enter, your other self will be locked in a coffin. Don''t panic, wait for rescue, and don''t show any aggression. Don''t try to kill your double. If either of you dies, you''ll never leave the graveyard," Fang Xiu instructed before leading them to the graveyard.


    Since both the original and the duplicate had the same memories, Fang Xiu''s instructions would be remembered by both. Upon re-entering the graveyard, Fang Xiu ordered, "Everyone find the grave with your name, open the coffin, and let your other self out."


    "Yes, Fang Xiu!"


    "Okay, Xiu!" they responded.


    Minutester, coffins were opened, and people were surprised to see their other selves emerge.


    Unlike before, no one attacked; they all understood that the person before them was also themselves.


    Fang Xiu opened his own coffin and found his calm duplicate lying there. They stood side by side, silently observing the others.


    "Group up," both Fang Xiumanded together.


    Everyone gathered with their doubles, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease.


    It was unsettling to face an exact replica of oneself. Normally, people might feel threatened by a duplicate, fearing recement.


    Under Fang Xiu''s guidance, everyone managed to coexist peacefully for the time being.


    "Everyone, follow me," both Fang Xiu said at the same time, creating a surreal scene. Without waiting for a response, they led the way to the graveyard''s exit.


    As both Fang Xiu stepped out of the graveyard, something incredible happened. They both glowed and slowly merged into one, bing a single Fang Xiu.


    Then he left the graveyard.


    Before himy a steep stairway leading straight to the mountaintop, where there was arge red-painted gate.


    The paint was peeling in many ces, making the gate resemble a monstrous creature with a gaping mouth, and the stone stairs appeared like its long tongue stretching down to the foot of the mountain.


    Soon, Zhao Hao and the others emerged from the graveyard one by one. But Fang Xiu noticed that Cheng Xinyuan was missing. The others also realized this and eximed in surprise, "Where''s Cheng Xinyuan? Why hasn''t hee out?"


    Looking back at the graveyard, they saw two Cheng Xinyuans fighting each other.


    "Why are you attacking me suddenly? Don''t you want to leave?" one of them asked.


    "Leave? You''re the one leaving, not me," the other retorted.


    "What do you mean? Aren''t we supposed to leave together?"


    "I am you, and you are me. I know what you''re thinking, so don''t pretend. You''re the Cheng Xinyuan from outside, and I''m from the coffin. ording to Fang Xiu, you''re in the state of the living, and I''m in the state of the dead. Once we leave, only the living state remains, and I''ll disappear forever. I was born from the graveyard, and leaving it means death for me."


    The living Cheng Xinyuan panicked, "What nonsense are you talking about? We are one and the same. Don''t you realize that by doing this, neither of us will be able to leave?"


    The dead Cheng Xinyuan sneered, "If we can''t leave, so be it. At least I''ll still be alive. Once we leave, I''ll bepletely dead. Why should you live while I die?"

 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125


    When everyone heard what the two Cheng Xinyuans said, they were all shocked. None of them had thought of that before.


    They were scared after realizing it. Just as the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss."


    If someone or their double had been as smart as Cheng Xinyuan, they would''ve been trapped there, too.


    Fang Xiu calmly watched what was happening and then ordered, "Let''s go up the mountain."


    The Cheng Xinyuan in alive state was shocked and begged, "Fang Xiu, save me! Help me control him!"


    Cheng Xinyuan in dead state also panicked and threatened, "Fang Xiu, if you try to help, I''ll kill myself, and he''ll be trapped here forever!"


    "You''re both useless," Fang Xiu said. "I told you, if anyone causes trouble, I won''t save them. Smart people often make things harder for themselves, and now we all know that''s true."


    Then, Fang Xiu ignored them and led the others up the stone steps to the mountain.


    The group looked at Fang Xiu leaving, then at Cheng Xinyuan in the cemetery. They shook their heads helplessly and followed Fang Xiu.


    The Cheng Xinyuan in alive state was angry and shouted, "Fang Xiu! This is betrayal! If I get out alive, I won''t let you go!"


    The Cheng Xinyuan in dead stateughed coldly. "You can''t me others. It''s your own fault for being selfish."


    "It''s your fault for being selfish, not mine! If it weren''t for you, I would have left by now!"


    "Ha, I am you, and you are me. You hate me as much as you hate yourself. You''re so selfish that you can''t even stand yourself."


    "Everyone, only step on odd-numbered steps. Don''t step on even ones," Fang Xiu instructed.


    Even though they didn''t understand why, they all followed his instructions.


    The steps wererge and spaced far apartsome people with shorter legs, like Liu Shuai and Zhao Hao, had to jump. For people like Fang Xiu, they just needed to take bigger steps.


    After a while, Liu Shuai, who was hopping along, asked, "Xiu, why can we only walk on odd-numbered steps?"


    Everyone listened closely. They had wanted to ask this too but were too intimidated by Fang Xiu''s cold demeanor to speak up.


    Fang Xiu answered calmly, "These steps are like the Specter''s tongue, and the red door at the top is like its mouth. If you step on an even number, it will trigger its killing moves. It wille to life, wrap everyone up with its tongue, and eat them."


    Hearing Fang Xiu''s words, everyone felt a chill run down their spine. They looked carefully at each step they took, afraid to mistakenly step on an even number and awaken the Specter.


    Fang Xiu had managed to say something terrifying in the calmest way possible.


    Liu Shuai turned pale and felt his legs go weak. He almost stepped on an even-numbered step but teleported to an odd-numbered one just in time.


    "Whew, that was close. Lucky I can teleport," Liu Shuai said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    The others were angry at him.


    "Liu Shuai, be careful! Do you know you almost got us all killed?" they scolded.


    Liu Shuai shrank back, not daring to say anything.


    After that, everyone was even more careful about where they stepped. They were also d that Fang Xiu was leading them. Without him, they didn''t know how they would survive through all the dangerous ces like the Head Lantern, the amusement park, the cemetery, and now the Specter''s tongue.


    Finally, they reached the top of the mountain, passed through the red gate, and entered Putuo Temple. The path was paved with blue bricks, and the silence was eerie, with fog surrounding the area.


    Dry leaves covered the bricks, making a crunching sound as they walked on it.


    After about five minutes, they came to a moon gate, which looked like a giant eye without the eyeball. Fang Xiu stepped through first, and the others followed, feeling a sense of security in his presence.


    Once inside, they smelled a sweet, fruity scent.


    "Is that the smell of peaches?" someone wondered aloud.


    The fog inside seemed to clear slightly, revealing a short peach tree full of fruit.


    "Could there be something strange about this peach tree? It''s not even the season for peaches," they murmured.


    Suddenly, a sharp, yfulugh echoed around them.


    Everyone tensed up, ready for anything.


    "Thatugh sounded like it came from the peach tree!" someone eximed.


    "What? Is the peach tree a Specter?" they questioned as theughter continued.


    Theughter grew louder, as if countless people wereughing together, causing annoyance and confusion among the group. Then, a cold wind blew, dispersing the thick fog around the peach tree, revealing the lush, tempting peaches.


    To their horror, they saw that the peaches had human faces on them!


    Each face was different; there were men and women, old and young, but all shared the same eerie smile, staring directly at the group.


    "Come eat me!"ughed a peach with a child''s face.


    "Eat me, I''m the tastiest!" said another with an old man''s face, chuckling.


    "Quick, eat me, I''m the juiciest," chimed a peach with a young girl''s face, giggling.


    As theirughter continued, the air became filled with an even stronger fruity scent, almost intoxicating.


    Seeing this, the group became very serious, ready to act. But gradually, their expressions rxed, and a look of greed appeared on their faces.


    "It smells so good, I want to try one."


    "Yeah, I''m suddenly so hungry. I really want to eat a peach."


    Even Fang Xiu felt a strong desire deep within him, a craving for the Peachface. It was like he hadn''t eaten for days, and suddenly, seeing a peach in front of him awakened an almost irresistible primal urge.


    However, Fang Xiu was a man who had survived by controlling his instincts. Despite the strong cravings, his expression remained calm.


    The others weren''t doing very well; their greed was almost tangible, and some even began to step toward the Peachface tree, drawn by the overwhelming desire."

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126


    When desire bes tangible, it can even sway one''s will.


    Just like now, even though everyone knew there was something off about the Peachface tree, the overpowering desire made them think dying wouldn''t be so bad if it meant they could savor a peach. This had be the prevailing thought, theirst bit of reason slowly disappearing.


    Fang Xiu was about to cut the Peachface tree with a scalpel when he suddenly realized he couldn''t control his body.


    The fragrance around him grew stronger, and every cell in his body seemed to be desperately craving a peach. Despite his rational mind, Fang Xiu found his body and consciousness disconnecting, unable to even draw his scalpel.


    As his body went out of control, Fang Xiu tried tomand the hair Specter, but it too had lost control, driven by its own craving for the peaches.


    The situation was nowpletely out of hand.


    _''Is it time for another death and reset?''_ Fang Xiu thought quietly, almost certain of the oue: death by peach, followed by a reset. Then, however, there would be another question: how to deal with the Peachface tree after the reset?


    The known fact was that the tree''s fragrance could invoke an irresistible desire to eat the peaches, overwhelming one''s will and making it impossible to control one''s body.


    Fang Xiu wondered if the key was the fragrance. He nned to hold his breath and quickly destroy the Peachface tree next time. With a n in mind, Fang Xiu stopped resisting and quietly awaited his next death.


    Meanwhile, Shen Lingxue and the others hadpletely lost their minds, mindlessly moving toward the Peachface tree, drooling uncontrobly. Surprisingly, the slender Shen Lingxue seemed the greediest, her drool shining as it continuously flowed from her rosy lips, soaking her chest.


    It looked like a total wipeout was on the way, and Fang Xiu was ready for it. He had now reached the Peachface tree.


    A peach with a girl''s face wasughing, teasing, "Heehee, big brother,e eat me, I''m the juiciest."


    Fang Xiu looked on calmly, but his body, beyond his control, plucked the juiciest girl peach. As he looked at its tender face, Fang Xiu bit down hard.


    Fang Xiu took a big bite, removing half of the peach girl''s face. Strangely, she seemed to feel no pain and even moaned in pleasure, "Ah, yeah! Right there! Another bite don''t stop! Harder!"


    As Fang Xiu chewed eagerly, something unexpected happened.


    With the first bite, his memories began to fade. Just one bite, and he forgot everything from before his transmigration. He knew he was a time traveler, but his past memories were now hiding behind a veil, unreachable.


    This realization made his heart sink.


    Memories were crucial for him; they were the only things that could follow him through his death resets.


    Memories were key to the reset process. Without them, the concept of resetting after death would be meaningless.


    For instance, if someone were hit by a car on the way home, he could avoid that path or time after resetting with the memory of the incident.


    Without memory, however, he''d repeatedly walk the same path, get hit by the car, die, and reset in a never-ending cycle.


    Soon, Fang Xiu took a second bite, and confusion clouded his eyes. "Who am I? Where am I? A peach? Where did this peache from?"


    He realized he couldn''t remember his own name or where he was. All he knew was the peach tasted wonderful.


    So, he bit into it again and again, losing more memories with each bite.


    A Specter power eroded his memories like a tide. He forgot his psychic abilities, the Specters, Zhao Hao, and everything else seemed to fade away.


    As the peach was nearly finished, a single image shed in his mindnot a resurgence of memory, but thest remaining image in his dwindling memories.


    It was a woman, exceptionally beautiful, elf-like, in a moon-white dress, with pale, wless skin and a warm, inviting smile.


    The woman was gently smiling, her lips moving as if saying something.


    _''What is she saying?''_ Fang Xiu wondered with a trace of confusion. _''Who is this woman?''_


    Suddenly, darkness encroached like a flood, erasing the image.


    Fang Xiu grew more perplexed. He had this feeling that the woman in his memory was important, possibly holding extraordinary significance to him, yet he couldn''t recall who she was.


    Gradually, the image of the woman was consumed more and more by darkness. First, her lower body vanished, followed by her upper body, until only her wless face with a gentle smile remained. She seemed to be softly speaking, her lips slightly parted as if saying something.


    _''What''s she saying?'' _Fang Xiu focused intently on her lips, trying to read them.


    "Honey, time for breakfast!"


    "Honey, breakfast!"


    As if from a distance, a soft, gentle voice echoed.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu''s mind was shaken to its core. A torrent of unimaginable hatred and endless rage erupted from the depths of his soul, like a volcanic eruption or a tsunami, unleashing chaos.


    His eyes filled with mes of vengeance, and under the intense emotion, his right eye turned crimson. His ck hair, as if sensing its master''s turmoil, turned into a flowing mane of silver, wildly dancing in the wind.


    "My wife!!" Fang Xiu''s voice erupted with a murderous roar. In just an instant, under the surge of hatred and fury, the dark tide that consumed his memories was dispelled.


    The memories he had lost were forcefully reimed by his vengeance.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu remembered everything: his life before transmigration, his name, his journey to bing a psychic, and his WIFE!


    You lose a lot when you lose your human instincts, but you lose everything when you lose your animal instincts.


    Losing daily memories was a significant loss, but only when one forgot their thirst for vengeance did they truly lose everything."

 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127


    Memories came flooding back like a tide.


    With a loud bang, Fang Xiu fiercely crushed the remaining peach in his hand, shattering even the pit.


    The young girl Peachface immediately let out a piercing scream.


    Suddenly, the Peachface tree seemed toe to life, and a huge human face slowly appeared on the trunk. The face seemed to be a blend of many faces, both old and young, neither clearly male nor female.


    "Is your obsession for your wife really that deep? Is this what humans call love? It can even break through the fog of memory," the huge face eximed in surprise.


    "You should never have made me forget my wife. You deserve to die!" Fang Xiu''s shouted, his voice like a fierce ghost.


    In the next second, he vanished. A sh of silver light followed, and a scalpel was fiercely stabbed into the giant face.


    The face let out an inhuman roar, and the Peachface tree swung its branches wildly.


    Everyone who had been eating peaches was thrown out in an instant.


    "Where am I?"


    "How did I get here?"


    "Who are you all?"


    The people on the ground were all dazed, constantly voicing their confusion. However, their confusion onlysted a moment before they gradually regained rity.


    "The peach is poisoned!"


    "It erased our memories!"


    They eximed in shock, realizing how close they were to being lost forever. Losing their memories was almost as bad as losing their lives.


    Fang Xiu ignored them and kept his gaze fixed on the Peachface tree.


    He had used a significant amount of his pain-inflicting power, which should have been fatal, but the Peachface tree did not die.


    He then noticed that several peaches on the tree had burst.


    The peach pits they had eaten seemed to grow legs, quickly running to the base of the Peachface tree and merging into it.


    As they merged, more peaches grew on the tree.


    Fang Xiu suspected that this Specter had the ability to devour others'' life force.


    The Peachfaces were likely the lives it had consumed, forming the Peachface tree.


    If the people hadpletely lost their memories after eating the peaches, they would have ended up as new Peachfaces on the tree.


    The tree survived the attack because it had many lives; the peaches took the hit for it.


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly. He was not afraid of a battle of attrition. He was much stronger now and not the novice who used to run out of energy with one strike.


    However, Nightmare was lurking in Putuo Temple and had yet to show up, likely nning something big. If he spent most of his power fighting the Peachface tree, he would be unable to face Nightmare.


    Perhaps this was Nightmare''s goal, to use Specters and the dangers within the Specter Zone to continuously drain his Spiritual Energy.


    Nightmare was wary of his pain-inflicting power, as seen when it dared not directly confront the scalpel at the Investigation Bureau.


    At this point, Fang Xiu felt it was necessary to make use of the crowd as cannon fodder; after all, he couldn''t afford to lose too much Spiritual Energy.


    _''I''ve saved you all this way. Now it''s your turn to contribute.''_


    "Kill it!" Fang Xiu ordered the people around him.


    The crowd was ready to act on hismand, but suddenly, cries of anguish erupted among them.


    "Brother!"


    "Has anyone seen my brother?" a young man in a leather jacket asked in panic.


    They looked around and realized someone was missing from their group, the leather jacket man''s brother. The two siblings had been through a Specter incident together, became psychics together, and had supported each other through life-and-death situations. They had a very deep connection.


    "Brother! You" The man in the leather jacket stopped mid-sentence. To his horror, he saw his brother''s face on a peach on the Peachface tree.


    His face went through a range of emotions, ending in a heart-wrenching scream, "No! Brother! Why?"


    Sadly, his brother had been unlucky. Perhaps because he had a big mouth, he was the first to finish the peach, lost his memorypletely, and turned into a Peachface.


    "Fang Xiu! You can foresee, can''t you? Why didn''t you predict this? Why did my brother have to die, he"


    In a sh of silver light, the man''s eyes bulged in disbelief as he looked at Fang Xiu, then at the scalpel embedded in his neck.


    His grip on Fang Xiu''s arm weakened until he finally fell to the ground, lifeless, as the scalpel was pulled out.


    The sight of Fang Xiu, with his crimson eyes and silver hair, holding a blood-stained scalpel sent chills down everyone''s spine.


    "I''ve saved you so many times, and just failing once makes it my fault?" Fang Xiu''s calm voice was chilling.


    His words made everyone shiver. It was true. In the face of a Specter, especially Nightmare, death or injuries were almost unavoidable. With Fang Xiu here, they had stayed safe for too long. So when someone did die, they felt it harder to ept, and they med Fang Xiu.


    It was like the story of a kind person who fed the hungry every day. At first, the food was plentiful, but as resources ran out, the portions got smaller. The people turned against him, using him of cruelty.


    Now, Fang Xiu faced the same problem. He had saved them time and again, but the one time he couldn''t, they saw it as a failure.


    Facing such attitudes, Fang Xiu had only one response: eliminate them.


    He was already furious because the Peachface tree almost made him forget his wife. Now, with someone provoking him, he saw no reason to hold back.


    "I know some of you might still be thinking the same way. Remember, never say it out loud in front of me, or there will be consequences," Fang Xiu warned, his calm voice sending chills down everyone''s spine.


    The people he had saved many times suddenly remembered that Fang Xiu was not a saint; in fact, he wasn''t even what you''d call a good person. He didn''t hesitate to kill.


    Throughout their journey, the number of teammates killed by Specters was almost equal to those Fang Xiu had eliminated himself.


    "I didn''t save you because I felt sorry for you but because you were useful, capable of fighting. I hope you don''t dig your own graves. Now, everyone, attack this Specter. Anyone who disobeys will face death!"

 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128


    Fang Xiu''s cold and almost heartless words made everyone shiver.


    Some were angry but dared not speak out. After all, without Fang Xiu, they wouldn''t have survived the graveyard.


    Others agreed with Fang Xiu''s logic, believing that those without value didn''t deserve to live.


    Some frowned deeply, thinking Fang Xiu was too cruel and that human life shouldn''t be measured by sheer practical value.


    However, none of these mattered to Fang Xiu. He lived his life without the need to exin himself to others. He didn''t care what others thought as long as they obeyed him.


    Fortunately, Fang Xiu had built up a fearsome reputation along the way. Some feared his unpredictable killing, while others hoped to use his foresight to survive.


    No matter what their reasons were, for now, everyone obeyed him.


    The group rushed toward the Peachface tree.


    At the sight, the tree let out a shrill roar, followed by its branches trembling wildly and its leaves rustling loudly.


    THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!


    One by one, Peachfaces fell from the tree. They smashed on the ground, turning into a mush.


    In the next second, the mush suddenly began to expand, swirling and turning into human figures.


    These people were pale, their arms hanging limply, and their waists unnaturally twisted, as if they had no bones in their bodies.


    They roared and rushed toward the group of psychics like a tide.


    As they got close, their pale skin suddenly bulged, and the skin split open.


    Thick tree branches with lush green leaves burst out from within, along with vine-like tendrils.


    In an instant, these pale figures seemed to transform into numerous humanoid trees, swinging their branches and vines.


    The psychics looked afraid but were unwilling to show any weaknesses, activating their ability to fight against the Specter ves.


    A psychic with the ability to immobilize instantly froze several humanoid peach trees in front of them.


    As they were frozen, Shen Lingxue''s mes roared toward them, turning them into burning human torches, their screams echoing continuously.


    At this moment, Shen Lingxue''s powers seemed quite effective, as fire beats wood. However, the group was too quick to rejoice.


    The humanoid peach trees were very resilient; even engulfed in mes and screaming in agony, they didn''t die. Instead, they swung their ming branches at the group.


    Caught off guard, two psychics were knocked away, their bodies ignited by the mes. The others immediately put out the fire, or they might have burned to death on the spot.


    Shen Lingxue was stunned. She was upset that her ability was now ineffective and even provided the enemy with a fire buff.


    "Shen, you better put away your powers," Liu Shuai quickly advised.


    Shen Lingxue''s face was somber as she silently extinguished her mes and took out her short knife. Then she started to fight the humanoid peach trees in closebat.


    Her knife was made from Mind Steel, but the color was duller, indicating it wasn''t pure Mind Steel.


    The battle started with everyone fighting hard. However, Fang Xiu, Zhao Hao, and Liu Shuai didn''t join in.


    Fang Xiu was saving his spiritual energy and keeping an eye on the main Peachface tree.


    Zhao Hao was more like moral support, cheering behind Fang Xiu. Actually, Zhao Hao was the only one not fighting, considering that Liu Shuai at least helped by rescuing others. He would light the candlestick to teleport next to someone struggling and shield a hit for them.


    The fight was at a stalemate until the main Peachface tree roared, seemingly recovering from its pain.


    It grew rapidly. Its branches spread like a spider''s web, covering the peach garden. It pulled itself out of the ground, and its roots twisted into two thick legs.


    Atst, it grew into a giant humanoid peach tree, muchrger than the others.


    The psychics felt overwhelmed by its size, feeling very small inparison.


    Fang Xiu was considering fighting it without using his spiritual energy; he was going to use his scalpel and the power of the hair Specter.


    Just as he was about to make his move, a ringing sound stopped him. It was a phone rming from behind him.


    Then, a familiar scene unfolded.


    Fang Xiu felt a tap on his shoulder, followed by a booming, attractive voice, "Xiu, I got your back."


    It was Zhao Hao.


    He stepped out from behind Fang Xiu and was now transformed. He had the height of a model and the muscles of a Greek god.


    His skin now looked fair and tight, with a smile on his resolute and sunny face.


    His hair? A shiny pompadour.


    Zhao Hao, with his hands in his pockets, walked toward the biggest Peachface tree.


    He crossed the battlefield, passing one psychic after another. The psychics, engrossed in their fights, suddenly noticed a ray of light shing by.


    Then they saw Zhao Tao walking with a bright confidence radiating from him.


    The psychics paused, surprised by the sudden appearance of this charismatic figure.


    Liu Shuai knew what was happening, excitedly looking at him.


    "Hao, have you transformed?" he eximed.


    Zhao Hao gave Liu Shuai a confident, charming smile.


    "Leave the rest to me," he said, leaving everyone in awe, wondering who this bold man was.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, a whooshing sound cut through the air. The main Peachface tree swung a branch towards Zhao Hao, intending to crush him into a pancake.


    Everyone was shocked by this ferocious attack, almost seeing the scene of Zhao Hao being smashed to death.


    However, in the next second, Zhao Hao took one hand out of his pocket. He raised it lightly towards the huge branching down on him.


    What happened next was astonishing.


    A huge, dull collision echoed throughout the area.


    Zhao Hao had stopped it.


    With just one arm, he blocked the thick branch, over two meters in diameter.


    Everyone was stunned.


    _What the hell? Is he really the same Zhao Hao whod been hiding behind Fang Xiu?_


    Zhao Hao basked in their shocked gazes, even leisurely stroking his hair with his other hand. Then, with a slight smile, he announced gracefully, "It''s Midnight!"


    His voice wasn''t loud, but it was enough to reach everyone."

 Chapter 129: Zhao Hao’s Other Ability

    Chapter 129: Zhao Hao¡¯s Other Ability


    After the transformation, Zhao Hao made the ce his personal stage.


    He held on to a thick branch, and with a strong jump, hended steadily on it.


    His action seemed to anger the Peachface tree. It waved its branches wildly, trying to throw Zhao Hao off, and attacked fiercely with its other branches.


    Zhao Hao just smiled slightly, hands in his pockets. He suddenly ducked low.


    With his feet as his piston, he jumped off the branch, shooting toward the Peachface tree like a cannonball.


    Even when facing the overwhelming branches, he didn''t take his hands out of his pockets. Instead, he used his legs to move swiftly, dodging the wild attacks with flips and turns.


    When he got closer to the Peachface tree, Zhao Hao shot forward, dodging numerous branches, and came face to face with it.


    Seeing the tree''s shocked expression, Zhao Hao smiled slightly, hands still in his pockets.


    His right leg, however, coiled like a spring, kicking out fiercely.


    BANG!


    The powerful kick twisted the Peachface tree''s face, sending its body crashing backward.


    BOOM!


    The impact raised a huge dust cloud, leaving everyone stunned._ _


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Is this Zhao Hao''s true power?''</em>


    With just one hit, he took down the Peachface tree while the others struggled against its clones.


    Having witnessed Zhao Hao''s performance, Fang Xiu concluded that Zhao Hao''s power had reached the second tier.


    The enhancement of his Spiritual Energyst time had benefited Zhao Hao a lot. The improvement wasn''t obvious until he transformed, which then increased his strength drastically.


    Fang Xiu realized the potential of Zhao Hao''s transformation._ _


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Zhao Hao could match a second-tier when he was at first tier, then what will he be able to do at second tier or even third tier?''</em>


    The world currently had no fourth-tier psychic. Zhao Hao could be among the top. This power was impressive, even though he could only use it at midnight.


    Zhao Hao''s kick not only surprised everyone but also made the Peachface tree''s clones explode. The main body became much weaker.


    The defeated Peachface tree was surprised and angry. It grew branches and vines to make a wooden cage around Zhao Hao, tightening it to squeeze him.


    Soon, Zhao Hao waspletely caged in. At that moment, he finally took his hands out of his pockets and pushed hard.


    CRACK!


    The branches broke into tiny pieces.


    The Peachface tree was shocked.


    "You should feel proud to make me use my hands," Zhao Hao said.


    Then, he mmed his foot on the ground, causing it to crack instantly, creating web-like fissures. Using this force, he shot toward the Peachface tree.


    He raised his fists high and started punching the tree wildly.


    One punch, two punches, three puncheseach hit made a thudding sound. Zhao Hao''s fists moved so fast that his fists seemed like a blur. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    The Peachface tree''s face kept twisting and deforming under the barrage of punches, like a pounded sticky rice cake.


    Under Zhao Hao''s relentless assault, the clones of the Peachface tree on the battlefield burst one after another until none were left.


    Everyone was left without enemies, staring in awe at Zhao Hao, who now seemed like a god among men.


    One female psychic, in particr, blushed at the sight. Handsome and powerful, Zhao Hao''s punching was the epitome of masculine appeal.


    "With the fear for me in your heart, go to hell!" Zhao Hao shouted, crossing his hands and raising them above his head. Then, he mmed his hands down like a heavy cannon, and a loud sonic boom followed.


    "No!!!" the Peachface tree screamed in despair. "Help me, master, help!"


    As it screamed, darkness suddenly filled the sky.


    A creature surrounded by ck smoke and with blood-red eyes appearedNightmare.


    The smoke around Nightmare thickened, almost bing solid, shaping something close to a human form yet still ghostly.


    Should Nightmare fully materialize, its power could be overwhelming, posing a threat not just to Greenvine City but to the entire world. Nightmare''s power grew effortlessly, feeding on themon fears of humanity. Its mere presence instilled a deep, uncontroble dread in everyone. Even Zhao Hao, despite his transformed state, felt a wave of fear.


    Fang Xiu remained calm and coldly greeted Nightmare, "So, you''ve chosen to reveal yourself.


    Nightmare responded with a chillingugh, extended its smoky limbs, and dered, "Let fear reign!


    Suddenly, ck mes, driven by fear, engulfed the crowd.


    Screams echoed as people were ovee by their worst fears, left with no choice but to sumb to their terror.


    Zhao Hao was hit first and hardest. He screamed as he fell from the Peachface tree, crashing heavily to the ground.


    His confidence turned into twisted fear. But even so, Zhao Hao didn''t forget to reach out to Fang Xiu, shouting, "Xiu, help me!


    Clearly, Zhao Hao''s second skill had been activated. His first skill was "It''s Midnight", and his second, a hidden trump card, was the spell: "Xiu, help me!"


    Fang Xiu, too, was surrounded by the ck mes, but they didn''t seem to affect him at all. They extinguished as if they had run out of fuel.


    Nightmare looked surprised, "You really aren''t afraid of me?"


    "Afraid of you?" Fang Xiu smiled, showing his teeth, "That''s the biggest joke ever."


    Nightmare''s bloodshot eyes shed coldly, "Fang Xiu, at this point, whether you fear me doesn''t matter. Do you still think I am the same Nightmare as before? I have be the Nightmare of everyone in Greenvine City now! What can you possibly do to resist me?"


    Nightmare''s ck smoke churned, filled with people''s fear. It seemed to be the embodiment of all fears in the world, every dreaded thing personified.

 Chapter 130: Nightmares Nightmare

    Chapter 130: Nightmare''s Nightmare


    Watching Nightmare act so arrogantly, Fang Xiu''s smile only grew wider.


    "You might be everyone''s nightmare, but I know someone who can haunt you," Fang Xiu said.


    His silver hair suddenly stretched out, wrapping around Zhao Hao and pulling him over.


    Zhao Hao was somewhat dazed at this point. His face was twisted in fear, covered in cold ck mes. The mes burned his spirit, not the body.


    "Look into my eyes!" Fang Xiu shouted, and then he stabbed the scalpel into Zhao Hao''s thigh.


    The pain made Zhao Hao tremble all over, and he screamed like a pig being ughtered. His tightly shut eyes suddenly opened, regaining a moment of rity.


    At that moment, Zhao Hao saw Fang Xiu''s crimson right eye. The spiritual energy from Fang Xiu invaded Zhao Hao''s mind.


    The next moment, Zhao Hao stood stiffly like a puppet, his head involuntarily turning toward Nightmare.


    Nightmare watched Fang Xiu''s actions with a mocking smile. "Whatever you try is useless. I''m not what I used to be!"


    A sinister smile appeared on Fang Xiu''s face as he said, "You are everyone''s nightmare, but Zhao Hao is your nightmare! Go!"


    As Fang Xiumanded, Nightmare instinctively felt something was wrong.


    The next second, Zhao Haoactually his eyesmoved. They were widely open as if they were mas, and Nightmare the iron.


    Zhao Hao''s mouth opened wide, and his Adam''s apple moved continuously. He looked like a pervert seeing a naked body.


    Seeing this familiar look, Nightmare was flooded with unpleasant memories. "What are you going to do!"


    Zhao Hao, drooling, walked toward Nightmare. The ck mes on his body gradually extinguished, indicating his fear was dissipating.


    "Hehe, Feifei," Zhao Haoughed lewdly, his expression very obscene.


    "What exactly did you do to him!" Nightmare red at Fang Xiu, its hands continuously conjuring balls of fear to throw at Zhao Hao.


    However, Zhao Hao was no longer afraid, and the ck mes had no effect on him.


    "What you once did to him," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    In reality, Fang Xiu hadn''t done anything too excessive. His blood pupil was ineffective against Nightmare because Nightmare had consumed the fears of countless people and was very powerful. Even a third-tier blood pupil would struggle, not to mention a second-tier one.


    However, the blood pupil could easily create illusions for Zhao Hao. So, Fang Xiu cast a simple illusion, making Zhao Hao see Nightmare as his dream lover.


    As for why Zhao Hao saw Li Feifei, that was supposed to be a secret. It was probably because he had missed her every night when they worked together.


    Now, Zhao Hao had forgotten everything else, including Nightmare and his fear; he only had eyes for Li Feifei.


    In his illusion, Li Feifei was dressed in a school uniform with a ck choker around her neck.


    She was wearing glossy stockings, all of which were his favorite outfits. Those stockings made her slender legs seem to shimmer, deeply captivating Zhao Hao.


    Li Feifei teased Zhao Hao; she even took off her high heels and massaged her own feet. "Hao, my feet are so sore. Could you rub them for me?"


    Zhao Hao was almost out of his mind with desire, forgetting all about fearfear could wait; opportunities like this didn''te often.


    "Feifei! I''ming!" he eximed.


    "Stay away! You perv!" Nightmare was terrified and teleported several meters away to avoid Zhao Hao''s eager approach.


    To Zhao Hao, however, Nightmare''s evasion looked like something else. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    Li Feifei''s stockings were slightly torn. She ran awayughing, her short skirt fluttering. "Catch me if you can. If you do, you can do whatever you want"


    "Feifei, you started this. You should really run faster, or else" Zhao Hao yelled as he pursued eagerly.


    Nightmare was panicked. As its panic grew, its control over the fear seemed to wane, causing the ck mes on others to slowly extinguish.


    When the ck mes went down, everyone felt a mix of relief and fear.


    When they saw Zhao Hao relentlessly pursuing Nightmare, they were in awe.


    "What a man! Chasing Nightmare like this? A true man indeed!"


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu spected that even though Nightmare had absorbed countless fears and grown stronger, it still operated on one principle: fear.


    Nightmare''s attacks relied on fear, making it ineffective against those who had none.


    No matter how brave someone was, a hint of fear would allow Nightmare to amplify it and defeat him, unless the guy harbored no fear at all.


    At this moment, Zhao Hao was fearless.


    Every psychic had some psychological issues, as their minds were tainted by a Specter''s powers.


    Zhao Hao''s issue was his perverted nature, which only intensified after his mind was tainted.


    His obsession had grown to the point where he once endured numerous injections just for a nurse''s touch, leaving the nurse in tears.


    As Zhao Hao''s spiritual energy increased, his psychological issues worsened. Fang Xiu exploited this.


    Nightmare controlled Zhao Hao with fear, so Fang Xiu countered with Zhao Hao''s perverted nature. He used the Specter power, tainting Zhao Hao''s heart against Nightmare''s power of fear.


    It was a battle of Specter forces, but this method worked uniquely on Zhao Hao because both fear and his perverted nature were instinctual to him.


    This made Zhao Hao a monster that even Nightmare feared.


    Fang Xiu was also ready to act since Zhao Hao could only scare Nightmare, not truly harm it.


    Fear carried little weight on Fang Xiu, as he had tasted fear too many times, being killed again and again by his wife. Also, he knew he could always reset the game and try again.


    Moving like a ghost, Fang Xiu wielded his scalpel, aiming fiercely at Nightmare. Nightmare dodged frantically.


    However, trapped between the two men, its escape routes dwindled.


    Nightmare was on the verge of copse, facing one man with a knife and another with a different kind of ''weapon.''


    Ultimately, cornered and enraged, Nightmare exploded into countless streams of ck smoke and vanished.


    Nightmare had fled.


    The onlookers were stunned.


    Nightmare, a Specter that had brought Greenvine City to its knees and was ssified as an S-tier threat, was scared off by thebined efforts of two newbie psychics.

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131


    It was quiet for a moment, and then suddenly


    "Feifei! Feifei, why are you flying away?" Zhao Hao yelled, losing his target. He called out several times, as anxious and clueless as a headless fly.


    Fang Xiu immediately stopped the illusion, and Zhao Hao quickly returned to his senses.


    Then he felt so embarrassed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into after realizing that everyone was staring at him in a very strange way, specifically at the ''tent'' on his crotch.


    Zhao Hao stood frozen for a few seconds, then suddenly let out a loud cry of misery. He covered his crotch and ran away.


    "Xiu, this isn''t over!"


    He didn''t run far. He was still somewhat rational, knowing he couldn''t stray too far from the group, so he hid in a corner.


    Everyone was speechless.


    A momentter, Liu Shuai approached Fang Xiu and said, "Xiu, Nightmare has run away. What do we do now? Go back to the Investigation Bureau first?"


    Before Fang Xiu could answer, a furious roar suddenly filled the sky, "None of you will escape! How dare you humiliate me like that! You''ll all be dead!"


    Nightmare''s voice, furious and embarrassed, echoed throughout the area. However, it was still hiding, clearly cautious of Zhao Hao.


    At this moment, Nightmare was clearly out for revenge, wanting to kill every witness of its second-biggest humiliation; the biggest embarrassing moment for it was with Zhao Hao in that mental hospital.


    After Nightmare''s roar, there was a thunderous rumble. The ground began to tremble slightly.


    The group was shocked.


    "What''s happening?! Is it an earthquake?"


    "It''s not an earthquake! It''s footsteps!"


    "What! Are you sure you heard right? Footsteps that can make the ground shake? How is that possible?"


    "He''s not mistaken. We are surrounded by Specter ves," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Then, not far away, a mass of people appeared, like zombies besieging a city, swarming toward them like a tide.


    These were all Specter ves. They were ordinary people who had died from fear.


    At the sight, everyone was thrown into despair.


    Greenvine City had millions of residents, and nobody knew how many had died during this Nightmare incident.


    Maybe A hundred thousand or even a million; either way, it was certainly a terrifying number.


    Alone, the Specter ves were weak, but when in groups, they could drown everyone in seconds.


    Even if Yang Ming and Bai Qi were there, they would be exhausted to death.


    "Everyone, get to the roofs!" Fang Xiu ordered.


    His voice broke through the group''s distressed mind. They realized what to do and frantically rushed onto the rooftops around them.


    As anyone who has yed video games knows, when fighting zombies, you can''t just fight; you need to use the terrain and take the high ground.


    Just a few seconds after everyone got onto the rooftops, the Specter ves surged like a tide.


    In almost the blink of an eye, the ground was packed with dense Specter ves. They roared wildly, desperately climbing up the buildings.


    The Specter ves,cking intelligence, just charged blindly, leading to a stampede.


    The first ones were crushed underfoot, and the ones behind climbed over their bodies.


    This time, without waiting for Fang Xiu''smand, everyone started attacking frantically, as nobody wanted to die.


    Explosions sounded as Shen Lingxue turned into a burning me herself. Sheunched fireballs that devoured dozens of Specter ves each, like bombs.


    Liu Shuai wielded the bronze candlestick and teleported around. Whenever Specter ves almost overran a spot, he would hold them off with the candle''s me, effectively plugging any breach.


    The other psychics also disyed their powers, sparing no Spiritual Energy.


    After all, Spiritual Energy could be replenished, but life could not.


    Faced with Nightmare''s overwhelming numbers, Fang Xiu also sprang into action, knowing this was not the time to hold back.


    It was a dire situation that even resetting death could not change, a pure battle of numbers with no room for evasion or tricks.


    Nightmare''s Specter Zone was already so powerful; they''d have no chance once Nightmare devoured the citypletely.


    Fang Xiu controlled his hair Specter. Silver hair grew rapidly, covering the sky and piercing through the bodies of Specter ves like needles. That killed hundreds of Specter ves instantly.


    Suddenly, Zhao Hao, who had been crouching, let out a roar and leaped into the tide of Specter ves.


    With bold moves, he attacked wildly. His punches and kicks exploded the Specter ves. He was like a walking meat grinder, with limbs and debris flying around him.


    It was clear Zhao Hao was venting his frustration from the earlier humiliation. He had no other ways to vent his anger, as confronting Xiu wasn''t a smart option, and the onlookers, having neither mocked nor spoken, gave no cause for retaliation.


    Faced with countless Specter ves, Zhao Hao finally found an outlet for his pent-up frustration.


    Thanks to his transformation, Zhao Hao didn''t need to stay on the rooftops like the others. He could attack.


    Under the powerful onught of the group, the Specter ves were forced back, creating brief moments of respite in the yard.


    However, this victory was only superficial, as the tide of defeat lurked beneath.


    Half an hourter, everyone''s Spiritual Energy was nearly depleted, and the yard had turned into a scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.


    The number of Specter ves they had killed was uncountable.


    Despite killing so many, the iing waves of Specter ves seemed endless, a number so vast that it was despairing.


    Even Zhao Hao couldn''t hold out any longer.


    A sh of white light signaled his reversion to his previous, less impressive self, and a group of Specter ves roared and lunged at him.


    In a panic, Zhao Hao called out for help, "Xiu, help me!"


    A strand of silver hair came down from the sky, wrapped around Zhao Hao''s waist, and pulled him up to the rooftop.


    Fang Xiu silently retracted his hair, and it was no longer as shiny as before.


    Stained with blood, the hair turned from silver to crimson. It had bits of flesh hanging from it, drooping heavily.


    "Captain Fang, do we really have hope?" asked a psychic, his face weary and eyes filled with despair.


    The blood moon hung high. A few blood-soaked psychics stood on the rooftops, their shadows elongated by the blood light.


    Beneath themy andscape of death: mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with an endless army of Specter ves stretching out as far as the eye could see.


    Despair washed over everyone like a tide."

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132


    Enemies kepting like a flood, but Fang Xiu stayed calm, as if nothing in the world could shake him.


    Despair? Fear? He had thrown away such useless things long ago.


    After being killed eighteen times in a row by his wife, he realized that despair and fear were just jokes to the enemy.


    Fang Xiu stood on the rooftop, under the blood moon, looking deeply at the thousands of Specter ves.


    He calmly said, "I have seen the future. We will win this battle.


    His calm words were like a strong tonic, injecting strength into everyone''s hearts. The people, who were losing hope, suddenly found new strength in their exhausted bodies. The new round of fighting started.


    "Fight!"


    "Defeat them!"


    "Hold on, and we will win!"


    This is the power of hope.


    People have potential, especially under the light of hope; their potential can burst out greatly.


    Nobody doubted Fang Xiu''s words because his predictions had been proven right many times before. If he said he saw the future, then he must have seen it. If he said they would win, then they would surely win!


    Everyone had absolute trust in Fang Xiu. However, Fang Xiu had lied to them. He hadn''t seen the future.


    With the vast difference in numbers, no amount of "resetting" could change the oue.


    Resetting only made them more skilled and efficient at killing Specter ves. However, even if it took very little effort to kill one, theyd never be able to defeat an endless number.


    Fang Xiu lied just to give them false hope, to make them fight harder, using up all their potential to buy some time. He was waiting for a chance to turn the tide.


    It should be about time.


    Inspired by Fang Xiu, people kept fighting fiercely. But hope was just hope; it couldn''t turn into physical strength.


    As time passed, their spiritual energy was almost gone, and they started fighting hand-to-hand with the Specter ves.


    Even with the advantage of the rooftop, they were overwhelmed by the number of enemies, each facing attacks from many Specter ves.


    The chance of winning was getting slimmer, and their vitality was fading. "Fang Xiu, where is the future?" someone yelled while fighting off many Specter ves.


    "The future is in your own hands," Fang Xiu replied. "I said we would win, but I never said there would be no casualties. If you can''t survive until the victory, it''s your own fault."


    Hearing this, everyone fought even more desperately. Nobody wanted to fall before the victory.


    But often, after the darkest night, the glimmer of dawn shoulde.


    Soon after, there were screams. One psychic got bitten on the arm by a Specter ve. He screamed and tried to stab with his knife, but the pain slowed him down.


    Before he could strike, another Specter ve bit his arm that was holding the knife. More and more Specter ves overwhelmed him, and his injuries multiplied.


    He was about to be dragged into the crowd of Specter ves and killed for good.


    Suddenly, a silver strand of hair fell from the sky and pulled him out fiercely. Even so, his limbs were badly damaged and bleeding heavily; he was not going to live long.


    "Fang Xiu, save me. I don''t want to die!" he begged crazily. However, Fang Xiu calmly gave him a bronze candlestick. "You will die soon, so light the candlestick with your blood before you die."


    The man''s eyes turned red with anger. "What are you saying! You won''t save me, but want me to use my blood to save you? Quit daydreaming. If I''m going to die, we''ll all die together."


    Before he could finish, several silver strands had already tied him up tightly. The candlestick was lit, and its eerie green light illuminated the night sky. Everyone quickly gathered under the light, keeping the Specter ves at bay with the sizzling sound of corrosion.


    As the man desperately spilled his blood, everyone finally got a chance to breathe.


    "Fang Xiu, Ill see you in hell!" he cursed loudly.


    Fang Xiu ignored him and just sat down to rest. Some looked sympathetic, while others sneered, "Since you''re going to die anyway, your death might as well be useful."


    "You''re talking nonsense! Don''t be so proud, I''m dying now, but you''ll be next! Do you think Fang Xiu, this heartless guy, would light the candlestick himself? In his eyes, you''re all just fuel!"


    This made everyone uneasy. Indeed, he was right. Given Fang Xiu''s ruthlessness, he would continue to use others to light the candlestick. To Fang Xiu, they were just a means to buy more time.


    At that moment, a severely injured psychic thought grimly that he was the most injured and would be next.


    Fang Xiu was cold-blooded and treated people as tools. His previous actions of using a teammate''s dying body to light the candlestick showed he would always think of ways to maximize benefits.


    Being the weakest and most injured, the injured guy knew he was now a worthless tool to Fang Xiu, so he would be the next choice. If Fang Xiu spoke first, no one would oppose him because they all feared death.


    The guy knew hed be dead if he didnt do something. He couldn''t let that happen. He had to act first. With that thought, malice filled his eyes, almost tangible.


    The psychic himself didn''t realize his thoughts were bing more extreme and filled with malevolence. He almost lost control of his Spiritual Energy.


    Psychics are such an unstable group, akin to mental patients; they might be fine usually, but any extreme stimulus could trigger an episode.


    While Fang Xiu was resting, the psychic thought he could sneak up on him and kill him. Fang Xiu wouldn''t expect the guys internal conflict during such a crisis.


    _''But, if I kill Fang Xiu, will it anger the others?''_


    The guy hesitated, yet knowing that if Fang Xiu didn''t die, he surely would.


    _''Or, instead of killing Fang Xiu, I can attack someone else. If someone dies, Fang Xiu will surely use the death to his advantage.''_


    Suddenly, there was a sh of silver. His thoughts were abruptly cut off as a sharp scalpel was plunged into his neck. His eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Fang Xiu. He still found it hard to believe that Fang Xiu would strike him first.


    As he was on the brink of death, Fang Xiu''s calm voice echoed in his ears, ''Its just killing. No need to think twice.''"

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133


    Everyone was shocked and started questioning angrily, "Fang Xiu! What are you doing? Why did you kill him?"


    Fang Xiu was very calm and replied, "I saw in the future that he was about to lose control of his spiritual energy and kill someone, so I killed him first."


    The people were skeptical and looked upset.


    They couldn''t tell if Fang Xiu was telling the truth, but they instinctively thought the worst of him. They thought maybe Fang Xiu made up a lie because he was preparing for something else, and now he could kill someone using the excuse of seeing the future.


    They feared he might do the same to others in the future.


    However, some believed Fang Xiu because he had saved them many times before.


    The guy holding the bronze candlestick startedughing crazily, even coughing up blood fromughing too hard.


    "Do you still believe his nonsense? He''s just using you! Why do you think he has been saving you all this time? Because you''re pretty? Because you''re rich? He''s after your blood! You are all just fuel for him"


    Before he could finish, silver hair sealed his mouth.


    "Don''t waste your blood. You''re just coughing it up," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    To other people, however, it seemed like Fang Xiu was trying to silence the truth.


    Soon, the man holding the candlestick died from blood loss, but his body remained upright, still pumping blood.


    The crowd fell into a deathly silence.


    After a while, the man turned into a mummy.


    Then, Fang Xiu used the body of the person he had killed earlier to light the bronze candlestick.


    Finally, someone couldn''t help but ask, "Fang Xiu, you said we will surely win this battle. Where does our chance of victory lie?"


    "You will know soon," Fang Xiu replied.


    Silence followed again.


    "Fang Xiu, the blood will soon run out. Who do you n to use next?" someone else asked, and everyone started to look afraid.


    They stared at Fang Xiu with serious expressions. "Do you want to just wait to die?"


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at them and asked, "What do you mean? You''re just gonna sit here and wait for death?"


    The group was startled, confused by his words.


    "You should have regained some strength after the rest. How foolish. Instead of thinking about how to fight the enemy, you''re all focused on who should be sacrificed."


    The people then realized they had been narrow-minded. Relying on one person''s blood couldn''t sustain them longer than if they all fought together.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t nning to use someone else''s life to buy time; he just wanted to rest for a moment to recover his strength and energy.


    At that moment, everyone felt a bit ashamed, thinking they had been too negative.


    "Get ready to fight," Fang Xiumanded, and everyone got up.


    Soon after, the candle went out, and hordes of Specter ves roared in from all around.


    The fight resumed, seeming endless and relentless.


    Five minutester, there were casualties. A psychic was grabbed by a Specter ve and had his throat torn open.


    Fang Xiu took the opportunity to pull the body over, used the hair Specter to control the corpse, and lit the bronze candlestick again.


    This cycle repeated; whenever someone died, it gave the group a brief moment to catch their breath before the candle went out and the battle resumed.


    Everyone felt tormented, desperate, and afraid.


    But then, something even more despairing happened.


    The ground shook violently and bubbled like boiling water, and countless rock spikes shot up from the ground. They pierced through many Specter ves and aimed straight at the group.


    Fang Xiu''s silver hair flew as he crushed the spikes.


    Shen Lingxue struggled to emit a me to burn them.


    Liu Shuai used teleportation to dodge, and Zhao Hao, who had been hiding behind Fang Xiu, remained unscathed.


    The others, however, weren''t so lucky. Screams filled the air as several psychics were impaled and killed instantly.


    The sudden turn of events shocked everyone.


    In the midst of the Specter ves, there was a small empty space where a figure stood.


    It was a man with pale, rotting skin, white eyes without pupils, dressed in a ck suit. He was waving his arms, causing the ground to spew out spikes.


    "That''s Lu Xiangyang, the head of the Specter Killer Society!" Someone recognized the man in the suit.


    "What! Lu Xiangyang? The only second-tier psychic of the Specter Killer Society!"


    "He''s be a Specter ve too!?"


    "Damn it! The Nightmare can even turn psychics into Specter ves! Does that mean all the missing psychics of Greenvine City are under its control?"


    A wave of despair shot through everyone.


    "We''re done for."


    "Fang Xiu! Is this the future you talked about?"


    Some were in despair, others were furiously yelling. They were already desperate, having to face the endless ordinary Specter ves, and now, there were even psychic Specter ves. They had never felt so hopeless.


    Everyone was at their limit, yet facing a dead end.


    And then, two more psychics emerged from the group of Specter ves: a middle-aged man in a loose sweatshirt with a rosewood bracelet, and a spirited woman in adies'' suit with a buzz cut.


    "Fu Yun! Kong Nan! How could it be them! They''re also second-tier!!"


    At this point, some had given up hope, closing their eyes and copsing to the ground in despair.


    Facing such a desperate situation, Fang Xiu remained calm.


    He thought not all psychics in Greenvine City were controlled by Nightmare. Some might have had their spiritual energy devoured, and others might be hiding in corners, fighting against the dream.


    Otherwise, there should be far more than three psychics turning into Specter ves.


    Nightmare probably cherished their stronger abilities, so it didn''t devour them but turned them into Specter ves instead.


    Also, this wasn''t all the Nightmare had to offer. There was still Bai Qi. He had been missing for a long time and hadn''t appeared at all. No one knew whether he was alive or dead.


    Soon, the three psychic Specter ves led the army of Specter ves in an attack.


    Fang Xiu quickly controlled the bodies of those recently killed by the spikes, using their blood to light the bronze candlestick.


    BOOM!


    Powerful attacks bombarded the eerie green candlelight, making it flicker as if it was about to go out any second.


    The corpses were turning into mummies quickly, clearly unable tost long under such intense attacks.


    Just when it seemed they were about to be wiped out, a confident smile appeared on Fang Xiu''s lips.


    "Xiu, how can you still smile at a time like this?" Zhao Hao asked, pale-faced and trembling.


    "Haven''t you noticed that the Specter ves are moving slower, and even their attacks are getting weaker?" Fang Xiu asked.


    "Who cares? Maybe they''re just tired. What does that have to do with us?" Zhao Hao replied.


    Fang Xiu smiled slightly, "It proves that my n is working."

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134


    "Your n? What n?" Zhao Hao asked curiously.


    "Shh. Listen. Do you hear that?"


    Right after Fang Xiu finished speaking, some music started ying nearby.


    "Good luck to you, may good fortunee your way, bringing joy and love; good luck to us, good luck to everyone."


    The voice of Gothic Guy, loud and off-key, got louder and louder, filling the whole ce.


    The people, who had been in despair, were shocked when they heard the song. They felt annoyed and wanted to shut the singer''s mouth, forgetting their fear and despair.


    "This song..."


    "Could it be"


    As the song yed, the previously fierce Specter ves started to move slower, and some even fell to the ground.


    The music got louder, and more Specter ves fell.


    Zhao Hao suddenly realized what Fang Xiu''s n was.


    Yang Ming was supposed to take Gothic Guy to the broadcasting center to sing the song, thus removing fear and weakening Nightmare''s power.


    It seemed like the n worked.


    Zhao Hao, however, felt something was off.


    _''How could the song be heard all the way here at Putuo Temple? It would be loud enough just to spread around Greenvine, so how did it reach this ce?''_


    Soon, Zhao Hao''s confusion was cleared.


    A man carrying arge speaker rushed over from a distance, wearing embroidered shoes.


    It was Yang Ming.


    Yang Ming made his entrance, wearing embroidered shoes and carrying the speaker!


    If it weren''t for the unfitting background music and the shy shoes, Yang Ming would have seemed like a savior.


    Yang Ming moved very fast in his embroidered shoes. He passed through the Specter ve crowd in an instant and reached everyone.


    "Fang Xiu, mission aplished," Yang Ming said with a big smile, putting down the speaker.


    The other survivors were overjoyed, some even crying with relief.


    Fang Xiu nodded calmly. "You''reter than I expected."


    Yang Ming let out a sigh of relief and exined, "Couldn''t help it. I had to spread the song throughout Greenvine City. After dropping off Gothic Guy, I organized many security officers. They drove around with their windows down, ying the music as loud as possible, going through every street and alley. I also had the Investigation Bureau get all the survivors in the city, using every device that could y music online, to turn it up to the max. It took a lot of effort, but the effect was clear. People forgot their fear, and many even went to the broadcasting center with sticks, wanting to hit Gothic Guy."


    Yang Ming looked at the Specter ves. They had all turned into dead bodies, except for the three psychic Specter ves still standing.


    "Ah, three psychics, perfect for some exercise."


    Before Yang Ming could finish speaking, the three psychic Specter ves disappeared, as if they had teleported away.


    Yang Ming paused, and his proud smile froze.


    Fang Xiu thought for a moment and said, "No need to look for them. This is Nightmare''s Specter Zone. They must have been taken away by Nightmare. Fear is the source of Nightmare''s power. Now that the song has removed much of the city''s fear, it seems Nightmare has decided to save its energy. It gave up on the weaker Specter ves and only kept the three psychic ones."


    Yang Ming nodded, "What should we do next?"


    "We need to find Nightmare. It''s still inside Putuo Temple, probably with Bai Qi."


    Hearing Bai Qi being mentioned, Yang Ming became serious, "OK, I''m listening."


    Fang Xiu continued, "Nightmare is powerful but has a clear weakness: it can''t do anything to people who aren''t afraid. This was evident when I was at Green Mountain Mental Hospital. As long as you don''t fear Nightmare, you won''t get hurt. Even though Nightmare has be stronger and can now create mes of fear, as long as you''re not afraid, you won''t get hurt. This is why Nightmare uses Specter ves to attack us. If the enemy knows this weakness, Nightmare must know it too. So, if I were Nightmare, I''d find a way to ovee this weakness."


    Yang Ming''s expression darkened, "You mean, it wants to turn Bai Qi into a Specter ve?"


    Fang Xiu nodded. "Exactly. Bai Qi is the top psychic in Greenvine City. If Nightmare controls Bai Qi, its strength will greatly increase. Bai Qi could kill those who aren''t afraid. Nightmare might not just want to turn Bai Qi into a Specter ve. Remember Yang Kunpeng, who brought Nightmare out of the Investigation Bureau? Since it could possess Yang Kunpeng, it could do the same to Bai Qi."


    Yang Ming couldn''t sit still anymore after Fang Xiu''s exnation. He had a deep connection with Bai Qi. "Then what are we waiting for? Let''s go find Nightmare."


    Fang Xiu nodded, then said to Zhao Hao and the others, "You''ve used up most of your powers and won''t be of use now. Go back to the Investigation Bureau."


    "Xiu, what about you?" Zhao Hao hesitated. "Let me follow. If ites to it, use the hypnotism trick you used before on me, and I''ll deal with Nightmare."


    Fang Xiu shook his head, "It''s useless. Nightmare won''t fall for the same trick twice, and it might not show up if it sees you."


    Hearing this, Zhao Hao lowered his head in disappointment.


    "Fang Xiu, why don''t you rest too? I''ll deal with Nightmare," Yang Ming said, worried about Fang Xiu, who was covered in blood.


    "I have to kill Nightmare myself," Fang Xiu said, leaving no room for argument.


    He was never afraid of death; he was only afraid of not being able to kill Specters. Now, at the moment of the final battle, it would all be for nothing if he couldn''t kill Nightmare himself.


    Yang Ming knew Fang Xiu was stubborn and realized that once he made a decision, it couldn''t be changed. So, he nodded in agreement.


    Then, the two of them headed deeper into Putuo Temple, disappearing into the mist under the watchful eyes of the others."

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135


    Nightmare had already changed theyout of Putuo Tempel so much that it was unrecognizable.


    The temple wasn''t very big, and both Fang Xiu and Yang Ming were quick on their feet. They should have reached the end by now.


    However, ten minutes had passed, and they were still nowhere near the end.


    The area was shrouded in fog, with the mist swirling around as if monsters could emerge at any moment, creating a very eerie atmosphere.


    As they groped through the fog, Fang Xiu suddenly asked, "How did you get past the graveyard and the steps?"


    Yang Ming was a powerful third-tier psychic, but the graveyard couldn''t be crossed just by strength.


    In the graveyard, a person would split into a living and a dead version of themselves, creating two identical beings.


    Even with Yang Ming''s strength, facing an identical copy of himself wouldn''t guarantee a win, especially since the copy would also have luck on its side.


    Compared to that, dealing with evil spirits on the steps wasn''t a big deal. Even without knowing the pattern and triggering the spirits, Yang Ming could escape easily with his quick movements.


    Yang Ming was initially surprised by the question and then became angry, "Don''t remind me. I was tricked in the graveyard."


    He exined how he was curious about the sounds from his own grave and dug it up, only to find a clone of himself inside.


    They ended up fighting because the clone mimicked everything about him, which was infuriating.


    They fought for a long time, but no one won. Eventually, both decided to stop fighting and ended up chatting and getting along well, discovering they had a lot inmon.


    Yang Ming felt like he had found a kindred spirit, but he had to leave for Putuo Temple. The duplicate agreed toe along to confront Nightmare, but vanished as soon as they left the graveyard.


    Yang Ming felt relieved they hadn''t be sworn brothers, considering the clone''s disappearance.


    Fang Xiu was speechless at the story. Yang Ming, noticing the silence, wanted to say more. But there wasn''t much left to say about the graveyard incident.


    As for the steps, Yang Ming seemed confused, questioning if Fang Xiu was referring to the steps leading up the mountain.


    Fang Xiu nodded.


    "The steps! They irritate me too. Why would a small temple have so many long steps? It made me run for so long."


    "How did you go up the steps?" asked Fang Xiu.


    Yang Ming was puzzled. "What kind of question is that? I was in a hurry, so of course, I ran up."


    "How many steps did you take at a time?"


    "Why are you asking me this? Who counts steps while climbing? Isn''t that crazy? I ran up, probably taking three or four steps at a time. Who knows? Well Are you asking these pointless questions because you feel the silence awkward? Heres the thing, if you''re not good at chatting, you don''t have to force it. How many steps I took? Gosh Next, you''ll be asking how many grains of rice I eat."


    Fang Xiu was silent, rethinking his purpose. From Yang Ming''s story, he figured out how Yang Ming climbed the steps without triggering the temple''s traps. Yang Ming must have stepped on odd-numbered steps while running up, avoiding the traps by sheer luck.


    "So that''s the luck ability, huh?" Fang Xiu muttered to himself.


    He realized why Yang Ming was chosen as the leader over the more powerful Bai Qi. Yang Ming''s luck allowed him to navigate dangerous situations effortlessly, contrasting sharply with others'' experiences in the Specter Zone.


    Yang Ming thenughed, "It''s not luck; it''s God''s n!"


    Fang Xiu felt confused. "God''s n?"


    "Exactly! God''s n! At first-tier, you show your power. At second-tier, it strengthens. And at third-tier, it awakens! When I reached third-tier, my luck awakened into what we called God''s n. I am part of God''s n, born to end this era of Specters!"


    Yang Mingughed heartily, fully embracing his role.


    "God''s n, huh? No wonder you''re so lucky. Wait a minute! God''s n"


    Fang Xiu suddenly remembered the parchment he saw in the president''s office at Green Mountain Mental Hospital, which read, "To the lucky one in Gods n, want to know the real story? Want to know what the Specter really is?"


    Initially, he thought he might be the lucky one, but now it seemed that Zhou Qingfeng might have been referring to Yang Ming!


    Fang Xiu''s mind was racing, piecing together the possibility that Zhou Qingfeng had a grand scheme targeting Yang Ming, the one under God''s favor.


    Zhou Qingfeng had brought Green Mountain Mental Hospital into reality, right in Greenvine City, which was under Yang Ming''s watch. Now, Fang Xiu wondered if it was really a coincidence.


    Zhou Qingfeng''s n seemed to lure Yang Ming in, making him face numerous obstacles, find the letter, and then search for a hidden gift.


    As for what this gift it was, and why Zhou Qingfeng wouldn''t just give it to Yang Ming directly, Fang Xiu thought he might need to find the answers in the hospital.


    Now Fang Xiu realized that Green Mountain Mental Hospital was a ce of profound secrets. Just one Specter from there, Nightmare, had caused an S-ss event. He really wanted to know what level of threat Green Mountain Mental Hospital itself posed.


    "

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136


    Fang Xiu''s mind was reeling.


    _''What level is the incident at Green Mountain Mental Hospital? S ss? Or higher?''_


    The highest level of Specter events known to the world is S. There''s no level set beyond S. If Green Mountain Mental Hospital exceeded S, it would bring a shock to the world.


    Fang Xiu felt uneasy because if he kept thinking this way, the director of Green Mountain Mental Hospital, Zhou Qingfeng, must be a terrifying monster.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu remembered a time at the Investigation Bureau when Wang Dehai came to him, asking him to foresee something about the Pokers.


    Wang Dehai mentioned the attack on Bai Qi, hinting at the Pokers'' involvement.


    Fang Xiu refused the foreseeing request, iming that his ability was limited.


    Now, Fang Xiu thought there might be a deep connection between the Pokers and Zhou Qingfeng.


    Ace of Spades, who attacked Bai Qi, was very strong; even Yang Ming said he was no match for him. But that person ran away after Yang Ming''s advancement, which was intriguing.


    After thinking about the letter from Zhou Qingfeng, Fang Xiu pieced everything together.


    Zhou Qingfeng had left a gift for Yang Ming in the hospital, but Yang Ming wasn''t at the third tier yet, not qualified to receive the gift. So, the Pokers, rted to Zhou Qingfeng, acted to use Bai Qi''s death to stimte Yang Ming''s advancement.


    Ultimately, they wanted a third-tier Yang Ming to enter the hospital.


    Fang Xiu''s special ability to see the Specters, in reality, helped him get into Zhou Qingfeng''s office and find the letter. Without that, Fang Xiu would''ve been unaware of Zhou Qingfeng''s n like everybody else.


    Fang Xiu decided to take Yang Ming to Green Mountain Mental Hospital after he dealt with Nightmare. He might be able to find the ultimate answer there.


    While Fang Xiu was pondering, he suddenly felt dizzythere was a sharp pain in his neckfollowed by Yang Ming''s angry shout, then darkness.


    _''Did I die? How and when?''_


    Fang Xiu didn''t even see his killer.


    "Yang Ming," Fang Xiu suddenly called out.


    Yang Ming stopped, "What''s wrong?"


    "Protect me," Fang Xiu said. Yang Ming looked at Fang Xiu''s calm face and seemed to understand. He nodded solemnly.


    Fang Xiu didn''t rely solely on Yang Ming. His silver hair grew wildly, spreading thin strands all around like spider webs, covering the area around him.


    These strands acted as a warning, detecting anyone approaching. Hidden in the fog and night, they were almost invisible.


    After doing all this, the two continued on their way.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu felt something touched his hair.


    "Ten o''clock!"


    Yang Ming''s shoes shed with a red light, and he disappeared instantly, rushing toward the ten o''clock direction like a shooting star.


    "It''s you!" Soon, Yang Ming''s angry voice was heard, followed by the sound of des shing.


    The fight continued loudly.


    Fang Xiu had a guess and immediately ran toward the fight.


    When he got through the fog to the battlefield, he saw Yang Ming fighting Bai Qi.


    Bai Qi was dominating the fight. He seemed different, as if he had be another person.


    He was once cold and dominant, yet now he seemed wildly charming, with a crazy smile on his handsome face, his hair wildly dancing. His pale skin and thin body gave him a vampiric appearance under the moon.


    Bai Qi seemed faster, too fast for Fang Xiu to see clearly, except during brief shes with Yang Ming. Seeing the dark gold knife in Bai Qi''s hand, Fang Xiu understood how he had died before. Bai Qi must have killed him with his ghostly speed.


    Yang Ming, struggling against Bai Qi''s current state, was forced to retreat step by step. Out of options, he resorted to verbal tactics.


    "Bai Qi! Have you gone mad? Why are you attacking me?"


    Bai Qi smirked, "Oh, isn''t this Captain Yang? You seem off these days. I never knew you could be so weak."


    Yang Ming''s face darkened. "You''re not Bai Qi! He would never say that. Who are you?"


    "Heh, if I''m not Bai Qi, who am I then? By the way now that I''ve reached the third tier, I can finally feel and get to know my true self!"


    Yang Ming thought for a moment and eximed, "Wait No! Your Spiritual Energy had gone out of control!"


    Bai Qi''s face darkened. "You''re still so annoying."


    "Come on, Little Bai. Entering the third tier so quickly and in this manic state? It''s either your Spiritual Energy is getting out of control, or Nightmare has gotten into you."


    "Don''t call me Little Bai!" Bai Qi was furious, and his attacks became even more fierce.


    "Alright, Little Bai."


    "Ah!!"


    Bai Qi seemed provoked, and his speed surged again. Six afterimages of him were soon formed, attacking Yang Ming from different directions.


    Yang Ming was shocked and couldn''t tell which one was real, desperately defending himself.


    Caught off guard, he was still cut across the throat by a de.


    The two figures crossed paths. Bai Qi, looking very cool, appeared behind Yang Ming. He was holding the knife, the de dripping with blood.


    His charming smile looked even more eerie under the blood moon.


    In contrast, Yang Ming had a cut on his neck, blood spurting out. His eyes widened in shock, and his hands clutched his neck. Silently, he fell to the ground with disbelief in his eyes.


    Disappointment shed in Bai Qi''s eyes, but then he became excited again, saying, "My fast speed ability had awakened, and it is Extreme Speed now! I never knew the awakening would bring me such a huge leap in strength! Hahaha, Yang Ming! You deserve all this! You''re inferior to me in every way, so why are you the captain? And you advanced to the third tier before me? Why do all the good things happen to you? What do you have besides dumb luck?"


    Fang Xiu, watching from a distance, frowned at the sight.


    _''So this is it? No way Even if Bai Qi had reached the third tier and gained Extreme Speed, Yang Ming shouldn''t have been defeated so easily, right?''_


    Just as Fang Xiu hesitated about whether to reset the game and try again, Yang Ming''s body moved."

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137


    Yang Ming''s cheeks were puffy as he got up from the ground, saying, "Besides dumb luck, I have the Specter Gadget."


    Amazingly, the cut on his neck had disappeared, and the wound was as good as new.


    "I guessed right; you wouldn''t die that easily." Bai Qi was only slightly surprised and quickly regained his wicked and wild demeanor, adding, "Now it gets interesting."


    He noticed Yang Ming holding a ck bead in his mouth, emitting strange waves.


    "Oh? A Specter Gadget with healing powers? I want to see how many times it can heal."


    As Bai Qi was about to attack again, Yang Ming quickly stopped him, speaking unclearly with the bead in his mouth, "Wait a moment, let me have a cigarette first."


    Then, Yang Ming actually took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.


    "Phew!" He breathed out, exining to Bai Qi, whose face was turning darker, "Don''t get me wrong, I mean no disrespect. It''s just that the bead in my mouth, taken from a corpse, smells terrible. I''m using the cigarette to cover the smell."


    "Go to hell!" Bai Qi roared and suddenly disappeared. When he reappeared, he was in front of Yang Ming, striking down with his dark golden dagger.


    Yang Ming, scared, dropped his cigarette and quickly raised his sword to defend.


    The fight resumed, but it was clear that Yang Ming, even in the embroidered shoes, was slower than Bai Qi and was always on the defensive.


    Soon, Yang Ming had several new cuts, but they disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    Bai Qi frowned, "I don''t believe there''s a Specter Gadget without side effects."


    He attacked furiously, but Yang Ming seemed immortal, unable to be killed no matter how much he was cut.


    Bai Qi started to panic, unable to believe that even after advancing to the third tier, he couldn''t defeat Yang Ming; he even embraced darkness to gain the chance to advance.


    His demeanor became unstable, shifting from wicked and wild back to his previous cold and dominating self.


    Just then, Nightmare appeared, looking down from the roof.


    "Bai Qi, keep attacking. His bead ignores damage, but if he doesn''t spit it out within five minutes, he''ll turn into a corpse."


    Hearing Nightmare''s words, Bai Qi stabilized, smirking wickedly, "I see."


    Before he could finish, Yang Ming took out an old ceramic jar filled with rotten corpse water.


    Then he frowned and said, "Ugh! Indeed, no matter how many times I drink this corpse water from the Corpse Jar, I can''t get used to it. But it can dy the transformation into a corpse, so I have to drink it no matter how bad it tastes."


    Yang Ming seemed to deliberately provoke Bai Qi and Nightmare as he exined.


    Bai Qi and Nightmare were speechless.


    "Damn it! The Corpse Jar? How many Specter Gadgets do you have?" Bai Qi''s face was twisted into envy, as he didn''t have a single Specter Gadget.


    It wasn''t that hecked strength, but ever since he met Yang Ming, it felt like his luck had been sucked away, and so he had never encountered a single Specter Gadget.


    "Take a guess?" Yang Ming blinked.


    Seeing this, not only Bai Qi and Nightmare were speechless, but Fang Xiu was too.


    _''So that''s God''s n? While others struggle to find even one Specter Gadget, Yang Ming casually pulls out three and can even use them together?''_


    "That''s Outrageous!" Bai Qi was furiously mad. "Using three Specter Gadgets at once? I want to see how much longer you can take before your Spiritual Energy goes out of control!"


    Yang Ming, a bit embarrassed, scratched his head. "Funny enough, these Specter Gadgets spread their power and polluted my mind, but somehow, they bnced out and canceled each other."


    Bai Qi was so angry he couldn''t speak and attacked Yang Ming furiously.


    Yang Ming was pushed back but couldn''t be killed. The two were stuck in a deadlock, turning their fight to death into a war of attrition, waiting to see whose Spiritual Energy would run out first.


    Meanwhile, Nightmare had set its sights on Fang Xiu.


    Even weakened, Nightmare still seemed confident.


    Looking down at Fang Xiu, it said, "Fang Xiu, can you predict the future? Can you see your own?"


    "I see you dying in the most tragic way," replied Fang Xiu mockingly.


    "Haha," Nightmareughed wildly, "Your prediction isn''t very urate then. If you think Yang Ming can turn this around, you''re greatly mistaken. Bai Qi is my masterpiece. I spent a lot of energy these past days training him to the third tier, with forty-five percent of his Spiritual Energy awakened! In a war of attrition? Yang Ming stands no chance!"


    "Really?" Fang Xiu smiled coldly, then turned to Bai Qi and said, "Bai Qi, the reason you lost the captain''spetition wasn''t that you had diarrhea, but because Yang Ming gave you axative the day before."


    Bai Qi froze mid-fight, then exploded in rage. "What did you say? Yang Ming, you despicable jerk! I knew it wasn''t possible for a second-tier psychic to get a stomach issue!"


    Bai Qi''s attacks became even more fierce, utterly disregarding his energy consumption.


    Yang Ming was both shocked and angry, "Fang Xiu! You traitor, you promised not to tell!"


    Upon seeing this, Nightmare''s expression darkened, and it quickly said, "Bai Qi, conserve your Spiritual Energy. Fang Xiu is trying to provoke you."


    But then, Fang Xiu added, "One more thing, during that fight, although you tried to keep it in, everyone could already smell it."


    That statement exploded in Bai Qi''s heart like a nuclear bomb.


    His expression changed dramatically, turning from red to pale, his overwhelming rage palpable.


    "Yang Ming! I will kill you!!"


    Bai Qipletely lost his sanity. His eyes were bloodshot, and his veins bulged on his face as he attacked Yang Ming with all his might. He even forgot to conserve his Spiritual Energy and didn''t realize that Yang Ming was unkible at the moment.


    Nightmare was utterly dumbfounded by this turn of events, and it found itself unable to control Bai Qi anymore.


    Bai Qi hadn''t been fully transformed into a Specter ve because bing one would halt the growth of his Spiritual Energy, and Nightmare didn''t want to waste such a promising talent. So, it had only infused a portion of its power into Bai Qi to stimte negative emotions and guide him toward corruption. However, this process of corruption wasn''tplete.


    That was why Bai Qi hadn''t been seen until now.


    But with Yang Ming and Fang Xiu confronting them, Nightmare had no choice but to send the unfinished Bai Qi into the fray.


    "Look what you''ve done!" Nightmare red at Fang Xiu furiously. "Everyone, attack!"


    At Nightmare''smand, three figures descended from the sky. They were the three psychic Specter ves Fang Xiu had encountered before.


    The three second-tier psychic Specter ves formed a triangle, surrounding Fang Xiupletely.


    "

 Chapter 138

    Chapter 138


    Finding himself surrounded, Fang Xiu smiled fiercely, "If that''s all you''ve got, you''ll be dead in no time."


    Then, the three Specter ves used their powers at once.


    One mmed his hands on the ground. The earth shook, and countless spikes shot toward Fang Xiu, aiming to pierce him all over.


    Another''s face turned into a dark, ink-like substance. The substance covered his body in ck armor and also transformed into a spear.


    Thest one multiplied from one to ten, then to a hundred, creating a hundred copies of himself.


    All three were powerful second-tier psychics.


    Fang Xiu, on the other hand, was exhausted from continuous battles. His body and spiritual energy were at their limits. If not for a brief rest, he might have copsed from the strain.


    Despite the huge power gap, Fang Xiu''s fierce smile only grew wider.


    "Finally, I can let loose!" heughed wickedly, sounding like a demon from hell. Hisugh echoed everywhere.


    He ignited countless Specter powers within the scalpel, causing a massive explosion.


    BOOM!


    Terrifying power turned into ck smoke, forming serpents with the faces of fierce Specters.


    These serpents entered Fang Xiu''s body, causing him immense pain and making him bleed, yet heughed even more wildly.


    "Power! The power is surging!" he cackled.


    This transformation was much stronger than thest, as Fang Xiu''s spiritual energy was greater. That allowed him to handle more Specter power despite the greater damage it caused.


    As the ground spikes approached, Fang Xiu didn''t even nce at them. The dark smoke around him easily destroyed the spikes.


    Seeing this, Nightmare panicked, "Are you crazy? With your body in this state, how dare you absorb such immense Specter power?"


    Nightmare seemed concerned about Fang Xiu but was actually worried about its own future, as he saw Fang Xiu''s body as its possession.


    Nightmare came from Green Mountain Mental Hospital and had seen the best there. It knew despite its current glory, Zhou Qingfeng still saw it as a failure.


    It wanted to ovee its ws, possess a real body, and impress President Zhou Qingfeng.


    Fang Xiu, Bai Qi, and Yang Ming were its chosen bodies. With their powers of foreseeing the future, extreme speed, and fate,bined with its own, Nightmare believed it could survive even against the strongest enemies.


    All Nightmare wanted was to not die. As long as it lived, there was hope. With time, it believed it could be one of the best, proving to Zhou Qingfeng that it was his greatest creation. So, seeing Fang Xiu mistreat its chosen body made Nightmare anxious.


    "Stop him! I won''t let him damage my body like that!" Nightmare shouted in desperation.


    On itsmand, the three Specter ves attacked. The one in ck armor jumped high, merging his figure with the blood moon before striking down at Fang Xiu with his dark spear.


    The clone Specter ve sent hundreds of copies to swarm Fang Xiu, while the other Specter ve smashed the ground, summoning giant earth dragons.


    When Fang Xiu''s scalpel met the dark spear, a sharp metallic sound echoed. The ground around him cracked and sunk, forming a crater. Shockwaves spread out like tides, bending trees and tossing branches around.


    Just as Fang Xiu seemed overwhelmed, the armored Specter ve, trying to hold him down, caused Fang Xiu''s arm to burst from the pressure.


    But Fang Xiu, covered in his own blood, just smirked, "The feeling of death? How boring"


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu''s eye shed with blood-red light, stunning the armored Specter ve.


    Fang Xiu''s hair writhed around like a thousand snakes. Taking advantage of this moment, he wrapped his hair around the earth dragon and pulled. Using the force, he leaped into the air and avoided the iing attacks.


    Nightmare watched, its eyes narrowing at Fang Xiu''s terrifyingbat instincts.


    Fang Xiu''s ability to seize the moment, multitask, and coordinate his actions was almost perfect. No wonder he was fearless; he was so calm and ruthless that he could make the most advantageous decisions in any dangerous situation.


    After dodging the attack, Fang Xiu stood on the earth dragon. His fingers flipped skillfully as he spun the scalpel in his hand, creating a dazzling disy.


    He crouched slightly, then exploded forward with incredible speed. His silver hair and the gleaming scalpel turned him into a streak of silver lightning as he rushed toward the clones.


    Nightmare sneered. It thought Fang Xiu couldn''t possibly identify the real body among the clones, which were almost indistinguishable even to itself. But its smile froze the next second when Fang Xiu, moving through the crowd, precisely targeted and struck the real Specter ve without hesitation.


    He left it with three fatal wounds before it even had a chance to react, and it fell dead.


    This was Fang Xiu''s "Instant Strikes."


    Nightmare was shocked, unable toprehend how Fang Xiu could have spotted the real body.


    _''Is it some sort of precise foresight, allowing Fang Xiu to obtain the exact future information he desires?''_


    Only Fang Xiu knew that it wasn''t about precise foresight but endless trial and error.


    After dealing with the clone Specter ve, Fang Xiu sensed an iing attack from behind.


    Without even looking back, he dodged by slightly shifting his position. Then, without turning around, he struck backward with his scalpel.


    The strike met the ck-armored Specter ve''s armor, and while the armor blocked the de, the force of the blow sent the attacker flying backward."

 Chapter 139

    Chapter 139


    The attack was too powerful, using too much strength. Several blood vessels burst in Fang Xiu''s body again, and blood flowed freely.


    His right hand waspletely useless, hanging limply as if it had no bones.


    The next second, however, countless silver hairs pierced into the flesh of his right arm, sewing up the blood vessels and connecting the bones and muscles, making it mobile again.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu fiercely stabbed the scalpel into the ground.


    A scream came from below, and blood began to seep out.


    It turned out that the Specter ve with earth powers had quietly gone underground, nning to do a sneak attack on Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu foresaw it and stabbed the ground before the enemy could emerge.


    The battle had only been brief, but two of the three Specter ves were already dead, leaving only the ck Armored Specter ve.


    The shy ones were all dead, but this one, relying solely on physicalbat, was still strong.


    Fang Xiu had an advantage against the others, but struggled more against straightforward fighters. The Specter ve''s ck armor and dark spear were tough, able to withstand the scalpel''s attack.


    The scalpel''s cutting ability increased with more power put into it. Fang Xiu had quickly dealt with two Specter ves, and he was now in a bad state. He had been through too many life-and-death fights so far, and his body was at its limit.


    His mental state, however, was better than ever.


    "It will be your turn soon," Fang Xiu said, tilting his head. His eyesone ck, one crimsonstared intently at Nightmare.


    Nightmare was shocked by his eerie appearance but still looked confident.


    Then, the ck Armored Specter ve attacked.


    Fang Xiu, holding the scalpel, fought back, blocking every tricky and fierce attack. But the huge force of the attacks was transmitted through the weapon to Fang Xiu''s body, making his bones crack under the strain.


    With another attack, Fang Xiu blocked again, and his right leg broke under the tremendous force.


    Looking at his twisted right leg, Fang Xiu looked displeased, "Human bodies are really fragile."


    In the next moment, countless silver hairs shot in, fixing his right leg and taking control of its movements.


    "I wanted to enjoy this more, but it seems this body has reached its limit. I''ll finish you off with one blow."


    As he spoke, a tremendous Specter power emerged from the scalpel, pouring into Fang Xiu''s body.


    Suddenly, he was enveloped by countless Specters, with silver hair wildly dancing and his right eye zing with blood-red light, like a demon from hell.


    But in the next second, his body seemed to fall apart, with blood bursting out and bones cracking.


    He looked like he was about to copse.


    Seeing Fang Xiu''s condition, Nightmare quickly stopped the ck Armored Specter ve and looked at Fang Xiu''s body with concern. "Just fall already. Stop torturing ''my'' body."


    "Fall? How could I fall here? This is just the beginning!" Fang Xiuughed wildly, hisugh echoing around, along with the roars of numerous Specters.


    It sounded like many Specters wereughing together.


    In the next moment, countless silver hairs pierced through his body, connecting at various parts.


    He used the silver hairs to control his body like a puppet.


    Fang Xiu''s body then began to defy gravity, as it zoomed with a deafening sound and disappeared from sight.


    The ck Armored Specter ve was momentarily confused, not knowing where the enemy had gone.


    Secondster, a fearsome face suddenly appeared in front of him. He felt an irresistible force pushing him down to the ground, creating a spiderweb pattern of cracks.


    Fang Xiu was sitting on top of the ck Armored Specter ve, his eyes zing with blood-red light. Heughed menacingly and said, "How many strikes can you withstand?"


    The scalpel moved swiftly, aiming at the ck Armored Specter ve''s face.


    The ve covered his face with his hands in panic.


    The sound of metal shing filled the air.


    Fang Xiu wildly swung the scalpel, excited like a child with a new toy. After several strikes, the ck armor started to show numerous cracks.


    Finally, the armor broke, revealing pale skin underneath.


    With another thrust, the ve''s blood sttered, covering Fang Xiu''s cheeks and fueling his excitement.


    Fang Xiu kept stabbing until the face was unrecognizable. Then, he looked up at Nightmare.


    Nightmare had aplicated expression on its face. "Are you human or a Specter?"


    Fang Xiu, licking the blood off the scalpel, grinned. "Of course, I''m human."


    "Do you believe that yourself?"


    "If that''s yourst word, I suggest you reconsider."


    Nightmare shook its head, "It seems this is the real yo. Everythingg before was an illusion. Well, I better start now; you''re too crazy. I''m afraid you''ll ruin my body."


    As it finished speaking, the blood moon in the sky suddenly grewrger.


    "

 Chapter 140

    Chapter 140


    # **Chapter 140 Possession**


    The Blood Moon was getting bigger, not because it was actually growing, but because it was falling. As it kept falling, the Blood Moon seemed to getrger andrger.


    Then, with a loud bang, the Blood Moon crashed on Fang Xiu, hard. Strangely, however, the Blood Moon only affected Fang Xiu.


    When the Blood Moon hit him, Fang Xiu wasn''t hurt at all. Instead, he found himself in a red space shaped like a sphere.


    "Inside the Blood Moon, huh? Interesting," Fang Xiu muttered, not scared at all; instead, he smiled as if he found the situation amusing.


    Suddenly, Nightmare appeared in the red space.


    "You won''t beughing for long, Fang Xiu," Nightmare sneered.


    A sh of silver light zipped by, but the scalpel passed right through Nightmare''s body as if cutting through air.


    "It''s no use. Right now, I''m just an illusion. You won''t see my true form until you break free from this state. With your current strength, you won''tst long," Nightmare said.


    But before he could finish, Fang Xiu was back to normal, and the dark mist around him vanished instantly, surprising Nightmare.


    "You''re giving up already? That''s like asking for death. Your body is already at its limit. You can''t unleash the power of the Specter in the scalpel again," Nightmare said.


    "Enough talk," Fang Xiu interrupted. "Show yourself. I want to see what surprise you have for me."


    Nightmare smirked and became solid. "I admire your confidence, Fang Xiu, but it doesn''t matter, you know. Your body''s mine now!"


    Nightmare walked toward Fang Xiu slowly, trying to pressure him.


    "Someone said something simrst time, but he died after that. Do you want to try too?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Nightmare''s smile grew. "You think I can''t take your body because you''re fearless? Maybe you''re right. Taking over a body is a battle of minds. And against a monster without fear like you, I might not win. But I''m different now. I have the fears of all Greenvine City. The consciousness of those who died in the Specter Zone is under my control. Maybe I can''t beat your mind alone, but what about with a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand people? How will you fight me then?"


    As soon as Nightmare finished, countless figures appeared in the red space, filling it up. There were people floating in the air and on the ground, even crowding around Fang Xiu.


    The figures around Fang Xiu were transparent, each face showing deep fear and pain. It was as if they were forever stuck in a nightmare.


    "You should tremble now, Fang Xiu! Tremble under fear, and be my nourishment!" Nightmareughed wildly.


    It thought it had Fang Xiu trapped. By keeping him in the Blood Moon space, there was no escape or interference from others.


    Fang Xiu seemed to have no way out, and once these consciousnesses wore him down, Nightmare would take over. Even the strongest mind couldn''t stand against tens of thousands.


    Nightmare thought it totally had the whole game under control.


    "Attack!" Nightmaremanded, like a general leading his troops.


    A horrifying scene unfolded as the dense consciousnesses in the Blood Moon space, like ghosts, crazily rushed into Fang Xiu. One by one, thousands, tens of thousands, they seemed endless.


    Fang Xiu could feel countless voices screaming in pain within his mind. Any ordinary person would have been lost in this sea of consciousness in an instant, yet Fang Xiu was anything but.


    Soon, Nightmare entered Fang Xiu''s mind and was immediately taken aback. "Is this really a human''s mind? It''s so dark, even darker than a Specter."


    Fang Xiu''s mind was a deep, twisted darkness, like a ck hole. At its center stood Fang Xiu''s consciousness, calmly looking around at the dense figures, unbothered.


    Despite his surprise, Nightmare was confident. "Fang Xiu, I underestimated you. But I was cautious not toe alone. Your mind may be darker than a Specter''s, but against overwhelming numbers, you will surely lose. Attack!"


    The consciousnesses roared towards Fang Xiu in the center of the ck hole. As they entered, negative emotions surged, and the ck hole spun rapidly, shredding the first few consciousnesses that approached.


    Nightmare was secretly rmed but d he had made his decision.


    As more consciousnesses rushed in, the ck hole trembled violently, as if it couldn''t handle them all.


    Eventually, the darkness shattered, revealing a void.


    Fang Xiu''s mind was indeed twisted and dark, enough to instantly shatter ordinary minds with its violent negative emotions.


    However, everything has a limit. If Fang Xiu''s negative emotions were poison, there was only so much to go around.


    A certain amount of poison can kill one person, ten, or a hundred, but diluted too much, can it kill ten thousand?Clearly, no."

 Chapter 141

    Chapter 141


    Nightmare nned to wear down Fang Xiu''s consciousness with tens of thousands of minds before making its move. Its n seemed to be working.


    Fang Xiu was surrounded by countless consciousnesses, all tearing at him as if they wanted to rip him apart.


    But even surrounded, Fang Xiu remained calm. The attacks couldn''t shake him at all.


    Seeing this, Nightmare was shocked by his strong will. Fang Xiu was like a stone, so unmovable and firm.


    Nightmare admired Fang Xiu''s will, "You''re the most determined person I''ve seen. I''m curious: what belief supports you, keeping your consciousness intact even under the assault of tens of thousands?"


    Fang Xiu thought of his wife. It was hatred that kept him going: hatred for his wife, for Specters, for the world. He wouldn''t fall until he had his revenge.


    Nightmare warned, "Even the strongest stone can be worn down by constant dripping. I will wear you down today!"


    Nightmare was right. Even if Fang Xiu was a rock, the endless attacks were like water drops; enough drops could wear through stone.


    Fang Xiu''s consciousness began to waver slightly under the relentless assault.


    Seeing this, Nightmare urged, "Keep attacking! Scatter his consciousness!" It sent endless fear toward Fang Xiu, trying to break him and make him feel fear.


    But Fang Xiu was tough. "Fear? I''ve discarded such useless things. I''ve been killed by my wife over and over. I''ve cried and fought back and begged for mercy. I lost my dignity, everything, just to live. But she never spared me. That''s when I learned fear is useless. My will to survive and myself are the only things that can get me through everything. You think you can make me afraid? Who do you think you''re?"


    Furious, Nightmare yelled, "Tear him apart!"


    The consciousnesses screamed, trying to shred Fang Xiu''s will.


    Attacked from all sides, Fang Xiu felt dizzy, like a small boat in a stormy sea.


    As time passed, Fang Xiu felt increasingly drowsy, as if he was truly facing death. He was somewhat reflective, realizing he couldn''t even take his own life in this state.


    His body, overwhelmed by countless attacking consciousnesses, had lost control and reached its limits.


    Surrounded and unable to connect with the hair Specter, he couldn''tmit suicide.


    It seemed that what was ahead was the dissipation of his consciousness, meaning the loss of all his memories, thoughts, and emotions. He wondered if dying in this state would trigger a death rewind, and if it did, whether he''d return as a fool without any memories at all.


    At this critical moment, Nightmare changed tactics. It unleashed endless ck smoke, spreading toward Fang Xiu''s mental space, targeting his spirit.


    Nightmare aimed to enhance Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy, simr to how it had helped Bai Qi break through to the third tier before.


    Nightmare considered Fang Xiu''s body as its own and wouldn''t allow it to be weak.


    Curious about the extent of second-tier foresight, Nightmare was eager to see its potential.


    With this in mind, Nightmare generously contributed its power to infect Fang Xiu''s spirit, aiding in the awakening of more Spiritual Energy.


    The order was crucial; psychic abilities are closely tied to the mind, and once Fang Xiu''s consciousness dissipated, his abilities could never grow.


    elerating the activation of psychic powers could also hasten the copse of Fang Xiu''s consciousness, as rapid activation might lead to mental instability and confusion, risking uncontrolled Spiritual Energy.


    This was an attack from both inside and out: countless consciousnesses attacking from outside, and Nightmare disrupting from within.


    At such a critical juncture, Nightmare felt it was essential to act quickly, not wanting to drag things out and risk unexpected developments.


    With Yang Ming and Bai Qi still fighting in the outside world, any dy could lead toplications, especially if Yang Ming dealt with Bai Qi and intervened.


    Though Nightmare didn''t consider Yang Ming a big threat, it knew one could never be careful enough when facing God''s n.


    With Nightmare''s assistance, Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy began to increase rapidly.


    Having already advanced much before, Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy was now awakening further.


    13%, 14%, 15%... It grew steadily, like a progress bar. Meanwhile, Fang Xiu''s consciousness started to show signs of thinning; it was gradually fading away."

 Chapter 142

    Chapter 142


    Gradually, Fang Xiu''s mind became blurry.


    Under the relentless attacks of countless consciousnesses, even he found it overwhelming.


    <em>''Is this what death feels like? It''s oddly nostalgic. Having died countless times before, I''ve be numb, but only in these moments, when true death looms, do I feel a trace of warmth in my cold blood.''</em>


    He suddenly felt very tired. The endless cycle of life and death was exhausting.<em>''I wish I could just die for real this time.''</em>


    It wasn''t strange for Fang Xiu to think this way because this was a battle of minds. There was no gunfire or bloodshed, just the opponent''s consciousness overpowering one''s own, causing it to waver and slowly fade away.


    But as his consciousness weakened further, Fang Xiu smiled. "My wife is still alive; she had to die first! Besides, how can I get defeated by such a stupid Specter?"


    He let out a menacingugh.


    Nightmare was taken aback for a moment, then sneered, "You can stillugh at death''s door?"


    He increased his efforts, and Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy kept increasing.


    16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%...


    Fang Xiu reached the second tier!


    Just then, a pale arm reached out from the crowd.


    Nightmare frowned. "Still trying to put on a dying struggle?"


    Soon after, another arm emerged, and with a strong push, Fang Xiu''s consciousness rose from the crowd.


    Fang Xiu, standing atop a mountain of bodies, had a terrifying grin on his face.


    He was surrounded by a horrifying ck mist, like a demon rising from a mountain of corpses and seas of blood.


    "Impossible!" Nightmare was shocked. "Tens of thousands of consciousnesses can''t hold you back?"


    As Fang Xiu emerged, countless consciousnesses rushed towards him, but as soon as they touched the ck mist around him, they screamed and began to dissipate.


    At the same time, endless ck mist gathered around Fang Xiu from the surrounding void.


    The ck mist around Fang Xiu was depleting due to the attack of tens of thousands, but more ck mist would appear out of nowhere to replenish it.


    "What is this thing!" Nightmare eximed.


    Fang Xiu, protected by the ck mist, withstood the attack of tens of thousands.


    He moved, step by step, toward Nightmare with an increasingly sinister grin. "This is the pain you brought to Greenvine City."


    "Pain?" Nightmare didn''t understand Fang Xiu''s words.


    "Don''t you get it?" Fang Xiu shook his head in slight disappointment, seemingly dissatisfied with Nightmare''s intelligence.


    "When you spread fear in Greenvine City, pain follows. In a way, I should thank you. You helped me advance to second-tier, enhancing my abilities to feed on people''s pain."


    "Feeding on their pain?" Nightmare''s face changed drastically. "Isn''t your ability to foresee the future? Do you have two abilities?"


    "That doesn''t matter, does it? Considering you''re going to die in a minute." As soon as Fang Xiu finished speaking, he reached out with a pale hand.


    The endless ck mist in the void seemed drawn to his palm, quickly forming a ck sphere that resembled a ck hole.


    With a loud boom, the ck sphere shot out, heading straight for Nightmare.


    Nightmare''s body immediately produced countless ck smoke to block it, but the ck sphere pierced through the smoke and hit it directly.


    Nightmare screamed in pain as it was violently thrown back. Its face twisted in agony. "Impossible! Even if you can absorb pain, why is your pain so heavy?"


    Seeing Nightmare scream, Fang Xiu became excited, and his face twisted into something more sinister. "Hehehe... You absorbed all the fear from Greenvine City, and I absorbed all its pain."


    "The whole Greenvine City? How is that possible?! I pulled the entire Greenvine City into a dream to absorb everyone''s fear. You''re just a second-tier psychic; you couldn''t possibly do that."


    "That''s why I have you to thank. You not only helped me enhance my Spiritual Energy but also helped me absorb all the pain from Greenvine City."


    "Me? Help you?"


    "Don''t forget whose body you''re in."


    At these words, Nightmare''s face drastically changed, and it instantly understood everything.


    By invading Fang Xiu''s body, Nightmare essentially became Fang Xiu, controlling the Specter Zone and connecting to everyone''s dreams. It absorbed their fears through their dreams. Simrly, Fang Xiu used the dream channel to absorb everyone''s pain.


    It was as if Nightmare had numerous threads connecting everyone''s dreams, and by entering Fang Xiu''s body, those threads were connected to Fang Xiu through Nightmare.


    "Curse you! How dare you use me! I didn''t expect you to turn the tables in such a situation, but luck can''t always be on your side," Nightmare roared in anger.


    Clearly, Nightmare thought Fang Xiu was just lucky, with the second-tier ability enhancement happening to enhance the ability to absorb pain.


    Only Fang Xiu knew this had nothing to do with his luck.


    A psychic''s abilities are closely rted to their spirit, a reflection of their soul. It''s influenced by each person''s experiences, thoughts, emotions, personality, and what they truly desire deep inside.


    Fang Xiu''s ability was pain because he had suffered deeply, his pain etched into his very bones.


    His innermost desire was for all Specters in the world to feel this pain, to empathize and experience everything he had endured. That was why he awakened the ability to manipte pain.


    The enhancement on people''s powers when they reached the second tier was also closely rted to the souls. It was an enhancement of the pain ability, but the direction of this enhancement was ultimately determined by Fang Xiu himself.


    When he was surrounded by tens of thousands of consciousnesses, he noticed the pain on each of their faces.


    Fear and pain go hand in hand. When fear spread throughout Greenvine City, people were terrified. Various events of life and death, separations, and bloodshed urred, each filled with extreme pain.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu saw an opportunity to turn the tables.


    Nightmare became powerful through the fear of the entire Greenvine City; Fang Xiu thought he could achieve that through the city''s pain.


    He couldn''t defeat Nightmare now because it had the support of countless people. Thus, only by having a simr base of support could they stand on equal footing.


    Driven by this desire, Fang Xiu attempted to absorb pain just as Nightmare absorbed fear.


    However, with his first-tier abilities, he couldn''t quite reach that level; there was always a barrier in the way.


    But when Nightmare helped him break through to the second-tier, that barrier was shattered, and he finally absorbed the pain of the entire Greenvine City.


    <h5>TL Notes:</h5>


    <strong>Trantor''s note: I''m sorry if the exnation part feels confusing and unclear. The author was putting big words together and tried to muddle it through again.</strong>


    <strong>Seriously, I don''t think he needs to exin everything every time. We''re reading a supernatural story and we know weird things happen. Just say "When you bring fear to the city, pain follows," and that''s good enough.</strong>

 Chapter 143

    Chapter 143


    Nightmare roared, and fear from all around started gathering toward it. "You think you can use my power to beat me? Quit daydreaming!"


    The fear in this mental space turned into something solid. It became a huge ck ball, just like what Fang Xiu had made, but this time it was even bigger because of all the fearing together.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Fang Xiu mocked. "Pain, more pain! The pain from everyone in Greenvine City,e to me!"


    With those words, pain from all over the city rushed toward him like waves.


    Suddenly, something strange happened in Greenvine City.


    People who were hurt or who had lost loved ones felt their pain fading away. It was like something was being pulled out of them, and their screams of pain stopped.


    Everyone started to feel a bit more at peace.


    All this pain was going to Fang Xiu. He was taking on the pain of the whole city by himself.


    In his mind, Fang Xiu saw countless people in pain, crying over their loved ones, surrounded by blood and fire.


    The ck mist around him increasingly thicker until he waspletely hidden inside it, except for his fierce, pale face.


    Fang Xiu seemed to be in a simr state as Nightmare now.


    Nightmare had blood-red eyes in the ck smoke, and Fang Xiu had his face showing through the ck mist.


    "Die!" Nightmare, feeling more uneasy,unched a massive ball of fear at Fang Xiu.


    The ck ball was huge and swallowed Fang Xiupletely.


    But a secondter, it exploded, and Fang Xiu walked out without a scratch, looking like a demon.


    "Damn it!" Nightmare panicked and started throwing more and more fear balls at Fang Xiu.


    But no matter how many he threw, the ck mist around Fang Xiu would get hit and then heal back up, as if nothing had happened.


    Fang Xiu''sugh, twisted and scary, echoed from the mist. His eyes, one ck and one red, were fixed on Nightmare.


    "Feel the pain you''ve caused to millions in Greenvine City!" Fang Xiu''sughter grew louder and started to ovep, as if many people in pain were standing behind him,ughing with him.


    Seeing the situation, Nightmare panicked and unleashed all its power, with ck smoke billowing out.


    Just then, countless shadows of people drowning in fear appeared behind it.


    Nightmare yelled, "Fang Xiu, you have the pain of the entire Greenvine City, but I have fear! You don''t scare me!"


    Fang Xiu suddenly stoppedughing. His eyes turned cold and indifferent.


    "Kneel!" hemanded.


    The whole space shook uncontrobly, as if billions were screaming together, their voices like a tsunami.


    A giant hand made of pain appeared, and the painful shadows merged into it, mming down hard.


    "What!" Nightmare was shocked, its face changing rapidly, frantically resisting.


    Countless shadows of fear raised their hands as if to stop the giant hand from above. But it was all in vain.


    BOOM!


    All the shadows vanished after getting hit, and Nightmare''s ck smoke churned up, almost dispersing its form.


    It fell to its knees, its blood-red eyes full of fear. "This is impossible! Why are you so powerful?"


    "Because my pain is far greater than you can imagine! Fear may disappear with a happy song, but the pain that remains in one''s body and soul does not. For the sake of the pain of the entire Greenvine City, go to hell, Nightmare!"


    The hand of pain kept mming down, like a human swatting a worthless ant.


    "Argh!" Nightmare''s screams of twisted pain kepting. Its ck smoke thinned, unable to even maintain a human shape.


    Finally, it reverted to its original state in Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    As the attacks continued, Fang Xiu''s power of pain also wore down, and soon, the giant hand of pain dissolved. Only Nightmare, barely alive, remained on its knees.


    Fang Xiu used thest of his pain power to form a huge cage, locking Nightmare up.


    Nightmare looked very pathetic, like a drowned dog, but when it saw Fang Xiu''s power of pain fading, it sneered.


    "Fang Xiu, it looks like your pain is almost spent. You can''t kill me. I''ve nted fear in the hearts of everyone in Greenvine City. As long as they feel fear and have nightmares, I will be reborn in their nightmares. Haha! Unless you kill everyone in Greenvine City, I will never die!"


    Watching the arrogant Nightmare, Fang Xiu''s eyes suddenly lit up with excitement, as if he had found a toy that could never be broken.


    Fang Xiu''s sinisterugh cut through Nightmare''sughter.


    Nightmare felt something was off. "What are youughing at?"


    "It''s wonderful, a Specter that can''t die?"


    "What do you want to do!"


    "What? Of course, I want to trap you in my dreams and torment you forever!" Fang Xiu was more excited than ever. He had found a way to vent his frustrations.


    Every day he had to pretend not to see the Specters around him; he had to act like nothing was wrong, and closed off his heart like a living dead.


    But now, with Nightmare, he could at least sleep well, entering sweet nightmares to torture Nightmare over and over, venting his daytime frustrations.


    He desperately needed such a Specter.


    "Join me! Merge into my dreamspletely!" Fang Xiuughed menacingly and approached Nightmare.


    Nightmare was terrified, "Don''te any closer!"


    But Fang Xiu lunged at him, crazily biting and tearing at Nightmare.


    He wanted to merge Nightmare into himself, to imprison it in his dreams forever, so he could see Nightmare every time he slept."

 Chapter 144

    Chapter 144


    Nightmare screamed, "Arghhhh!! Stop it right now!"


    But Fang Xiu didn''t care and kept swallowing the ck smoke. Soon, his consciousness turned ck.


    "You can''t eat Specters! Stop!" Nightmare was desperate. It was the first time it saw someone eating a Specter. And Fang Xiu seemed unaffected by eating it.


    "You''re eating me alive! Are you even human? Only Specters do that! Ah!"


    Fang Xiu bit off one of Nightmare''s blood-red eyes and chewed it. It felt soft and slippery, like jelly.


    Nightmare''s screams got weaker until Fang Xiu ate it all.


    But Nightmare didn''t die; it lived in Fang Xiu''s dreams and joined him every night.


    Fang Xiu felt something was touching his body. He quickly returned to the outside world and took control of his body.


    He opened his eyes to see a big face and pursed lips, getting closer. It was Yang Ming.


    SNAP!


    Fang Xiu''s silver hair whipped Yang Ming''s face.


    "Ah!" Yang Ming yelled. "You''re awake. Why hit me? Did you think I wanted to give you mouth-to-mouth? So, did you deal with Nightmare?"


    Fang Xiu nodded and used his hair Specter to stand up.


    He saw he was out of the bloody space and back at Putuo Temple, which was a mess. It looked like it was hit by a big earthquake. There were broken limbs everywhere, and the temple was partly destroyed.


    Clearly, Yang Ming and Bai Qi did this.


    Speaking of Bai Qi, Fang Xiu saw him unconscious on Yang Ming''s back, his handsome face covered with bruises.


    Yang Ming quickly said, "Don''t get me wrong. I was just trying to wake him up by hitting his face. Bai Qi turned evil and was very cunning. He pretended to be free from Nightmare''s control when we fought each other. I didn''t believe such a poor trick. He was deeply controlled and then suddenly free? So I pretended to believe him, caught him off guard, and knocked him out by beating his head."


    Fang Xiu was silent for a moment before saying, "Bai Qi probably wasn''t pretending to be free; I just took care of Nightmare, so he must have really broken free. The disappearance of the Specter Zone in Greenvine City is the best proof."


    Yang Ming''s eyes widened, and he quickly changed the subject. "Oh, well That, hey, speaking of which, the moonlight is really nice tonight, right? Now that Nightmare is dealt with, let''s head back. Nightmare caused a lot of damage, and there''s a lot of work to do dealing with the aftermath. Oh, and I''ll leave Bai Qi to you. Carrying him slows me down, and as the team leader, I have too much work, especially at this crucial time. I need to get back as soon as possible."


    Without waiting for Fang Xiu''s agreement, Yang Ming dropped Bai Qi on the ground, raising a cloud of dust, and then vanished into the night with a sh of red light from his shoes.


    Fang Xiu was left speechless.


    Eventually, Fang Xiu used his hair Specter to create several silver strands and dragged Bai Qi back like a corpse. Bai Qi, now a third-tier psychic with the Extreme Speed ability, had physical abilities far beyond a normal human, so he wasn''t in danger of getting hurt by getting dragged, except for maybe some torn clothes.


    Fang Xiu tried to lift Bai Qi, but his hair Specter was also heavily drained. Moreover, he had to control his own body and had no strength left to do more.


    A month had passed since the Nightmare incident, and Fang Xiu had been in bed the whole time due to severe physical exhaustion.


    The Investigation Bureau used a lot of cell repair fluids and even brought in psychics with healing abilities to treat him.


    Fortunately, he advanced to the second tier, which strengthened his body. If not for these factors improving his recovery, the battle might have left himpletely disabled.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t too concerned about bing disabled. He had already nned to find some Specter bodies and use his hair Specter to connect their parts to reassemble himself if he couldn''t be healed. He was already dissatisfied with the frailty of the human body.


    During the month Fang Xiu was recovering, the outside world had undergone dramatic changes. ording to reports, at least 100,000 people died in the Nightmare incident, and the number of psychics was halved as about half of them died in the incident, leading to severe losses.


    The most challenging part was exining the situation to the public. The government imed it was a gas leak, a type of psychic gas that caused hallucinations and fear.


    Of course, the actual death toll was not disclosed.


    This kind of exnation might deceive people from other cities, but it couldn''t fool the local residents.


    The authorities had no other choice. They couldn''t disclose any Specter events to the public because there are more Specters like Nightmare that grow stronger through fear. Revealing this information would only cause chaos and allow Specters to grow faster. This was why the Investigation Bureau''s headquarters dyed revealing the truth.


    Though it was harsh, the truth was that ordinary people didn''t contribute much in Specter events apart from adding chaos and bing fodder.


    The Investigation Bureau took some measures within their capacity. They sent more personnel to handle the aftermath in Greenvine City and secretly spread rumors about their existence, letting people know there were protectors against Specters.


    The rumors also suggested that Greenvine City, having been cleansed of many Specters, was now safer than other cities that might still face new Specter events.


    With various calming measures, the public sentiment in Greenvine City stabilized within a month, even though an economic downturn was inevitable.


    At night, hardly anyone dared to wander outside.


    In the psychicmunity, the situation was buzzing.


    Fang Xiu became famous, especially after revealing his ability to foresee the future, adding fuel to the fire.


    Fang Xiu, the foreseer, became a celebrated topic in the psychic circles of Greenvine City.


    The few civilian psychics who survived in his team became his loyal fans, greatly exaggerating his performance in the Specter Zone.


    Some even imed that Greenvine City would have be a dead city without Fang Xiu. With Fang Xiu leading, addressing any Specter event below S was a walk in the park, even guaranteeing a 100% survival rate.


    Fang Xiu''s fame wasn''t limited to Greenvine City; it spread to surrounding cities and even shook the headquarters."

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145


    A first-tier psychic sessfully handled a Grade-S Specter event. The news was as shocking as if a primary school student had mastered controlled nuclear fusion.


    There had been Grade-S Specter events in the country before. Often, each Grade-S Specter event led to severe societal losses. Sometimes, they couldn''t be fully resolved and had to be contained by various means.


    So, Fang Xiu, as a first-tier psychic, solving a Grade-S Specter event shocked the psychicmunity.


    At the Investigation Bureau headquarters, in a secret meeting room, several top officials were discussing.


    They each had a file in front of them, notablybeled Fang Xiu, Yang Ming, Bai Qi, and others. Fang Xiu''s file was at the forefront.


    "All these individuals'' potentials are to be upgraded, especially Fang Xiu. I rmend you move him into the top ten of the National Psychic Talent Database."


    "Agreed."


    "Seconded."


    "Yang Ming, Zhao Hao, Liu Shuai all into the top hundred, Bai Qi into the top two hundred."


    There was some opposition.


    "I have no issues with Yang Ming and Bai Qi. But Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai are just two rookie psychics. Although their performance ismendable, there is still a big gappared to others. I think cing them in the top thousand would be more appropriate."


    "Their potential is substantial. To my knowledge, Zhao Hao''s ability allows him to gain powerfulbat strength at midnight. With only 1% of his Spiritual Energy, he can match a second-tier psychic; when 5% of his Spiritual Energy is active, he can secure a victory. This shows a huge growth in hisbat capabilities. Just imagine, once he reaches second-tier, he will be able to match a third-tierbatant. And if he reaches third-tier? Think about it. It''s so promising. "


    The others pondered and then nodded in agreement.


    "What about Liu Shuai?"


    "Liu Shuai is the same. With 1% of his Spiritual Energy, he can only teleport 10 centimeters in an hour. But as his Spiritual Energy grows, his teleportation ability increases rapidly. This is non-linear growth. If he reaches second-tier, his power will explode. It''s possible he could teleport endlessly if his Spiritual Energy doesn''t run out."


    They all agreed with this.


    "Also, I suggest we recruit these individuals for training at headquarters soon and give them awards for dealing with the Grade-S Specter events. The global situation is getting worse, and we need to focus all our strength on oveing these challenges. I don''t want internal instability at this time."


    As soon he said that, the others showed interest. They didn''t even listen to thest part; they were more interested in the first part.


    Bringing these people in for training meant they could get closer to Fang Xiu and the others. They were especially interested in Fang Xiu, because ability to foresee events could be a great asset.


    In the shadow of a skyscraper in Greenvine City, Ace of Spades and King of Spades stood hidden, wearing poker masks on their faces. They watched as people strolled on the street.


    Their strange outfits didn''t catch anyone''s attention. To the people passing by, the shadow cast by the building just seemed like a normal shadow, nothing out of the ordinary.


    "It''s surprising that Fang Xiu, not Yang Ming, solved the Nightmare event this time. It seems God''s n doesn''t always help him as we thought," Ace of Spades said with a coldugh.


    King of Spades shook his head, "Maybe, this is just another way God''s n works. When a crisises, someone always steps up to help him. Isn''t that God''s n?"


    "Hmph! You''re just making excuses," Ace of Spades retorted.


    King of Spades sighed, "You always focus on the process and ignore the oue. Haven''t you noticed? Whether it was Yang Ming breaking through to third-tier or solving the Nightmare event, the processes wereplicated, but he seeded in the end. I''ve said it before, President Zhou Qingfeng is never wrong. If he believes in Yang Ming, then it must be Yang Ming."


    Ace of Spades fell silent, not arguing anymore, but he was still not convinced. He was jealous because he had followed Zhou Qingfeng earlier, yet Zhou Qingfeng valued Yang Ming, someone he had never met.


    King of Spades didn''t realize Ace of Spades was nning something else. Soon, a n against Yang Ming formed in his mind, with Fang Xiu being the key.


    It was night, and the stars twinkled in the sky. Fang Xiu, now recovered, walked alone on the deserted streets.


    After the Nightmare event, citizens were afraid to go out at night. Even though Specters had nothing to do with sunlight, those people instinctively feared the darkness now.


    Walking home, Fang Xiu thought about his abilities after bing second-tier, particrly his ability to absorb pain.


    He had been busy this past month. Despite being seriously injured, his Spiritual Energy had recovered, and he had been experimenting with his abilities.


    He concluded that he could absorb not only his own pain but also that of others, as long as he had physical contact with them.


    He had been severely injured, but when he used his pain-absorbing ability, he found that he no longer felt pain. His pain was gone, although his injuries didn''t heal.


    Later, he wandered around the hospital, absorbing the pain of the patients there.


    Absorbing pain turned out to be much more effective than painkillers. With this ability, Fang Xiu was even sure he wouldn''t need anesthesia for surgeries.


    The pain he absorbed could be stored inside him and then released all at once. This became a secret weapon for Fang Xiu. As long as he absorbed enough pain, he could use it to defeat most enemies instantly when he released it during a fight.


    Besides his pain ability, Fang Xiu''s increase in Spiritual Energy also significantly boosted his physical strength. His strength and speed reached superhuman levels, aplete transformation.


    This meant he could handle more Specter power in his scalpel, making him even stronger after transforming.


    As for Nightmare, although Fang Xiu imed it was dead, it was actually trapped forever in his dreams.


    Now, whenever Fang Xiu slept, he could see Nightmare. Its power was greatly weakened, and since the dream was Fang Xiu''s domain, Nightmare became his ything. It suffered inhuman torture every day, amusing Fang Xiu.


    Sleeping and tormenting Nightmare became Fang Xiu''s happiest moments each day.


    He also found another benefit to this arrangement. He seemed to be somewhat immune to attacks on his consciousness. With Nightmare in his psychic world, Fang Xiu could use it as a shield against mental attacks, like memory erasure.


    Moreover, Nightmare was somewhat immortal, serving as a solid shield.


    Overall, the past month had been very worthwhile for Fang Xiu. His overall strength had increased, and he had also gained two secret weapons and a significant reward.


    Wang Dehai had mentioned that this was Greenvine City''s first Grade-S event. The event was too huge, so the local office didn''t have enough money or resources to reward Fang Xiu.


    They had reported to the headquarters, and after things settled down, Fang Xiu would be able to collect a generous reward. Whether it was cash, spiritual coins, spiritual incense, or even the headquarters'' treasured Specter Gadgets, they would have whatever Fang Xiu wanted.


    If he was lucky, he might even get a spot for training at the headquarters.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t much interested in spiritual coins or incense, but he was very curious about the Specter Gadgets. He clearly remembered the shocking scene when Yang Ming used three Specter Gadgets during his fight with Bai Qi.


    As Fang Xiu was deep in thought, suddenly, the shadow behind him moved. It seemed as if the shadow came to life, standing up and turning into a solid figure."

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146


    The shadow came to life.


    The visitor was Ace of Spades, and he had heard too much about Fang Xiu recently.


    "Fang Xiu, the foreseer," a cold voice echoed in the empty street.


    Fang Xiu frowned instantly, for the voice came from behind him. His hand slightly dropped, and a scalpel fell from his sleeve into his hand, shimmering with a cold light.


    Fang Xiu tightened his hand around the scalpel, ready to turn and strike. However, at that moment, he found himself unable to move. He could only move the muscles in his face and his eyes.


    A mockingugh came from behind, "It seems your foresight isn''t that great, failing to foresee my arrival. Oh, that''s right, with your weak Spiritual Energy, you probably don''t dare to use your foresight casually."


    As soon as the voice faded, Fang Xiu found he could move again. But he felt like a puppet, being controlled to turn around.


    When he turned, he was stunned to see a person made of shadows, wearing an Ace of Spades mask.


    The shadow under Ace of Spades'' feet was connected to him like water.


    Fang Xiu''s brow furrowed slightly. Although he had never met Ace of Spades, he had already learned about him and the Pokers organization from Yang Ming.


    Lin Ziyang''s transformation into a Specter had things to do with King of Spades. Moreover, Yang Ming''s breakthrough to the third-tier, and the recent Nightmare event, were all Ace of Spades'' doing.


    From this information, Fang Xiu could infer that Ace of Spade'' strength was at least at the third-tier, possibly even the fourth-tier.


    It was nearly impossible for third-tier psychics to block off the entire Greenvine City with their power alone, so Fang Xiu guessed Ace of Spades might be a fourth-tier psychic. Of course, there were chances that he was a third-tier psychic, but with special abilities or Specter Gadgets.


    No matter what tier the guy was at, however, Fang Xiu was no match for him at the moment.


    Fang Xiu was well aware. Although he had reached the second-tier, capable of leveraging more Specter power and enhancing it in multiple ways, in terms of sheer strength, he clearly couldn''t beat Ace of Spades, who could block off the entire Greenvine City.


    And he had a feeling that Ace of Spades'' strength might even surpass Yang Ming and Bai Qi.


    Facing such a formidable opponent, Fang Xiu stood no chance to win, unless, he used death rewind to find the opponent''s weakness.


    "Oh? It seems you know about me," Ace of Spades said with interest.


    "Is there something you want?" Fang Xiu asked calmly, looking at him.


    "Not bad for someone who resolved Grade-S Specter events. Even when your body is controlled, you don''t seem to panic."


    "So, you came here just to chat?"


    Ace of Spades'' smile faded instantly, and his gaze turned icy cold. "Fang Xiu, you should be grateful. If you weren''t of some use to me, you''d be dead for speaking to me like that."


    "Are you done? Then make your move."


    "How dare you!" Ace of Spades was furious. He realized Fang Xiu couldn''t tell who was in control of the situation.


    "Good, I like you more and more," Ace of Spades suddenlyughed, showing how quickly his mood could change. "I came here today for one reason: to invite you to join the Pokers organization. You don''t have to rush to refuse."


    "Okay, I''m in."


    "The Pokers organization is... wait, what did you just say?" Ace of Spades was taken aback.


    "I said, I''m in," Fang Xiu calmly repeated.


    Ace of Spades was even more stunned. "Do you realize that joining the Pokers is like betraying the Investigation Bureau?"


    "I don''t care."


    "Do you know what the Pokers organization is about?"


    "Not really."


    "Then why would you want to join it?"


    "I feel like it."


    Ace of Spades was at a loss for words. He couldn''t believe how readily Fang Xiu had agreed. He hadn''t even started to brag about how awesome the Pokers were or the benefits of joining, and Fang Xiu had already agreed.


    Fang Xiu had just solved a Grade-S Specter event, and his reputation had reached the headquarters of the Investigation Bureau. His future was bright, yet he was so willing to give that up.


    "Are you messing with me?" Ace of Spades was suspicious.


    "Believe it or not, that''s up to you."


    In truth, Fang Xiu meant what he said about joining because he knew that the Pokers organization had intricate connections with Zhou Qingfeng. He thought that by joining, he might be able to better understand the truths of this world.


    After a moment of silence, Ace of Spades said, "To join the organization, you must first pass a test."


    "What test?"


    "The test is to prove your ability to foresee the future. The content is simple. You im to foresee the future, right? Then predict why I invited you to join the Pokers."


    "Because I can foresee the future."


    Ace of Spades was at a loss for words. "Well That I meant the deeper reason! Think carefully before you answer. You only have one chance, and a wrong answer means death!"


    Fang Xiu started to ponder. When Nightmare wreaked havoc in the city, Ace of Spades helped Nightmare evolve, indicating his goal was to create powerful Specters. Moreover, ording to the Investigation Bureau, when the headquarters sent people to rescue, the King of Spades intervened.


    All these reasons suggest that the Pokers organization is anti-humanity, clearly siding with the Specters.


    Lin Ziyang''s transformation into a Specter was also rted to the King of Spades. This indicated that the Pokers organization might control the method by which psychics could be Specters.


    _''If you can''t beat them, why not join them?''_ The thought suddenly struck Fang Xiu''s mind.


    He gradually connected the dots to the ultimate goal of the Pokers organization.


    Contrary to Fang Xiu''s desire to create a world without Specters, they aimed to forge a world without humans. To achieve this goal, the Investigation Bureau was an obstacle they couldn''t bypass.


    Fang Xiu''s resolution of the Nightmare event had made him a rising star within the Investigation Bureau. If they could turn him and utilize his abilities, they could surely deal a heavy blow to the Bureau.


    Given these considerations, Fang Xiu felt the reason Ace of Spades invited him to join the Pokers was bing evident. The reason was so clear that he didn''t even need to use death rewind to easily guess it.


    Thus, Fang Xiu said lightly, "You''re inviting me to be a spy because your organization''s goal is to turn humans into Specters. If you can''t beat the Specters, then join them. The Investigation Bureau is an obstacle you can''t get around.


    "Your previous support for Nightmare was to create chaos and weaken the Bureau''s power. You saw my potential in resolving the Nightmare incident, which gave you a better nuse me against the Investigation Bureau.


    "As a rising star of the Bureau, I''ll soon be sent to the headquarters for training. In the future, I''ll be heavily relied upon, making me the perfect choice for a spy."


    Hearing this, Ace of Spades paused, "Is that so? Your n sounds good, but it''s not the reason I invited you to join."


    Fang Xiu suddenly felt he might be dealing with a fool. Or perhaps, his own thoughts were just too far ahead than Ace of Spades''."

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147


    At that moment, Ace of Spades said, "Unfortunately, Fang Xiu, even though you''re smart, your ability to predict the future is not up to my standards. It seems you can''t always predict sessfully. This is not what I need.


    "As for the spy n, it''s a good idea indeed. But I won''t choose you as a spy because you are too noticeable. Once you go to the headquarters, you''ll attract a lot of attention. Moreover, you''re hard to control. Maybe Zhao Hao would be a better choice. Well, after saying so much, it''s time to kill you. Don''t me me; me yourself for answering wrong earlier."


    As Ace of Spades was about to make his move, Fang Xiu smiled coldly, "The answer was set by you, so whatever I say could be wrong."


    Ace of Spades narrowed his eyes, "Are you saying I''m deliberately using you of being wrong?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t argue but simply said, "My predictions never go wrong."


    Ace of Spadesughed coldly, "Well, since you''re going to die anyway, there''s no harm in telling you the reason. I invited you because I wanted you to go to Green Mountain Mental Hospital, to Room 520 in Building C, and retrieve something."


    Hearing about Room 520 in Building C, Fang Xiu''s mind raced. _''Does Ace of Spades want the gift that Zhou Qingfeng left in Green Mountain Mental Hospital? Shouldn''t that gift be for the lucky one of God''s n?''_


    "A more believable reason would be nice. Can''t you get it yourself?" Fang Xiu scoffed.


    "Hmph! Only two kinds of people can retrieve it: those with great luck or those who can predict the future. I thought you were the best candidate, but now it seems you can''t even predict my purpose. You won''t be able to get anything from there."


    After a moment, Fang Xiu asked, "If that''s the case, why don''t you find Yang Ming? Oh, I get it. Since he''s a third-tier psychic, you dare not approach him."


    The mention of Yang Ming seemed to hit a nerve, as Ace of Spades became furious.


    "Dare not?! I could crush that loser easily! If it weren''t for President Zhou valuing him, he''d be dead by now! Leave the item for him? What makes him worthy? That loser is just a bit luckier that he''s not killed by Nightmare!"


    Fang Xiu picked up on the crucial information in Ace of Spades''s words. Taking advantage of his frenzy, Fang Xiu asked, "You want to use Nightmare to kill him?"


    "Exactly, I want to test his abilities! Why should the president value him?"


    Fang Xiu understoodpletely. Ace of Spades''s goal had nothing to do with Nightmare or the Investigation Bureau. He had overthought it. Ace of Spades was willing to risk the entire Greenvine City just to test Yang Ming.


    Ace of Spades was as extreme as the other psychics, shockingly so. He acted without considering the consequences, just following his whims.


    "Oh dear, it seems I''ve said too much. Luckily, you''ll be dead soon," Ace of Spades''s unexined anger faded, as if he had be someone else.


    Suddenly, a spike made of shadows shot out from him, aiming directly at Fang Xiu''s throat.


    Facing this attack, Fang Xiu calmly looked at Ace of Spades, having made up his mind about him: first, this guy was foolish, and second, he was a foolish person who was unpredictable. His actions were extreme, and it seemed he had a bit of a split-personality and couldn''t think straight.


    Seeing the shadows around him, Fang Xiu guessed that Ace of Spades might also be a Specter, or at least partly one. It seemed their method of turning people into Specters wasn''t perfect. Most of the Specters Fang Xiu had seen so far, like Nightmare and Ace of Spades, were mentally unstable and not very smart.


    WHOOSH!


    The shadow spike stopped just a centimeter from Fang Xiu''s throat.


    Ace of Spades smiled. "I didn''t expect you to be so calm facing death. I''m starting to like you more, so I''ve decided to give you another chance. Now, think hard about how you can satisfy me to stay alive."


    Fang Xiu looked at him calmly, "Who are you to give me a chance?"


    Ace of Spades''s smile disappeared. "It seems you don''t appreciate this opportunity. Well, then, I have no choice but to kill you."


    "You think you can kill me?" Fang Xiu said, his eyes moving to the Specters wandering on the street. "Come out, everyone."


    Ace of Spades frowned, thinking Fang Xiu was bluffing. But the next second, he felt an unexined panic, and his face changed drastically. He turned around and was shocked.


    The previously empty street was filled with several Specters. Some looked like mud monsters covered in eyes. There was a three-meter-tall, blood-red cyclops and a monster with a human head and numerous fierce tentacles below.


    These Specters looked extremely dangerous; they stared straight at Ace of Spades and Fang Xiu.


    Ace of Spades shouted, "What''s going on! Why are Specters from ''the Other Side'' suddenly appearing in this world?"


    _''The Other Side?'' _Fang Xiu thought, frowning. _''That''s where the Specterse from? Where is that?''_


    Suddenly, the Specters attacked. Dirty, stinky mud with eyes, the blood-red Specters, and the tentacles attacked Fang Xiu all at once.


    Even Ace of Spades, upon witnessing such a horrifying scene, was totally shocked. He quickly unleashed his shadow power, his body''s shadows scattering like droplets and then rising from the ground as a ck light screen.


    BOOM!


    The ck light screen managed to block the attack from the Specters, but it couldn''t stop the impact. Fang Xiu and Ace of Spades were both sent flying.


    Ace of Spades''s shadowy body trembled as if someone had thrown a stone into a calmke. Meanwhile, Fang Xiu suffered several broken ribs, but the strike also freed him from Ace of Spades''s control.


    Fang Xiu quickly absorbed the pain in his body. Then, his silver hair grew rapidly, shooting towards a nearby skyscraper. Soon, his hair wrapped around the building.


    Fang Xiu pulled on his hair, forcefully propelling himself upwards. He quickly ascended towards the skyscraper to escape.


    The Specter with a human head and numerous tentacles moved through the air like a fish, chasing after Fang Xiu.


    At this moment, Ace of Spades no longer cared about Fang Xiu. He transformed into a pool of ck water, intending to merge with the shadows.


    However, just then, the mud monster-like Specter covered in eyes, spat out a puddle of mud. This mud, mixed with several ghastly white eyeballs, merged with the ck water that Ace of Spades had be.


    "

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148


    Ace of Spades was shocked. He suddenly felt itchy spots all over his shadowy body. These itchy spots cracked open like the eyes of a creature, revealing pale white eyeballs.


    As the eyeballs appeared, he started losing control of his body. Then, a red-skinned cyclops shot a fierce red light from its eye directly at him.


    The red light made Ace of Spades feel surrounded by the fear of death. He knew it could kill him. So, he tried his best to use his shadow power, but it felt like it was nailed down, and he could only use a small part of it. The eyeballs were like nails that could fix the shadow.


    The red light then hit the ck shadow. There was a loud sizzling sound, like water evaporating from a pot, and Ace of Spades couldn''t hold on much longer.


    Fang Xiu was also in a tough spot. Ace of Spades was still resisting a few Specters, but Fang Xiu had already been caught. The Specter with many tentacles under its head was stuck to Fang Xiu''s head like an octopus.


    He felt his strength, spiritual energy, and life rapidly fading. But Fang Xiu didn''t care about the Specter. He stood on top of the skyscraper, calmly watching Ace of Spades struggle.


    Suddenly, a pale bone spear shot from afar and pierced the red-eyed cyclops, pinning it to the ground. The red light in the cyclops''s eye went dim.


    Ace of Spades got a chance to breathe. He didn''t hesitate and turned into a shadow, fleeing towards the direction of the bone spear.


    Then, a figure wearing a King of Spades mask appeared. "I was worried you''d cause trouble, so I followed you. How did you manage to summon such powerful Specters?" he asked seriously.


    Ace of Spades was in bad shape. His shadowy body had grown many pale eyeballs, and the number was still increasing. With more eyeballs, he felt heavier and almost out of control.


    "Now is not the time for this. Get me out of here!"


    "I''m afraid we can''t leave."


    King of Spades looked seriously at the surrounding Specters.


    The red-eyed cyclops pulled the bone spear out of its body. Its chest wound had already healed.


    "Damn it!" Ace of Spades was furious. He couldn''t believe he was in such a bad situation because of Fang Xiu, a second-tier psychic.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    They started fighting fiercely.


    Ace of Spades and King of Spades kept using their powers to fight the Specters.


    Fang Xiu watched everything, taking the chance to fully understand both of their abilities. Slowly, Fang Xiu felt more and more tired, and his mind started to blur...


    After a while, everything reset.


    Fang Xiu was again walking alone on an empty street, with streetlights stretching his shadow long on the ground. Suddenly, he stopped and turned around. He looked at his shadow and calmly said, "Come out, Ace of Spades."


    The shadow was silent for a moment, then it stood up like a living person, turning into Ace of Spades.


    The surprised Ace of Spades looked at the calm Fang Xiu. "Fang Xiu, the foreseer, your reputation is well-deserved. You knew I woulde?"


    Fang Xiu ignored him and looked toward the nearby woods. "And you, King of Spades."


    As he said this, Ace of Spades''s eyes widened in disbelief, looking at the woods. Then, King of Spades quietly walked out from the trees.


    "How dare you follow me!" Ace of Spades said, shocked and angry.


    King of Spades ignored him and stared straight at Fang Xiu. "You even knew I was here."


    Fang Xiu calmly faced them both. Then, like reading from a report, he said, "Ace of Spades, your power is to control shadows. You can hide in an enemy''s shadow to attack, jump through shadows, and use them to bind the enemy."


    As his abilities were listed, Ace of Spades looked terrified. "How do you know all this?!"


    "King of Spades, your power is to control bones. You canunch bone spears, grow bone spikes, and form bone armor."


    King of Spades was also stunned, realizing for the first time how powerful foresight could be.


    In psychic battles, information is crucial. Psychics'' powers reflect their minds, and each is unique. Sometimes, bizarre abilities appear, making it vital to understand the opponent''s powers.


    A second-tier psychic can unexpectedly lose to a first-tier if they''re caught off guard.


    Knowing the opponent''s abilities urately greatly increases one''s chances of winning.


    Suddenly, Ace of Spades burst intoughter. "Hahaha, this is great. Fang Xiu, you''ve given me quite the surprise. With your foresight, I can definitely execute my n!"


    "What n? The Nightmare incident already got the attention of the Investigation Bureau headquarters. What else do you want to do?" King of Spades asked angrily.


    "Hmph, it''s none of your business!" Ace of Spades retorted.


    As they were about to argue, Fang Xiu''s expression changed. He became very cold, like someone used to being in high authority, controlling people''s lives and deaths.


    In acting, he was very confidentafter all, he often gambled his life on his performance. A mistake could mean death.


    He said coldly, "Is this what THE PRESIDENT teaches you?"


    As soon as the word "president" was mentioned, the arguing stopped abruptly. Ace of Spades and King of Spades were shocked and couldn''t believe what Fang Xiu had just said.


    Ace of Spades urgently asked, "Who are you? How do you know about THE president?"


    King of Spades was calmer. He tried to suppress his shock and said seriously, "Fang Xiu, you must have heard about the president from somewhere and are testing us, right?"


    Fang Xiu smiled coldly and then pronounced a name very clearly, "Zhou Qingfeng. That rings a bell?"


    This name hit them like a heavy weight. Even King of Spades, the calmer one,pletely lost hisposure.


    "Who are you? How do you know the president''s name? Foresight? No, that''s impossible. All information about the president has been confidential; it can''t be foreseen."


    They could never have guessed that Fang Xiu had seen the name in the president''s office of Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    Ace of Spades was even more agitated, "How do you know the president is called Zhou Qingfeng? Have you met him? Where is he now?"


    A fierce pnded on Ace of Spades''s face.


    Ace of Spades was stunned. Just as his anger was about to erupt, he heard Fang Xiu say coldly, "Who do you think you are to speak the president''s name directly?"


    Ace of Spades broke out in a cold sweat, stuttering in his response, "I, I"


    "Hum? Look at the mess you two made! Who allowed you to use Nightmare to test Yang Ming? Yang Ming is a key part of the president''s n! If something goes wrong, how would you respond to him? You''ve got some nerve!" Fang Xiu pretended to be an angry boss, continuously scolding them.


    Ace of Spades and King of Spades werepletely scared.


    "It wasn''t me, I didn''t... I was just worried the president might be deceived by Yang Ming''s little tricks."


    "So you''re saying the president is wrong?"


    "No, no, no, I didn''t mean that, the president"


    Ace of Spades was so anxious that he started to stutter.


    Although King of Spades was somewhat diposed, he still harbored some doubts and cautiously asked, "May I know who you are?"


    "You don''t get to know who I am." Fang Xiu looked at them with cold arrogance, as if he was looking at mere ants.


    "

 Chapter 149

    Chapter 149


    Ace of Spades and King of Spades felt a heavy pressure when they looked at the serious and confident Fang Xiu.


    They remembered that Fang Xiu had once gotten out of Green Mountain Mental Hospital alive. Now thinking about it, they realized it might not have been just good luck. Fang Xiu might have prepared something in the mental hospital.


    So everything made sense; why Fang Xiu could solve the S-ss Nightmare when he was only first-tier, and why he could predict the future frequently without using up his power too much. It turned out he was pretending to be weaker than he really was.


    Ace and King of Spades felt that Zhou Qingfeng must have given Fang Xiu a very important task, so he was hiding in the Investigation Bureau. Fang Xiu''s recent outstanding performance, even going to the headquarters for training, might be because he was going to go undercover there.


    Thinking back on Fang Xiu''s performances, they found more and more clues.


    Ace of Spades was sweating. He knew Zhou Qingfeng''s n for Yang Ming, but he still interfered while the man was away.


    King of Spades was much smarter. He believed Fang Xiu but still had a little doubt in his heart.


    However, before he could question it, Fang Xiu coldly said, "The item in room 520 of building C in Green Mountain Mental Hospital was left for Yang Ming. You two ants dare to covet it. Are you sick of living?"


    King of Spades was shocked, _''He even knows the item is in room 520 of building C? And that Ace of Spades wanted to take it? How is this possible? Is he sent by the president to watch us? He must be a high-level member of the organization, close to the president!''_


    He broke out in a cold sweat. "It seems that when the president is away, people start having thoughts they shouldn''t. Remember, only what the president gives you is yours. Nobody can take what the president doesn''t give!


    "Without the president, where would you be? A bunch of ungrateful creatures! From now on, you two are not worthy to be by the president''s side. You are expelled from the organization. Now take your own lives, and you''ll be forgiven."


    Upon hearing this, Ace and King of Spades'' faces drastically changed.


    Ace of Spades, who was not very smart, looked as if his world had copsed. He was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof. "Sir! No! I was wrong! I am so sorry. I didn''t disobey the president''s orders, I just wanted to test Yang Ming."


    King of Spades also quickly exined, "Sir, it''s not my fault. It was all Ace of Spades'' doing."


    "Rubbish!" Fang Xiu''s tone became even colder. "You still dare to argue now? You two are worthless! Now kneel!"


    With no hesitation, Ace of Spades immediately knelt on the ground.


    King of Spades nced at Ace of Spades. He hesitated for a moment, then also knelt. "Sir, please, give me another chance. I promise to prove my loyalty to you and the president, to show I''m not useless."


    "Sir, we''ve worked hard for many years. Please spare us."


    Fang Xiu watched them coldly. He felt it was enough and shouldn''t push further.


    Ace of Spades was not very bright and a loyal follower of the president. He might actually take his own life. However, King of Spades was suspicious and smarter. He wouldn''t be as loyal. Forcing him could lead to resistance and expose Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu didn''t want to end this weakly. If he let them off too easily, even if King of Spades didn''t suspect now, he wouldter.


    The Pokers were willing to sacrifice millions in Greenvine City to feed Nightmare. They were clearly ruthlessZhou Qingfeng even studied man-made Specters in Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    To pretend to be one of them, Fang Xiu had to take some cruel punitive action. But with his current strength, he couldn''t punish them himself without exposing his identity, as he was too weak.


    So, Fang Xiu coldly said, "You don''t get chances to live from others, but by proving yourself. Show me you''re not useless and have a reason to live, and you can."


    They grasped at this like a lifeline, saying, "Sir, I''m useful! I''m useful!"


    "Sir, how can we prove it?" King of Spades had a flicker of doubt. He was almost entirely convinced of Fang Xiu''s identity, except for his strength, which didn''t seem to match that of a strong person.


    Fang Xiu''s next words made King of Spades think he might test their strength, like surviving three of his attacks.


    Fang Xiu did n to act, but not personally. It wouldn''t be a good look for a big shot to step in directly.


    "It''s simple. If you can kill my pet, you live. But if you can''t even beat a pet, then you deserve to die. The president doesn''t need useless men."


    _''Pet?''_


    They were confused, looking around the empty street for any sign of a pet.


    Fang Xiu shook his head disdainfully. "You can''t even see it? Calling you useless is an insult to the word itself."


    Then, he casually shifted his gaze to the side. As Ace and King of Spades were confused, he locked eyes with a tall, red cyclops.


    "Come out."


    As soon as he spoke, something shocking happened. Right on the empty street, a giant with blood-red muscles and a single eye appeared out of nowhere.


    A terrifying and ominous feeling shot through Ace and King of Spades.


    "Is this his pet? He actually summoned a Specter from the Other Side right here!"


    The two were overwhelmed with shock. Fang Xiu summoning a Specter from the Other Side to this world meant he had the power to break the boundaries of worlds, a level of strength they couldn''t even imagine.


    At this point, King of Spades had no doubts left. Such a terrifying ability could only belong to a top figure in the organization, maybe even the president''s right-hand man.


    "Kill them," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    The giant roared in agreement. Fang Xiu then turned and walked away casually, like a movie hero walking away from an explosion without looking back.


    He seemed indifferent, not caring about his ''pet'' or the fate of Ace and King of Spades, as if it were a trivial matter. Whether they survived or not didn''t matter to him.


    But only Fang Xiu knew his real situation. This ''pet'' was not easy to deal with; it could even turn on its ''master.'' Fang Xiu had to leave quickly to avoid being caught in the fight and exposing his identity."

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150


    Ace and King of Spades looked at each other and saw determination in their eyes.


    "Mr. Fang has given us a chance. Whether we can survive depends on our own fate," Ace of Spades said.


    "I can''t match Mr. Fang''s strength, but I don''t believe I can''t even deal with a pet!" said King of Spades.


    With that, they charged toward the cyclops, full of fighting spirit.


    The cyclops had been staring straight at Fang Xiu because he was the one who found him, making Fang Xiu his primary target.


    However, before the cyclops could attack Fang Xiu, Ace and King of Spades rushed at him.


    The cyclops felt challenged and roared fiercely. Then, a burst of Specter red light shot out from its eye, aiming directly at them.


    Ace of Spades, driven by madness and perhaps wanting to prove his worth to Fang Xiu, unleashed all his power. His body became like a shadowy tide, forming a dark Shadow Spear to counter the red light.


    There was a constant sound of corrosion, and the shadowy spear was corroded bit by bit. Ace of Spades was shocked. His pride and strength seemed so insignificant in front of Fang Xiu''s pet. He couldn''t help but wonder how terrifying Fang Xiu''s true strength was.


    King of Spades didn''t just stand by. Seeing the attack from the "pet," he knew this monster couldn''t be defeated alone. To win and regain Fang Xiu''s recognition, they had to work together. He quickly shot out a bone spear from within him, piercing the giant cyclops and pinning it to the ground.


    They attacked in perfect sync, one with boiling shadows and the other with a forest of bones. Soon, the cyclops was covered in wounds. A moment of joy crossed their faces, but it froze the next second.


    The cyclops''s eye shed red, and the red light flowed through its body like water, healing all the wounds instantly.


    "What!" They were shocked and couldn''t believe that a mere "pet" was so tough to deal with.


    The Specter''s red light sted, and they were thrown away, looking very disheveled.


    They felt both shocked and angry, filled with a sense of defeat. No wonder their leader called them useless; they couldn''t even defeat a pet.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu had walked dozens of meters away. Hearing the battle behind him, he knew he was safe for now, at least the cyclops wouldn''te after him for a while.


    Fang Xiu turned his back to them and said without looking back, "I thought you were weak, so I only summoned the weakest pet, but you''re even weaker than I thought. It seems I should consider cleaning up the organization. There are too many useless people."


    Hearing this, Ace and King of Spades felt deeply ashamed and angry, clenching their fists tightly. They looked at Fang Xiu''s silhouette by the street light, his shadow enveloping him as if they were in different worlds.


    "I''m not useless!" Ace of Spades shouted, as if trying to prove himself to the world. He got up and charged at the cyclops, turning into a shadowy liquid that seemed to merge with the darkness.


    The shadowy liquid clung to the cyclops, trying to engulf it.


    The cyclops burst into blinding red light, burning the shadows fiercely.


    "Ahhh!" Ace of Spades screamed but didn''t give up, still holding on to the cyclops. He wanted to prove to Fang Xiu that he was not useless.


    Seeing this, King of Spades''s eyes shed with madness, and he also rushed at the cyclops, his body sprouting countless pale bone spikes, fighting the cyclops up close.


    Driven by their fearlessness, they fought the cyclops evenly for a while, even gaining the upper hand.


    Fang Xiu seemed touched by their spirit and paused slightly.


    "If you survive,e find me." His voice was still cold, but to Ace and King of Spades, it sounded like beautiful music. They knew this was Fang Xiu acknowledging them.


    "We won''t disappoint you, sir!" Ace of Spades shouted.


    Fang Xiu didn''t look back and walked away until he was out of sight. The two exchanged nces, seeing determination and madness in each other''s eyes.


    They fought with their lives on the line to gain Fang Xiu''s approval and to stay in the organization.


    As for Fang Xiu, he walked home silently. He hadn''t nned to kill Ace and King of Spades. It would be a loss to get rid of them after finally convincing them to fight.


    Plus, if they died, he would lose clues to the Pokers organization and Zhou Qingfeng.


    If they survived and were handled properly, they could be powerful allies.


    The Bright was already defeated; otherwise, Fang Xiu might have sent the two there on a mission.


    He thought that he had been too hasty in destroying the Bright.


    To gain Ace and King of Spades'' trust and avoid them getting killed, he had chosen the weakest of the nearby Specters, the cyclops.


    Before the death reset, Fang Xiu had observed the strengths of various Specters.


    The cyclops, despite its size, had the weakest overall strength due to its limited attack methods, which is why Fang Xiu chose it.


    If the two Spades couldn''t even handle the cyclops, there was nothing more to be done; they would just have to face death, as Fang Xiu couldn''t control the "pet" himself. Their fate was in their own hands.


    Soon after, Fang Xiu returned home.


    As he opened the door, he was greeted by the beautiful face of his wife, just inches away, close enough for a kiss.


    His wife looked at him tenderly, her eyes full of love.


    "Honey, you''re back. I miss you," she said.


    Fang Xiu, used to such sudden disys of affection, remained calm and unaffected.


    He walked past her, closed the door, and went about his usual routine. He got changed, drank water, and took a bath, all while maintaining hisposure, even with his wife watching."

 Chapter 151: I Hate Lairs

    Chapter 151: I Hate Lairs


    After Fang Xiu took a bath, hey in bed and fell into a sound sleep under the loving gaze of his wife.


    Then he met his dear Nightmare, who now resembled a rat hiding in sewers, trembling with fear.


    With Nightmare''spany, Fang Xiu slept well.


    The next day, there was a loud knocking at the door.


    "Come in," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Without seeing the door move, two figures appeared inside; they were Ace and King of Spades.


    As soon as they saw Fang Xiu, they knelt and bowed deeply. "Thank you, sir, for sparing our lives," they said in unison.


    Fang Xiu looked at them calmly. It was clear they were in bad shape. Even though their wounds had been treated, there was still a strong smell of blood.


    Ace of Spades'' shadowy form was bing very faint, as if he might disappear at any moment.


    The two had clearly been through a tough battle to kill the cyclops.


    "You don''t need to thank me. Opportunities are earned, not given. Whether you survive or not has nothing to do with me," Fang Xiu said indifferently, like a powerful figure indifferent to the lives of others.


    "I hope this teaches you a lesson. The will of the president is unshakeable. Next time, you won''t be facing my pet; I''ll take care of it myself."


    The two felt a chill in their hearts, remembering the "pet" that had left them with deep mental scars after a near-death experience.


    They knew now that if Fang Xiu himself had acted, they wouldn''t stand a chance. Frightened, they quickly bowed and promised, "Don''t worry, sir. If next time we cause any trouble, we''ll take care of it ourselves."


    They knew that if they made another mistake, it would be better to end their own lives than fall into the hands of such a powerful figure.


    Fang Xiu raised his eyes a little, indicating a positive response, and then fell silent.


    The two didn''t dare to speak, afraid of saying something wrong and angering him.


    The room fell silent.


    Fang Xiu didn''t know what to say. As one of the leaders of the organization, he was supposed to know everything, but in reality, he knew nothing. Speaking too much could reveal hisck of knowledge.


    He wanted to ask about the gift Zhou Qingfeng had left at the hospital and why it indirectly was given to Yang Ming. But he couldn''t ask, as it would reveal his ignorance and get himself exposed.


    Facing Fang Xiu''s silence, the two Spades felt extremely ufortable, as if the silence had a suffocating power.


    During this tense moment, Ace of Spades bravely broke the silence. He respectfully took out a dark gold metal box from the shadows.


    Fang Xiu recognized it as a box made from pure Mind Steel, a valuable material, but the contents must be even more precious.


    Ace of Spades held the box above his head and said, "Sir, I have something to report. This is an upgraded version of the Type-II potion, based on the president''s research, called the Type-III potion."


    He opened the box to reveal a small vial of liquid. The liquid was as red as blood and as beautiful as a ruby, with what seemed like tiny stars inside, making it look like a piece of art.


    "Sir, the Type-III potion can help people fully merge with Specter, and there''s even a ten percent chance it can optimize a person''s body to be perfectlypatible with Specter, allowing perfect control.


    "As you know, many members of our organization are Specterized or partially Specterized. While this greatly enhances theirbat abilities, the ipatibility between the human body, mind, and Specter makes them unstable and prevents them from reaching their full potential.


    "We developed the Type-III potion to help our members merge with and control Specters. Due to the rarity of the ingredients, we only have this one bottle. I''m offering it to you, hoping for your evaluation."


    Fang Xiu didn''t take the potion but continued to silently watch them; in fact, he didn''t even nce at the potion, as if it were insignificant.


    The two were very nervous and dared not speak, just quietly holding the potion without moving. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    They actually had a simple thought: bribing Fang Xiu with a gift.


    Offending a leader of the Pokers would cause deadly consequences. After much consideration, they decided against spiritual coins, Specter Gadgets, or materials to increase Spiritual Energy, as these would not impress an influential figure like Fang Xiu.


    They chose the Type-III potion as their gift, hoping to show their achievements. Moreover, that was something truly rare and valuable, perfectly suited as a gift for someone of Fang Xiu''s stature.


    The two Spades had thought their n was good, but Fang Xiu''s silence made them more and more nervous.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Has he seen through our gift? Maybe someone like him doesn''t care for something like our Type-III potion.''</em>


    Finally, Fang Xiu said, "You''ve surely put in some effort."


    His words made them feel relieved and overjoyed, thinking they had gained his approval.


    But then, Fang Xiu''s next words shocked them. "To think you''d try to fool me with such trash, you really did put in the effort."


    Their faces turned pale. They realized they had been caught trying to deceive him.


    They immediately began to beg, "We were wrong, please forgive us."


    Fang Xiu was surprised by their reaction. He didn''t know much about the Type-III potion; he was just acting tough. But his words made them confess.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''They wouldn''t have poisoned it. Because if they''ve found out who I really am, they could''ve just killed me, rather than offering me the poisonous potion. They must have lied about something else.''</em>


    He kept his cool and said, "I hate liars." His voice sent shivers down their spines.

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152


    Ace and King of Spades suddenly trembled, engulfed by a fear of death.


    King of Spades quickly tried to exin, "Sir, I admit, we did tell a small lie. We didn''t create the Type-III potion, but its effects are real."


    Ace of Spades also hurried to exin, "Sir, we meant no harm. We lied just to take credit. We didn''t realize you would see through us. Actually, the basic idea of the Type-III potiones from Zhou Qingfeng''s Type-II potion.


    "We stumbled upon a rare material that looked like a heart-shaped stone on the Other Side. It was a material never recorded before. By ident, the Type-II potion spilled on the stone, and it merged with the potion. After testing, we found that the Type-II potion, now infused with the heart-shaped stone, became much more potent. So, we named it Type-III.


    "Since the rare material was one of a kind, it made mass production impossible. That''s why we didn''t report it and instead used it ourselves. After taking it, our strengths did increase significantly, but we didn''t achieve a perfect physique and couldn''t perfectly control the power. This is thest of the Type-III potion, and we wanted to give it to you as an apology."


    Fang Xiu then understood. The two hadn''t poisoned the potion but had merely hidden its origin.


    Considering that the material came from the Other Side, he guessed that the Pokers organization must have a way to get there. Those people were rarely seen, likely because they went to the Other Side.


    Unfortunately, Fang Xiu couldn''t ask about it. Since he had just pretended to summon a monster from the Other Side, asking how to get there would surely reveal his identity.


    Suddenly, a perfectly shocked expression appeared on Fang Xiu''s face. He asked, "What did you just say? A heart-shaped stone?"


    Ace of Spades was slightly startled, thinking that the heart-shaped stone must be important.


    "Yes, sir, a heart-shaped stone. It was on top of a flower, at the very heart of the flower," he exined.


    "Heartstone! I can''t believe you two found such a rare material," Fang Xiu said with slight admiration. Since they didn''t know what the heart-shaped stone was, he got to name the stuff whatever he liked.


    Ace and King of Spades quickly noted the name "Heartstone," as if they had learned a secret.


    _''Mr. Fang is so knowledgeable! Being around him and getting one or two pieces of advice from him may benefit us for a lifetime!''_


    Then, Fang Xiu looked disappointed. "Using something as amazing as the Heartstone just to make a Type-III potion? What a waste. No wonder this potion is trash. Did you guys know that to use the Heartstone right, you need to mix it with other items with opposing properties?


    "The item you mix, how much you use, the order you add them in, when you make it, and the temperatureall of it has to be just right. If not, the medicine gets all mixed up and will not reach its potential. Even a little bit of Heartstone can make the Type-II potion way better."


    Hearing this, Ace and King of Spades were shocked, realizing they had made a big mistake. They had no idea how special the Heartstone was and had just wasted it. It was like they had killed a goose thatid golden eggs.


    "Don''t worry about it. There''s still a bit of the potion left. I''ll see if I can get the Heartstone out of it," Fang Xiu said, then gave them a serious look. "You two have taken the Heartstone too, right?" he asked.


    After talking about getting the Heartstone out of the potion, hearing this question made them go white.


    They knew what Fang Xiu was hinting at. It looked like Fang Xiu was thinking about using them to get the Heartstone back. They couldn''t believe their gift had turned into such a nightmare, now making themselves part of the gift.


    "Sir... We..." Ace of Spades started to stutter. He wasn''t the sharpest, but he understood what Fang Xiu was suggesting.


    Right then, they were too scared to even think about running away because they were too weak, so weak that they couldn''t even beat Fang Xiu''s ''pet.''


    So, they knew trying to run away from Fang Xiu would be like asking for trouble. But if they begged well enough, maybe there was a tiny bit of hope.


    Just as they were bracing for the worst, Fang Xiu said, "Never mind. You guys passed the test earlier and made it through, so I''ll let it slide this time."


    They felt a huge weight lift off their shoulders and started to thank him over and over.


    While they were thanking him, they decided they wouldn''t say a word about the Heartstone or the Type-III potion to anyone, even if it was thest thing they did.


    They figured if someone as powerful as Fang Xiu could think about using them for a potion, it would be really bad news if others found out.


    Seeing how they reacted, Fang Xiu knew he had made his point.


    Fang Xiu made up the Heartstone story to scare Ace and King of Spades. He had a clear goal in mind; he wanted to keep the Type-III potion a secret and make sure they were scared of him. He aimed for their respect but also wanted them to keep their distance since he wasn''t ready to show his true colors yet.


    If he had happily taken the potion, they might have felt they had obtained his favor. That could lead to them showing off to others in their group or maybe even telling their higher-upster.


    But now, they''d likely prefer to pretend they didn''t really know Fang Xiu, worried he might change his mind and decide to use them in his potion experiments.


    Then, Fang Xiu gave them a sharp warning to keep quiet about him to anyone.


    After giving them a way to get in touch, he told them to leave.


    They nodded like crazy, promising to zip their lips.


    They were seriously spooked. They wouldn''t dare cross Fang Xiu, scared he''d find any reason to turn them into potion ingredients.


    As for making up the whole Heartstone thing, Fang Xiu wasn''t worried about it at all. They''d be too scared to ask around about Heartstone, worried it might slip out that they''d taken it. Since they wouldn''t talk about it with anyone, they''d never catch on to his deception.


    Long after they were gone, Fang Xiu slowly stood up from the couch. He grabbed a dark gold metal box from the table and pulled out a potion as red as blood.


    He examined it closely, his mind racing.


    This potion could help him sync up better with Specter. There was even a 10% chance it could tweak his body to match Specter''s perfectly, giving him total control.


    Fang Xiu thought for a bit, then touched his right eye and hair.


    "

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153


    Fang Xiu had mastered the skills of using the Blood Pupil and the Hair Specter all on his own for quite some time.


    However, it always felt like something was getting in the way, as if there was a curtain between him and these abilities.


    It was apletely different experiencepared to just moving his arms around. Like, when he wanted to grab something with his hand, his brain didn''t need to say, "Hey, there''s that thing on the table, go get it."


    His hands and arm just did it; no second thoughts.


    Another example is that when people trip or get a knock on the head, their hands just jump up to protect their head without them having to think about it.


    But getting the Blood Pupil and the Hair Specter to do the same thing was another story for Fang Xiu. They needed clear orders to move, kind of like how aputer needs specific code to do anything.


    This kind of dy could be a real problem. In simple fights, it wasn''t too big of a deal, but in really tough fights, the Blood Pupil and the Hair Specter weren''t much help.


    The problem was mainly about how well they worked together. Also, Fang Xiu''s human body wasn''t strong enough to bring out the full power of these Specters.


    The Specter abilities couldn''t get stronger since they were more like extra tools than part of him. Fang Xiu even thought about switching them out for better ones when he got more powerful.


    But then, something changed.


    If Type-III was as amazing as the two Spades said, it could be a game-changer.


    The potion had a 10% chance to make his body the perfect match for Specters.


    Fang Xiu took a good look at the medicine, then gulped it down.


    It was super spicy, like drinking fire, and it felt like it was burning him from the inside. It was really painful, like his cells were being pulled apart.


    But Fang Xiu could handle it. He stayed cool and even rinsed his mouth with water.


    After an hour, the burning and pain started to go away.


    Right after Fang Xiu took the potion, things felt different. He could control the Hair Specter and the Blood Pupil as if they were part of his limb. They were even more powerful.


    But this sess didn''t make Fang Xiu happy. Instead, he was puzzled and asked himself if he really got that rare 10% chance.


    Although everything seemed to work out fine, Fang Xiu realized he wasn''t the perfect Specter host he hoped to be.


    After a moment of calm, he looked at his wife and said, "I can see you."


    His wife''s gentle smile turned fierce. "You can see me?"


    Naturally, Fang Xiu died, and his death triggered the reset. He was back to the moment before he drank the potion.


    This time, Fang Xiu drank the potion again, but hey down to drink it, hoping to increase his chances.


    An hourter, it failed.


    He tried sipping it slowly instead of drinking it all at once, and it failed again.


    He kept trying, once, twice, up to six times.


    The sixth time, he drank it while standing on his head, and immediately, it felt different.


    An intense heat burned every cell, as if remodeling them.


    Two hourster, the transformation wasplete.


    Fang Xiu was excited, a rare feeling for him. He had finally hit the 10% chance and became the perfect host for Specters.


    The hair Specter and the Blood Pupil perfectly merged with his body, their power blending seamlessly with his human form.


    Fang Xiu could feel the power of the hair Specter and the Blood Pupil strengthening his body.


    Before, they were like tools attached to him, but now, they were part of him, continuously merging their power with his body, making him stronger.


    He tested this by cutting his arm with a scalpel.


    The sharp de easily cut through his skin and muscle, but the wound healed quickly, stopping the bleeding, healing, and scabbing over in less than ten minutes.


    His arm was back to normal, with only a faint scar.


    _''Is this the healing power of Specters?''_ Fang Xiu wondered.


    Influenced by Specter powers, Fang Xiu was bing more like a Specter, physically. He still had a human body, but he started to have some Specter abilities.


    Fang Xiu felt his strength, speed, reaction time, and even vitality greatly improve. And this was just from perfectly merging with the Blood Pupil and the Hair Specter.


    He also had Nightmare, which used to be a Grade-S Specter. Although it died early, it was still more powerful than the first two.


    "Specters! I need more Specters!" Fang Xiu''s eyes showed a crazy desire for power. He saw a path to the peak. He wanted to consume countless Specters, stepping over their remains to climb to the top.


    He couldn''t do this before, not because he couldn''t handle it mentally, but because his human body was too weak; now, it was different. The perfect Specter-host body let him consume Specters.


    Before, his "software" was good, but his "hardware" wasn''t; now, both were excellent.


    This body was perfect for him and only him. Even if someone else got the perfect body, they couldn''t consume many Specters. After all, the human mind couldn''t handle Specters without being consumed by them. But with his twisted mind, Specters would be consumed by him instead.


    Besides physical enhancements, Fang Xiu also found his Spiritual Energy awakened by 25%, thanks to the Type-III potion and the Specter powers.


    If someone else made such progress so quickly, they would only face uncontrolled Spiritual Energy.


    Fang Xiu had just broken through to the second tier not long ago, and now his power surged again. A normal psychic''s mind couldn''t handle so much Specter power without their mind bing twisted.


    "

 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154


    Fang Xiu studied the perfectly controlled Specter powers for a while, then he took a nap.


    Given his physical condition, he actually didn''t need to rest at noon; he didn''t even need to sleep at night. But now, he had to sleep because he needed to meet Nightmare.


    After Fang Xiu fell asleep, he found himself in a dark, damp dungeon with bloodstains everywhere. There were rows of various torture devices. At the deepest part of the dungeon was Nightmare, chained in countless iron chains.


    Since this was Fang Xiu''s dream, everything moved ording to his will. He simply thought Nightmare would prefer this setting. After all, it was a Specter, and it certainly wouldn''t like sunny beaches.


    Hearing Fang Xiu''s footsteps, Nightmare started screaming in terror, and the iron chains rattled loudly.


    It looked at Fang Xiu, who was walking slowly toward it, and screamed, "Why are you here again? Taking a nap? You actually take naps? You never used to nap. You monster! To torment me, you sleep twice a day, ahhh!!"


    After roaring, Nightmare began to plead. It had pleaded countless times these days. "Fang Xiu, please stop tormenting me. I was wrong. I''ll do anything you ask, just don''t torture me," Nightmare sobbed, no longer proud.


    It hated how indestructible it was, wishing it could just end its own life. It hoped for a disaster that would wipe out everyone in Greenvine City, so it could disappear.


    After pleading, Nightmare looked at Fang Xiu with rage and cursed, "I will kill you! Fang Xiu! I will skin you, pull out your tendons, drink your blood!"


    Then, it will plead again, "Please, no more torture."


    Fang Xiu was used to the state Nightmare was in. After a month of torment, Nightmare had gone mad.


    Nightmare wasn''t a pure Specter but was transformed by Zhou Qingfeng, so it had a human-like mind. After a month of being tormented by Fang Xiu with the power of pain, Nightmare had gone mad.


    Facing the mad Nightmare, Fang Xiu said indifferently, "Nightmare, I''m here to kill you. I can now perfectly control Specters now, so I canpletely devour you."


    "What?" Nightmare, who was begging on its knees, suddenly stood up with joy. "Why didn''t you say so earlier! Hurry, do it!"


    At that moment, the space around them started to change dramatically. Everything began to break apart, and colors started to mix chaotically. It was as if someone had blended a palette together.


    Eventually, the multitude of colors turned into a deep darkness. The darkness grew and enveloped everything around them. Slowly, the darkness began to erode Nightmare.


    Perhaps because Nightmare had its own consciousness, the dark erosion was slow. It took a long time to corrode just the surface.


    Seeing this, Nightmare panicked. It continuously attacked its own body, creating many wounds and turning into ck smoke that quickly dispersed. It even embraced the darkness willingly, morphing into a giant mouth that devoured the darkness, allowing it to infect itself.


    The pain from being devoured made Nightmare scream continuously, but its expression became more and more excited. "I''m finally going to be free!"


    In Nightmare''s bloodshot eyes, there was a mad desire for death. No one knew what it had endured over the month.


    Hourster, Nightmare''s bodypletely dissipated and disappeared forever.


    Fang Xiu had perfectly absorbed Nightmare''s abilities. Only after controlling Nightmare did he realize how terrifying its potential was.


    Fang Xiu thought the horror of Nightmare came from its ability to absorb the fear of the whole world and grow infinitely. However, after truly possessing it, he realized it wasn''t the case.


    After absorbing the fear of the entire Greenvine City, Nightmare underwent a mysterious transformation, as if breaking some kind of limit, and gained a new trait.


    It could break the boundary between illusion and reality. Simply put, it could turn reality into dreams and dreams into real reality.


    The reason Nightmare could turn the entire Greenvine City into a Specter Zone was because of this trait. Breaking the boundary between illusion and reality and converting the two was a terrifying ability.


    This ability came entirely from Nightmare. It absorbed the fear of Greenvine City and leveled up, undergoing a transformation that gave it a trace of the ability. This trait was like the power of a god!


    For example, if someone was surrounded and severely injured, that''s a fact. But by using the ability to switch between illusion and reality, they could turn the fact of being severely injured into a false dream, which effectively meant they weren''t injured.


    They could even turn all attacks into illusions, meaning no one could kill them.


    This ability wasn''t just limited to defense; it was the same for offense.


    One could imagine a fictional power, like being able to destroy everything with a single hit in a dream and turn it into reality. So, in the real world, a casual strike could indeed cause massive destruction.


    How terrifying.


    Turning all unfavorable conditions into a dream and all favorable conditions into realitythis ability could be considered invincible.


    Of course, Nightmare''s ability to switch between illusion and reality wasn''t that potent. It just touched upon this trait slightly, having a limited ability.


    Plus, it couldn''t create something out of nothing or turn fantasies into reality; it needed to have a foundation.


    If it was surrounded and severely injured, then using the illusion-reality switch, it could only transform part of the reality, turning severe injuries into minor ones. This would also consume a significant amount of power.


    Nevertheless, this ability was still miraculous.


    Most importantly, Fang Xiu discovered that this ability to switch between illusion and reality hadpletely integrated with his Spiritual Energy, merging into one and seeming to undergo some magical change.


    He slowly exited the dream and returned to reality.


    After devouring Nightmare, he had gained the ability to control dreams and absorb fear.


    He was essentially a replica of Nightmare, except he couldn''t achieve the same immortality. After all, Nightmare was immortal because itcked a physical body and could live in others'' dreams.


    Fang Xiu had a physical body. Unless hepletely abandoned his body and became an entity like Nightmare, he wouldn''t achieve immortality.


    When Fang Xiu woke up, he took out a scalpel and shed his arm fiercely. A neat wound over twenty centimeters long appeared, and blood gushed out.


    Under the effect of his strong physique, the wound began to clot slowly. Because the wound wasrger this time, it took longer to heal.


    Fang Xiu didn''t wait for his body to heal on its own. Instead, he activated his ability to absorb pain, taking in all the pain from his arm.


    After absorbing the pain, something shocking happened.


    The wound on Fang Xiu''s arm healed instantly, even faster than natural healing, as if the injury had been just an illusion.


    A hint of surprise shed in Fang Xiu''s eyes. _''The ability to switch between illusion and reality,bined with my ability to absorb pain, works like magic.''_


    "

 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155


    Fang Xiu''s power to absorb pain was originally a second-tier ability.


    Pain is abstract, without form or substance, but with the addition of turning illusion into reality, his ability evolved.


    He could now absorb the actual causes of pain, which were often injuries. This became somewhat terrifying because most pain stems from harm, meaning Fang Xiu could now absorb harm itself.


    If pain resulted from injury, then absorbing the pain would also eliminate the injury. However, this absorption had its limits: his ability to turn illusion into reality was too weak to sustain high levels of absorption.


    Fang Xiu realized he needed to enhance this aspect of his ability.


    He knew that perfecting this illusion-reality switch power might change the world. But to enhance it, he needed a great deal of fear to feed Nightmare. The stronger Nightmare was, the more realistic the dreams it created, and the stronger his switch ability would be.


    However, Nightmare was no longer alive. In reality, Fang Xiu had to grow stronger himself. He pondered how to gather a lot of fear without resorting to Nightamare''s destructive methods, which could only control Greenvine City by causing harm, a short-sighted approach.


    Fang Xiu decided not to kill the people of Greenvine City but to make them experience nightmares daily. This would provide him with a steady stream of fear, albeit in smaller amounts than Nightmare''s methods, but more sustainable.


    He knew causing too much disruption could attract the attention of other powerful psychics.


    After encountering Ace and King of Spades, Fang Xiu realized the world was much moreplicated than it seemed. Organizations like the Pokers and the Investigation Bureau might harbor even more terrifying forces.


    So, Fang Xiu set a small goal: to start by giving the residents of Greenvine City nightmares every night.


    He had no idea that this decision wouldter turn the city into a globally known "Nightmare City." People would even visit for the thrill of experiencing vivid and terrifying nightmares.


    At 4 AM, when everyone was deep asleep, Fang Xiu fell asleep and entered the world of dreams.


    He found himself in a room that seemed infinitely tall, with no visible ceiling. It was filled with doors of all kindsiron, wooden, security doors. Each door led to someone''s dream.


    This room was a ce Nightmare had left in the minds of the people of Greenvine City, allowing itself to enter their dreams at will.


    It acted like a hub, connecting to everyone''s dreams.


    Now, Fang Xiu had stolen Nightmare''s achievements; he didn''t need to enter people''s dreams one by one to establish a connection.


    He just chose a door and entered someone''s dream.


    The dream belonged to a chubby little boy. He dreamed of his home turning into a cake shop filled with chocte and cakes.


    Fang Xiu waved his hand, and the house made of chocte and cakes turned into piles of exams and textbooks that seemed endless.


    The boy was immediately terrified.


    Fang Xiu felt the fear emanating from the boy and collected it.


    He thought he was doing a good deed by giving the boy time to study, even in his dreams.


    He gained fear, and the boy gained knowledge, a win-win situation.


    Next, Fang Xiu decided to visit a psychic''s dream because the quality of a psychic''s fear was much higher than that of an ordinary person.


    He chose Greenvine City''s strongest psychic, Yang Ming.


    When Fang Xiu opened the door to Yang Ming''s dream, he saw a beach and people in bikinis.


    Yang Ming was lounging in swim trunks, smoking a cigar, with two beauties by his side. One beauty was feeding him grapes, the other applying oil to his body.


    Fang Xiu waved his hand, and Bai Qi appeared in Yang Ming''s dream.


    Yang Ming, who was sunbathing, suddenly found a shadow over his face.


    "Get out of the way." Yang Ming jumped up.


    Bai Qi, holding a knife with a chilly expression, seemed to lower the temperature of the entire beach.


    "You dare to give mexatives, and then you beat me up in Nightmare''s Specter Zone for personal reasons? Yang Ming, it''s time to settle the score!"


    Bai Qi chased Yang Ming with the knife.


    Fang Xiu watched silently, then quietly closed the door.


    He continued to other psychics'' dreams, giving them nightmares to help them develop a sense of crisis and not indulge in pleasant dreams.


    That night, he saw many bizarre dreams, which was quite an eye-opener.


    Among them, Zhao Hao''s dream stood out the most. In his dream, Zhao Hao was incredibly busy. His day started with being woken up by his stepmother.


    Then he went to school, where his poor academic performance led to private tutoring from a beautiful teacher.


    After school, he was cornered by three female bullies in thedies'' restroom.


    Besides his school life, he also had part-time jobs as a plumber and a delivery person.


    Interestingly, in Zhao Hao''s dream world, he was the only male. He was constantly bullied by his stepmother, female teachers, female ssmates, female neighbors, and female office workers.


    To help Zhao Hao, Fang Xiu changed all the characters in the dream to males, providing him with the care and support of male friends.


    After a busy night, Fang Xiu had collected quite a bit of fear. Although he wasn''t as efficient as Nightmare, his approach ensured a steady umtion.


    In addition to fear, he also absorbed a lot of pain.


    Many people in Greenvine City were suffering due to the loss of loved ones or bing disabled. Through the connections in dreams, Fang Xiu sessfully absorbed their pain, slightly alleviating their suffering.


    This was the first time Fang Xiu had absorbed so much pain and fear in one night, leading to a significant increase in his abilities.


    The next morning, as the sun lit up Greenvine City, many people woke up from their nightmares in a cold sweat, while others found new hope. Their pain stayed in the past night, allowing them to start a new day.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu''s phone rang. On the other end was Su Kexin''s slightly tired voice, "Investigator Fang, someone from headquarters is visiting. Director Wang wants you toe to the office as soon as possible."


    "Okay, I understand," Fang Xiu responded calmly."

 Chapter 156

    Chapter 156


    After hanging up the phone, Fang Xiu went to the Investigation Bureau.


    In the reception room of the Investigation Bureau, an elegant middle-aged man was talking with Wang Dehai, Yang Ming, and others.


    "Yang Ming, Bai Qi, this is Mr. Ma Xingbang, a consultant from headquarters."


    "Mr. Ma, this is Yang Ming, the captain of Greenvine City Investigation Bureau, and Bai Qi, the vice-captain."


    After Wang Dehai introduced them, Yang Ming and Bai Qi were quietly observing Ma Xingbang.


    Ma Xingbang seemed friendly at first, always smiling kindly. He didn''t act superior despiteing from headquarters.


    "Captain Yang, I''ve heard a lot about you. I''ve heard that you are young and talented, and after meeting you today, I can see that it''s true," Ma Xingbang said politely while shaking hands with Yang Ming.


    Yang Ming was ttered. Everyone knew what psychics were like, and they seldom met a polite and friendly psychic like this.


    "You ttered me," Yang Ming replied politely.


    Then, Ma Xingbang extended his hand to Bai Qi. "I heard Vice-Captain Bai is talented, too. Having both of you in Greenvine City Investigation Bureau makes us at headquarters very reassured."


    "Thank you," Bai Qi said coldly, then withdrew his hand after the handshake.


    "Mr. Ma came mainly to understand the follow-up of the Nightmare event and the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone. You need to work with him," Wang Dehai said with a smile.


    "Oh, where is Agent Fang Xiu? As a major contributor to the Nightmare event, I must meet him."


    "He''s on his way and will arrive soon. Xiao Wang, go hurry him up."


    Ma Xingbang was very polite and well-spoken. He didn''t make anyone felt ufortable.


    "No, no need. Greenvine City has just gone through a major crisis and is in the process of recovery," said Ma Xingbang. "An outstanding young talent like Agent Fang must be very busy. We can meet when he''s free. There''s no need to rush him."


    At this moment, the reception room door opened, and Fang Xiu walked in slowly.


    Wang Dehai hurriedly said, "Mr. Ma, this is Fang Xiu."


    Ma Xingbang''s eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward, extending his hand to Fang Xiu very politely. "Agent Fang, you are young and promising. Being so young and able to solve Grade-S Specter events, your future"


    He paused when he realized Fang Xiu had no intention of shaking his hand. His hand was hanging in mid-air, making him felt slightly embarrassed.


    But Ma Xingbang was not annoyed and extended his hand even more, firmly grabbing Fang Xiu''s hand.


    "Your future is limitless! Honestly, my visit on behalf of headquarters is specifically to acknowledge promising young individuals like you."


    Ma Xingbang hesitated for a brief moment. He looked at Fang Xiu with a hint of surprise. Though he tried to hide it, his pupils dted involuntarily, something Fang Xiu didn''t fail to notice.


    Then Ma Xingbang continued, "I''m here tomend you and to extend a special invitation to train at headquarters."


    Ma Xingbang was very enthusiastic, even toward a young person like Fang Xiu, holding Fang Xiu''s hand with both of his as a sign of respect.


    Soon after, Ma Xingbang let go and began to speak at length. "Everyone, the Nightmare event was a Grade-S Specter event, which is taken very seriously. There have even been instances where small countries were destroyed by Grade-S Specter events. Therefore, solving such a significant event has caused a great shock both domestically and internationally.


    "In today''s world, facing unprecedented changes, the main measure of a country''s international standing is no longer its economy or military strength, but its ability to handle Specter events. After all, without the capability to manage increasing Specter events, a country''s very existence is at risk, let alone its international standing.


    "So, what makes a great power? It''s the ability to independently handle Grade-S Specter events. The more Grade-S Specter events a country can handle with minimal loss, the stronger it is considered.


    "Greenvine City Investigation Bureau has set a fine example. Although Nightmare didn''t reach its full form, it was undoubtedly a Grade-S Specter event. Forparison, a neighboring country exaggerates A-level, even B-level Specter events as S-level for international propaganda. By their standards, they''ve handled over 100 Grade-S Specter events, iming to be the world''s leading Specter graveyard and superpower.


    "But I digress. Your performance was very impressive. You solved a Grade-S Specter event with just the strength of a local Investigation Bureau branch, which is a very significant achievement. While other countries muster their entire national strength for Grade-S Specter events, our local branches are already capable of handling them independently. This shows that our country has taken a significant step forward in the global era of Specters."


    Ma Xingbang went on, and Yang Ming''s face glowed with pride, feeling the immense honor and responsibility. It was evident that before bing a psychic, Ma Xingbang was a high-ranking politician.


    After speaking for a while, he took a sip of tea and spat out a couple of tea leaves.


    Then, he got to the main point, revealing the purpose of his visit. "I came here mainly to emphasize three points: First, to make the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau a model. Then, to use it to influence surrounding city bureaus, serving as an example for other investigators to learn from.


    "Second, invite the heroes of the Nightmare event to headquarters to learn and exchange experiences, set an example, and spread your experiences nationwide.


    "Third, to investigate the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone, as such a zone that can nurture a Grade-S Specter is obviously highly dangerous. Headquarters must fully grasp the basic situation of such dangerous Specter Zones."


    Wang Dehai asked, "Mr. Ma, do you mean to go to Green Mountain Mental Hospital for investigation?"


    Ma Xingbang nodded, "Yes, I n to take a few agents from Greenvine City Investigation Bureau with me to explore the Green Mountain Mental Hospital."


    "Who do you want to take with you?"


    "I think these three young talents here are excellent."


    Wang Dehai seemed worried. "Mr. Ma, given that Green Mountain Mental Hospital could give birth to a Grade-S Specter like Nightmare, the level of danger is unimaginable, with just a few of you"


    "No worries," Ma Xingbang smiled slightly. "I might be modest, but I''m a third-tier psychic. I, along with Yang and Bai, make three third-tier psychics. Plus, we have Agent Fang''s ability to foresee the future. With such a team, we might not make the Hospital disappear, but we can at least conduct an investigation."


    Everyone was surprised. No one expected Ma Xingbang, who seemed ordinary and spoke so politely, to be a third-tier psychic.


    They also silently admired the strength of headquarters, as they could casually send out a third-tier psychic.


    Wang Dehai was still worried, as Specter events were not to be taken lightly. The team seemed strong, but no one knew what dangers lurked within Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    At that moment, Ma Xingbang pulled out a key made of gold from his pocket, with faint Specter energy flowing around it.


    "Is that a Specter Gadget?"


    "Correct. This golden key has a peculiar ability. In a Specter Zone, as long as you find any door and insert the key, you can leave the Specter Zone through that door. So, Director Wang, you don''t have to worry. With the golden key, we can surely make a safe return."


    "I see Mr. Ma has made thorough preparations. When do you n to leave?"


    Ma Xingbang smiled. "In three days. After all, I''m new here, and my knowledge of Green Mountain Mental Hospital is only on paper. I need to gather more information; only by knowing the enemy and ourselves can we win every battle."


    However, when he mentioned ''knowing the enemy and ourselves,'' his gaze silently drifted towards Fang Xiu, seemingly with a deeper meaning.


    "Why are you looking at me?" Fang Xiu''s indifferent voice cut through the harmonious atmosphere like a sharp knife."

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157


    Ma Xingbang was taken aback, clearly not expecting Fang Xiu to be so straightforward. However, he quickly snapped back and smiled, saying, "My apologies for being so forward. It''s rare to meet a young talent who can foresee the future, and I can''t help being curious."


    He continued with a smile, "By the way, Agent Fang, I heard you became a psychic after escaping from Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone. You must be very familiar with that ce. Could you please tell us about it?"


    But at that moment, Fang Xiu suddenly heard the man''s voice in his head, as if he was speaking directly into his thoughts.


    The tone was no longer friendly but rather cold and sinister, _''Fang Xiu, I already know your secret. If you don''t want it exposed...''_


    "What secret of mine do you know?" Fang Xiu asked Ma Xingbang directly.


    Everyone was stunned. Nobody knew Fang Xiu was talking with Ma Xingbang, so his question seemed out of the blue.


    Ma Xingbang was frozen, his friendly smile stiffening on his face. "You you" he stuttered, surprised by Fang Xiu''s reaction. He didn''t expect Fang Xiu to ask about his secret openly without fear of exposure.


    Since Fang Xiu asked so openly, Ma Xingbang seemed to lose the leverage of threatening him with the secret. After a moment, he managed topose himself and continued smiling, "Agent Fang, sorry, I didn''t quite understand what you said."


    Meanwhile, the sinister voice spoke again in Fang Xiu''s mind, _''Don''t push my button, kid. Believe it or not, I can expose your secret right now.''_


    "Weak threats always amuse me badly," Fang Xiu responded calmly.


    Ma Xingbang''s smile slowly faded, and he stared intently at Fang Xiu. The others began to sense something was wrong. It was clear that Ma Xingbang hadmunicated with Fang Xiu secretly, even threatening him.


    "Very well, it''s my first time to be called ''weak'' by a second-tier psychic," Ma Xingbang said, his facade finally falling away.


    He turned to Wang Dehai with a grim tone, "Director Wang, what if a spy from another force has infiltrated the Investigation Bureau?"


    Wang Dehai was shocked and quickly realized what was being implied. "Mr. Ma, are you suggesting Fang Xiu is a spy?" he asked with a serious tone.


    Ma Xingbang smirked coldly. "Exactly."


    Wang Dehai was both shocked and angry. "Impossible! Fang Xiu is a hero of Greenvine City. Mr. Ma, I know you''re from the headquarters, but you can''t nder our hero without evidence."


    He realized he had been naive to be fooled by Ma Xingbang''s appearance, believing him to be normal. Now, he found it ridiculouswere there ever any normal people among psychics?


    Yang Ming and the others appeared displeased as well. They all knew the contributions Fang Xiu had made. A hero like him couldn''t possibly be a spy.


    Faced with everyone''s angry stares, Ma Xingbang felt his blood boiling.


    He had nned to test Fang Xiu by arranging a meeting in the evening and setting a trap to force Fang Xiu intopliance. He didn''t expect Fang Xiu to be so bold as to confront him directly, whichpletely derailed his ns.


    However, he wasn''t worried. He had other methods up his sleeve and wasn''t afraid of Fang Xiu''s clever arguments.


    Ma Xingbang sneered, "Of course, there''s evidence. Ace of Spades from the Pokers, who once blocked off Greenvine City, aided the evolution of Nightmare. And, his partner, King of Spades, had obstructed aid from headquarters. All signs indicate a deep connection between Nightmare, Green Mountain Mental Hospital, and the Pokers organization."


    "What does this have to do with Fang Xiu? If you suspect him of being with the Pokers, you need solid evidence," Yang Ming retorted with a frown.


    "If you all want evidence, I''ll list it out for you. First, the fact that Green Mountain Mental Hospital released an S-ss Specter like Nightmare speaks volumes about its danger. Even a third-tier psychic might not even make it out of the event alive, yet Fang Xiu, who was just an ordinary person at the time, did."


    "That''s your evidence?" Yang Ming scoffed. "Others might not make it out alive, but Fang Xiu can foresee the future. He could''ve seen a way out and easily escaped."


    Ma Xingbang sneered again, "What if his foresight was a lie?"


    His usation came as a shock to the others.


    Yang Ming burst intoughter, "Do you hear what you''re saying? We''ve all witnessed Fang Xiu''s ability to foresee the future. Without his foresight, Greenvine City would''ve been swallowed by Nightmare. And you question that?"


    Skepticism filled the eyes of those around Ma Xingbang as they found his im absurd. After all, Fang Xiu had proven his foresight numerous times.


    Unfazed by their doubts, Ma Xingbang continued, "I''m calling his bluff because I have irond evidence. Fang Xiu, if I''m not mistaken, your ability is to inflict pain on others, making them feel the suffering, right?"


    The room fell silent for a second.


    Then, Yang Ming''sughter broke the silence. "Haha, Mr. Ma, you''re truly something. Is everyone from headquarters as humorous as you? If you''re trying to set Fang Xiu up, at least make it believable.


    "Inflicting pain on others makes them feel suffering? What kind of nonsense ability is that? It''s utterly redundant. If psychic abilities were ranked, this one would be at the bottom.


    "It''s amazing you came up with that. By your logic, everyone would be a psychic since anyone can inflict pain and make others suffer. Even a three-year-old biting someone can cause pain."


    Fang Xiu remained silent, somehow feeling offended by the absurd usation.


    "

 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158


    Ma Xingbang didn''t argue back. Instead, he casually took out his phone, found a random group chat, and started sending **red envelopes***. He wasn''t trying to hide his actions and finished doing it openly.


    Everyone was puzzled by his actions and didn''t understand what Ma Xingbang was up to. Soon, messages of thanks for the red envelopes popped up in the group chat.


    "Thanks for the red envelope!"


    "Thanks a lot."


    "What, only one cent?"


    "What?"


    As everyone was wondering, Ma Xingbang clicked a red envelope for himself, showing an amount of 199.1 yuan, with a total of 10 envelopes sent. The other nine people only got 0.9 yuan in total.


    Seeing this, Yang Ming was astonished, "Wow, you''re lucky today!"


    Ma Xingbang just smiled and sent out five more envelopes, each time getting himself more than 190 for himself, while the others got just a few cents or a dor.


    Gradually, everyone''s expressions turned to disbelief and shock.


    "So your ability''s luck?!" Yang Ming blurted out, baffled.


    Ma Xingbang shook his head, "It''s not luck, it''s Good Fortune."


    Then, he suddenly vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was at the other end of the room, the whole movement taking only a fraction of a second.


    This time, it was Bai Qi''s turn to be surprised.


    "Is that fast speed?!" he eximed.


    Ma Xingbang shook his head again, "Not fast speed, but Swift Speed, like swift wind. Now do you understand?"


    Bai Qi looked shocked, clearly realizing something.


    Yang Ming, on the other hand, was utterly astounded, "You have dual abilities?"


    Ma Xingbang''s smile froze, and he turned his head away from Yang Ming, addressing Fang Xiu and the others, "Before I became a third-tier, my ability was to copy. I could copy others'' abilities through touch."


    "What! Copy others'' abilities?" Everyone was shocked.


    They quickly connected the dots. No wonder Ma Xingbang was so polite initially, shaking hands with everyone; he was copying their abilities.


    _''Copying abilities? That''s terrifying. Does that mean Ma Xingbang alone is like abination of countless psychics?'' _


    Fang Xiu suddenly understood everything. No wonder Ma Xingbang said he knew his secret. When they shook hands, Ma Xingbang copied his ability but found it wasn''t foresight but pain.


    Fang Xiu quickly spotted a problem, though. If Ma Xingbang truly copied his ability, then he should know that Fang Xiu''s current ability was to absorb pain, which he obtained after advancing to the second tier.


    So Fang Xiu deduced that Ma Xingbang''s copying ability had certain limits. The copied abilities were probably a tier lower than the original owner''s. Moreover, there must be a limit to the number of abilities he could copy, possibly even a time limit. It couldn''t be an unrestricted copying ability.


    Fang Xiu had noticed before that the more powerful a psychic ability was, the greater its limitations and the stricter its usage conditions.


    "My ability was a secret within the headquarters as well, but since you refuse to acknowledge it, Fang Xiu, I have no choice but to reveal it. Before I reached the third-tier, my ability was to copy. After reaching the third-tier, my copying ability evolved into giarism."


    "What''s the difference between copying and giarism?" Yang Ming asked.


    Ma Xingbang proudly smiled, "Copying is identical replication, but giarism involves adding one''s own innovation to the original. Definitely not the same."


    Everyone was speechless. It was no wonder he called luck ''Good Fortune'' and fast speed ''Swift Speed''. He was simply rebranding things as his own.


    While everyone was in awe, Fang Xiu realized the terrifying aspect of the giarism ability. Despite sounding somewhat funny, this ability was genuinely formidable.


    As Ma Xingbang said, copying was just that, at best identical to the original. But giarism was different; it allowed for innovation and enhancement on the original basis. If done well, the giarized ability could even surpass the original.


    Taking someone else''s ability and doing it even better than them is the frightening aspect of giarism.


    "So now do you understand why I say Fang Xiu''s foresight is fake? Because the ability I copied wasn''t foresight at all, but the ability to inflict pain and make others suffer! However, this ability isn''t as useless as I thought. It allows me to transfer the pain I''ve experienced to others, making them empathize with my suffering. Considering the hardships I''ve endured, I can maximize the potential of this ability."


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu instantly understood. Ma Xingbang had merely copied his ability but couldn''t replicate the pain he held.


    Which meant that when Ma Xingbang used the pain ability, he could only transfer the pain he had experienced himself.


    "Fang Xiu, what excuses are you making now? You clearly don''t have the ability to foresee the future, yet you im to have it. How did you really survive ande out of the Green Mountain Mental Hospital?" Ma Xingbang stared coldly at Fang Xiu, his face exuding confidence as if he held the winning hand.


    "If anyone doubts my ability, feel free to call the headquarters for verification; they have my records. Fang Xiu, all your miraculous performances, including your contributions, are based on your supposed ability to foresee the future. But if that foresight is a lie, then everything about you is a lie!


    "I have a better exnation for your miraculous performances. The reason you were able toe out of the Green Mountain Mental Hospital alive is because you are part of the Pokers! You have connections with Green Mountain Mental Hospital. You did this to draw the Investigation Bureau''s attention and join us.


    "I heard you even made a call in advance to save Bai Qi from Ace of Spades. Haha, you don''t need foresight for that because you orchestrated the assassination all along. The same goes for the Nightmare event; Nightmare is on your side, so naturally, you know all its abilities, including various information about the Specter Zone, which made you appear all-knowing!


    "If I''m right, your goal is to draw the headquarters'' attention, infiltrate us, be a spy, and achieve some unspeakable secret agenda! Fang Xiu, am I right or not?"


    This line of reasoning made everyone look at Fang Xiu with doubt and suspicion. They couldn''t fathom that Fang Xiu''s ability to foresee the future was fake; it waspletely unbelievable.


    Fang Xiu looked at everyone calmly and said, "Pain is indeed my ability."


    Hearing Fang Xiu''s admission, Yang Ming and the others looked grim, while Ma Xingbang''s lips curled into a cold smirk.


    However, Fang Xiu''s next words caused Ma Xingbang''s smile to pause slightly.


    "Or one of my abilities, I should say."

 Chapter 159

    Chapter 159


    Yang Ming couldn''t believe it. He had never seen or even heard of a psychic with two abilities. It seemed impossible, like having two minds in one body.


    Fang Xiu calmly nodded, "Yes, Foresight and Pain are my abilities."


    His words shocked everyone, as if somemon knowledge was shattered.


    Yang Ming suddenly realized something and said, "This exins it. Mr. Ma, the major events you talked about, Fang Xiu could have faked them. But when he first came to the Investigation Bureau, he predicted many small things, like future calls and even lottery numbers. Mr. Ma, you must be mistaken. Fang Xiu definitely has two abilities."


    Ma Xingbang scoffed, "Very nice of you to make excuses for him, but psychic abilities are varied. And with the Pokers behind Fang Xiu, it''s more than easy to create an illusion of foresight. And Fang Xiu, I already guessed you''d say that. Indeed, having two abilities is rare, yet it is possible. We have an agent in the headquarters who has not just one, but multiple abilities. I''ve copied his abilities before, but your case is different. From what I can see, you only have one ability."


    The others were starting to doubt Fang Xiu again.


    Fang Xiu responded lightly, "Is it possible that your giarism is too weak to detect my foresight?"


    "My ability is weak?" Ma Xingbang was shocked. Since he awakened his ability, everyone who knew about it was amazed. And now Fang Xiu was calling his ability weak?


    Uneptable!


    Wang Dehai tried to smooth things over. "It''s possible. Maybe foresight ability is of a high level. It make sense you can''t just copy it randomly. Besides, Fang Xiu has proven himself many times. If he arranged one of his sess, does it mean he arrange for all of them? That doesn''t sound feasible. Let''s just end this here."


    Wang Dehai and the others trusted Fang Xiu more than Ma Xingbang. After all, they had witnessed Fang Xiu''s miracles multiple times.


    Yang Ming then said, "Right. If Fang Xiu was really with the Pokers, why would he go through so much trouble to pretend to have an ability he doesn''t have? They could just send someone with a strong ability to get the Investigation Bureau''s attention."


    Seeing everyone siding with Fang Xiu, Ma Xingbang''s expression darkened.


    Yang Ming and the others believed Fang Xiu because they had seen his abilities. Meanwhile, Ma Xingbang didn''t believe because he trusted his own ability.


    Standing on different sides led to different conclusions.


    Ma Xingbang pressed on aggressively, "Hmph, even if I can''t copy Foresight, how do you exin the Specter scent on you, Fang Xiu? You might deceive others, but not me. I once copied a smelling ability, allowing me to clearly detect a person''s Specter scent! People from the Pokers have mostly transnted Specter organs, bing partly Specterized. They all carry Specter scent! How do you exin that?"


    Everyone was a bit confused again.


    "It seems you really got me wrong, very deeply," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Ma Xingbang sneered, "Really? I''d like to see how you exin this."


    "Why would I need to exin anything to you? What makes you think you deserve my exnations?" Fang Xiu said calmly.


    It stunned everyone, especially Ma Xingbang, whose face darkened further, with a dangerous glint in his eyes.


    Yang Ming silently gave Fang Xiu a thumbs up. He didn''t care about Ma Xingbang''s so-called evidence; all he knew was that Fang Xiu saved Bai Qi and Greenvine City. Nothing else mattered.


    He thought that if Fang Xiu hadn''t extorted 200 spiritual coins from him, he would have been considered a very good person. Even now, he was still good, just not entirely.


    The two men became extremely tense.


    "I''m a consultant sent by the headquarters, and I have the right to demand a reasonable exnation. If you refuse to give one, I''ll take it as you admitting to my spection."


    Wang Dehai quickly intervened, "Mr. Ma, Fang Xiu is a hero of Greenvine City. The Nightmare event has attracted global attention. Doubting a hero at times like this could damage our image significantly, and I believe the higher-ups wouldn''t want to see that happen."


    Wang Dehai was an experienced politician. His official-sounding speech skillfully leveraged the organization''s image and the pressure from the headquarters to sway the argument.


    Ma Xingbang became hesitant. Clearly, he understood the implications, but he didn''t seem willing to back down easily, as it would make him aughingstock.


    "Director Wang, you make a good point. Without concrete evidence, I indeed can not doubt a hero. But what if there is concrete evidence?" Ma Xingbang sneered.


    "What do you mean by ''concrete evidence''?" Wang Dehai asked.


    Ma Xingbang replied, "I also have the ability to probe minds. My previous conversation with Fang Xiu was telepathy. If Fang Xiu allows me to use my mind-probing ability, I can find out if he''s a spy."


    Everyone was surprised at Ma Xingbang''s versatility. In just a short time, he had revealed so many abilities.


    Setting aside his aggressive personality, his abilities were indeed extraordinary.


    With such abilities, Ma Xingbang would surely have a ce even among the many experts at the headquarters.


    However, the mind is the most private part of a person, and probing into someone''s mind is something most people would resist.


    Ma Xingbang seemed to notice everyone''s concerns and said, "Don''t worry, Fang Xiu is a hero of the Investigation Bureau, and I wouldn''t do anything to harm him. You all can supervise. If you find any inappropriate behavior during the probe, you can intervene at any time.


    "Fang Xiu, I''ve made my position clear. If you still refuse, I have every reason to suspect that you''re guilty and afraid of being inspected. The headquarters won''t allow someone with an unclear identity to participate in training, nor will they award a suspected spy."


    This speech was deliberateif Fang Xiu refused the inspection, it implied guilt, potentially costing him the opportunity to go to the headquarters. This could lead to losing the reward for solving a Grade-S event and even making himself a key suspect.


    Faced with Ma Xingbang''s aggressiveness, Yang Ming and the others looked unhappy. But they felt helpless, as the opposition was leveraging the power of the headquarters with seemingly legitimate reasons.


    Ma Xingbang stared directly at Fang Xiu and challenged, "Fang Xiu, you''re not afraid of an inspection, are you?"


    He sneered internally, _''Heh, kid, you''re no match for me! So what if you''re good at handling Specter incidents? What''s the use? It''s all about your background in this world! I''m an representative sent by the headquarters, how dare you defy me?''_"

 Chapter 160: How Boring

    Chapter 160: How Boring


    Everyone suddenly became very quiet.


    Ma Xingbang''s words were half polite and half threatening, and Wang Dehai found it hard to say anything in support of Fang Xiu.


    However, Fang Xiu remained calm, as if he wasn''t the one being targeted.


    In fact, he wasn''t afraid of someone probing into his mind. After he had absorbed Nightmare, he could weave false dreams and even memories and emotions within his mind, so even if Ma Xingbang came probing, he wouldn''t find anything.


    Moreover, if Fang Xiu died several times and then revived, he could show Ma Xingbang memories about the "future". But, Fang Xiu didn''t want to do that, as he had never exined himself to anyone in his life.


    "Here''s a piece of advice," Fang Xiu said lightly. "If weak people persists valiantly, it usually means they know they''re dying. So, what about you, Mr. Ma?"


    Ma Xingbang''s eyes shed with a murderous intent. "Fang Xiu, do you realize how serious it is to threaten a headquarters consultant?"


    Secondster, Fang Xiuughed, a cold smile ying on his lips. "If you doubt me, take action instead of wasting words. In this dog-eat-dog world, proof is thest thing we want. Kill me, and your words will be solid proof. If you can''t, then it''s just hot air."


    BANG!


    Ma Xingbang mmed the table, furious. "Fang Xiu! You''ve got some nerve!"


    Although he was enraged, he didn''t take action because Yang Ming and the others were on Fang Xiu''s side. Plus, attacking a "hero" without evidence would backfire and harm his credibility.


    Ma Xingbang knew he could take action, but not publicly. He benefited from the power given by headquarters but was also bound by it.


    Seeing Ma Xingbang''s seething with helpless rage, Fang Xiu seemed bored.


    "Don''t have the courage to act against me? How dull." Fang Xiu shook his head and slowly left under everyone''s gaze.


    Ma Xingbang stared at him fiercely, fists clenched and veins bulging, but he didn''t dare to act until Fang Xiu was out of sight.


    Ma Xingbang hesitated, but Fang Xiu would never.


    Fang Xiu knew that, now that Ma Xingbang doubted him, it would be just a matter of time before he killed him. So, for his own safety, Fang Xiu had to act first.


    After leaving the Investigation Bureau, Fang Xiu immediately contacted Ace and King of Spades.


    In Fang Xiu''s house, a shadow enveloped the space like a barrier.


    Soon after, the two Spades emerged from the shadow. They knelt on one knee before Fang Xiu, who was sitting on the sofa, showing great respect.


    "Sir, you asked us toe. What do you need?"


    Fang Xiu looked at them calmly and said, "A consultant, Ma Xingbang, from the Investigation Bureau headquarters thinks I am a spy sent by the Pokers. You know what to do, right?"


    The two exchanged nces and solemnly replied, "We understand. We guarantee today will be hisst."


    "Good, get to it."


    "Yes, sir." As soon as they finished speaking, they merged back into the shadow and disappeared.


    The shadow also slowly faded away as if nothing had happened.


    As one of the "higher-ups" of the Pokers now, Fang Xiu didn''t need to do everything himself. He had people for that.


    After arranging everything, he went to bed and entered other people''s dreams. He enjoyed collecting fear and pain.


    Not many people slept during the day in Greenvine, but that didn''t mean none of them did. People in inte cafes overnight, clubbing, hosting orgies, and so on, had their day and night reversed. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    If he didn''t enter dreams during the day, he might miss these people. He realized he needed to treat everyone equally.


    So, for three whole days, Fang Xiu slept at home. Apart from getting up to eat and use the bathroom, he mostly stayed in bed.


    His wife, seeing him like this, could only lie beside him. She hoped that one day Fang Xiu would look at her.


    Her request was simpleshe just wanted her husband to nce at her.


    At night, the shadow once again covered Fang Xiu''s house.


    When Ace and King of Spades appeared, they fell to their knees with guilt. "Sir, Ma Xingbang hasn''t left Greenvine City Investigation Bureau for three days. We couldn''t find an opportunity to assassinate him. We didn''t dare to storm the Investigation Bureau, fearing it might cause unnecessary trouble and expose you. Please forgive us."


    "Useless!" Fang Xiu snorted coldly. Then, his ck hair suddenly turned into long silver hair.


    The silver hair, like tentacles, extended two strands and pierced through the chests of the two Spades.


    Spades A and K didn''t dare to resist Fang Xiu''s punishment at all, for they thought it was better to be punished than to resist and possibly lose their lives for defying him.


    Seeing the silver hair strandsing toward them, they were secretly relieved. They thought Fang Xiu still valued them since he was using such a mild and soft tool for punishment.


    They even dropped their defenses, letting the hair strands pierce them, afraid of upsetting Fang Xiu.


    However, when the silver strands pierced their chests, their expressions changed instantly. They copsed to the ground like they were electrocuted, their bodies convulsing wildly as they screamed in agony.


    Ace and King of Spades had been partly transformed into Specters, and their bodies were far from ordinary. So, it was a bit strange that the pain was so intense to them.


    It was all because Fang Xiu had used the power of pain. After achieving a perfect physique, his hair Specter became a part of his body, like his hands, capable of perfectly conducting spiritual energy. Thus, he could use his hair to wield the power of pain.


    Fang Xiu didn''t n to kill them; after all, they were still useful. It would be a pity to kill two such powerful subordinates.


    So, he used just a touch of the power of pain, a small punishment as a stern warning.


    Human nature is such that the nicer you are to someone, the more they might think you''re fake and doubt you. But if you instill deep fear in them, even if they start to doubt you over time, their fear will keep them from daring to question you.


    With this principle, Fang Xiu punished them for just an hour with pain, like being sliced by a thousand cuts.

 Chapter 161

    Chapter 161


    After their punishment, Ace and King of Spades were shaking uncontrobly. Still, they maintained their posture, kneeling with their heads almost touching the ground.


    They didn''t dare to look at Fang Xiu.


    The pain was unbearable, and they respected his power immensely.


    Just a single hair from him could cause such immense pain, and they couldn''t imagine how powerful he would be if he exerted his full strength.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu''s phone rang.


    It was Su Kexin.


    Fang Xiu waved his hand, signaling the two Spades to leave. They were overjoyed, thanked him profusely, and left without looking back.


    "Fang Xiu, please report to the Investigation Bureau at 9 am tomorrow. Our target this time is Green Mountain Mental Hospital," Su Kexin said.


    "Okay," Fang Xiu responded, and then the call ended.


    Su Kexin pouted in dissatisfaction. _''He''s always like this, cold as ice. Is it that hard to say something extra to me?''_


    In the Investigation Bureau, Ma Xingbang, who had been feeling a sense of looming danger, suddenly rxed._ _


    _''The killing intent is gone? Has the person watching me left?''_


    He had giarized a special ability to sense killing intent, which was incredibly useful, especially when he was the target. This ability had saved his life before, and he always reserved a spot for it among his giarized skills.


    He had an argument with Fang Xiu the other day. After Fang Xiu left, he sensed killing intent at that time.


    Initially, he thought Fang Xiu was behind it, but then he reasoned it couldn''t be Fang Xiu since it would be too obvious. They had just had a confrontation in front of others. If an assassination attempt followed immediately it would point directly to him.


    Ma Xingbang was puzzled. It was his first time in Greenvine City, and aside from Fang Xiu, he had no enemies there.


    _''Why would someone want to kill me? Could it be that Fang Xiu isn''t with the Pokers and someone is trying to frame him, making me think Fang Xiu was the culprit?''_


    Ma Xingbang''s mind was racing with thoughts.


    Fang Xiu had no idea that his random assassination attempt had cleared some of Ma Xingbang''s suspicions.


    Fang Xiu had never wanted that; he simply found Ma Xingbang annoying and wanted him gone sooner rather thanter.


    In his original n, the assassination was supposed to be carried out by the two Spades, leaving no direct link to himself.


    He wasn''t part of the Pokers, so suspicions wouldn''t fall on him. Even faced with a lie detector, he would boldly im he wasn''t the one who killed Ma Xingbang.


    The next day, Fang Xiu, Yang Ming, Bai Qi, and Ma Xingbang went to Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    Despite the previous tension between him and Fang Xiu, Ma Xingbang acted as if nothing had happened. Now, he stopped talking about the spy issue and insisted on exploring Green Mountain Mental Hospital together.


    Fang Xiu paid no attention to Ma Xingbang''s behavior. He was more interested in Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    There were many secrets hidden there: the truth about the world, Zhou Qingfeng''s gift, man-made Specters, and why Yang Ming was the chosen one.


    Last time, Fang Xiu wasn''t strong enough to explore Green Mountain Mental Hospital. But now, after a few months, he had improved greatly.


    He had be a second-tier psychic and merged with the powers of several Specters. He had many tricks up his sleeve and wasn''t afraid of even third-tier psychics.


    Only four of them went to explore Green Mountain Mental Hospital this time. Zhao Hao and the others didn''t join because this was a high-level mission. This ce was a Specter Zone where S-tier Specters were born, and others would only be a burden.


    Wang Dehai initially didn''t want Fang Xiu to take the risk. But Ma Xingbang imed he had a key that could guarantee safety, so Wang Dehai agreed hesitantly.


    "Once we enter the Specter Zone of Green Mountain Mental Hospital, follow my orders. If anyone disobeys, I will kill them before the Specters do," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Ma Xingbang remained expressionless, knowing the warning was for him. He didn''t react to Fang Xiu takingmand and seemed to be plotting something.


    To ease the tension, Yang Mingughed and said, "Xiu, you can foresee the future, so of course we''ll follow your lead. Let''s go."


    Fang Xiu nodded and led the way to Green Mountain Mental Hospital, with the others following.


    Ma Xingbang, at the back of the group, nced at Fang Xiu''s back and then around him._ ''I don''t sense any killing intent. But I''m fully prepared, and THAT THING will be mine.''_


    Soon, they all entered Green Mountain Mental Hospital. As they stepped in, they felt dizzy, and the scenery around them changed.


    When they regained their senses, they were already inside the dark and eerie corridors of the hospital.


    Ma Xingbang, experienced with such situations, said, "The Specter Zone here is strong enough to warp space, which will make exploration much more difficult."


    Fang Xiu looked around silently. The scene before him, one he had dreamt of countless times, began to stir his long-dormant emotions.


    The ce had undergone some unknown changes since hisst visit. It was now darker, with an ominous atmosphere.


    Just standing there, Fang Xiu could feel his soul trembling, as if it was on the verge of losing control.


    Yang Ming, rmed, said, "The concentration of Specter energy here is too high. We''ve just entered, and I already feel like my soul is being invaded. Xiu, did you really survive this terrifying ce before?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head, "The concentration of Specter energy wasn''t this highst time. The seal here must be weakening, allowing more Specters to emerge, which increases the concentration."


    Yang Ming swallowed hard, "ording to Yang Kunpeng, he saw three wandering Spectersst time. Does that mean we have to face at least three Specters now?"


    "Not just three," Bai Qi, who had been silent, suddenly said gravely, "The Specter energy is too intense. Just three Specters couldn''t release so much energy. Over time, the seal would weaken further, and the Specters that have already emerged might attack the seals of other rooms."


    As soon as Bai Qi finished, he noticed Yang Ming staring at him. His face darkened, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Are you really Bai Qi? Are you a disguised Specter, or controlled by one likest time? The real Bai Qi wouldn''t talk this much. Something''s wrong with you."


    Bai Qi, infuriated, almost lost his temper. "So now you''re bringing upst time!?"


    Just then, the sound of a bouncing ball came from the depths of the corridor."

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162


    Hearing loud thumping sounds from deep within the hallway, everyone turned serious.


    Usually, people like Yang Ming, who were third-tier psychics, wouldn''t be bothered by small things. But this time was different.


    The Specter Zone in Green Mountain Mental Hospital was known to be extremely dangerous, even S-tier Specters had appeared here. So, even third-tier psychics, and maybe even fourth-tiers, could find themselves in trouble.


    In such circumstances, every little sound was worth paying attention to.


    "Sounds like someone is ying basketball?"


    "No, it''s not a basketball. The sound is heavier, like some kind of hard object."


    While everyone was still trying to figure out the source of the sounds, Fang Xiu started walking toward the end of the hallway.


    Other psychics needed to be careful and make bold guesses when exploring Specter Zones, but Fang Xiu was different. He didn''t need to think much and could just go forward boldly.


    Seeing Fang Xiu move, Yang Ming and Bai Qi didn''t hesitate and followed him. They knew that following a psychic who could foresee the future was usually safe.


    Ma Xingbang, who was at the back of the group, slowly followed, his gaze flickering, seemingly deep in thought.


    When Fang Xiu reached the end of the hallway, they finally saw what was making the noise. In the darkness, an irregr spherical object was bouncing up and down, as if an invisible person was ying basketball.


    When they got closer, they gasped in shockit was a human head.


    The head had no neck and looked like a young man with a gentle appearance, bouncing around happily.


    The head stared straight at them, its smile widening.


    "Heehee, hee"


    Before the head could finishughing, Fang Xiu kicked it away with a strong kick.


    The kick was so powerful that it deformed the head, which then hit the ceiling of the hallway, bounced to the floor, then to the wall, and continued bouncing until it disappeared from sight.


    "Let''s keep moving." Fang Xiu quietly retracted his leg and continued walking.


    Everyone was stunned.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi were somewhat fine since they were familiar with Fang Xiu''s antics, but Ma Xingbang waspletely shocked.


    He had visited many Specter Zones and had never seen such a brave and direct approach. Everyone else would be discreet, afraid of identally triggering a Specter''s killing moves.


    ording to Ma Xingbang''s extensive experience, they should have observed from a distance first. They would have stayed put, waiting for the next move of the head or trying long-distance attacks as a test. Direct physical contact with a Specter should be avoided at all costs unless absolutely necessary.


    That wasn''t just his experience; it was advice promoted by the headquarters, learned through the sacrifices of countless psychics.


    But now, Fang Xiu had gone ahead and kicked the head, something Ma Xingbang hadn''t anticipated at all. Most shocking thing was that, after the head was kicked away, nothing happened.


    ''Could this guy really predict the future? Is my ability to copy skills too weak to copy his ability?'' Ma Xingbang wondered.


    The group continued through the eerie hallway and soon reached the end, where a staircase leading upward was dimly lit and hard to see.


    Just as they were about to go up, suddenly...


    THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!


    The darkness above the staircase filled with the dense sound of something like a ball being hit.


    It was a heavy sound, very simr to the Head Ball they had encountered before.


    Everyone''s faces changed instantly.


    "Heehee heehee."


    The creepyughter echoed from the staircase.


    Even without seeing what was inside, they knew there were countless Head Balls bouncing andughing.


    Then, the sound of rushing water followed.


    "Is that water? Why would there be water?" Yang Ming guessed.


    "Shut up!" Bai Qi red at him angrily.


    The sound of water grew louder, and they soon realized it wasn''t water but thick, crimson blood.


    The blood was as dense as chocte sauce, and the staircase looked like a cake being drizzled by it. The blood spread from the stairs, flowing rapidly downward, staining each step a sinister red.


    As the blood spread, the thumping sound got closer.


    Then, a terrifying scene unfolded.


    The Head Ball that Fang Xiu had kicked away seemed to have been replicated countless times. Hundreds of identical Head Balls swarmed down the stairs, bouncing towards them, all with the sameughing faces staring directly at the group.


    Faced with this scene, the experienced psychics remained calm.


    Instead of retreating, they charged toward the Head Balls.


    Bai Qi was the fastest. He drew a dark golden short knife from his waist and moved instantly. The moment he struck, his entire arm disappeared from view. His speed had reached its limit.


    With a swoosh, a streak of light from the knife cut through the front row of Head Balls, slicing them in halves.


    Bai Qi was surprised. He hadn''t expected the Specter-like Head Balls to be so easily defeated.


    But then, something eerie happened. The Head Balls that were cut in half trembled slightly, and countless flesh bumps emerged at the severed parts.


    These bumps writhed, and in just a moment, the halved Head Balls turned into two whole heads each.


    "They can split into two if cut in halves? What about a hundred pieces?"


    A cold light shed in Bai Qi''s eyes as he rapidly wielded his knife, chopping a Head Ball into hundreds of pieces in mere seconds.


    However, these hundreds of pieces wriggled like maggots and quickly grew into hundreds of new Head Balls.


    "What?!" Everyone was shocked.


    "They can split indefinitely! Stop using knives," Bai Qi said gravely, his expression grim.


    He hadn''t anticipated that his actions would not only fail to kill the Head Balls but would also cause their numbers to explode.


    "We can''t kill these things. We should have brought Shen Lingxue with us. She could have burned these heads to ashes with her fire, then see how they''d split," Yang Mingmented.


    Faced with this type of Specter, Yang Ming''s hands were tied, too. His ability was on the passive side, and in physical fights, he could only rely on using a knife.


    The Head Balls were particrly challenging for Bai Qi and Yang Ming, as they both used knives as their weapons andcked methods to cause widespread damage.


    At this moment, Ma Xingbang stepped forward with a contemptuous sneer. He looked down on the other members of the team, mocking their inability to handle the situation.


    He leapt forward, facing the oing thousands of Head Balls, each with a gaping mouth as if they intended to bite him to death.


    But just as the Head Balls were about to reach him, Ma Xingbang sneered and stretched out his right hand, gripping the air fiercely.


    "

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163


    BOOM!


    A shocking scene unfolded.


    The Head Balls seemed to be under some invisible, heavy pressure and were squashed and burst one by one, like fireworks.


    Soon, they turned into pools of flesh.


    Ma Xingbang''s strike killed thousands of Head Balls in seconds.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi''s pupils shrank. No one could tell what Ma Xingbang had done, but the effect was surprisingly strong.


    Thinking that Ma Xingbang was from the headquarters, they respected him even more.


    "Let''s go," Ma Xingbang said calmly.


    He didn''t look back, intentionally leaving only his silhouette to the others.


    As he stepped on the flesh and climbed the stairs, something unexpected happened.


    The blood and flesh on every step bubbled up. Then, countless flesh lumps emerged from the flesh, turning into new Head Balls.


    "What?!" Ma Xingbang was shocked and quickly ran down the stairs.


    Flesh lumps surged under his feet. Blood and flesh sttered, staining his pants. He was graceful when he was going up, but now he was in a panicing down.


    At this moment, however, no one was paying attention to Ma Xingbang. They were all horrified by the flesh on the stairs.


    Countless Head Balls grew from the flesh, quickly covering the entire staircase. They were packed tightly together.


    They seemed endless, almost filling the entire stairway.


    Clearly, Ma Xingbang''s actions had made the situation worse, multiplying the number of Head Balls by several times, possibly over ten thousand.


    The narrow corridor and stairway were almostpletely upied by the Head Balls, making the scene extremely horrifying.


    Ma Xingbang''s face was twisted, partly because his attempt to show off had backfired immediately, and partly because he hadn''t expected the mental hospital to be this terrifying. They had just entered and hadn''t even passed the first challenge, yet they were facing a setback right away.


    He thought to himself, _''Damn it, as long as I''m alive, there''s still hope. I''ll giarize some abilities to counter the Head Balls ande back.''_


    Then Ma Xingbang shouted, "Quick, find a door! These Specter things are too wicked, we can''t fight them. The more we fight, the more they multiply, first"


    However, his voice was interrupted by a calm one.


    "Such a waste of time."


    The speaker was Fang Xiu.


    Ma Xingbang was furious and yelled, "Fang Xiu, what did you say? If you want to die, stay here. No one''s stopping you."


    "Yeah, Xiu, if we can''t do it, let''s retreat. We''ll bring Shen Lingxue next time. I don''t believe they can still multiply after being burned to ashes," Yang Ming also suggested.


    Ma Xingbang gave a coldugh. "Fang Xiu, it looks like you''re confident. Then stay here and deal with them. But don''t you dare follow us when I use the golden key to leave"


    Before he could finish, he was stunned by what happened next.


    Fang Xiu''s ck hair instantly turned into a waterfall of silver, floating as if defying gravity.


    The silver strands split into thousands, piercing through the Head Balls like needles.


    The hair skewered the Head Balls like candied haws, each strand carrying a dozen heads.


    As the heads were pierced, a tiny hole appeared at the center of their foreheads, their insides instantly shredded by the silver strands.


    Then, with a swift motion, the strands pulled back, flinging the Head Balls behind them into the corridor.


    To everyone''s amazement, the Head Balls fell silent after being skewered and flung away. They were no longer multiplying or bouncing around, seemingly dead.


    With just one move, Fang Xiu had cleared out thousands of head Ballsusing only his hair.


    Ma Xingbang couldn''t believe it. "How is this possible? Why don''t they multiply when you kill them?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond. He just calmly walked up the stairs, leaving them behind. "Let''s go."


    He didn''t exin anything and casually continued upstairs.


    "Awesome!" Yang Ming shouted excitedly, following him up.


    Bai Qi, although silent, couldn''t hide his shock and followed as well.


    Ma Xingbang, left with a dark expression, was furious at being ignored. He tried to suppress his anger and slowly followed them up.


    But just as he took a step, Fang Xiu stopped and said lightly, "By the way, Mr. Ma, what were you saying just now?"


    Ma Xingbang''s face went pale. He didn''t respond.


    "Mr. Ma, you were talking about using your key to leave, right? Now that I''m continuing the exploration, you wouldn''t shamelessly follow us, would you?"


    Ma Xingbang was about to explode with anger. His own words were thrown back at him, and his face felt pped, yet he had no choice but to follow.


    The item he was searching for was in the mental hospital, and he couldn''t afford to give up after forming such a strong team.


    In the end, Ma Xingbang ''shamelessly'' followed them.


    As the group walked up the stairs, Yang Ming was fidgeting, scratching his head and body as if he had lice.


    He then took out a cigarette and offered it to Fang Xiu. "Xiu, want a smoke?"


    Fang Xiu nced at him calmly and said, "Just shoot."


    Yang Ming chuckled, "My foreseeing buddy, I can''t hide anything from you, huh? I''m just curious, why do those Head Balls die outright without splitting when you kill them?"


    Bai Qi and Ma Xingbang, although pretending not to care, were all ears.


    Bai Qi was the quiet type, not one to ask questions even if he was curious. And Ma Xingbang, having shamelessly followed them, would only invite more humiliation by asking.


    Yang Ming was voicing their shared curiosity.


    Fang Xiu didn''t beat around the bush and calmly said, "The reason is simpleit''s the blood."


    "Blood?" Yang Ming was confused.


    "Xiu, can you be more specific? What about the blood?"


    "You all noticed the blood on the stairs, right?"


    "Yes, but what''s special about the blood there?"

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164


    "Blood is the key to the endless multiplication of Head Ball," Fang Xiu exined. When you kill it, the blood on the steps makes it multiply. As they die, more blood umtes on the steps, and the cycle continues."


    Yang Ming suddenly realized something and said, "No wonder you threw them all into the corridor using your hair. As long as the Head Balls can''t touch the blood on the steps, they''re finished."


    "Uh-huh," Fang Xiu simply agreed.


    Everyone was amazed that the seemingly indestructible Scalp Ball was so easy to defeat.


    "How did you think of this solution?"


    "I saw the future," said Fang Xiu casually. His words struck Ma Xingbang like thunder.


    _''Damn! Can he really see the future? No, that''s impossible. If he could, why can''t I copy it? There can''t be a power I can''t copy. Could it be''_


    In the darkness, a spark of realization shed in Ma Xingbang''s eyes. He had guessed the secret of Fang Xiu''s foresight.


    Soon, they all arrived on the second floor.


    Now, they faced a choice: continue up the stairs or explore the second floor.


    However, before anyone could decide, Fang Xiu headed directly to the second floor. He was here to uncover the secrets of the entire Green Mountain Mental Hospital, and naturally, he wouldn''t miss any floor.


    No one questioned Fang Xiu''s decision. Everyone thought he must have seen the future again, which was why he chose the second floor.


    After the Head Ball incident, everyone became more cautious.


    Theyout of the second floor was simr to the first, with a long corridor nked by small rooms.


    The rooms had door numbers 104, 109, 201, and 311.


    Seeing these numbers, Fang Xiu frownedhe had been here before.


    The first time he visited Green Mountain Mental Hospital, he saw this ce in the real world. But now, the space here waspletely chaotic. The weakening seals had allowed several Specters to escape, causing a distortion in the Specter Zone.


    Rooms that should be on the first floor appeared on the second floor, and there were even rooms from the third floor.


    This meant that Fang Xiu''s previous advantage of knowing the terrain was greatly diminished.


    The first time Fang Xiu escaped from Green Mountain Mental Hospital, part of the reason was his knowledge of the terrain and knowing where the safe exits were. But this time, everything was mixed up.


    "This ward is really strange. Rooms starting with 1 should be on the first floor, and those starting with 2 on the second. Why are they all mixed up here?" Yang Ming also noticed something odd.


    "Specters! There are quite a few Specters locked up in these rooms!" Ma Xingbang suddenly eximed with a grim expression. At the same time, his nose twitched continuously, clearly smelling the presence of Specters.


    Yang Ming was startled, "Don''t scare me now, there are at least ten rooms here! You mean there could be over ten Specters on this floor?"


    "Not that many. I smell about five Specters," Ma Xingbang corrected.


    "Five, huh." Yang Ming breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    Bai Qi couldn''t help but scold him, "Idiot! If there are five in the rooms, that means the rest have escaped!"


    "What? Can you tell which room is empty and which has Specters, Mr. Ma?" asked Yang Ming.


    Ma Xingbang shook his head gravely. "The Specters are too close; their scents are mixed together. I can''t pinpoint their exact locations."


    BANG!


    Fang Xiu had already kicked open a door to one of the rooms.


    "What are you doing, Fang Xiu!" Ma Xingbang was both shocked and angry.


    The other two were startled too, staring at the door that had been kicked open, fearing something terrifying might leap out.


    However, Fang Xiu had already walked inside.


    They were stunned, not expecting Fang Xiu to be so bold. But they quickly realized that he might have foreseen something.


    Ma Xingbang''s eyes flickered, more certain of his own spection, _''Can his foresight be used so freely? It seems my guess is right.''_


    The group followed Fang Xiu inside and found indeed there was no Specter.


    The room was not a ward but resembled a doctor''s office. There was a coat rack with ab coat hanging on it, a desk with scattered stethoscopes, and some medical reports stained with blood.


    In fact, Fang Xiu had not foreseen that there were no Specters here. He knew clearly that the Specters here were already dead.


    The room belonged to the doctorthe doctor with the pretty, long legs.


    This Specter had helped Fang Xiu activate his psychic power for the first time. If he hadn''t touched the Specter''s long legs, Fang Xiu might still be an ordinary person.


    However, the doctor had already been killed by Yang Kunpeng and his team.


    This made it impossible for Fang Xiu to properly repay the "kindness," which he slightly regretted.


    But now was not the time for sentiments. Fang Xiu walked straight to the desk and picked up the blood-stained reports.


    The first time he was here, when he looked through the real world into the hospital, he saw these reports in the doctor''s office. But at that time, because his body could not touch anything and the reports were stacked together, the information he could get was limited.


    Now, he could finally see what was in the reports.


    The first page, sttered with blood, was just like what Fang Xiu had seen before.


    "Experiment 128 (blood-covered), Specter Transformation Level: 2164. Transformation failed."


    He quickly flipped past the first page, looking further.


    Unfortunately, the subsequent pages were also soaked with blood, leaving only parts of the text clear.


    Fang Xiu flipped through page after page, encountering disturbing experimental records. Most of the terms he had never heard before, ranging from Specter organ transnts to corpse fat and live sacrificeshorrific stuff.


    Yang Ming and the others were continuously shocked by what they saw.


    "This hospital was actually transforming living people into Specters! Damn them! Are they insane, thinking there aren''t enough Specters in the world already?" Yang Ming was both shocked and angry, feeling as if a fire was burning in his chest.


    Ma Xingbang''s eyes grew brighter the more he read. _''I can''t be wrong! It must be here!''_


    Fang Xiu flipped faster and faster until he stopped abruptly at thest page.


    Thest page read:


    **Experiment 104: Faceless**


    **Age: Thirteen **


    **Gender: Female**


    **Original Extract Potential: ss S**


    **Transformation sessful.**


    Seeing this line, Fang Xiu instantly thought of the faceless little girl in the psychiatric hospital, whose name, age, gender, and even the test number matched.


    The little girl''s room was number 104.


    "ss-S potential?" Yang Ming gasped in shock. "What kind of ce is this hospital, churning out a ss-S Specter like that?"


    While everyone was shocked by the mention of an ss-S, Ma Xingbang''s eyes were fixed on the words "Original Extract."

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165


    Fang Xiu had a strange look in his eyes. He didn''t know what the Original Extract was, but Ma Xingbang seemed to value it highly.


    Although he hid it well, Fang Xiu, who had faced death many times, was too sensitive. Ma Xingbang''s unusual behavior couldn''t escape his eyes.


    While everyone was shocked by the report, suddenly a little girl''s voice came from behind them.


    "Can I borrow your faces?"


    Instantly, everyone felt a chilling cold rush up their spine to the top of their heads.


    They had three third-tier psychics, but the girl had silently approached them from behind.


    Unbelievable!


    They all quickly turned around and saw a little girl standing at the doorway. The most scary part is, she had no face!


    She was Experiment 104, a ss-S Specter, known as Faceless!


    Everyone froze on the spot, staring intensely at the little girl. Facing a ss-S Specter, being cautious was a must.


    They really wanted to move away, but the little girl was blocking the doorway, making it impossible to leave.


    As the standoff continued, the little girl turned her faceless head and looked toward Bai Qi.


    Even though she had no eyes, Bai Qi felt as if something terrifying was staring at him. His body tensed suddenly, and his right hand tightly gripped the short knife at his waist.


    He didn''t strike first, remembering the lesson Head Ball had taught him.


    Facing a Specter, striking first was not always the best option, especially against a ss-S Specter.


    "Sir, you''ve got a handsome face. Give it to me," the little girl said sweetly, despite having no mouth.


    Bai Qi was stunned; this was his first time beingplimented by a Specter.


    Before he could respond, the little girl had already extended her hand.


    Everyone was tense, staring at the little girl''s hand.


    The little girl was still two meters away from them, and with her short arms, she couldn''t possibly reach Bai Qi.


    But in the next second, something weird happened.


    Bai Qi suddenly felt an itch on his neck. He looked down and immediately got goosebumps.


    A small girl''s arm had grown out of his neck.


    Without any hesitation, Bai Qi activated his Extreme Speed ability. His right hand, holding the short knife, became a blur as he fiercely shed at the arm on his neck.


    SWISH!


    The dark golden de seemed to pass right through the little girl''s arm, as if cutting through air.


    Just when Bai Qi thought it was all an illusion, the little girl''s hand was already touching his face.


    He felt a cold sensation. The next second, before Bai Qi could react, everything went dark, and his breathing stopped. Everything around him became very quiet.


    It felt as though someone had stered a thick, wet cloth over his face, covering his hearing, sight, and even his breathing.


    Bai Qi started to struggle, desperately trying to tear off the white cloth on his face, but no matter how much he searched, he couldn''t find where the cloth was.


    To the others, the moment the little girl''s hand touched Bai Qi''s face, his face was taken away. It looked like a human skin mask, held in the little girl''s hand.


    The little girl happily put Bai Qi''s face on her own.


    Then, a bizarre scene unfolded.


    Bai Qi became faceless, while the little girl wore his face, looking very mismatched and grotesque.


    They were shocked and scared, not expecting the little girl''s methods to be so sinister.


    Yang Ming, both shocked and angry, swiftly pulled out his short knife and shed fiercely at the little girl.


    SWISH!


    The de cut the little girl in half. However, the two halves of her body slowly turned into shadows, and the little girl''s figure reappeared on the other side of the room.


    "An afterimage! Her speed is so fast that it creates afterimages! Damn it! That''s Bai Qi''s ability!" Ma Xingbang eximed.


    Apparently, when the little girl stole someone''s face, she could also steal their abilities.


    This method was much more powerful than Ma Xingbang''s, as his copied abilities were always a level lower than the original owner.


    For example, if Ma Xingbang giarized Yang Ming''s God''s n, he would only get its second-tier equivalent¡ªGood Luck. But the little girl had no such limitation; she directly acquired someone else''s abilities at 100% strength.


    "He''s suffocating," Fang Xiu suddenly informed them.


    They quickly looked at Bai Qi. Veins bulged on his neck as he frantically wed at his face, unable to breathe.


    Seeing this, Yang Ming had to give up attacking the little girl and aimed his knife at Bai Qi.


    SWISH!


    The part of Bai Qi''s face where his mouth used to be was stabbed, creating a hole. Blood gushed out, along with Bai Qi''s gasping breaths.


    "What on earth is going on?!" Bai Qi''s angry and surprised voice sounded.


    He could still talk, and in the hole in his face, a tongue was moving inside.


    "Your face has been taken, and now you''ve lost your features!" Yang Ming exined.


    "It''s no use, he can''t hear you," Fang Xiu pointed to where Bai Qi''s ears should be.


    Realizing this, Yang Ming took his knife and stabbed two holes where Bai Qi''s ears should be, causing more blood to flow.


    With these two holes, Bai Qi could now hear again.


    "Bai, your face has been taken, and now you''ve lost your features!"


    Bai Qi, an experienced psychic, understood the situation and calmed himself. Then, he took out his knife and shed at the area where his eyes should be.


    With two cuts made, Bai Qi regained his vision. He quickly saw the little girl wearing his face.


    His appearance was now quite strange: each of his senses was restored by a cut made in the corresponding area. Through the cuts at his eyes, two bloodshot eyeballs were visible; they seemed to be desperately trying to push out but were tightly restricted by the skin.


    Bai Qi''s vision was obstructed, and he could only see through two narrow slits."

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166


    As Bai Qi rushed toward the little girl to reim his face, he suddenly realized that his once prideful speed had vanished.


    Although he was still faster than an ordinary person, it was now solely due to his physical abilities as a third-tier psychic, not his Extreme Speed skill.


    His Extreme Speed was gone.


    "My ability has been taken away!"


    "What? When she takes your face, she takes your abilities too?"


    The others were shocked, seeing the little girl as a serious threat.


    To prevent the little girl from attacking again, Yang Ming immediately charged forward. As a pair of embroidered shoes appeared on his feet, his speed instantly surged.


    Even then, Yang Ming was a fraction slower than the little girl. No matter how hard he tried to swing his de, he always missed by just a little.


    Bai Qi wanted to help, but without Extreme Speed, he couldn''t engage in the fight.At this point, Ma Xingbang no longer hid his strength. Hiding their power in the face of a ss-S Specter was foolish.


    The Specter in front of them had the ability to steal others'' abilities, so they needed to act quickly. Otherwise, if it took more abilities, everyone would end up dead.


    "Move!" Ma Xingbang yelled as he stretched out his right hand toward the little girl, his left hand tightly clutching his right wrist.


    Yang Ming immediately dodged to the side.


    BOOM!


    Instantly, an invisible force burst from Ma Xingbang''s hand, enveloping the little girl like a slow-motion effect, causing her movements to dy significantly.


    At the same time, the ground beneath the little girl started to crack, unable to bear the weight, as if it was not a little girl standing there but an elephant.


    "Gravity?" Fang Xiu''s eyes flickered, having recognized the ability Ma Xingbang was using.


    Ma Xingbang had used this same move to crush thousands of Head Balls previously.


    However, the little girl''s power was clearly not something that could be suppressed by gravity alone. The immense, invisible gravitational force only slowed her down.


    That was enough for Yang Ming.


    At this level, he could keep up with the little girl''s speed.


    As his embroidered shoes glowed red, Yang Ming''s speed surged, and he swung his knife fiercely at the little girl.


    The gravity made it impossible for the little girl to dodge Yang Ming''s strike. She could only watch as her chest was viciously shed open.


    "Ah!"


    A cry of pain echoed.


    But the sound didn''te from the little girl; it came from behind Yang Ming.


    It was Bai Qi.


    With a severe wound stretching from his left shoulder to his right abdomen, Bai Qi bled profusely. The intense pain made him kneel on the ground, using his short knife to support his body, his face pale.


    Seeing this, Yang Ming''s eyes widened with rage. He looked at the little girl, noticing that the wound on her body had already slowly healed, leaving her unharmed.


    Instantly, Yang Ming understood everything. After their faces were taken, not only did they lose their abilities, but their lives also became linked to the little girl.


    Now, striking the little girl who wore Bai Qi''s face was essentially the same as striking Bai Qi himself.


    It gave the little girl an extra life. Unless Bai Qi died, it seemed they couldn''t harm the little girl.


    They finally understood the terror of a ss-S Specter: with each face taken, she gained another ability and an additional life. Such an overwhelming ability could indeed destroy a nation if left unchecked.


    Previously, they had encountered Nightmare that could endlessly consume fear. It could pull everyone into a dream, growing stronger as more people became frightened, like a snowball rolling downhill.


    Now, they faced Faceless, who gained an extra life and the ability to steal psychic powers with each face taken. If allowed to grow unchecked, Faceless would eventually be an indestructible monster with countless abilities.


    Each ss-S Specter might have different abilities and levels of strength, but they were all equally terrifying.


    "Kill her now! I can''t hold on much longer!" Ma Xingbang yelled at Yang Ming.


    But Yang Ming hesitated. He wasn''t sure if killing the little girl would work, but he knew that Bai Qi would definitely die if he tried.


    Seeing Yang Ming hesitate, Ma Xingbang cursed furiously, "Just do it, damn it! Killing her might only kill Bai Qi, but if you don''t, we''re all dead!"


    Hearing this, Yang Ming trembled. He gripped his knife tightly, then pointed it at Ma Xingbang, "Say one more word, and I''ll kill you first!"


    "You!" Ma Xingbang was furious. He gritted his teeth as he struggled to maintain hisposure.


    After all, the enemy was a ss-S Specter. Even though she had never left the Green Mountain Mental Hospital and hadn''t yet fully grown by extensively taking faces, she was still too powerful.


    Wounded and barely able to stand, Bai Qi slowly made his way toward the little girl¡ªeach step left a bloody footprint behind.


    Yang Ming''s expression changed abruptly. "Bai, what are you trying to do!"


    "Move aside!" Bai Qi, like a wounded wolf, roared coldly.


    "No!"


    Yang Ming knew Bai Qi too well and understood what he intended to do.


    Bai Qi knew Yang Ming couldn''t bring himself to act, so he wanted to kill the little girl himself.


    It would be akin to suicide, meaning he was prepared to sacrifice his own life to save Yang Ming.


    But Yang Ming wanted Bai Qi to survive.


    Were they in a TV show, this would be the moment for a moving scene filled with brotherly love to y out, touching the viewers deeply. However, reality isn''t a TV show, and viins wouldn''t patiently wait for the heroes to finish their emotional disys.


    "

 Chapter 167: Losing Faces

    Chapter 167: Losing Faces


    The little girl slowly reached out her hand toward everyone.


    Suddenly, something strange happened.


    Ma Xingbang and Fang Xiu both had thin arms growing from their bodies. The arms, like snakes, reached for their faces.


    Ma Xingbang was terrified. He stopped using his gravity powers and started frantically attacking the arm on his body.


    However, his attacks were in vain, as the arm seemed immune to any attack.


    Fang Xiu calmly watched the arm spreading from his chest. He then attacked the arm with his scalpel.


    This attack was filled with his power of pain, but it had no effect. The scalpel seemed to cut through air.


    "Can''t be attacked, huh?" Fang Xiu thought silently.


    The girl''s way of attacking seemed to start with raising her hand. When she stretched her hand out, a hand would actually grow from the person''s body.This hand couldn''t be attacked, so the person could only wait to have their face taken.


    So, to fight the little girl, they absolutely must prevent her from raising her hand.


    If she raised her hand, they''d lose the chance.


    In the next second, a cold touch came, like a dead person''s hand. As the cold sensation arose, Fang Xiu and Ma Xingbang were plunged into darkness.


    All light and sound around them disappeared, as if their eyes and noses were covered.


    As time passed, they began to feel suffocated.


    At the same time, Fang Xiu could clearly feel his power of pain disappearing. It was taken by the little girl.


    The good thing was that he only lost that power. His other powers, like the Blood Pupil, the Hair Specter, and Nightmare, were still with him.


    It seemed that Faceless didn''t take all the powers¡ªjust the psychic''s innate powers.


    Fang Xiu, having more than his own powers, was less affected by Faceless.


    Ma Xingbang also hadn''t lost all his powers. He only lost his copying ability, but the powers he had copied before were still with him.


    Bai Qi was more affected. He was very strong, but his power was simple. Once he lost his power, he waspletely useless.


    In a swift motion, Fang Xiu used his scalpel to make a cut for his mouth, eyes, and ears.


    He didn''t return to normal, but he regained his vision and hearing.


    Seeing Bai Qi''s method, Ma Xingbang did the same to his face, restoring his vision and hearing.


    When the two could see clearly again, they shockingly found that Yang Ming, who was closest to the little girl, had not had his face taken. His rough, stubbly face was still intact.


    Meanwhile, the little girl now wore a face that was calm and expressionless.


    It was Fang Xiu''s face.


    Fang Xiu''s mind stirred. _''Is it because of the distance? Yang Ming was close to her, so his face wasn''t taken? Or is it God''s n, at work? Where did Bai Qi and Ma Xingbang go?''_


    Even Yang Ming himself was surprised. He touched his face and asked, "Why wasn''t my face taken?"


    The little girl''s answer was straightforward, "You''re too ugly."


    Yang Ming was stunned for a moment, then became angry. "Ugly? I''m the very image of a macho man. I admit I forgot to shave this morning, though. Don''t you have any taste?"


    Yang Ming wasn''t really ugly. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a square face, and a broad nose. However, he had untrimmed stubble and sleep crust in his eyes at the moment.


    Overall, his appearance was rough and unkempt, not handsome, but definitely not ugly.


    Among the four, Yang Ming was indeed the least conventionally attractive. Even Ma Xingbang, who was middle-aged, wore a neat suit and had meticulouslybed hair, possessing a mature charm.


    Fang Xiu hadn''t expected that Yang Ming''s face wasn''t taken because of his looks.


    Maybe the superficial reason was his ugliness, but essentially, it must be God''s n at work.


    Perhaps Yang Ming''s forgetting to shave was God''s n.


    This gave Fang Xiu a clue on how to deal with Faceless.


    The situation was quickly turning into a dead end, with three of them losing their powers. At this point, Fang Xiu knew he would eventually have to reset the game.


    Thus, Fang Xiu decided to observe a bit longer, hoping to uncover more secrets about Faceless.


    "So, you''ve all lost your faces?" the little girl said with Fang Xiu''s face, tilting her head cutely.


    Then she vanished from the room, leaving only Yang Ming and the three others.


    Bai Qi was weakly gasping for breath, Ma Xingbang was furious, and Fang Xiu was calmly thinking.


    They realized that Faceless wasn''t keen on killing; she just wanted their faces.


    Yang Ming was still reeling from his anger. "Did she just use a pun to mock us?"


    "Shut up!" Ma Xingbang roared like an angry lion, his bloodshot eyes ring at Yang Ming. "If you had acted sooner, I wouldn''t have lost my face!"


    Yang Ming couldn''t help butugh at the phrase "lost face."


    This almost made Ma Xingbang explode with rage. "What are youughing at! What¡¯s so funny?"


    "Mr. Ma, calm down. How about we use the golden key to leave first? We can go back and regroup. Bai needs treatment right now. Look, we''re in luck; there''s a door right here."


    "Go back?" Ma Xingbang''s voice rose sharply. "What about my face? You might not mind losing face, but I do!"


    Fang Xiu, tired of their bickering, pulled out his scalpel.


    "What are you doing, Fang Xiu?" Ma Xingbang was clearly unstable, eyeing Fang Xiu intently as he drew the scalpel.


    Ignoring Ma Xingbang, Fang Xiu plunged the scalpel deep into his own forehead under the shocked gazes of everyone.

 Chapter 168: Disfigurement

    Chapter 168: Disfigurement


    The group was looking around the doctor''s office. They soon found a blood-stained report on the desk.


    "Here''s a case report," Yang Ming said, brightening up. He quickly stepped forward, picked up the report, and started reading.


    Ma Xingbang hurried over to look as well.


    Fang Xiu didn''t move because he had already been through this scene.


    "No need to look further," Fang Xiu said. "The report lists experiments of transforming humans into Specters. I suggest you look directly at thest page because it records a Specter that will appear soon."


    Everyone was shocked at his words.


    Fang Xiu continued, "Faceless was transformed from an Original Extract into a Specter, with S-Grade potential. Everyone, get ready for a fight."


    After speaking, Fang Xiu secretly observed Ma Xingbang''s expression.


    Ma Xingbang was an old fox; his face showed no emotion, as if he had no idea what Original Extract was. However, his slightly contracted pupils betrayed his inner shock.Yang Ming flipped directly to thest page, which read:


    **Experiment 104: Faceless**


    **Age: Thirteen **


    **Gender: Female**


    **Original Extract Potential: ss S**


    **Transformation sessful**


    It was exactly as Fang Xiu had said.


    Ma Xingbang was even more shocked; he was unsure how much Fang Xiu had foreseen.


    "Xiu, are you saying that this Grade-S Specter, Faceless, is going to appear soon?"


    "Exactly." Fang Xiu nodded.


    "Then what are we waiting for, let''s run!"


    Yang Ming''s first reaction was to flee. In such a terrifying Specter Zone, encountering an S-Grade Specter and not running was no better than waiting for death.


    They hade to explore, not to solve the entire Green Mountain Mental Hospital situation. That would require the headquarters to send arge force.


    "We can''t escape," Fang Xiu said.


    He knew well that Faceless''s goal was to collect as many human faces as she could¡ªfrom the fact she was seeking them out. This meant if she couldn''t get their faces, she would chase them to the ends of the earth.


    Hearing Fang Xiu say they couldn''t run, everyone''s faces turned serious.


    "Xiu, have you foreseen Faceless''s abilities? How should we deal with her?" Yang Ming asked quickly.


    "Simple, disfigurement," Fang Xiu said calmly, then pulled out a scalpel.


    The rest was stunned. "Disfigure... disfigurement?"


    "Xiu, you''re not joking, right? How can I disfigure my handsome face?" Yang Ming touched his face.


    Without exining, Fang Xiu used the scalpel to sh his face.


    SWISH!


    He made a deep cut on each side of his face, deep enough to see the bone, his blood gushing.


    Fang Xiu''s expression remained calm, as if he didn''t just cut his own face. To be safe, he then shed his forehead.


    They were all truly shocked.


    Yang Ming didn''t understand Fang Xiu''s approach. "Wait, Xiu, couldn''t you have disfigured yourself a bit less severely? Why did you have to cut so deep?"


    Only Fang Xiu knew that his body, under the influence of the Specters, was no longer normal. He possessed a strong self-healing ability; if he didn''t cut deep enough, the wounds would quickly heal.


    "Faceless likes beautiful faces. If you want to lose your face, you don¡¯t have to disfigure yourselves," Fang Xiu exined.


    "Isn''t there another way?" Yang Ming clearly cared a lot about his image and would rather die than disfigure himself.


    "You don''t need to disfigure yourself; Faceless won''t take your face," Fang Xiu informed.


    Yang Ming was stunned. "Why not?"


    "Because you''re too ugly," Fang Xiu bluntly stated.


    Yang Ming was speechless, clearly hurt by the truth.


    "I''m ugly?! Bai, do you think I''m ugly?" Yang Ming pushed his face toward Bai Qi, who disgustingly shoved him away.


    Though Bai Qi didn¡¯t speak, his actions said it all.


    Ma Xingbang''s eyes flickered. He believed Fang Xiu wasn''t lying, as disfiguring oneself was too great a price to pay for a lie.


    Ma Xingbang then crouched down, rubbed his hand on the ground, and smeared his face with dust. His previously neat corporate look turned dirty and disheveled.


    Fang Xiu had no reaction to Ma Xingbang¡¯s clever trick. He had already considered this method but knew it wasn''t foolproof. Since he could heal, he preferred a more reliable method¡ªdisfiguring himself.


    Bai Qi looked at both men, one disfigured and one covered in dust. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to trust Fang Xiu. He took out a knife from his waist and fiercely shed his own face.


    Momentster, Bai Qi''s face was covered in blood.


    "Damn, seriously, Bai? You went that far? Do you ever want to find a girlfriend again?" Yang Ming eximed.


    Bai Qi just gave him a cold look and didn''t respond.


    Just then, Fang Xiu suddenly said, "She''s here."


    Everyone was startled and turned toward the door, where a faceless little girl stood.


    "Can I borrow your fa¡ª" the girl began, but then she faltered.


    She stood there, staring nkly at them.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu and the others¡ªtwo disfigured, one dirty, and one naturally unattractive¡ªmade the girl hesitate in her intent to borrow a face.


    She scanned the group and finally fixed her gaze on Ma Xingbang''s face.


    Ma Xingbang was horrified. His face was covered in dirt, but he hadn''t expected that it would still not hide his somewhat handsome features. The little girl had set her sights on him.


    She slowly reached out her hand toward Ma Xingbang.


    BOOM!


    Without any hesitation, Ma Xingbang activated his ability to manipte gravity. A massive and invisible pressure instantly weighed down on the little girl, slowing her movements even more.


    "Bai Qi, cut off her hands,"manded Fang Xiu.


    In an instant, Bai Qi vanished.


    In the blink of an eye, Bai Qi appeared in front of the little girl, his knife moving so fast it left only a blur as he swung it.


    SWISH!


    The little girl''s hands were cleanly severed.


    They had seeded!


    But the next second, a pained and twisted female face suddenly grew on the little girl''s face. The woman''s face let out a scream and then shattered as if it had exploded.


    With the destruction of the face, the little girl¡¯s hands regrew as if nothing had happened. Clearly, the female face had absorbed the damage for her.


    Moreover, that face was all too familiar to Bai Qi.


    He recognized it instantly¡ªit was the face of the woman from Yang Kunpeng''s team!


    In Bai Qi''s moment of shock, the little girl had already lifted her hands halfway.


    Bai Qi snapped back to reality and swung his knife again. But this time, it was not at her arms but at her head.


    SWISH!


    Her head was cleanly chopped off.


    The little girl¡¯s head hit the ground with a thud. But the next second, another pained human face appeared on the head of the Faceless girl, and her head transformed into another person.

 Chapter 169: Inconvincible

    Chapter 169: Inconvincible


    The blur image above the little girl''s neck solidified, and a new head quickly formed in ce of the severed one.


    During this time, she had fully raised her hand.


    Ma Xingbang felt a chill run down his spine as a slender arm sprouted from his neck. He was both shocked and angry, repeatedly using his abilities to attack the arm, but all efforts were futile.


    He could only watch helplessly as the hand reached for his face.


    At this critical moment, Fang Xiu acted.


    He moved like a ghost, his scalpel flipping in his hand as he held it backward. He thrust the de at the little girl''s face.


    With one strike, the scalpel buried into her face.


    Fang Xiu poured all his pain power into the scalpel.


    Instantly, the girl''s face transformed into that of a strange man, who began to scream in pain."Damn it! How many faces does she have!" Fang Xiu wondered if the mental hospital had fed the little girl many human faces to test her abilities, but the exact number was unknown.


    Despite this, Fang Xiu didn''t stop. His right hand, holding the scalpel, became a blur of motion as he madly stabbed at the little girl''s face again and again.


    The girl, while being stabbed, continued her actions uninterrupted.


    She took Ma Xingbang''s face off and ced it on her own.


    Fang Xiu didn''t care whose face it was; he kept attacking.


    "Oooooh!" The faceless Ma Xingbang made inhuman moaning sounds. Without a mouth, his screams seemed to be squeezed out of his throat.


    His face became covered with bloody holes, and then he copsed onto the ground, dead.


    Fang Xiu frowned. He had thought his attack would be enough to kill Faceless, but it was clear that wasn''t the case.


    His multiple strikes were all transferred to Ma Xingbang.


    This meant that when the girl changed faces, any damage she took was assigned to the previous face. During the interval of changing faces, any extra attacks were effectively useless.


    No matter how powerful the attack, it couldn''t simultaneously consume all the lives she had.


    With this ability, the little girl was like someone who could resurrect from the dead.


    When she wore someone else''s face, and if the owner of the face died, the girl was essentially in a state of death. However, she only needed a few seconds to change her face and revive.


    All damage received during this interval umted on the previous face, even if that face was already dead.


    The little girl could act during the intervals of changing faces.


    Her ability was overwhelmingly undefeatable.


    Actually, the best way to deal with a Specter like this is not to give her time to grow. When she had no faces at the start, that was the easiest time to kill her.


    Fang Xiu''s relentless attacks angered the little girl. Despite Fang Xiu having disfigured himself, she slowly raised her hand.


    WHOOSH!


    Countless silver strands whipped through the air, instantly wrapping around the little girl''s arm. The force generated by the hair was enough to topple a building, but still, it couldn''t stop her from raising her arm.


    Suddenly, an arm grew out of Fang Xiu''s neck.


    Fang Xiu ignited the bronze candlestick, and the ghastly green me flickered wildly. Within the range of the candlelight, the arm at his neck seemed to be disrupted, freezing in ce.


    The bronze candlestick, which was effective against Specters, was working wonders.


    However, it didn''tst long. Fang Xiu''splexion turned visibly paler as he was losing blood rapidly. The candlestick, fueled by the blood of a second-tier psychic, was powerful but too draining.


    If he didn''t extinguish the bronze candlestick soon, he would die from blood loss.


    But extinguishing it meant he''d lose his face to Faceless.


    They were at a stalemate.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi frantically attacked, their twin dark golden daggers shing through the little girl like a storm.


    In an instant, the little girl was sliced into countless pieces.


    But it was all in vain; as one face shattered, a new one slowly appeared, and her injuries healed!


    No one knew how many faces the little girl had.


    Fang Xiu had already thought of a way to deal with the little girl, but the current conditions made it impossible to do anything.


    They could have several psychics take turns lighting the bronze candlestick to freeze the little girl''s arms. She only had two hands, so she could only take the faces of two people at the same time.


    With her most powerful attack method disabled and unable to acquire more faces, the others could continuously kill the little girl, depleting all her faces.


    Unfortunately, there weren''t enough psychics here to keep the candlestick lit for long.


    Eventually, Fang Xiu chose to extinguish the bronze candlestick.


    At this stage, they were unable to deal with the little girl.


    A cold touch passed through him, and everything went dark for Fang Xiu. The world fell silent.


    He knew his face had been taken.


    Fang Xiu quickly made several cuts on his own face, restoring his senses.


    Meanwhile, the little girl was wearing his face.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi also stopped their attacks. They knew that if they continued, Fang Xiu would be the one to die.


    Desperately needing to replenish her collection, the little girl didn''t care anymore about whether Bai Qi was disfigured or Yang Ming was ugly; she took both of their faces.


    Under the dilemma of harming arade, they had no power to resist.


    Fang Xiu''s gaze flickered. It seemed that Yang Ming''s ability wasn''t omnipotent, and external forces could indeed ruin God''s n.


    After taking the faces, the little girl didn''t turn and leave as before.


    "You destroyed my faces! You all deserve to die!" she dered.


    This time, she used the ability she had stolen from Bai Qi. She pushed Bai Qi''s ability to its limits, transforming into a blur as she charged at them.


    Fang Xiu was her primary target, as he had stabbed her the most.


    A hole appeared in Fang Xiu''s chest as the little girl''s slender arm went through it, blood spurting out. He looked down at the little girl and said calmly, "It seems having a strong body isn''t always good. Needs another cut."


    As everyone watched in shock, he picked up a scalpel and stabbed it into his forehead.


    After resetting once again, Fang Xiu didn''t choose to fight Faceless head-on.


    It was difficult to deal with her under the current conditions, and even if he managed to, it would be hard to continue their mission.


    They could use the Golden Key to return and regroup, but there was a problem: over time, the seal on the Green Mountain Mental Hospital would weaken, releasing more Specters. That would greatly affect the efficiency of retrieving Zhou Qingfeng''s gift.


    Thus, after sharing his intel on Faceless with everyone, Fang Xiu disfigured himself.


    Following suit, Bai Qi disfigured himself as well, while Yang Ming stubbornly refused to mar his features, and Ma Xingbang smeared his face with dirt.


    "Can I borrow your fa¡ª" the little girl appeared again, and once again, she stopped mid-sentence.


    She scanned the group, finally fixing her gaze on Ma Xingbang''s face. Her criteria for selecting faces seemed to be based onpleteness and attractiveness.


    As for Ma Xingbang smearing dirt on his face, it had little effect on the girl; a wash would suffice.


    Ma Xingbang was horrified and desperately activated his gravity powers, but his face was still taken.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi wanted to intervene, but Fang Xiu stopped them.


    After taking Ma Xingbang''s face, the little girl turned and left. The faceless Ma Xingbang struggled desperately, trapped in a dark and silent world, unable to breathe.


    Eventually, Yang Ming cut a few slits in his face.


    After Ma Xingbang could speak again, his first words were, "You just watched her take my face! You''re purposely harming a bureau agent, I''m going to report you to headquarters!"


    Hearing Ma Xingbang''s threat, the three were surprisingly calm, unmoved by his words.


    "Idiot," Bai Qi said.


    "You chose to be the smart ass, who else is to me?" Yang Ming scoffed.


    Fang Xiu said, "Let''s kill him. No one here knows it was us. If headquarters asks, we''ll say he died at the hands of Faceless."


    Ma Xingbang instantly backed down. He had many abilities, all being second-tier, and he was confident in a one-on-one situation but not against a group.

 Chapter 170: Endless Hands

    Chapter 170: Endless Hands


    "I was just joking," Ma Xingbang said. "We''rerades who survived together from a Grade-S Specter. How could I possibly report you to headquarters?"


    "But I''m not joking," Fang Xiu said calmly, staring at him.


    His thoughtful gaze made Ma Xingbang feel uneasy. He was absolutely sure that Fang Xiu was not joking.


    Ma Xingbang felt a sudden jolt of fear. Instinctively, he gripped the golden key in his pocket tighter. If Fang Xiu really made a move, he would run away immediately.


    "Okay, Xiu, stop scaring him. Let''s get going. I''m worried that little girl mighte back," Yang Ming suddenly said.


    Fang Xiu shifted his gaze away from Ma Xingbang.


    The group continued on their way. Led by Fang Xiu, they headed toward Building C.


    Although the space of the Green Mountain Mental Hospital was distorted, the rtive positions of these buildings had not changed.


    The group crossed the aerial corridor between the buildings and arrived at Building C. Next, they just needed to go to the fifth floor and find Room 520.However, it was easier said than done. Nobody knew what dangers might lie on the way to Room 520.


    Soon, the group reached arge hall.


    The hall was spacious, with a few rows of tables and chairs scattered about. There were also an old-fashioned TV, a Go board, and a table tennis table.


    "Is this the recreation room for the patients?" Yang Ming asked as he looked around.


    He then nced at the old television and remarked, "This TV model is really old. It''s a sma TV; these have been phased out. Nowadays, it''s all about LCD TVs."


    Fang Xiu looked at the sma TV and started thinking.


    Both the architectural style of the hospital and the basic facilities indicated that this ce was built over a decade ago. He had a suspicion that Zhou Qingfeng had built this hospital more than ten years ago and then used some means to pull it into the Other Side.


    While the others were examining the sma TV, Ma Xingbang was in no mood to watch because he felt humiliated.


    He also realized that he had not only lost his face, but also his ability to copy others'' abilities.


    Fortunately, the abilities he had copied earlier were still with him. Otherwise, he would have beenpletely useless.


    He was now desperately hoping to get his lost face back.


    He could afford losing his face, but not his abilities!


    However, Ma Xingbang was unaware that having his face taken meant his life was now bound to the little girl. He would suffer all the harm the little girl suffered. Otherwise, he would be even more anxious.


    "Let''s go," Fang Xiu said, and they continued their journey.


    Yang Ming suddenly approached Fang Xiu, staring at him in surprise. "Xiu, your face is healed?"


    The other two were stunned and turned to look. They saw that the wounds on Fang Xiu''s face had indeedpletely healed, not even leaving any scars. His skin even looked better than before.


    "It''s not worth worrying about these little things," Fang Xiu replied indifferently, then continued walking forward.


    As the group reached the middle of the room, something unexpected happened.


    A foul smell of rotting corpses suddenly filled the air.


    Everyone was shocked. Having experienced two previous Specter incidents, they were all on high alert, sensitive to any slight disturbance.


    "It''s above us," Fang Xiu noted.


    Following his hint, everyone quickly looked up at the ceiling.


    The ceiling appeared to ripple like water waves, the ripples densely spreading across the entire surface.


    "Be careful!" Bai Qi said sternly, drawing a short knife from his waist, as everyone else readied themselves forbat.


    In the next moment, countless pale arms covered in corpse spots sprang from the ceiling. They spread wildly like vines, reaching out to grab everyone.


    The battle was on.


    With a sh of his knife, Bai Qi cut off several arms, which fell to the ground and slowly dissolved into the floor. More arms grew back from the ceiling as quickly as they were cut, like a relentless crop of leeks.


    "Damn! These hands aren''t strong, but they''re endless! Goddamn, the Specters in this hospital are more twisted than thest!" Yang Ming cursed angrily as he struck back.


    Ma Xingbang tried to crush the arms with gravity, but it was useless. More arms continued to grow from the ceiling.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu looked on leisurely as they fought.


    Yes, leisurely.


    Because none of the arms attacked him.


    Yang Ming quickly noticed this.


    "Holy shit, Xiu, why aren''t they attacking you? Don''t tell me you''re really in cahoots with the Specters of the hospital, like Ma Xingbang said?"


    Ma Xingbang looked suspicious and spoke grimly, "I knew it! There''s something off about you, Fang Xiu!"


    "Xiu, if you really are with them, just tell them to stop already. I''m on your side!"


    "Shut up! With everything going on, you still joke around?" Bai Qi scolded.


    Bai Qi understood Yang Ming; he could tell Yang Ming was just joking.


    If Fang Xiu really was in league with the Specters, he wouldn¡¯t have had to keep up appearances as soon as they got into the hospital.


    Without Fang Xiu, they might not have even survived the encounter with the Head Ball.


    Bai Qi knew Ma Xingbang held a grudge against Fang Xiu, so he was quick to suspect him at the first sign of trouble.


    "Hehe," Yang Ming chuckled. "I''m just trying to lighten the mood. These Specter Hands aren''t strong, they just keeping. It gets boring killing them."


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at the scalpel in his hand, already forming a theory in his mind.


    He tried waving the scalpel towards the Specter Hands, and sure enough, the Specter Hands, as if encountering their natural enemy, quickly retreated in fear.


    It seemed that this scalpel had left a profoundly deep impression on these hands, so much so that now, upon seeing the scalpel, they instinctively reacted with terror.


    This was also why Fang Xiu hadn''t been attacked.

 Chapter 171: Dont Look Back

    Chapter 171: Don''t Look Back


    "You guys go ahead, I''m leaving," Fang Xiu said calmly. He then swiftly moved through the numerous Specter Hands.


    He didn''t have the patience to wait for everyone. Plus, he knew that these Specter Hands were not very strong, and they would eventually break free.


    Yang Ming felt envious and muttered, "I wish I could be as cool as him."


    After Fang Xiu left the recreation room, he entered a long, dimly lit corridor that seemed to lead to hell.


    He walked calmly, his footsteps echoing.


    TAP. TAP. TAP.


    As he walked, his figure gradually disappeared into the darkness. Then, he heard footstepsing from behind him.


    Fang Xiu''s expression remained unchanged, and a bright scalpel fell into his hand.


    The moment the scalpel was in his hand, without any pause, he turned around and swung. However, strangely, he hit nothing. There was no one behind him.TAP. TAP. TAP.


    The footsteps sounded again; even though Fang Xiu had turned around, the footsteps were still behind him.


    Then, something bone-chilling stuck to his back.


    Before he could react, a huge force twisted his neck a full 180 degrees,pletely twisting it backwards.


    At that moment, he finally saw what was behind him. It was a Specter with a wrinkled face and crimson skin, chewing on bloody minced meat.


    It was tall, entirely crimson, and its hands firmly grasped Fang Xiu''s head.


    Despite his severe injury, Fang Xiu''s strong life force didn''t let him die instantly. He controlled the scalpel, transforming it into a streak of silver light and fiercely shing at the Specter.


    However, just then, the Specter''s figure faded and slowly disappeared, and the scalpel hit nothing.


    Fang Xiu slightly frowned. The Specter disappeared just after twisting his neck, that was a bit strange.


    He put away the scalpel and grabbed his own head, then forcefully twisted it.


    CRACK!


    His head rotated 180 degrees back to its original position.


    This action made Fang Xiu start to feel dizzy, his life force rapidly fading.


    In the next instant, he activated his ability¡ªabsorbing pain!


    The excruciating pain in his neck was instantly absorbed. As the pain disappeared, his injuries also vanished.


    This was the evolved version of his pain absorption ability. It not only absorbed the sensation of pain but also the cause of it.


    After doing all this, Fang Xiu continued forward expressionlessly.


    TAP. TAP. TAP.


    He hadn''t walked much farther when footsteps sounded behind him again.


    SWISH!


    In an instant, Fang Xiu swung his scalpel.


    This time Fang Xiu didn''t even turn his head; he just stabbed behind him.


    Yet, Fang Xiu could clearly feel that this strike again hit nothing.


    He stood still, his brows furrowed.


    Soon, something cold and chilling stuck to Fang Xiu''s back, spreading an icy, bone-piercing chill throughout his body. However, this time his neck wasn''t twisted.


    "What''s different this time?" Fang Xiu wondered.


    Then it hit him¡ªthe difference was turning back! Last time, his neck was twisted after he turned around; this time he hadn''t.


    It seemed the Specter''s killing move was triggered by turning back. With this realization, Fang Xiu sheathed his scalpel and continued walking.


    The footsteps followed closely, and the Specter remained glued to his back, its icy touch ever-present. But the Specter made no move, just kept following step by step.


    Since it wasn''t stopping him, Fang Xiu decided not to deal with it for now. Though he enjoyed destroying Specters, he had more important things to do¡ªlike heading to room 520 in building C to uncover the truth about the Specters!


    ording to the note left by Zhou Qingfeng, the truth was in that room.


    This had been troubling Fang Xiu since he had arrived in this world.


    What are the Specters? What is the truth of this world? Why is he the only one who can see the Specters?


    Perhaps today, these mysteries would be resolved.


    After walking through the corridor, Fang Xiu saw an office that looked a lot like the doctor''s.


    Guessing it might belong to another doctor, he opened the door and entered. Theyout¡ªa single bed, a wardrobe, and a desk¡ªwas almost identical to the doctor''s office.


    Fang Xiu scanned the room and immediately noticed shredded paper in the trash bin. He picked out the fragments, piecing them together to reveal iplete sentences.


    _President Zhou is the kindest person in the world, I like him the most!_


    Just from this sentence, Fang Xiu could roughly imagine what kind of person had written these words.


    _Today, I identally killed a few subjects again, but President Zhou didn''t punish me. He even smiled at me. He''s so kind. For President Zhou''s vision, I must try harder to capture more subjects!_


    _"Oh dear! President Zhou came to see my experiment today, I was so happy! But the subjects were too unruly, moving around and sttering blood on me. I wonder if President Zhou will dislike me now?"_


    _"The number of failed experiments is increasing. Although President Zhou smiles every day, I can feel his disappointment. I don''t want to disappoint him. If one subject isn''t enough, I''ll use two, and if two aren''t enough, then three. As long as I keep trying, I''ll seed eventually!" _

 Chapter 172: Glorious Specterization

    Chapter 172: Glorious Specterization


    _"Today the subjects rebelled, many colleagues were eaten. I''m so happy! It would be great if only President Zhou and I were left. Why did the subjects rebel? Participating in such a grand experiment is a great honor!"_


    _"President Zhou treats each of you like his own children. How could you do this to him?"_


    _"Only I can understand the greatness of President Zhou. Those foolish people say President Zhou is a devil, how stupid! President Zhou is the kindest person in the world! Everything he does is to save the world."_


    _"Save everyone!"_


    _"Humans cannot defeat Specter. To save humanity, we must transform humans into Specter. The Other Side is the ultimate destination for humanity."_


    _"With the human spirit, control the body of a Specter! We must start the era of turning everyone into Specter, letting everyone join this glorious evolution. Thinking of President Zhou''s ideals makes me tremble with excitement."_


    ¡­


    _"Looking at this disobedient kid, always shouting and yelling to be President Zhou''s weapon. Annoying, I should have never let him watch cartoons, hmph, I''ll give him two extra injections today."_


    _"Today I took a photo with President Zhou! Ahhh! I''m so excited that I could''t breath!"_Seeing the word "photo," something clicked in Fang Xiu''s mind. He turned the trash can upside down and shook it, causing a heap of garbage to fall out.


    He carefully searched and finally found a photo torn into pieces.


    Slowly piecing it together, he restored it to its original form.


    The photo was of a young woman in a whiteb coat, happily linking arms with a man also in a whiteb coat.


    The woman was petite, and the coat looked a bit bulky on her. She looked pure and cute, very excited. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was making a peace sign with her fingers.


    The man was about thirty years old, wearing ck-framed sses with a gentle smile and a schrly demeanor. His slightly squinted eyes gave a trustworthy impression.


    Fang Xiu stared intently at the man in the photo. It was Zhou Qingfeng, the director of the Green Mountain Mental Hospital!


    Just by looking at the photo, Fang Xiu would never guess the smiling guy was the man behind the creation of so many fierce Specters. He seemed more like a refined schr.


    Just as Fang Xiu was about to put the photo away, something strange happened.


    Fang Xiu''s eyebrows furrowed slightly as the image of Zhou Qingfeng on the photo started to blur and fade, as if a mysterious force was trying to erase him.


    Quickly, Fang Xiu took out his phone and snapped a picture of the photo. After he took the picture, Zhou Qingfengpletely disappeared from the photo, leaving only the woman in the whiteb coat.


    Fang Xiu checked his phone gallery, and Zhou Qingfeng was not there either, as if he never existed in the first ce.


    _''What''s happening? Did he erase his own existence?''_


    He looked back at the paper, and sure enough, the text had vanished into thin air.


    This reminded Fang Xiu of the bloody message on his own home ceiling, warning him not to ''let them know he could see.''


    Like the text, the bloody message had mysteriously disappeared after he read it, as if erased by some force.


    _''Could the bloody message have been left by Zhou Qingfeng? Was the gift he mentioned meant for me, not Yang Ming?''_


    At that moment, Fang Xiu felt he might be caught in a vast conspiracy, controlled by someone behind the scenes.


    _''Green Mountain Mental Hospital''s Specter Zone appeared at my former workce, not somewhere else¡ªis that a coincidence, or a deliberate arrangement?''_


    Fang Xiu''s brow furrowed deeply, but then he thought something was off. Ace and King of Spades were clearly instructed to ensure Yang Ming received the gift, not him.


    And if Zhou Qingfeng were truly the puppet master, his power would have reached unimaginable levels. Time travel, death reset¡ªthese feats were beyond human capability.


    If Zhou Qingfeng had god-like power, he would have already transformed everyone in the world into Specters without needing to conduct secret experiments.


    Thinking this through, Fang Xiu concluded that Zhou Qingfeng was likely not the one who left the blood message. Yet, he still wondered about the identity of the writer, as such power was beyond imagination.


    Sometimes, Fang Xiu even considered the possibility that the blood message was left by his future self. The ability to rewind death clearly touched upon the realm of time. If he could one day fully control this power, he might be able to leave messages for his past self.


    After a moment, Fang Xiu stopped his wild spections, knowing that without power, all his thoughts were meaningless. He knew that once he reached the pinnacle, all mysteries would be unraveled, and there would be no secrets left in the world for him.


    He put down the paper and left the office, with the Specter still closely following him, its cold presence ever by his side.


    Fang Xiu walked out of the office backwards to avoid triggering the Specter that could twist his neck if he turned around.


    As long as he didn''t turn his head directly, he could change directions, like moving to the right or left front. He could even make turns, but not too sharply.


    These were all the precautions he needed. Besides that, having a Specter hanging on him didn''t really affect him. Fang Xiu even began to enjoy the cool sensation it brought.


    As he continued forward, dense footsteps sounded not far behind him.


    Then came Yang Ming''s voice, "Damn! Another Specter!"


    Yang Ming and others had escaped the grasp of the Specter Hands and was now following his trail.


    The Specter clinging to Fang Xiu was sorge that itpletely obscured his body from view, so Yang Ming and the others only saw the Specter.


    "Don''t worry about this Specter, keep going," Fang Xiu''s voice sounded.


    "Damn! This Specter is telling us not to bother it!" eximed Yang Ming.


    "Idiot!" Bai Qi gave him a disdainful look and then walked toward the Specter clinging onto Fang Xiu''s back.


    As the distance closed, Bai Qi soon saw Fang Xiu standing in front of the Specter. Even after experiencing many Specter events, Bai Qi was taken aback by this sight¡ªa man and a Specter standing closely together, coexisting surprisingly harmoniously.


    The others also approached and were secretly amazed by the scene.


    "Xiu, what''s this? New bodyguard?" one of them joked.


    Fang Xiu looked at them and noticed there were no Specters following them. He realized that this type of Specter on his back attacked one person at a time, choosing a new target only after finishing with the previous one.


    "Let''s go."


    Fang Xiu didn''t exin further and just moved forward. The others, although curious, didn''t ask further questions and followed him.


    At that moment, Ma Xingbang suddenly stopped.


    "Wait, there''s an office here. What if there are clues about the hospital? Shouldn''t we check it out?"


    Yang Ming and the others looked toward Fang Xiu, seemingly waiting for his opinion.


    Being someone with the ability to foresee the future, Fang Xiu was ustomed to being relied on as the brain of any group.

 Chapter 173: Counting On Yang Ming

    Chapter 173: Counting On Yang Ming


    "I''ve already been there and didn''t find any clues," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Ma Xingbang didn''t believe him. But he didn''t dare use Fang Xiu of lying. Instead, he said tactfully, "What if you missed something? I''ll take a look."


    He carefully pushed the door open to check. He looked around and immediately spotted the shredded pieces of paper. He was momentarily pleased.


    However, after a closer inspection, he realized they were nk and felt deceived.


    "What a waste of good white paper, why tear it up?"


    He threw the papers away and left.


    After a brief exploration, the group quickly found another office. The sign on the door read: The President''s Office.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes flickered, thinking,_ ''So Zhou Qingfeng moved his office here?''_


    Yang Ming was the most naive of them all, but even he thought they should check it out. He felt there might be some secret hidden inside.Fang Xiu didn''t care much. Although he had already seen it, he thought they might really find something he overlooked this time.


    So, they soon entered the president''s office. Naturally, they saw the note left by Zhou Qingfeng.


    "To the lucky one in God¡¯s n, want to know the real story? Want to know what the Specter really is?"


    "You''vee this far, you must be full of questions. Don''t rush, my friend, I have left everything at room 520, building C. Everything you want to know is there. Go, seek it."


    "When you find the truth, it is also time for you to make a choice."


    "Follow your heart, and ept the gifts of fate."


    The note was signed by Zhou Qingfeng.


    After they read the note, the expressions on everyone''s faces were different.


    "The lucky one in God''s n, is he talking about me? It seems Zhou Qingfeng is a decent person; he even left me a gift," Yang Ming mumbled.


    Bai Qi''s face darkened immediately, "Idiot! Is the gift the point? Shouldn''t we be focusing on who Zhou Qingfeng is? What''s the real truth of the world? And why he knew that you woulde?"


    "Oh Bai, why think so much? Just go to room 520 and see," Yang Ming said carelessly.


    Only Ma Xingbang''s gaze flickered. It was just that his face had been taken; otherwise, the others would see his extremely shocked expression.


    He muttered to himself, "The stuff was indeed left here, and it was left for Yang Ming? But why him? Is this really part of God''s n?"


    Ma Xingbang seemed to think of something. He quickly suppressed his shock and tried not to show any signs of it.


    However, Fang Xiu saw everything.


    At that moment, something magical happened again.


    "Hey! The words on this are disappearing!" Yang Ming suddenly eximed.


    The rest hurriedly looked, and the text on the paper began to fade as if it was being erased.


    Fang Xiu felt a stir in his heart, realizing this must be Zhou Qingfeng''s doing. Everything rted to him seemed destined to disappear.


    "Could there be something wrong with this paper?"


    They examined the paper again, but no matter how much they checked, it seemed to be just an ordinary piece of paper.


    They continued searching the president''s office for more clues but found nothing. Eventually, they had to move on.


    "Xiu, should we follow what the note said and check out room 520 in building C? Honestly, I''m quite curious about what gift the head of this mental hospital left for me," Yang Ming suggested.


    Then, Ma Xingbang, who had been silent, suddenly said, "Fang Xiu, the ce we are in now is building C. You have been leading the way all this time. Did you already know there was something in building C, and that''s why you brought us here?"


    "Correct," Fang Xiu replied. He did not hide it, as there was no need.


    With Fang Xiu''s confirmation, Ma Xingbang felt a bit nervous.


    He thought that since Fang Xiu had anticipated finding something here, he must also know about its magical properties. That meant he had anotherpetitor.


    "Let''s go to the fifth floor," Fang Xiu said calmly, leading them toward the staircase.


    About ten minutester, they found the staircase. They were currently on the third floor and needed to go up two more floors. They stopped at the staircase; a Specter was blocking the way.


    They had no idea what kind of Specter it was. They could only see a tangible darkness coiling around the staircase like a static ck hole, quietly lying there.


    No one dared to walk up the stairs, fearing that something terrifying might emerge from the ck hole or that it could suck them in.


    At this moment, their gazes turned to Fang Xiu. They had be ustomed to looking to Fang Xiu whenever they were unsure.


    "Xiu, what do you say?" Yang Ming asked.


    "Let''s go," Fang Xiu said calmly. Then he walked straight toward the staircase.


    What happened next was astonishing. As Fang Xiu approached, the dark mass started to tremble, then¡­


    It vanished.


    "Did it... just run away!?" Yang Ming and the others were shocked. No one expected the Specter to turn and flee at the sight of Fang Xiu.


    Only Fang Xiu knew that the Specter fled not because it saw him but because it saw the Specter on his back.


    Clearly, the Specter on his back, No Turning Back, was more terrifying than the one on the stairs, and it drove it away.


    "Go upstairs."


    At hismand, everyone started climbing the stairs.


    Perhaps it was the deterrence from No Turning Back; they reached the fifth floor without encountering any danger.


    Upon reaching the fifth floor, the environment changed drastically. It was unlike any part of the mental hospital they had been in before; it was a room with a depressing, pale yellow hue.


    The ceiling and walls were a decaying yellow. The lights in the fixtures were dim and kept making a buzzing noise.


    The floor was covered with a thickyer of musty, yellowed carpet. There were two paths in front of them, one to the left and one to the right.


    Everyone looked at Fang Xiu again, but Fang Xiu looked at Yang Ming.


    "Xiu, why are you looking at me? Which way should we go?" Yang Ming asked.


    "What do you think we should do?"


    Up to this point, Fang Xiu hadn''t used his reset ability. So, he could only guess. Since the gift was meant for Yang Ming, Zhou Qingfeng must have set many obstacles to prevent others from reaching it¡ªlike the fork in the road in front of them.


    So, the best choice now was to leave it to Yang Ming.


    "You''re asking me?" Yang Ming seemed surprised. "Can''t you just foresee which way to go?"


    "Foreseeing the futurees with significant side effects; I can''t foresee everything. Now, we need to rely on God''s n.

 Chapter 174: The Door to the Other Side

    Chapter 174: The Door to the Other Side


    Fang Xiu''s teammates found his exnation reasonable. His ability to predict the future was already extraordinary. If he could do it infinitely, that would be too absurd.


    In fact, Fang Xiu hadn''t lied. The side effects of ''foreseeing'' were significant¡ªdeath was a considerable side effect, wasn''t it?


    "Alright, let''s go right then, since **men are traditionally on the left and women on the right***," Yang Ming casually pointed to the right.


    Ma Xing was surprised.


    "Shouldn''t we go with the left side for ''men left and women right''?" he asked.


    Yang Ming chuckled, "That''s called reverse psychology! If you can think of ''men left and women right,'' the designer definitely thought of it too. So, I choose the right."


    Ma Xing was speechless. "Does the designer know only men areing? What if there are women too? Fang Xiu, maybe you should predict this to be safe."


    Fang Xiu ignored him and trusted Yang Ming''s choice.


    "Go right. Yang Ming, you lead," he said.Yang Ming was surprised but didn''t say much and led the way confidently.


    They walked to the right, down a narrow corridor that felt cramped.


    As they went deeper, the musty smell from the yellowing carpet grew stronger.


    After about ten minutes, they faced three identical-looking paths. It was hard to tell them apart.


    "This is strange," Bai Qi frowned. "We''ve been walking straight for about ten minutes. We should''ve already reached the end, but now there are three paths ahead. The corridor is too long. The second floor wasn''t this big. Also, this doesn''t look like a hospital, it looks more like a maze."


    "The space seems to have been expanded, and the environment looks the same everywhere. It''s easy to get lost. Let''s make a mark," Fang Xiu suggested.


    Everyone nodded.


    Bai Qi then took out a dagger and carved a cross on the wall.


    "Xiu, are you letting me choose again among these three paths?" Yang Ming asked nervously, unsure when his skill might stop working.


    Before reaching the fifth floor, they had encountered many Specters, so they knew the fifth floor would be even more dangerous. One wrong path could lead to disaster.


    "You choose."


    "Alright, let''s take the middle path then."


    Yang Ming chose the middle path. His reason? He didn''t want to turn.


    They moved forward. Five minutester, they faced another fork. As usual, Yang Ming chose, this time picking the left path because it was the only one they hadn''t tried yet.


    This path was safe, and soon they reached its end.


    At the end was a door.


    Yang Ming''s face lit up with joy. "There''s a door, it must be the exit."


    He was about to open it when Bai Qi stopped him.


    "Be careful, there might be something dangerous behind the door." Bai Qi pressed his ear against the door, listening carefully, but he heard only silence.


    Bai Qi frowned slightly, then took out his dagger. He tried to poke a hole in the door to see inside, but no matter how hard he stabbed, the door remained undamaged.


    Yang Ming, growing impatient, pulled Bai Qi aside and said, "Let''s just open it and see if there''s danger. Don''t worry, I''ll only open it a crack."


    With a click, the door opened slightly.


    Darkness, deep and isting, showed through the crack, impervious to the dim light from outside.


    "It seems safe," Yang Ming said, and then fully opened the door.


    The view inside the door was just vast, cold darkness. It was deep and unsettling.


    The group hesitated, unsure whether to enter. The darkness was so profound that going in would be like being blind, and facing any danger in such conditions could be catastrophic.


    As they debated they heard a noise.


    "Did you hear that?"


    "It seems to being from inside."


    The humming sound from inside grew clearer and was quickly approaching.


    Bai Qi''s face turned pale, and he yelled, "Clo¡ª"


    However, the humming sound intensified, drowning out his voice.


    Yang Ming quickly shut the door. As he was halfway through, a powerful force hit the door, throwing him backward.


    The experienced group immediately retreated rapidly, distancing themselves from Yang Ming.


    And then, they finally saw what was inside the door.


    As they faced the fifth floor, they had expected danger, but the reality exceeded their worst fears.


    From the door, a swarm of grotesque, snake-like Specters burst forth. These creatures varied in appearance, with some slimy like maggots and others covered in green scales like pythons.


    Theycked wings but seemed able to move through the air as if it were mud, wriggling forward crazily.


    The Specters rushed at them like a jet stream.


    At the sight of these Specters, Fang Xiu''s pupils contracted¡ªhe recognized them.


    To be precise, he encountered these Specters every day.


    Indeed, these were the mostmon Specters seen drifting through the streets.


    Although Specters were usually unique and rarely acted in groups, these Snakeworms were different. They moved like nkton in the air, always inrge swarms, like locusts passing through.


    Fang Xiu was puzzled. _''If the Specters on the streets only exist on the Other Side, then why are these Snakeworms showing up here?''_


    He could only think of one exnation.


    Fang Xiu''s gaze locked onto the door from which the Specters were continuously emerging¡ªthis door likely led to the Other Side.


    In an instant, the Snakeworms engulfed them like a tsunami.


    The group was shocked and quickly fought back. shes of des shimmered as they ughtered countless snake-shaped Specters.


    Ma Xing''s gravity powers were particrly effective; any Specters that came near him were smashed to the ground and burst.


    They were efficient in killing the Specters, but the creatures seemed endless, continuously pouring out from the door.


    "Run! There are too many Specters, we need to get out of here!" Bai Qi yelled. He and the others retreated while fighting.


    "Where''s Fang Xiu?" Yang Ming suddenly realized Fang Xiu was missing.


    The corridor was choked with Specters, severely obstructing their view.


    "I''m here," Fang Xiu''s calm voice emerged from within the swarm.


    Then, the others saw Fang Xiu walking slowly out from among the Specters. The creatures seemed to view him as a natural enemy, parting to create a path for him.


    The scene was somewhat shocking: a human walking out from a mass of Specters unscathed, with the creatures even clearing a path for him.


    Ma Xing panicked. "Fang Xiu, you said you weren''t with them!"


    Fang Xiu didn''t even nce at him but spoke to Yang Ming and Bai Qi, "Keep fighting; I''ll check inside the door."


    The others were momentarily stunned, feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    As before when they encountered Specter Hands, Fang Xiu repeated his line and braved the countless Specters as he walked toward the door.


    A tall, crimson Specter followed him closely, matching his steps. Where they passed, the Specters dispersed.


    "I wish I could be as cool as him," Yang Ming said enviously.


    Bai Qi just stared, speechless.

 Chapter 175: Black Sky And White Earth

    Chapter 175: ck Sky And White Earth


    Fang Xiu quickly walked to the door. Endless Specters poured out from the door, but they avoided him, charging toward Yang Ming and the others instead.


    Fang Xiu muttered to himself, "The Other Side? Let me see the truth of this world."


    He stepped through the door, and the world changed dramatically.


    The sight before him showed rare fluctuations.


    "Is this the Other Side?"


    The sky was ck, the earth white, full of scars, like a world from a ck and white photograph.


    Destion and silence dominated this world.


    The air was filled with ayer of gray fog, making everything seem unreal. Endless Snakeworms floated in the air, wildly flying around like locusts.


    Not far away, a vast ck mountain range stood, as if cutting across the world.The strangest thing was that Fang Xiu saw humans here, lots of them.


    In the gray fog, there were many human figures, blurred but definitely real.


    These people looked just like those in the streets of the present world. Some were on the phone, some were going to school, and some were using the bathroom.


    Fang Xiu couldn''t see any human buildings, but he could see human walking and doing activities.


    He suddenly realized something.


    "These are people from the present world! I can see the Specters of the Other Side wandering in the present world, and here in the Other Side, I can see the activities of people from the present world! What is going on? Why can my vision cross between the two worlds?"


    Fang Xiu suddenly started coughing violently, covering his mouth and nose with his hand as ck blood poured from his mouth, nose, and even his eyes.


    "Is the fog poisonous? Or is this ce just not suitable for humans?"


    In the next moment, his ability to absorb pain activated, and Fang Xiu''s injuries instantly healed.


    He walked forward, determined to discover the ultimate truth.


    His blood kept pouring out, and his skin began to decay, but it quickly healed, repeating in a cycle.


    As time passed, the effects on him lessened as if his body was adapting to the environment.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes sparkled. He guessed it might be the effect of the Type-III drug, allowing him to perfectly merge with the Specters, plus the power of the Specters he possessed, so he was gradually adapting to the environment.


    It seemed this really was the Other Side, the world of the Specters. This was a forbidden zone for living beings, and only Specters could survive here.


    Just then, a sound like a mix of crying andughing came through the wind.


    The gray fog in front of Fang Xiu cleared slightly, allowing him to finally see the true face of the ck mountain in front of him.


    It wasn''t a mountain at all, but a mass of rotting, ckened flesh piled up into a meat mountain. The meat mountain was writhing. Its strong stench of decay spread, attracting countless Snakeworms.


    Dense swarms of Snakeworms flung themselves onto the meat mountain, frantically gnawing at the flesh, burrowing in and out.


    Fang Xiu activated his Blood Pupil and looked up. When he looked at the peak of the meat mountain, his pupils contracted instantly.


    The meat mountain was alive.


    On its peak was a huge, rotting head with two thick, decaying arms that were constantly waving. The arms grabbed countless Snakeworms from the air and stuffed them into a gaping mouth.


    The skin around its mouth was festering, and many Snakeworms burrowed out of the decayed spots, but most were swallowed into its stomach.


    Each time the meat mountain swallowed arge amount of Snakeworms, rotten flesh would grow on its body, only to be devoured by other Snakeworms in a frenzy.


    The meat mountain and the Snakeworms were eating each other.


    The meat mountain used its own rotting flesh as bait to attract Snakeworms, then it ate them, and the cycle repeated.


    Just as Fang Xiu saw the true nature of the meat mountain, its feeding motion suddenly paused.


    A terrifying gaze fell upon him. In just an instant, Fang Xiu felt every cell in his body trembling, as if unable to withstand some kind of pressure and beginning to self-destruct.


    He turned his pain-absorbing ability to the maximum to barely stop it. However, his body''s copse was irreversible. Large amounts of blood oozed from his skin, gradually turning him into a bloody, standing mess.


    In the next moment, countless silver hairs pierced through his body, stitching and supporting it, which barely kept Fang Xiu from falling.


    Unspeakable whispers started to echo in his ears, which gave him a splitting headache. The whispers could even drive one to madness.


    It instantly reminded Fang Xiu of the Specters he had once seen standing in the sky above the real world¡ªthe Specter with a huge, bloody tumor-covered eye and giant white wings; the bride with a rabbit head, the Buddha with a tumor on his hair.


    The meat mountain felt no different from those Specters.


    Fang Xiu had once been baptized by those Specters, and thanks to that, now he had some resistance to the meat mountain. So, he didn''t copse immediately.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu felt the chilling sensation on his back disappear.


    Without looking back, he knew that No Turning Back had run away, cleanly and decisively.


    At that moment, a giant handposed of rotting flesh descended from the sky.


    The hand was riddled with holes, with countless dense Snakeworms burrowing through the flesh.


    A tremendous force struck, and Fang Xiu''s vision waspletely obscured. Rotten fleshpletely enveloped him, slimy and foul-smelling. The Meat Mountain had grabbed him.


    A sensation of weightlessness came as he was lifted into the air and ced near Meat Mountain''s mouth. Then, along with countless Snakeworms, he was thrown inside.


    Throughout the process, Fang Xiu made no movements, not because he didn''t want to, but because he couldn''t.


    In the presence of Meat Mountain, his power waspletely suppressed. It was a huge gap in power levels, as if the monster were from a higher dimension.


    Fang Xiu couldn''t even mobilize his Spiritual Energy.


    After entering Meat Mountain''s body, intense pain enveloped him. Every cell in his body was dissolving. It was a type of pain that could make a well-trained agent break down.


    But that was not enough to make Fang Xiu copse. He had been reborn through pain before, so he wouldn''t die from it this time.


    Soon, he couldn''t feel his body at all, as if everything about himself was being dissolved.


    Indescribable murmurs crazily rang in his ears, like billions of people screaming.


    Massive and iprehensible amounts of information crazily flooded his brain, causing his mind to shatter as well. His consciousness, overwhelmed by the influx of information, was like a balloon being frantically inted, on the verge of exploding.


    Fang Xiu knew clearly that once his consciousness exploded, he would truly die. Even if he could trigger a death reset, he would be an idiot, a madman.

 Chapter 176: 101 Deaths

    Chapter 176: 101 Deaths


    Fortunately, Fang Xiu still had the power of Nightmare.


    He used this power to weave one dream after another. Each dream was a false world meant to contain the unspeakable, chaotic, and maddening information. These dreams were created and shattered repeatedly, in an endless cycle.


    Gradually, Fang Xiu''s consciousness began to sink, as if he were falling into a deep sea, descending further and further.


    At the same time, he began to understand everything. He vaguely heard some unspeakable whispers and learned the name of this mass of flesh: **Taotie***.


    The creature in ancient mythology, Taotie!


    After learning this name, Fang Xiu suddenly realized that the Specter invasion might have started much earlier than expected.


    The creatures from ancient myths likely existed and were all Specters.


    They might have started invading the world in ancient times, leaving behind countless mythological stories.


    The gods and immortals in myths were probably the psychics of ancient times.For some unknown reason, the myths disappeared, history fractured, and the world entered a period of calm.


    Yearster, Specters reappeared, and psychics emerged again. Historical tales of strange people and events reflected this pattern.


    After another gap, they appeared once more, continuing into the modern era in an endless cycle.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu finally diedpletely, triggering the death reset. Time began to flow backward, and everything around him started to shatter.


    After repeating the previous steps, the group found themselves at the door again.


    Like history being reyed, the door to the Other Side was opened once more, and countless Snakeworms swarmed in.


    Relying on No Turning Back, Fang Xiu pushed through the horde of Snakeworms, heading toward the door.


    "You handle them; I''m going inside to have a look," he said, stepping through the door to the Other Side again.


    He wasn''t going in to die but to understand everything. He knew there was no way to defeat Taotie at this point.


    Inside Taotie''s belly, he could feel the mysterious nature of those unspeakable murmurs. They seemed like the truth of the world, elusive yet profound.


    His intuition told him there was a tremendous secret hidden within. He would try to understand, once, twice, or even a hundred times if necessary. Eventually, he wouldprehend everything.


    Upon entering the door, Fang Xiu saw the endless Snakeworms and the massive, unending mass of flesh again.


    "Taotie, I''m back," he said, his calm gaze containing unimaginable madness as he walked toward mountain flesh.


    Taotie turned its gaze toward him again, and No Turning Back fled once more.


    A colossal hand blocked the sky and reached to grab Fang Xiu, swallowing him whole.


    Once again, Fang Xiu found himself inside Taotie, surrounded by endless truths of the world.


    With the protection of Nightmare''s power, he greedily absorbed as much truth as he could. He didn''t realize that as he sought toprehend the truth, the truth itself was slowly influencing his consciousness, fundamentally altering his perception.


    Momentster, Fang Xiu died, falling to the folly of a mortal trying to glimpse ultimate truth. The death reset was triggered once more.


    ¡­


    "Taotie, I''m back."


    Once again, Taotie devoured Fang Xiu without hesitation. Taotie seemed devoid of reason, interested only in consuming¡ªor perhaps he saw Fang Xiu as an ant, not worth understanding.


    The infinite truths surrounded Fang Xiu again, and the madness in his eyes burned even brighter. He was no longer satisfied with only listening; he began to mimic the unspeakable murmurs with his human throat.


    And then, he died again.


    The fourth, fifth, sixth, and sixty-ninth times! Fang Xiu had learned to produce some brief murmurs. He felt a step closer to the truth. But it wasn''t enough¡ªfar from it.


    He wanted more, to understand more. So he started devouring Taotie''s decaying flesh like the Snakeworms.


    Taotie didn''t care at all. His rotting flesh seemed as infinite as his greed. For the first time, Fang Xiu found the flesh delicious, perhaps because it contained the truth.


    The seventieth, seventy-first, seventy-second, and one hundred and first times¡­


    The madness in Fang Xiu''s eyes gradually faded, reced by an unfathomable calm that was like an abyss, making people fearful to look directly into it.


    At the same time, he could clearly sense a mark etched into his consciousness: the mark of truth!


    It took the form of a giant, abyss-like mouth, imprinted firmly in Fang Xiu''s mind. It had a name: Taotie''s Mouth.


    With this mark, Fang Xiu felt like he had gained a new talent¡ªthe ability to consume everything.


    This talent felt innate to him. It wouldn''t disappear even with death rewinding because it was the truth, the knowledge itself, now deeply embedded in Fang Xiu''s mind. Once learned, it became as instinctual as breathing.


    This was the truth and knowledge that Fang Xiu gained after dying one hundred and one times.


    Knowledge is power, and Fang Xiu''s knowledge now came from devouring!


    Dying a hundred times to gain the truth of devouring seemed worth it to Fang Xiu. Now, with the Taotie''s Mouth, he could devour Specters. It was a dreame true for him.


    After gaining Taotie''s Mouth, Fang Xiu stopped seeking more truths. He realized that with his current strength, this was all the knowledge he could handle.


    It was like giving aplex math problem to a monkey. No matter how many years or even millennia it spent looking at it, the monkey would never solve it.


    ¡­


    "The left path isn''t an option. Take another," Fang Xiu advised when Yang Ming chose to go left. The left path led to the door to the Other Side¡ªa dead end.


    The group trusted Fang Xiu''s words without hesitation. Yang Ming was pleased because Fang Xiu had helped eliminate one wrong option.


    "Then let''s go down the middle," Yang Ming said, ncing at Fang Xiu. Seeing no objection from him, Yang Ming led the group down the middle path.


    At the end of the path¡­


    "Oh, there''s a door here! This must be the exit!" Yang Ming said excitedly.


    Fang Xiu frowned immediately because this door looked identical to the door to the Other Side, one he was all too familiar with, as he had gone through it over a hundred times.


    Just as Yang Ming reached out to open the door, Fang Xiu said, "Try another path."


    Reluctantly, Yang Ming withdrew his hand. The group returned to the fork road, choosing the right path instead.


    But at the end of that road was still the door to the Other Side.


    "There''s another door here. It looks just like the one we saw before. Xiu, should we try opening this one?" Yang Ming asked.


    "Switch paths again," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    So, they retreated once more, even back to where they had first ced a marker to choose another direction. But to their shock, no matter which path they chose, the door to the Other Side was always at the end.

 Chapter 177: Zhou Qingfengs Plan

    Chapter 177: Zhou Qingfeng''s n


    Fang Xiu frowned deeply, and he began to wonder, <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Is this Zhou Qingfeng''s goal? To make Yang Ming see the Other Side? And what about the gift and the truth? Right now, it seems all roads lead to the Other Side. Could the gift and truth be there too? But with Yang Ming''s current strength, going to the Other Side means death, because Taotie is on the Other Side.''</em>


    The "God''s n" skill, no matter how strong, couldn''t possibly help Yang Ming defeat Taotie at this point. It wasn''t realistic.


    Fang Xiu even doubted if anyone in the current world could defeat a mythical creature like Taotie. From what he had heard, fifth-tier psychics would awaken 100% of their Spiritual Energy. Even then, Fang Xiu found it unrealistic for them to beat Taotie, let alone Yang Ming, who was only third-tier.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu started to understand why Zhou Qingfeng''s dream was to turn all of humanity into Specters.


    Perhaps because he had been to the Other Side and witnessed the true power of the Specters, he realized the hopeless gap and decided to save the world in his own way.


    Zhou Qingfeng might truly have noble intentions, striving to save the world in his way. However, Fang Xiu couldn''t ept this approach. His ideal was to make all Specters feel pain and create a world without them.


    Their goals wereplete opposites.


    Thinking of this, Fang Xiu suddenly sensed something was off. He finally grasped Zhou Qingfeng''s real intent.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''After I saw the Other Side, I understood Zhou Qingfeng''s ideal. So, what if Yang Ming goes to the Other Side?''</em>Ordinary people would consider Zhou Qingfeng to be anti-human¡ªan absolute viin¡ªafter hearing his ideals. But once they''d seen the Other Side, logical thinking would make them start agreeing with Zhou Qingfeng, even if only partly.


    They mighte to understand his vision and question whether humanity could ever really defeat the Specters.


    Once a seed of doubt is nted, it will eventually grow.


    Perhaps Zhou Qingfeng wanted this exact effect. He aimed to have Yang Ming agree with his ideals and even be a kindred spirit.


    This was Zhou Qingfeng''s purpose for the gate to the Other Side!


    Once Fang Xiu understood this, everything became clearer.


    Zhou Qingfeng didn''t want Yang Ming to enter the Other Side to die; he wanted him to go in and recognize the gap.


    Fang Xiu, having died so many times, had fallen into a mental trap. It was clear that Taotie wouldn''t notice anyone who stayed outside its feeding range. Fang Xiu had died each time because he approached too closely.


    But if Yang Ming entered with his "God''s n" skill, he would surely avoid Taotie and notice the main issues.


    In this way, Zhou Qingfeng''s n would seed.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''So in Zhou Qingfeng''s n, Yang Ming should have been the one to enter the Other Side. I was just an ident! But Yang Ming couldn''t get to the Other Side when facing the attack of the Snakeworm. So, No Turning Back is the key! Zhou Qingfeng left it as a bodyguard to help Yang Ming enter the Other Side!''</em>


    Fang Xiu finally understood that things might have gone ording to Zhou Qingfeng''s n if he weren''t in the story.


    Yang Ming would have led his team into the mental hospital. With God''s n guiding him, he would have faced many dangers and eventually met No Turning Back. He would then be "protected" by it.


    Without understanding the rules, others might have been killed by No Turning Back, but Fang Xiu was sure Yang Ming wouldn''t be.


    Fang Xiu knew this because he had witnessed the power of God''s n. In the Graveyard of the Nightmare''s Specter Zone, Fang Xiu had died countless times before figuring out how to escape. But Yang Ming had befriended his own duplicate and walked out with him hand-in-hand.


    In the ce where they could only step on odd-numbered steps, Yang Ming sprinted forward, not missing a step and safely crossing.


    Even when facing No Turning Back, Fang Xiu was sure Yang Ming wouldn''t die.


    If No Turning Back''s killing moves couldn''t be triggered, it would follow Yang Ming like a bodyguard.


    Afterward, Yang Ming would see the torn paper and understand Zhou Qingfeng''s ideals. He would open the gate to the Other Side. The Snakeworm would avoid him, allowing him to safely enter.


    Though the Other Side wasn''t suitable for human life, Yang Ming had Corpse Beads to keep him alive long enough to see Taotie. He would then realize the gap and begin to lose faith, descending into despair.


    But Yang Ming had a kind heart. Even in despair, it would be hard for him to betray his conscience and abandon saving humanity. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    At this point, Zhou Qingfeng''s vision would shine like a light into Yang Ming''s heart, aligning him with Zhou Qingfeng''s beliefs. Even if Yang Ming didn''t agree at first, the seed would slowly grow.


    Fang Xiu guessed that the true gift would only appear once the gate to the Other Side was opened.


    Now, Fang Xiu finally understood why Zhou Qingfeng hadn''t erased traces of him from the parchment, the torn paper, and the photos¡ªthey had to be seen before disappearing.


    It was all part of a grand n, carefully designed for Yang Ming!


    This n had started the moment the Green Mountain Mental Hospital appeared.


    Why did it show up in Greenvine City? Because Yang Ming was the captain of Greenvine City Investigation Bureau.


    Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao had managed to escape that terrifying hospital. Fang Xiu''s death reset ability helped, but the real reason was that the hospital had a safe exit. Without that exit, even a thousand resets wouldn''t have worked.


    Zhou Qingfeng left the exit for three specific reasons:


    First, to allow the Specters in the mental hospital to escape. With the weakening of the seals on the wards, the Specters would eventually break free. They would then leave through the exit and cause chaos, catching Yang Ming''s attention.


    Second, the exit was for Yang Ming after he received the gift, ensuring he had a path to leave.


    Third, it provided a glimmer of hope for anyone who identally wandered into the mental hospital.


    The third reason sounds unlikely since Zhou Qingfeng was someone who treated humans like experimental objects.


    But reality often contradicts itself. Zhou Qingfeng wanted to Specterize humans to save humanity, so it was possible this was part of his intent.


    Regardless, Fang Xiu was certain the first two reasons were why Zhou Qingfeng left the exit. The third, while questionable, shouldn''t be dismissed entirely.


    This also raised a question: Nightmare was the first Specter to leave the ward but couldn''t initially use the exit.


    This means the exit once had a seal against the Specters.


    As for why it was there, it might be because Yang Ming hadn''t yet advanced to the third tier, and his "Luck" hadn''t evolved into "God''s n."


    After Green Mountain Mental Hospital appeared, Yang Ming received God''s n with the help of Ace of Spades. Then, Nightmare escaped. Now, everyone had entered the mental hospital and seen the Other Side.


    It all connected, and Fang Xiu realized that this was Zhou Qingfeng''s master n!


    Unfortunately for Zhou Qingfeng, Yang Ming''s abilities were no match for Fang Xiu''s. He never expected anyone on Yang Ming''s team could foresee the future.


    Yang Ming was meant to unknowingly fall into Zhou Qingfeng''s carefully crafted trap.


    Fang Xiu, however, used his death reset toplete everything before Yang Ming and uncovered Zhou Qingfeng''s n.


    Through multiple death resets, Fang Xiu fully understood Zhou Qingfeng''s n.


    He suddenly felt curious about Zhou Qingfeng. He wasn''t sure of Zhou Qingfeng''s exact abilities, but the man was clearly a master maniptor.


    Through a series of meticulously arranged coincidences, Zhou Qingfeng attempted to brainwash Yang Ming step by step, hoping to fulfill his own n through God''s n.

 Chapter 178: Devouring Specters

    Chapter 178: Devouring Specters


    Fang Xiu finally ordered them to open the door. He knew they couldn''t avoid the door forever.


    If he was right, the real escape route would only appear after opening the door to the Other Side.


    Yang Ming didn''t hesitate and opened the door.


    BUZZ!


    A humming sound exploded instantly. Yang Ming and the others'' faces changed, and they quickly stepped back. In the next second, countless Snakeworms poured out of the door.


    "Run!" Fang Xiu ordered, and everyone turned around and fled.


    Fang Xiu, however, moved slowly and steadily as he turned around. He made a small circle and managed to change his direction. Snakeworms soon flooded him, but under the protection of No Turning Back, he remained unharmed.


    No Turning Back was cowardly, only bullying the weak. Against the swarm-like Snakeworms, it didn''t blink an eye. But when facing Taotie, it fled without hesitation.


    Fang Xiu didn''t run fast. He simply trailed behind Yang Ming and the others, quietly watching them be chased. He guessed that in this crisis, God would certainly show Yang Ming a way out. Yang Ming and the others fled in a panic, fighting the Snakeworms as they went.


    "Where''s Xiu?" Yang Ming suddenly noticed Fang Xiu was missing. His face changed drastically, thinking Fang Xiu had been surrounded by the Snakeworms.


    He wanted to go back to save him but heard Fang Xiu''s calm voiceing from the swarm of Snakeworms.


    "I''m here."


    Everyone looked in the direction of his voice and saw Fang Xiu walking leisurely out of the crowd of Specters, looking like he was just taking a stroll. The others were stunned.


    Ma Xingbang eximed again, "Fang Xiu! You said you''re not with them!"


    Fang Xiu calmly nodded, "That''s right, we''re together. Kill him for me."


    BUZZ!


    A mass of Snakeworms charged toward Ma Xingbang and the others.


    Ma Xingbang was terrified. He pulled out his Golden Key and instinctively started searching for a door.


    Unfortunately, there was only one door on the fifth floor¡ªthe door to the Other Side. From inside the door, countless Snakeworms poured out, leaving Ma Xingbang no opportunity to use the golden key.


    Ma Xingbang''s misunderstanding of Fang Xiu was actually understandable.


    Fang Xiu was standing alone like a king among the Specters. The Specters seemed afraid of him and dared not approach, creating a vacuum around him. Anyone who didn''t know better would assume Fang Xiu was controlling the Specter army.


    "Xiu, this is no time for jokes."


    "Run for your lives. I won''t die, but whether you do or not depends on yourself."


    Fang Xiu deliberately said those words, hoping to push Yang Ming to his full potential.


    Time passed. The group''s strength and Spiritual Energy were almost drained, and they were covered in blood, but the escape route had yet to appear.


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly. _''Was I wrong? Maybe I need to wait longer. I haven''t pushed Yang Ming to the edge yet.''_


    While the others were running for their lives, he wasn''t idle either. He was fully experimenting with Taotie''s Mouth.


    He focused his Spiritual Energy on imagining Taotie''s Mouth and gradually felt a tearing pain in the palm of his left hand. He raised his hand and saw a split forming in the middle of his palm.


    It was a mouth, filled with rows of sinister, sharp teeth.


    It was Taotie''s Mouth!


    Fang Xiu then thrust his left hand into the swarm of Snakeworms, grabbing a long, slimy Specter that resembled a maggot. The Specter struggled fiercely, but the next second, Taotie''s Mouth snapped open, and a powerful suction drew the Specter in.


    CRUNCH!


    The mouth on Fang Xiu''s left hand chewed continuously. At the same time, Fang Xiu felt the Specter''s power flow into his body. His Spiritual Energy began to stir, and a faint warmth coursed through him.


    A strange light flickered in Fang Xiu''s eyes. He could feel a slight improvement in both his Spiritual Energy and physical strength. The enhancement was minor but noticeable.


    He guessed that the effect was weak because the Snakeworms were too insignificant, and he hadn''t consumed enough.


    Fang Xiu then continued to reach into the swarm of Specters, with Taotie''s Mouth snapping open and closed voraciously, devouring more Snakeworms.


    More and more Snakeworms were swallowed, and his Spiritual Energy and physical strength gradually increased.


    After consuming nearly a hundred Snakeworms, his awakened Spiritual Energy rose from 25% to 26%; his physical attributes had been improved by about 10%, making him stronger, faster, and more resilient.


    After that, Fang Xiu stopped eating. He had reached his limit and felt satisfied.


    Even though he had the ability to devour, his body remained fundamentally human, so he couldn''t endlessly consume like Taotie. Moreover, as he devoured more Snakeworms, the improvement he felt became less significant. He realized he needed to consume higher-level beings.


    Fang Xiu shifted his attention to No Turning Back. After dealing with the Snakeworms, he thought about consuming No Turning Back. After all, it had been locked up in the asylum for a long time, lonely and isted.


    But Fang Xiu soon abandoned the idea. Given his current strength, it would be tough to consume No Turning Back. Despite its unimpressive methods of killing, No Turning Back semed to have high status, as shown by how it could intimidate the Snakeworms.


    Meanwhile, the group was backed into a corner, but about five minutester, it seemed they found a chance.


    While Yang Ming was fleeing, he made a sudden sharp turn into a side corridor, causing many Snakeworms to crash directly into the wall opposite due to their inability to turn in time.


    The chaotic Specter energy mmed against the wall, causing it to copse instantly and reveal a red barrier of light.


    The Snakeworms that collided with the red light exploded and died, as if affected by some mysterious power.


    Fang Xiu, who had been watching Yang Ming closely, understood at once when he saw this scene.


    This was the way out.


    It could only be opened using Specter energy. No wonder they had to open the door to the Other Side no matter which path they took¡ªit was only on the Other Side that there were enough Specters to reveal the escape route.


    The endless swarms of Snakeworms flew chaotically within thebyrinth. As their numbers increased, the maze grew more crowded, raising the chances of breaking through to the escape route.


    With the help of Yang Ming''s ability, this probability could increase infinitely.


    "Here''s the way out," Fang Xiu said, then walked toward the red barrier.


    He didn''t concern himself with the others, nor did he need to.


    The three others were third-tier psychics; while the Snakeworms put them in a difficult situation, it wouldn''t be fatal. They would only die if they fought for too long and exhausted themselves.


    Once inside the red barrier, Fang Xiu immediately felt a weight lift from his back, and the bone-chilling cold disappeared. Clearly, No Turning Back had been left behind.


    He began surveying his surroundings. The ce was apletely enclosed space, suffused with a faint red glow.


    At the far end of the space stood two doors.

 Chapter 179: Door of Life And Death

    Chapter 179: Door of Life And Death


    At the edge of this space stood two doors. One was as white as snow, and the other as dark as ink.


    On each door was a word. The white door bore the word "Life," and the ck door "Death."


    The white door was intricately carved with auspicious nts and flowers. A sense of pure harmony seemed to flow from it, as if paradisey beyond.


    In contrast, the ck door was engraved with terrifying specters and beasts, radiating a sinister, ominous aura that felt like a gateway to hell.


    Just then, Yang Ming and the others stumbled in, battered and disheveled.


    "Damn it! Finally got rid of those specters. Hell, where does that door lead to, and why are there so many specters?" Yang Ming cursed, brushing off the remnants of specters stuck to his body.


    The others, except for Fang Xiu, were just as messy, their clothes tattered like a beggar''s.


    "Huh! Two more doors here, one for life and one for death? Damn, Zhou Qingfeng must be toying with us."


    Seeing the two doors, their gut reaction was that one would surely lead to salvation and the other to doom. If they chose right, they''d live. If not, they''d die.This was a psychological gamble. Naturally, the white door, glowing with ethereal beauty and sweet birdsong, seemed like the path to life, while the ck door resembled a gate to hell.


    But when life and death were at stake, nobody could be certain.


    What if the designer intended it to be the opposite¡ªwhere the door to life actually led to death, and the door to death led to life?


    Anything was possible.


    Despite the gravity of the choice, the group wasn''t fazed at all. They knew they could ask Fang Xiu.


    All eyes turned to him, waiting for him to decide.


    Yang Ming was now very rxed. He said, "Xiu, this should be an easy choice. It''s up to you. Have you foreseen which door leads to salvation?"


    Fang Xiu nodded calmly and replied, "I''ve seen the future."


    Then, he walked directly toward the ck door, that infernal portal resembling the gates of hell.


    He guessed that behind the door marked "Death"y the path to life. Zhou Qingfeng probably meant to convey a message: through deathes life.


    This mirrored Zhou Qingfeng''s philosophy; after all, Specterization for humanity was like going through death only to be reborn.


    And then Fang Xiu died.


    As soon as he entered the ck door, he was swallowed by an endless darkness and crushed by an invisible force.


    ¡­


    "Xiu, this should be an easy choice. It''s up to you. Have you foreseen which door leads to salvation?"


    "I''ve seen the future."


    Then, Fang Xiu walked directly toward the white door, the one that looked like paradise.


    The white door did lead to life. It seemed Zhou Qingfeng wanted to express sincerity over trickery, that honesty mattered most.


    And then Fang Xiu died again.


    After entering the white door, Fang Xiu found himself engulfed in blinding white light. Everything around him was hazy, impossible to discern. Soon after, he was swallowed by the light.


    ¡­ <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    "Xiu, this should be an easy choice. It''s up to you. Have you foreseen which door leads to salvation?"


    Fang Xiu simply replied, "You choose."


    Yang Ming fell in silence.


    It couldn''t be possible for both paths to lead to death, so Fang Xiu suspected that the key had to lie with Yang Ming.


    "Wait, Xiu, I have to choose? Are you kidding me? If I pick wrong, I''ll be dead!"


    Yang Ming clearly didn''t want to make the decision.


    But Fang Xiu insisted, "You''re the luckiest among us. You won''t choose wrong. Besides, since Zhou Qingfeng left you a gift, he''s not going to let you die so easily."


    Convinced by the reasoning, Yang Ming''s confidence grew.


    "You''re right, I can definitely pick the right door."


    With that, he strode confidently toward the white door. With a sh of white light, Yang Ming''s silhouette disappeared into it.


    The room fell silent.


    A few secondster, a head popped out of the white door. It was Yang Ming.


    Beaming with excitement, he said, "The white door leads to safety. Come on in!"


    Ma Xingbang was the first to dash inside, worried that others might get ahead of him. Bai Qi didn''t hesitate either, heading straight for the white door.


    Now, only Fang Xiu remained.


    Yang Ming urged him, "Xiu, what are you waiting for? Come on!"


    Fang Xiu furrowed his brow slightly._ ''So the key to passing through safely is that Yang Ming had to enter first?''_


    With this thought in mind, he stepped into the white door cautiously.


    And then he died.


    ¡­


    "Yang Ming, take the ck door. I''ve seen the future," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Yang Ming nodded without a hint of doubt and walked directly into the ck door.


    Momentster, Yang Ming popped his head back out and called to the others, "Come on in, what are you waiting for? Xiu''s predictions can''t be wrong."


    Fang Xiu''s frown deepened.


    "Yang Ming, step out first."


    Though confused, Yang Ming obediently exited the ck door.


    "What''s up, Xiu?"


    Without exnation, Fang Xiu turned to Bai Qi.


    "Bai Qi, you go in."


    Bai Qi nodded and entered the ck door. He too emerged momentster. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    He said to the group, "No problem with the ck door."


    At this point, Fang Xiu felt like he understood something. He then told Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, you go to the white door. Bai Qi, you head to the ck door."


    Yang Ming''s face went pale with shock. "No way, Xiu! I have nothing against you. Why are you trying to mess with me?"


    "I''m not trying to hurt you. I''ve already seen the future. Both doors lead to safety, and anyone can pass through."


    "So Zhou Qingfeng set this up just to freak us out, huh?"


    With that, Yang Ming walked toward the white door while Bai Qi took the ck door.


    Momentster, both Yang Ming and Bai Qi emergedpletely unharmed.


    At that point, Fang Xiu¡¯s eyes glimmered as he finally saw through the trick.


    He first stepped into the white door. This time, as the white light shed around him, he didn''t die but instead found himself standing before the entrance to an underground pce.


    Afterward, he exited the white door and, with everyone''s gaze fixed on him, stepped into the ck door. In a shimmer of ck light, he appeared before the same underground pce.


    A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he finally understood the true nature of the doors. The secret was never about choosing one door over the other¡ªit was about having unwavering faith in your choice.


    If you believed without a shadow of a doubt that your choice was right, both doors would lead to safety. But if even a hint of doubt crept in, the path to life would turn into a path to death.


    This exined why everyone could pass through except Fang Xiu. He remained gued with doubts because he had already died behind both doors.


    The others, having seen Yang Ming emerge unharmed, were fully convinced of their choice. However, Fang Xiu, having died on both paths before, carried lingering uncertainty.


    Soon, the entire group had crossed over.


    When they saw the magnificent underground pce before them, they were awestruck.


    The pce was grand and vast, and each enormous stone block used in its construction was far beyond what humans could achieve. This kind of structure, especially underground, was likely the work of Specters.


    "Look! There''s a floating paper at the entrance!" Yang Ming eximed.


    They all hurried over and saw a note that read:


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"My friends, reaching this point means you are worthy of knowing the truth of this world.</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">Surely, by now, you have already had a guess.</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">Don''t doubt your eyes¡ªwhat lies beyond these doors is real.</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">It''s the world of Specters. I call it the Other Side!"</em>

 Chapter 180: The Truth of the World

    Chapter 180: The Truth of the World


    Yang Ming was puzzled and asked, "Door? What door? The door of life and death?"


    "Could it be the door where the Specters pour out?" Bai Qi thoughtfully said.


    Yang Ming cursed in dissatisfaction, "Damn, does Zhou Qingfeng have a problem? Behind that door are Specters flying like countless bugs. Who can see what''s behind it? Are we supposed to scoop out our eyeballs and throw them in to see? That''s insane."


    Fang Xiu said, "Stop talking, keep watching."


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"The Other Side is the source of the Specters. The world we''re in is the world of humans, and the Other Side is the homnd of the Specters."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"Thousands of years ago, for some reason, the Other Side began to invade the human world, and the two worlds have been ovepping ever since."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"The two worlds are like two droplets of liquid, one clear and one ink. As they continue to merge, the clear liquid will eventually be dark."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"The sudden appearance of Specters in the human world is due to the ongoing invasion from The Other Side."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"As the invasion intensifies, the number of Specters will increase dramatically, and you have probably already noticed that their numbers are growing each year."</em><em ss="chakra-text css-0">"This process is irreversible. In the near future, the human world will bepletely swallowed by the Other Side, and humans will eventually vanish."</em>


    Everyone turned serious as they read the message.


    Even the carefree Yang Ming became serious.


    Only Ma Xingbang was different. Although he pretended to be shocked, his gaze said otherwise.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t as shocked as the others. Having been to the Other Side, he had already had the same suspicion before.


    Other than the extinction of humanity, he was more concerned about the ovep.


    The two worlds were ovepping!


    Whether it was called an invasion or merging, it was the same thing: the two worlds were ovepping.


    _''So because the two worlds are ovepping, I can see through both worlds?'' _Fang Xiu thought to himself.


    Then he continued to read.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"To the lucky one in God''s n, you must have guessed my purpose by now, and understand everything I have done."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"Although the whole world may get me wrong and hate me for this, I have to do it. For this is the only way to save the world. But you''re different, you lucky one, you shall be able to understand what I did."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"Even if you don''t agree with my ideals now, one day, time will prove that I am right."</em>


    Yang Ming cursed, "What the hell? What is this guy talking about? I''d understand what he did? Well, I literally don''t feel anything at all now!"


    Not just Yang Ming, even the smarter Bai Qi waspletely confused.


    Probably the only ones who understood what Zhou Qingfeng was talking about were Fang Xiu and Ma Xingbang.


    Fang Xiu understood everything after reading the torn paper and visiting the Other Side, while Ma Xingbang seemed to have known it all along.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"My friend, I have left a gift for you</em><em ss="chakra-text css-0">within this pce, named the Genesis. It is the key to saving the world, the key to perfect Specterization, and also the core that sustains the entire Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"The seal of this Specter Zone is weakening. Soon, the Specter Zone will rupture, and the experimental subjects inside will appear in the human world. When that happens, the whole Greenvine City will be destroyed by Specters."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"To stop this, you must be the master of the Genesis. Once the Green Mountain Mental Hospital Specter Zone loses its core, it will return to the Other Side, and the crisis will be resolved."</em>


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"You, the lucky one, please follow your heart''s choice and ept the gift."</em> <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu finally understood Zhou Qingfeng''s intentions.


    It was a clear case of moral coercion. He openly threatened "the lucky one"¡ªif he did not ept the Genesis, then Greenvine City and even the entire nation would suffer unbearable losses, with widespread devastation.


    If the lucky one wanted to save Greenvine City, he would have to ept the Genesis.


    The description of the Genesis also indicated that once Yang Ming epted it, he would inevitably be Specterized. Zhou Qingfeng''s ultimate goal was to make Yang Ming agree with his ideals and had aplete Specterization.


    However, Fang Xiu still wondered why Zhou Qingfeng was doing this.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Why is Yang Ming so important that Zhou Qingfeng has to make him agree and get him Specterized? Yang Ming is God''s choice, and Zhou Qingfeng''s goal is mass Specterization...''</em>


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu had a suspicion. He spected that Zhou Qingfeng was not trying to get Yang Ming''s but the world''s agreement. Yang Ming, being God''s choice, could to some extent represent the world''s will. If even God''s choice choose to be a Specter, then the Specterization of the whole human kind would be around the corner.


    Realizing this, Fang Xiu immediately decided that he must secure the Genesis for himself, not leaving it to Yang Ming.


    All Specters must die. He would kill them all and create a world without them. He wanted revenge.


    "The Genesis?" Yang Ming''s face darkened, anger seething in his eyes.


    Zhou Qingfeng had threatened him using the safety of the entire Greenvine City, crossing his bottom line.


    "He wants me to be a Specter, huh? I''d like to see¡ª"


    "Don''t worry about the Genesis, just hand it to me when the timees," Fang Xiu said, effectively cutting him off.


    Yang Ming was slightly surprised, "Xiu, you¡ª"


    "I have seen the future," Fang Xiu said.


    A look of relief appeared on Yang Ming''s face, and he nodded vigorously. Nothing could be moreforting than those words.


    He had been prepared to fight to the death. He was ready to forcibly ept the Genesis for the sake of Greenvine City, using his willpower to resist Specterization. However, Fang Xiu hade up with a better n now, which spared him from the risk. Yang Ming was so delighted about it.


    Ma Xingbang''s face soured. He immediately eximed, "The Genesis is dangerous. We should hand it over to headquarters for safekeeping. How can you keep it for yourselves?"


    "I knew we should have killed you earlier," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Yang Ming nodded. "This ce is quite hidden, the body is unlikely to be found."


    Bai Qi didn''t speak, only touching the short knife at his waist.


    Ma Xingbang''s face changed several times. Finally, he forced a smile and said, "I was just saying. The Investigation Bureau has rules¡ªpsychics can choose whether to hand over or keep the spoils from Specter incidents. If you hand them over, the Investigation Bureau will also give you a reward. It won''t be unfair to you. It''s just a suggestion, don''t be impulsive."


    Fang Xiu nced at him calmly and then walked toward the pce.


    Everyone hurried to follow, all entering the pce.


    As they walked inside, they all stiffened as if they saw something terrifying.


    The inside of the pce was spacious, with a few stone columns that served as supports. At the far end was a high tform.


    This setup felt like a royal pce, and the high tform seemed like the throne where the emperor would sit.


    However, sitting on the high tform was not an emperor, but a small boy.


    A very cute little boy was lying on the high tform, asleep.


    Yet, it was this small boy who made everyone freeze in ce. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    The Specter energy on the small boy was too terrifying. It was so intense that it felt like a source of pollution, constantly emitting a heart-pounding corruption.


    Looking at him was like looking into the eyes of a demon.

 Chapter 181: Kangkang, My Child

    Chapter 181: Kangkang, My Child


    The moment they saw the small boy, Fang Xiu and the others felt all the evil in the world rushing at them, making it hard to breathe.


    He seemed even more terrifying than Faceless.


    Luckily, he was asleep.


    Nobody dared to speak; they just looked at each other.


    Yang Ming signaled with his eyes and pointed to the bronze door behind the small boy.


    Clearly, the challenge this time was to defeat the boy and then go behind the bronze door to get the Genesis.


    But after feeling the terrifying energy from the boy, everyone just wanted to sneak past quietly.


    So, they all silently agreed to lower their voices and quietly approached the boy.


    Step by step, they reached the top of the high tform.Seeing the boy so close, Yang Ming swallowed hard, afraid to make any noise that might wake him.


    Just as they were about to move forward, they noticed Fang Xiu had stopped in front of the boy and wasn''t moving.


    This puzzled and worried everyone, and they kept making urgent gestures to Fang Xiu.


    "Move, hurry up!" they wished they could shout.


    If they woke the boy, they would all be in danger.


    But Fang Xiu was unmoved and just calmly watched the boy. Then, suddenly¡ª


    He pped the boy''s face.


    This action nearly scared everyone out of their wits.


    They thought Fang Xiu had gone mad; he had a death wish!


    However, the boy, even after being pped, did not wake up but continued to sleep.


    Everyone was slightly surprised and relieved.


    "Xiu, what on earth are you doing?" Yang Ming now dared to speak.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t answer him. He calmly stared at the boy and said softly, "Stop pretending, get up."


    The boy suddenly opened six eyes¡ªyes, six eyes.


    He had two in his eye sockets, two more in slits above his forehead, and another two on his cheeks.


    The six eyes stared straight at Fang Xiu. The pupils were pitch ck, like ck holes.


    "How did you know I was pretending to be asleep?"


    The boy might have not talked to anyone in a long time, as he spoke with slight difficulty.


    Fang Xiu remained silent, continuing to stare at the boy. How did he know? ¡ªOf course, because he had died once before.


    It turns out, Fang Xiu had already triggered a reset once.


    Last time, they had reached the bronze door, but just then, the boy shot up. Like all the pranks, he appeared behind them and scared everyone terribly. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    So this time, Fang Xiu decided to give the boy a surprise.


    The group was shocked when they realized the boy was pretending to be asleep. If he attacked from behind while they were opening the door, they would be caught off guard.


    "You guys are so annoying, I wanted to give you a surprise," the small boy said, sounding disappointed. If it weren''t for his six eyes, he would seem like a normal, aggrieved child.


    "Where''s the key to the bronze door?" Fang Xiu asked directly.


    The boy blinked, his six eyes opening and closing in a disturbing fashion.


    "You are not the lucky one. I can''t give the key to you. President Zhou told me that only the lucky one gets the key."


    Hearing this, Yang Ming immediately stepped forward and reached out to the boy.


    "I am the lucky one. Give me the key."


    The boy turned his head, his six eyes intently staring at Yang Ming. After a moment, the boy pped his hands happily and said, "Great, I''ve been waiting for you. Here, the key is yours."


    Saying this, the boy spat out a bronze key covered in saliva.


    Yang Ming took the key with disgust and quickly wiped the saliva off.


    Everyone was a bit stunned because it all seemed too easy.


    This wasn''t like the final challenge they had anticipated. Normally, their final enemy would be extremely difficult to handle, simr to defeating a boss monster in thest level of a game before obtaining the key item.


    This final enemy seemed too generous and understanding.


    While everyone was still bewildered, the small boy had already stood up. He smiled at the group and said, "The task President Zhou gave me ispleted, so now I will begin."


    _''Begin what?'' _


    rms went off in everyone''s minds.


    The boy''s body began to swell, and his face twisted grotesquely. Countless ck, snake-like scales, grew from his body. His small stature rapidly grew taller.


    In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a monster over five meters tall, with six eyes. His body was covered in ck scales, with bone spikes growing at the joints.


    His entire body shimmered with a cold metallic luster, and his long tail moved excitedly. He was a monster born for ughter.


    "What are you trying to do!" Yang Ming was horrified. "If you attack us, aren''t you afraid you''d disappoint President Zhou?"


    The boy''s voice hadpletely changed, bing harsh and icy.


    "He gave me the task of guarding the key. I just needed to wait for the lucky one toe, and then hand over the key. I''ve already given you the key, so my task ispleted. President Zhou didn''t say I couldn''t kill anyone."


    "Don''t you have a brain?" Yang Ming cursed angrily. "President Zhou gave you the key to let me get the Genesis. Can''t you understand that simple thing?"


    The small boy sneered coldly, "He only told me to give you the key, he never said I couldn''t kill you."


    "Damn it! You''re doing this on purpose!" Yang Ming eximed.


    "That''s right, I am doing it on purpose," the boy''s face twisted into a ferocious snarl, and he let out an inhuman roar.


    His six eyes suddenly burst into a blood-red glow. Madness filled those eyes, like a beast eager to devour.


    "I am President Zhou''s most perfect creation! Why didn''t he take me to the Other Side? Why didn''t he let me follow him? I wanted to be his weapon. It''s all because of you! Damn ''the lucky one''! It''s because of you that I couldn''t follow him and have been waiting in this ruined pce for so long! You should go to hell, all of you!"


    "Hey, hey, it''s the lucky one''s fault, what does that have to do with us?" Ma Xingbang quickly tried to dissociate himself from Yang Ming. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    "Shut up!"


    A furious aura erupted from the small boy, making the entire underground pce shake and nearly copse.


    Everyone''s face changed as they were forced to retreat. They felt as if this terrifying energy was suffocating them.


    Just at this critical moment, a gentle voice echoed throughout the hall, breaking the deadly tension.


    "Kangkang, my child."


    Hearing that, the boy suddenly froze. He turned incredulously to look at Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu seemed transformed. His face no longer calm, but wearing a gentle smile. His eyes squinted, his demeanor elegant.


    The boy''s six eyes fixed on Fang Xiu.


    "Who are you! How do you know the name Kangkang!"


    In an instant, the furious Specter energy surged like a tidal wave, pressing down on Fang Xiu. Even the stone tiles beneath his feet cracked like a spiderweb.


    But Fang Xiu was unmoved, for he had faced even more terrifying beings and had been killed by them a hundred and one times before.

 Chapter 182: The False President

    Chapter 182: The False President


    The little boy was strong. However, whenpared to Taotie, he was just a slightly bigger bug.


    Fang Xiu had seen the name Kangkang on the torn piece of paper. He remembered a note written on it:


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"Kangkang, that naughty little kid. He keeps shouting about bing President Zhou''s weapon. It''s so annoying. I should have never let him watch cartoons. Hmph, I''ll give him two extra injections today."</em>


    Just now, the little boy had expressed his desire to be Zhou Qingfeng''s weapon. Hearing that, Fang Xiu immediately guessed that the boy must be Kangkang.


    The boy''s reaction confirmed his guess. After all, constantly talking about bing President Zhou''s weapon was typical childish fantasy talk.


    "Kangkang, open your eyes wide and see who I am," Fang Xiu said with a gentle smile.


    Kangkang''s pupils shrank suddenly, his face filled with disbelief.


    Fang Xiu''s appearance began to slowly change. He transformed into a man wearing ck-rimmed sses and a whiteb coat, squinting when he smiled, which gave him a refined demeanor.


    This was exactly how President Zhou Qingfeng looked in a photo Kangkang had seen before."President Zhou!" Kangkang''s eyes lit up with incredible joy. "Is it really you? You finallye to see me? Are you here to make me your weapon?"


    Kangkang was as excited as if he were seeing his long-lost father. He wanted to move closer but felt both fear and unfamiliarity.


    The people around, like Yang Ming and others, were shocked by this scene.


    Ma Xingbang was severely frightened and shook like a leaf. He had thought that Fang Xiu might be in league with the Specters. However, now it seemed that Fang Xiu was more than that.


    He was their leader!


    Fang Xiu watched Kangkang''s excited expression, his smile growing warmer.


    Thanks to the photo he had seen before, he knew what Zhou Qingfeng looked like. He then used his ability to transform illusions into reality to disguise himself.


    That ability relied on Fang Xiu''s power from Nightmare, which allowed him to create a false Zhou Qingfeng in his mind and then transform himself to match the real one.


    However, the transformation was just that. Fang Xiu could not create something out of nothing, he could only use his own appearance as the base for the transformation.


    Fang Xiu pushed his sses up and smiled gently, "Yes, kid. You are now worthy to be my weapon."


    Hearing this, Kangkang immediately became so excited that he trembled all over. Tears continuously flowed from his sixrge eyes. He felt that all his years of waiting, the loneliness, and the hardships he endured were finally worth it.


    He took two steps forward, as if he wanted to be patted on the head, just like old times.


    Fang Xiu wanted to pat his head. However, Kangkang was over five meters tall. Even if the child bent down, Fang Xiu could only reach his thigh. So, he patted Kangkang''s scaly thigh instead.


    Kangkang burst into tears immediately, his eyes brimming with tears. His six eyes shed tears of emotion simultaneously. "I''m so happy. I can''t believe this ising true!"


    Seeing the overly excited Kangkang, Fang Xiu''s smile grew even warmer. He gently stroked Kangkang''s scales as if touching the tender skin of his own child.

 Chapter 183: I Love Kangkang

    Chapter 183: I Love Kangkang


    "My child, do you really wish to be my weapon? Do you want to cut down all enemies in our path, follow me to achieve our shared dreams, all the way to the peak?"


    Listening to Fang Xiu''s words, Kangkang couldn''t help but tremble with excitement.


    "I am willing! This is my lifelong dream!" Kangkang eximed, unable to contain his emotions.


    Seeing Kangkang''s excited state, Fang Xiu knew he had himpletely under control.


    Kangkang''s emotions and thoughts were now fully aligned with his, totally within his grasp.


    Fang Xiu leaned forward slightly, his smile growing warmer, though his sses barely hid the cold gleam in his eyes. He whispered into Kangkang''s ear, "Give your all and be my weapon! Stay by my side forever."


    Kangkang''s six eyes widened in disbelief, his face a mix of shock and ecstasy. He even began to doubt himself, asking, "Can I really do it? Am I worthy?"


    Fang Xiu gently patted Kangkang''s head, soothing him, "Worthy? My child, others may not be, but you certainly are. Because you are my favorite, Kangkang."


    It was the ultimate move!Kangkang was instantly wrapped in an unparalleled feeling of happiness. He had always craved recognition, and at this moment, his desire was elevated. He felt he could die without regrets.


    "I love you too," Kangkang sobbed.


    His massive, five-meter-tall body shook continuously. Hisrge tears fell to the ground, emitting a harsh sizzling sound as they corroded the floor, creating a dense pattern of holes.


    "Alright, my child, no need to cry. Calm your heart, don''t resist. Just ept this glory," Fang Xiu said.


    "Okay!" Kangkang wiped his tears. He looked at Fang Xiu with excitement and eagerness, moving his head closer.


    Fang Xiu extended his left hand. The Taotie''s Mouth in the palm opened, revealing a row of stark white teeth, looking terrifyingly fierce.


    Nearby, Yang Ming and others watched this scene, each thinking how twisted this hospital was.


    Zhou Qingfeng, the president of this hospital, was gaslighting Specters. This Specter was willing to be devoured, and even asked before being eaten, "Am I worthy?"


    It was too distorted. It was like some people saying, <strong>"Young people shouldn''t be paid for working. Your boss gives you a job, builds your work experience, trains your abilities, and doesn''t charge you money; shame on you for taking a sry!*"</strong>


    They never imagined that gaslighting among Specters was even more extreme than among humans.


    And that¡ª"You''re my favorite. I love you too!"


    Apparently, the best way to express affection among Specters was to devour each other.


    Fang Xiu was unaware of Yang Ming and the others'' thoughts. His attention was fully focused on Kangkang.


    Consuming such a powerful Specter would elevate his power to a terrifying level. Despite already feeling full, the opportunity was too good to pass up.


    Then, he ced his left hand on Kangkang.


    As Kangkang looked on expectantly, the Taotie''s Mouth bit down hard on his ck scales.


    CRACK!


    A sharp pain shot through Fang Xiu''s left hand. He raised his hand to see that the Taotie''s Mouth was bleeding at the gums.


    Kangkang looked over, puzzled. Though he didn''t speak, his six eyes seemed to ask, "What are you doing? Weren''t you going to make me a part of you forever? Why aren''t you starting?"


    Fang Xiu discreetly withdrew his bleeding hand. It wasn''t that the Taotie''s Mouth was weak, but rather that he was too weak right now. At this stage, he simply couldn''t handle consuming a Specter so powerful.


    If the Taotie''s Mouth were likened to a powerful magical ability, its ultimate strengthrgely depended on the user''s own power. <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    For example, in the "Journey to the West," the move "Sleeve Universe" used by the ancestor of earth immortals, Zhen Yuanzi, could trap even Monkey King. But in the hands of an ordinary person, it would just be a storage space.


    Simrly, if the Taotie''s Mouth were used by Taotie himself, it would naturally devour everything. However, when used by Fang Xiu, it was somewhat underwhelming.


    "My child, I''ve just sensed that you are still too weak, not yet worthy to be a part of me."


    Kangkang, though clouded by fervent love, was no fool.


    "Did you just bleed?" Kangkang''s six eyes simultaneously showed a hint of confusion.


    Although he hadn''t expressed his doubts directly, once the seed of doubt is nted, it''s only a matter of time before it takes root.


    "It seems I need to reset again." The gentle smile slowly faded from Fang Xiu''s face, turning to a dead calm.


    "Reset? What are you talking about?" The confusion in Kangkang''s eyes deepened.


    In front of everyone''s shocked eyes, Fang Xiu pulled out a scalpel. Then, he plunged it harshly into his own forehead.


    ¡­


    Fang Xiu gently stroked Kangkang''s scales, saying, "My child, you are not yet qualified to be my weapon. On the Other Side, I have created some experimental subjects like you. They are better, I have to say."


    Kangkang was instantly agitated.


    "No, I don''t believe it! I am your best creation!"


    Fang Xiu smiled slightly, "Actions speak louder than words, don''t they?"


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">WOOSH!</em>


    Kangkang stood up excitedly, his massive five-meter-tall body imposing.


    "Where are they? I will go defeat them and prove myself to you."


    "After you go out, you''ll see countless Specters. Follow the direction where the Specters appear, and there you''ll find a door. That''s the door to the Other Side, and one of my finished subject is guarding it. Go, my child, go and prove yourself to me."


    Kangkang roared with fighting spirit, "I''ll be right back. I''ll prove to you that only I am worthy of being your weapon!"


    With these parting words, Kangkang strode majestically out of the pce, heading towards the door to the Other Side to find Taotie.


    After Kangkang had left, the gentle smile on Fang Xiu''s face disappeared instantly. He walked toward the others with a calm expression.

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185


    Ma Xingbang looked at the mask in his hands with excitement. He didn''t want to let it go.


    Yang Ming was speechless as he watched at him. "Are you crazy? There are so many masks here. Why did you have to take mine?"


    Ma Xingbang seemed to have given up pretending and sneered, "You''re the one blessed by God, and the Genesis mask is meant for you. The mask you chose must be the real one!"


    "You say the one I chose is the right one, but you took it from me before I could choose, isn''t it possible that the one you took is wrong?"


    Ma Xingbang was a bit shocked and looked at the mask in his hand.


    Yang Ming seemed to get interested and picked up another mask, one with a bull''s head.


    "I''m now choosing the bullhead mask. I think it''s real. What will you do then? Do you want to trade?"


    Ma Xingbang''s face turned ugly. He realized that the mask in his hand might be fake.


    Logically speaking, the one Yang Ming chose should be real. So, if he took it from Yang Ming, then it should be the real one. But there was a big problem: what counts as Yang Ming''s choice? If he intercepted it halfway, does it still count as Yang Ming''s choice? If not, then the one in Yang Ming''s hand now is the real one.


    But Ma Xingbang didn''t dare to trade. If he traded and found out he was tricked, he would be a fool. If he gave away the real mask, he''d be aughstock.


    He was stuck, staring at the mask in his hand, trying to tell if it was real. He didn''t dare to wear it because Zhou Qingfeng said wearing the wrong mask might cause horrible things to happen.


    But the more Ma Xingbang looked at the skull mask, the more he felt it was real. He didn¡¯t know why, but he had a feeling that it was real. The scary skull mask seemed toe alive, its dark eyes staring at Ma Xingbang, the grin on its mouth growing bigger.


    Ma Xingbang''s thoughts became more certain: _''This is real! It must be real! Yang Ming will never choose wrong. If I take it from him, it must be the right one!''_


    "You can''t trick me! The mask in my hand is the real one!" Ma Xingbang''s face twisted with determination.


    To prove he was right, he put the skull mask on his face.


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly. The mask had a problem¡ªit seemed to affect people¡¯s minds. Ma Xingbang was clearly too emotional.


    Although they hadn''t known each other long, he could tell that Ma Xingbang was calcting and good at pretending. People like that usually weren''t so impulsive.


    Now, Ma Xingbang put on the mask impulsively, and Fang Xiu knew he must be influenced by something.


    "Hahaha!"


    Suddenly, there was a burst of wildughter.


    It was Ma Xingbang.


    Now, he wore the skull mask, with only his eyes visible. The scene was strangely evil and menacing.


    "My choice was right! This is the real Genesis! The key to perfect Specterization!"


    Suddenly, the skull mask seemed toe to life. It moved with Ma Xingbang''sughter, forming a twisted grin. Then, a wave of extreme evil Specter power surged from the mask. Dark energy flowed wildly into Ma Xingbang''s body.


    Suddenly, the energy exploded, causing a strong shockwave that spread out from Ma Xingbang.


    Yang Ming and the others were forced back several steps.


    "Humanity is frail, but Specters rise! Hahaha!"


    Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s faces changed.


    "So you''re with the Pokers?" Yang Ming shouted angrily.


    "The Pokers?" Ma Xingbang tilted his head slightly, looking at them with an evil gaze. "Those rats are just tools we use."


    Fang Xiu instantly understood. The headquarters and the Pokers organization were connected, maybe even cooperating. Or it was the faction behind Ma Xingbang doing it. It seemed the headquarters weren''t united.


    "Alright, now Yang Ming is no longer useful. You can all die here. No one will know. We''ll say you were killed by a Specter in the mental hospital. This ce is good for hiding bodies; no one will find you."


    Yang Ming was speechless. He didn''t expect Ma Xingbang to be so vengeful and have such a dark sense of humor. This was exactly what they had said to him before.


    "And you, Fang Xiu! Didn''t you keep saying you wanted to kill me? Threaten me? Did you really think I was scared of you? I just needed Yang Ming to find the Genesis mask, so I didn''t want to fight you. Now that I have the Genesis mask, try threatening me again!"


    Ma Xingbang¡¯s tone grew more arrogant, as if he was venting all the frustration he had felt.


    "You really think you''re something, don''t you? Acting all high and mighty. Without the Genesis mask, you wouldn''t even dare to speak aloud," Yang Ming said with disdain.


    Ma Xingbang''s face darkened instantly, clearly stung by Yang Ming''s words.


    "Shut up!"


    BOOM!


    A loud explosion rang out. Ma Xingbang, wrapped in dark energy, disappeared in an instant, the air around him shattering. When he reappeared, he was right in front of Yang Ming.


    Yang Ming was shocked by Ma Xingbang''s speed. Before he could react, a dark fist mmed into his stomach.


    His face twisted in pain, and the force sent him flying backward. He crashed into a wall, creating a big hole and covering him with rubble.


    Seeing this, Bai Qi''s eyes turned red with rage. He activated his Extreme Speed ability and shed at Ma Xingbang''s back with his dark gold dagger.


    However, the de hit empty air.


    Ma Xingbang dodged Bai Qi''s attack as if he had eyes in the back of his head.


    "With my killing intent sense, I can never be caught off guard," he said with a sneer, turning to grab at Bai Qi. But Bai Qi quickly retreated, avoiding the strike.


    "Your third-tier Extreme Speed is faster than the second-tier one," Ma Xingbang remarked. "I now have the Genesis mask and have copied your second-tier ability, but I''m still a bit slower than you. It seems the Genesis mask needs more time to perfect my Specterization. But it doesn''t matter. I''ll just slow you down."


    With that, a massive gravitational force erupted from Ma Xingbang, covering the entire area.


    Bai Qi, who had been swift, suddenly felt as if he were carrying a huge rock on his back, his face darkening.


    At that moment, the rubble exploded. A dirt-covered Yang Ming, wearing embroidered shoes, emerged from the debris.


    He spat out dirt, clearly having eaten quite a bit. His cheeks were puffed up, holding a Corpse Bead.


    However, in the next second, perhaps due to too much force, he spat the Corpse Bead out.


    "Damn!" Yang Ming eximed, quickly picking the muddy Corpse Bead off the ground and stuffing it back into his mouth.


    "You idiot!" Bai Qi yelled, enraged at Yang Ming''s actions.


    Yang Ming gave a sheepish smile and mumbled, "A mistake, just a mistake. Let me light a cigarette first."


    He pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, reaching for his lighter."

 Chapter 184: The Mask

    Chapter 184: The Mask


    Yang Ming and the others became nervous when they saw this scene. They all got into fighting stances, ready to battle the final boss.


    Fang Xiu slowly returned to his original appearance, but it didn''t help. No one believed him. They thought this was the real fake.


    "The guarding Specter has been tricked by me. Open the door."


    No one dared to move. They kept staring at Fang Xiu nervously.


    "Are you Zhou Qingfeng or Fang Xiu?" Ma Xingbang asked nervously.


    Facing everyone''s distrustful looks, Fang Xiu did not exin because exnations were useless£¬as the real Zhou Qingfeng wouldn''t exin, and he himself wouldn''t either.


    "Don''t ask such stupid questions."


    "What do you mean by stupid questions? Aren''t you going to exin?" Ma Xingbang asked quietly. Since he suspected Fang Xiu might be Zhou Qingfeng, he didn''t dare to speak loudly anymore.


    "Does it matter?" Fang Xiu asked back."Of course, it matters!" Ma Xingbang seemed a bit excited.


    Fang Xiu shook his head. "Actually, it doesn''t matter for the result. Suppose I am Zhou Qingfeng. If I tell you to open the door, would you not open it?"


    Everyone''s faces looked a bit grim. They didn''t speak, but they basically agreed. Facing such a mysterious existence as Zhou Qingfeng, they certainly couldn''t win in a fight. So if they were asked to open the door, they would have to open it.


    "If I am Fang Xiu and I tell you to open the door, would you not open it?"


    These two questions stumped everyone, because Fang Xiu was telling the truth. No matter who he was, the request to open the door would not be refused.


    "So, no matter who I am, the result is the same. Open the door."


    Yang Ming hesitated for a long time and finally asked, "Are you really Xiu?"


    Fang Xiu nodded.


    "I don''t believe you, unless you give me back the 2000 spiritual coins you snatched from me. Then I will believe you."


    SWOOSH!


    Fang Xiu''s right hand naturally dropped, and a scalpel gleaming with a cold light appeared in his hand.


    Yang Ming quickly gave a sheepish smile. "Just joking, just joking, don''t get impulsive."


    Then, he hurriedly used a bronze key to open the bronze door.


    Everyone walked out and saw a gloomy corridor with candle mes on both sides.


    Yang Ming quickly turned around to close the bronze door.


    "No need to close the door," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    "How can we not close it? What if that Kangkang kid finds out he was tricked andes back?"


    "He won''te back."


    Fang Xiu was very certain. It was impossible to provoke Taotie ande back alive.


    "Why won''t hee back?" Yang Ming asked in surprise.


    "I have seen the future." <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    This one sentence stopped all questions.


    "Now I can be sure you are the real Xiu. That indifferent look, calm posture, and confident tone... ordinary people really can''t imitate it."


    Fang Xiu ignored Yang Ming''s ttery and walked into the corridor. The corridor was long, and everyone walked slowly. They were afraid of encountering traps at thest moment.


    As time passed, their initial shock faded, and their smart minds began to realize that the person before them could only be Fang Xiu, not Zhou Qingfeng. If Fang Xiu were Zhou Qingfeng in disguise, he wouldn''t need to keep pretending.


    However, Ma Xingbang was thinking that even if Fang Xiu wasn''t Zhou Qingfeng, he must be connected to him. Otherwise, how would Fang Xiu know what Zhou Qingfeng looked like and know so much about him?


    Ma Xingbang''s eyes shed as he suddenly asked, "Fang Xiu, how do you know what Zhou Qingfeng''s look and other stuff? Don''t use foresight as an excuse. What you told Kangkang earlier was about the past, not the future."


    "Are you starting to get arrogant because you think I''m not Zhou Qingfeng?"


    "Don''t change the subject. I seriously doubt your identity. Your foresight seemed too convenient when you exin things. Everyone knows that the stronger the ability, the greater the cost to use it. You''re just a second-tier psychic. But look at how many things you''ve predicted. Is that something a second-tier psychic can do?"


    "Just because you can''t do it doesn''t mean others can''t."


    "Hmph, if I''m not mistaken, you don''t have the ability to foresee the future. Instead, you have a Specter Gadget that can. That''s why I can''t giarize your ability. That would also exin why you can use the foresight ability multiple times. Specter Gadgets usually corrupt the mind with frequent use, but you don''t seem to fear that. That must be rted to the Specter power within you." Ma Xingbang looked as if he had seen through everything.


    "Yeah, you''re right about everything," Fang Xiu said.


    "You!" Ma Xingbang didn''t expect Fang Xiu to respond like that.


    Yang Ming eximed, "No way, people still get their minds corrupted by Specter Gadgets these days?"


    Ma Xingbang and Bai Qi were speechless. Yang Ming''s interruption left Ma Xingbang at a loss for words.


    At that moment, a light appeared at the end of the corridor. They walked toward it and entered a very spacious hall.


    As soon as they entered, they gasped. In the center of the hall floated thousands of masks, densely packed.


    The masks were all different, but they had one thing inmon¡ªthey looked scary and strange, like the faces of a thousand Specters floating in the air.


    "What¡¯s up with these masks? They¡¯re really creepy!" Yang Ming couldn¡¯t help but shiver. He wasn¡¯t scared, but the temperature in the hall was extremely low, as if it was below freezing.


    Everyone knew this was because of the Specter power from the masks.


    "There''s a parchment here!" Bai Qi suddenly pointed to the side.


    Everyone quickly walked over and saw the parchment, which read, ¡°My friends, the Genesis is among these masks. Follow your inner feelings to choose. If you choose wrong, there may be some bad consequences, so be careful. Zhou Qingfeng"


    "Shit, every time I see this name, I get annoyed. Where did he learn to give gifts like this?" Yang Ming cursed angrily.


    To him, Zhou Qingfeng was definitely crazy¡ªif he wanted to give a gift, he should just give it directly. Why all the tricks?


    Fang Xiu had some guesses about Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s actions.


    The Specter world was invading the human world, which was sure to resist and reject it. So, the purpose of the God''s n in this world was to save it. But Zhou Qingfeng wanted to destroy the God''s n, which was not allowed.


    To achieve his goal, Zhou Qingfeng set up many obstacles. He made the Genesis mask a reward for the luckiest person, ensuring that only someone blessed by God could get it.


    This trip to Green Mountain Mental Hospital was like a secret realm in a fantasy novel. The protagonist went through many dangers and finally gained a great opportunity.


    If Zhou Qingfeng forced Yang Ming to wear the mask, it would surely cause unpredictable consequences. It was like in fantasy novels, where even if the viin was much stronger than the protagonist, they couldn''t kill the protagonist before they grew stronger.


    So, Zhou Qingfeng designed it so that Yang Ming would step into the trap himself. Yang Ming''s choice was also God''s choice, so Zhou Qingfeng didn''t have to worry about being punished.


    At this thought, Fang Xiu suddenly had a crazy guess. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''If Zhou Qingfeng is scheming against Yang Ming, could he really destroy God''s n? Yang Ming may seem silly, but he is part of God''s n, after all.''</em> <ins ss="adsbygoogle " data-ad-client="ca-pub-1251668167683017" data-ad-slot="9726118107" data-adyout="in-article" data-adyout-key="" data-ad-format="fluid" data-full-width-responsive="false" style="disy: block; text-align: center;"></ins>


    Zhou Qingfeng wanted Yang Ming to be a Specter, but God didn''t¡­


    Fang Xiu looked at Yang Ming, who was scratching his head in front of the thousand masks, deep in thought. With him here, he definitely wouldn''t let Yang Ming get the Genesis.


    So the question was, was he saving Yang Ming, or was this all Yang Ming saving itself? With Fang Xiu just being a pawn in the process?


    If it was thetter, then Yang Ming¡¯s ability was truly unimaginable, able to control the fate of others.


    After thinking for a moment, Fang Xiu stopped. He knew that when you''re weak, thinking too much is useless; when you''re strong, you don''t need to think at all.


    Fang Xiu shifted his gaze to the thousands of masks, his eyes deep and contemtive. He wanted to know just how bad the consequences Zhou Qingfeng mentioned could be if the wrong mask was chosen. If it was something that would kill him instantly, he wondered how many times he would have to die this time.


    "Xiu, with so many masks, which one is the real one? Why don¡¯t you predict it for us?" Yang Ming approached with a cheeky smile.


    "Zhou Qingfeng already said it: follow your inner feelings. You go ahead and choose."


    Fang Xiu nned to let Yang Ming make the choice and then swoop in at thest moment.


    Yang Ming scratched his head, "Alright, I''m really going to pick one."


    He circled around the masks twice and finally settled on a skull mask. It wasn''t that this mask was particrly unique; Yang Ming just thought it looked cool.


    Just as Yang Ming was about to grab the skull mask, a figure quickly shed by and snatched the skull mask.


    It was Ma Xingbang.


    "I saw it first!" he dered.

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186


    Yang Ming was instantly knocked into the air, and his cigarette fell to the ground.


    "You damn greenhorns. Show some respect to me!" Ma Xingbang coldly red at everyone.


    "Shit! My **Huazi***! That was myst cigarette!" Yang Ming shouted as he walked out of the rubble, unharmed because he had the Corpse Bead.


    He was angry. He drew the short knife from his waist and charged straight at Ma Xingbang.


    Bai Qi joined the fight too, and soon the three of them were in a fierce battle.


    Fang Xiu stayed back, observing the other masks.


    Ma Xingbang''s Specterization surprised him, as Fang Xiu didn''t think Ma Xingbang''s mask was real. He thought that, with Zhou Qingfeng''s careful nning, he wouldn''t let anyone else get the real mask easily.


    Besides, Ma Xingbang seemed a bit crazy. Though his strength had increased, it wasn''t impressive enough for Fang Xiu. The Genesis mask shouldn''t have such limited effects.


    Fang Xiu guessed that this was the bad result of wearing the wrong mask."Xiu,e help us! This guy is fighting like crazy!" Yang Ming shouted.


    Fang Xiu watched the fight¡ªMa Xingbang was overpowering the two of them. Even so, he didn''t step in.


    It was easy for him to deal with Ma Xingbang. He just needed to reset the game and kill Ma Xingbang before he could get the mask.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t n to kill himself, because not everyone was worth his reset. He was only facing Ma Xingbang, after all, not a big deal.


    "You guys keep fighting, I''ll look around."


    With that, Fang Xiu really started to walk around.


    He first went back the way they came, only to find that a transparent barrier, like an air wall, now blocked the entrance. He couldn''t leave.


    _''Sealed off?''_ Fang Xiu''s eyes flickered as he guessed what was happening.


    _''Zhou Qingfeng''s goal is obvious: Yang Ming can''t leave without getting the Genesis mask. How does he ensure Yang Ming gets the Genesis mask? Yang Ming is blessed by God, which should help him pick the right mask among thousands. But God doesn''t want this world to be Specterized, so there''s a chance God won''t let Yang Ming choose correctly.''_


    _''Zhou Qingfeng would definitely consider this, too. So, to make sure Yang Ming gets the mask, there''s only one possibility¡ªall the masks are real. To be precise, all these thousands of masks are parts of the Genesis mask. Together, they form the true Genesis mask. No matter which one Yang Ming picks, it will be the right one. Zhou Qingfeng wasn''t worried about others taking it because there are enough masks for everyone. Now the only question left is how to merge all the masks into one. Maybe we''ll know after wearing the mask.''_


    After figuring everything out, Fang Xiu returned to where the masks were.


    At this moment, Yang Ming was struggling. Bai Qi seemed to be seriously injured, lying on the ground with a twisted, painful expression.


    Bai Qi''s ability had a crushing advantage against enemies of the same level. If he struck first, he could usually kill them instantly. But he had a clear weakness: against opponents with high defense or those who could slow him down, his effectiveness was greatly reduced.


    Ma Xingbang''s gravity control ability was a perfect counter to Bai Qi. Under heavy pressure, Bai Qi''s speed was drastically reduced.


    Moreover, Ma Xingbang wasn''t weak. Even though he used second-tier abilities, he had many of them, and after Specterizing, his strength grew even more.


    So only Yang Ming, with the help of the Corpse Bead, could barely fend off his attacks.


    However, the Corpse Bead couldn''tst forever. Yang Ming already had corpse spots appearing on his body. If this went on too long, he would turn into a corpsepletely. In the heat of battle, he had no time to use the corpse water jar to reverse the process.


    Fang Xiu noticed that Yang Ming could hold on for a while longer. So, he walked over to the masks and picked one up, putting it on himself. Just then, suddenly¡ª


    With a loud crash, a huge rock fell from above, aiming to crush him. His expression remained unchanged as he casually raised his right hand to block the rock with his flesh and blood.


    With a single punch, he shattered the rock into countless pieces that flew in all directions. His body, strengthened by Specter power, was already as tough as steel.


    At that moment, Ma Xingbang knocked Yang Ming away and rushed toward Fang Xiu like a ghost.


    _''He doesn''t want me to touch the masks?'' _Fang Xiu''s expression remained calm.


    With a flick of his right hand, his scalpel appeared. It gleamed silver, heading toward Ma Xingbang''s neck like a venomous snake.


    Ma Xingbang sneered, not defending at all.


    Fang Xiu did the same, ignoring the iing punch, ready to trade blows.


    "Xiu! Careful! This guy copied your ability and can transfer his pain into your body!" Yang Ming shouted.


    Fang Xiu didn''t move.


    In the next second, Fang Xiu''s scalpel stabbed into Ma Xingbang''s neck, while Ma Xingbang''s punch hit Fang Xiu''s chest.


    Both of them were slightly surprised.


    Fang Xiu noticed that the terrifying ck energy around Ma Xingbang turned into tiny snakes that wrapped around his arm, blocking the blow.


    Ma Xingbang, on the other hand, was shocked that Fang Xiu took his punch without even groaning. He had infused all his pain into that punch, but Fang Xiu showed no sign of feeling it.


    The two of them simultaneously retreated, creating some distance between each other.


    Fang Xiu observed Ma Xingbang, thinking to himself. The ck aura was clearly a power from the Genesis mask, able to turn into living entities that protected him. It would be difficult tond a killing blow.


    Ma Xingbang asked, "You can withstand my lifetime of pain? That''s impossible! You must have a Specter Gadget protecting you!"


    He couldn''t believe that someone as young as Fang Xiu could endure his pain.


    Ma Xingbang had faced countless hardships to reach the headquarters and be a third-tier psychic. He had survived numerous life-and-death situations in Specter events, suffered severe injuries, been cursed, and had his body corrupted by Specter powers. These pains were enough to drive anyone mad.


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu''s lips curled into a cruel smile. "You call that pain? Let me show you what real pain is!"


    As his smile twisted, a wild and mottled Specter power surged through Fang Xiu''s body.


    His ck short hair turned silver and grew longer.


    His right eye filled with a densework of blood vessels, bing a glowing red.


    A slit tore open in the palm of his left hand, revealing sharp fangs.


    A nearly tangible aura of fear emanated from him, spreading like thick fog.


    At this moment, Fang Xiu seemedpletely changed, more Specter than human.


    Ma Xingbang was stunned and blurted out, "You can Specterize without a mask!?"


    "Oh? Thanks for the reminder." Fang Xiu reached for a mask nearby¡ªa Ghost Mask.


    "Don''t even think about it!"


    Ma Xingbang had learned from the mask that all of them were real, so he didn''t want anyone else to wear one. He quickly extended his right hand and pressed down hard toward Fang Xiu. "Ten times gravity!"


    An invisible force of gravity instantly enveloped Fang Xiu.


    "Gravity halved!"


    Ma Xingbang then halved his own gravity, increasing his speed. He activated his speed ability, bing a blur.


    As he watched, Yang Ming knew things would be bad. He wanted to stop Ma Xingbang but couldn¡¯t keep up with his speed.


    "Xiu, watch out!!"


    Fang Xiu stood still, his silver hair flowing, and his right eye glowing red. He didn''t seem to care about the increased gravity.


    As Ma Xingbang closed in, Fang Xiu''s left hand, with its sharp fangs, moved to intercept. The two collided with a force that shook the ground.


    "

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187


    Under the pressure of gravity, Fang Xiu''s speed was greatly limited, but Ma Xingbang''s speed increased rapidly.


    In the blink of an eye, Ma Xingbang appeared in front of Fang Xiu as if he had teleported. He had a cold smile on his face as he threw a fierce punch at Fang Xiu''s chest.


    "Gravity Punch!"


    He increased the gravity multiple times on his right fist as his punchbined the power of gravity and the terrifying power of a Specter.


    The sound of a sonic boom erupted in the room


    But Fang Xiu didn''t even nce at it. He didn''t defend himself and continued reaching for the mask.


    Ma Xingbang didn''t stop him. After all, there was no need to stop a dead man from grabbing a mask.


    Finally, just as Fang Xiu touched the mask. The powerful gravity punch hit his chest.


    With such great force, even Fang Xiu''s Specter-enhanced body couldn''t withstand it. His heart was instantly pierced and shattered. Blood and pieces of flesh sprayed from his back, leaving a gaping hole in his chest.


    Ma Xingbang smirked as he pulled his bloody right fist from the hole in Fang Xiu''s chest.


    "I won." He smiled confidently, with a calm and rxed demeanor. "What good is seeing the future? Against absolute power, all you can foresee is your own death¡ª"


    He stopped mid-sentence, his pupils dting in shock.


    Fang Xiu, whose heart was gone, was calmly picking up the evil Specter mask and putting it on his face.


    Slowly, Fang Xiu, wearing the evil Specter mask, turned his head. His eyes, devoid of any human emotion, looked at Ma Xingbang.


    "What did you just say?"


    "How are you not dead?" Ma Xingbang was shocked, his scalp tingling. "Your heart is gone!"


    A cruel smile appeared on Fang Xiu''s lips. The Ghost Mask on his face seemed toe alive, smiling as well.


    "Dead? From such a weak attack?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, something miraculous happened. The hole in Fang Xiu''s chest began to heal rapidly. Blood and flesh wriggled and intertwined, and his blood vessels, muscles, heart, and skin grew back. In the blink of an eye, everything was restored, as if the hole was never there.


    With the ability to absorb pain and transform between reality and illusion, Fang Xiu was nearly impossible to kill unless he was crushed within a second.


    So now, Fang Xiu was almost immortal, at least until his Spiritual Energy ran out.


    As Fang Xiu''s injury healed, the Ghost Mask on his face erupted with an extremely evil and powerful Specter force.


    Endless ck mist poured out from the mask, turning into small ck snakes that slithered and coiled around Fang Xiu. The powerful force he emitted even caused the stone bs beneath his feet to crack.


    He looked even more terrifying than Ma Xingbang had before. Fang Xiu had both the power of the scalpel and the mask, making him even stronger.


    After epting the mask''s power, Fang Xiu sensed a message within it. He understood why Ma Xingbang didn''t want anyone else to touch the mask.


    The way to unify all the masks was to kill everyone else, proving they were the most worthy to inherit the Genesis mask.


    Everyone who entered the room had the right to obtain a mask. When they killed others and took their rights, the masks would merge into one.


    It was like a survival game. Once inside the room, the people became like beasts fighting to survive. Each person chose a mask and started fighting. Thest one standing would get the ultimate mask.


    The game started as soon as they entered the room. Four people for four masks. They could choose not to pick one, but if others did, they would gain power, putting the rest at a disadvantage.


    Now Fang Xiu understood why Ma Xingbang had acted so differently after wearing the mask. Ma Xingbang had imed his mask was the true Genesis mask and attacked everyone else.


    In truth, Ma Xingbang was acting. He said that to make others lose interest in the remaining masks. Then he would kill everyone and take the true Genesis mask for himself.


    It was all a performance.


    Ma Xingbang looked at Fang Xiu, who seemed more like a Specter than himself, and his face grew darker. Even without a face, his skull mask clearly showed his expression.


    "Since you know the secret of the Genesis mask, let''s fight to see who is truly worthy of it!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Xingbang attacked. He wanted to end the fight quickly before Fang Xiu fully adapted to the mask''s power.


    Even though Fang Xiu had healed from his shattered heart, Ma Xingbang didn''t believe that someone could recover if their head was destroyed.


    He was right. Fang Xiu''s biggest weakness was his head. If it was destroyed and he lost consciousness, he couldn''t use his pain-absorbing ability. Fang Xiu would then die and trigger a reset.


    But he knew that better than Ma Xingbang, and he would try everything to avoid the attack on his head.


    "Amplify! Twenty times gravity!"


    Ma Xingbang shouted, pressing his hand down toward Fang Xiu with immense force.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu''s body sank in. The stone bs under his feet shattered, and his feet even sank into the ground.


    He hadn''t expected Ma Xingbang to have an amplifying ability. No wonder he had been able to hold off Faceless before while he could only use second-tier powers. It turned out that he had used two abilities: gravity and amplification.


    "Hahaha! With you struggling under twenty times gravity, you can''t even catch me. What are you going to use to win?" Ma Xingbangughed wildly, confident of his victory.


    The situation was indeed as he said. Fang Xiu was bearing twenty times gravity, while Ma Xingbang had his own gravity reduced by half and was moving with increased speed.


    Both of them had masks on, which meant they were on an equal ying field.


    It seemed Fang Xiu was at a disadvantage.


    But he knew he would win. He would win easily, without even needing to use his death reset ability.


    "You want to know how I''ll win? It''s simple: with the mask," Fang Xiu said calmly."

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188


    "Do you still dream of getting the mask?" Ma Xingbang was first stunned, then heughed mockingly. "Have you lost your mind? Do you think you are the only one with a mask? Look at what I''m wearing on my face!"


    The corners of Fang Xiu''s mouth twisted into a sinister smile. He reached toward the thousands of masks beside him.


    Seeing this, Ma Xingbangughed even louder. "Is this your brilliant idea? You really are a genius. You''re right that the more masks you have, the stronger the power. But do you know why I don''t wear multiple masks? Because these masks are like Specter Gadgets. The more you use at once, the more your mind gets polluted, and the more your body gets overloaded.


    "Even if your mind doesn¡¯t get twisted immediately, your body will explode from the Specter power. The only way to control thousands of masks is to wait until they all merge into the true Genesis Mask, where the Specter power will settle. I''m a third-tier psychic, but even I don''t dare to wear two masks. How do you, a mere second-tier psychic, think you can¡ª?"


    Before he could finish, Fang Xiu already put on another mask. The two masks instantly merged into one.


    More and more Specter power surged into his body. The ck mist turned into small ck snakes that almost covered him entirely.


    Most importantly, Fang Xiu showed no signs of losing his mind or his body breaking apart.


    "Impossible!" Ma Xingbang''s eyes almost popped out of his head in shock. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing. "A third-tier psychic can''t do this, so how can a second-tier psychic manage?"


    Ma Xingbang didn''t know that Fang Xiu could wear multiple masks for two reasons. First, his mind was already twisted, and he had fought Taotie hundreds of times, making him immune to the side effects of using Specter Gadgets. Second, Fang Xiu had a body perfectly suited to controlling Specter power. He had merged with the Hair Specter, the Blood Pupil, the Nightmare, and had even absorbed many Snakeworms. With these multiple boosts, his body was no longer ordinary.


    With the double masks, Fang Xiu immediately felt a continuous surge of power within him. The impact of twenty times gravity was bing lighter.


    He then reached for a third mask.


    "What? Another one?" Ma Xingbang was stunned. He didn''t know whether he should stop Fang Xiu or not.


    Logically, even if Fang Xiu''s mind and body were far beyond normal psychics, he shouldn''t be able to handle three masks. This was suicide.


    But the more critical the moment, the more unexpected things can happen.


    With this thought, Ma Xingbang rushed toward Fang Xiu. Although he believed Fang Xiu couldn''t manage three masks, he couldn''t take that risk.


    Ma Xingbangunched a frenzied attack, his fists creating a storm of shadows that enveloped Fang Xiu.


    However, he underestimated Fang Xiu''s power after wearing two masks.


    Fang Xiu met the attack with one hand, his silver hair whipping around like a Kraken''s tentacles. Though not strong, the hair was numerous and agile.


    He looked rxed. Under the pressure of twenty times gravity, he still blocked all of Ma Xingbang''s attacks.


    Ma Xingbang grew anxious. He could only watch helplessly as Fang Xiu put on the third mask. He silently prayed that Fang Xiu would die immediately afterward.


    But things didn''t go as he hoped.


    An incredibly violent Specter power burst from Fang Xiu, sending Ma Xingbang flying. A powerful force swept through the area.


    "No, this is impossible! How can you still be alive after wearing three masks?" Ma Xingbang shouted in disbelief.


    Despair filled his heart. He knew that if Fang Xiu didn''t die, then he would.


    Just standing there, Fang Xiu exuded an overwhelming energy. The ck mist around him, formed from ck snakes, mergedpletely. They rose like thick, inky ck smoke, burning like ck mes.


    Fang Xiu looked like a demon emerging from hellfire, with silver hair and red eyes. The Ghost Mask on his face seemed carved into his skin, making him look terrifying and fierce.


    He now ignored the twenty times gravity, and his power had risen to an unimaginable level.


    "Here''s a suggestion: kneel and beg for mercy. It''s your best choice," Fang Xiu''s voice echoed like a devil''s through the three masks.


    "I don''t believe it! How can you control so much Specter power?" Desperate, Ma Xingbang charged at Fang Xiu.


    In the next moment, Fang Xiu''s figure vanished like a ghost.


    Suddenly, Ma Xingbang''s body bent like a shrimp, his eyes bulging. He was struck by an unstoppable force and flew backward.


    BOOM!


    He crashed into the wall, creating a huge crater. He hadn''t even seen Fang Xiu move before he was sent flying.


    Fang Xiu vanished again. When he reappeared, he was holding Ma Xingbang.


    Ma Xingbang was like a dead dog; his bones shattered, and blood flowed from his wounds. Fang Xiu held him up by the neck with one hand.


    "Spare... spare me..."


    "How pathetic. You''re going to be my nourishment," Fang Xiu sneered.


    With a terrifyingugh, the Taotie''s Mouth on Fang Xiu''s palm opened wide and bit into Ma Xingbang''s neck. A horrifying devouring force surged, draining Ma Xingbang''s Spiritual Energy like a tidal wave.


    Momentster, Ma Xingbang''s Spiritual Energy waspletely depleted. Without it, his severely injured body couldn''t survive. He died instantly.


    Fang Xiu let go, and Ma Xingbang''s body fell to the ground like a dead dog.


    The pleasure of absorbing the Spiritual Energy intoxicated Fang Xiu. He understood why Specters loved eating psychics so much.


    Specters craved not human flesh but mental energy. Psychics, with their abundant Spiritual Energy, were especially delicious.


    After devouring Ma Xingbang''s Spiritual Energy, Fang Xiu''s awakened Spiritual Energy increased to thirty-five percent.


    What surprised him was that this time, he only gained Spiritual Energy, not Ma Xingbang''s abilities. It seemed psychic abilities were reflections of one''s mental world, closely linked to one''s mind. Spiritual Energy, however, was just the power source, not the abilities themselves.


    Thinking it over, Fang Xiu found it made sense. If devouring Spiritual Energy granted abilities, then Specters who ate psychics would be invincible, umting more abilities and bing omnipotent.


    "Xiu, are you okay?" Yang Ming''s voice interrupted Fang Xiu''s thoughts.


    "Take off the masks, or you might really turn into a Specter," Yang Ming urged, worried. Fang Xiu was looking less and less human, and the purpose of the Genesis Mask was to Specterize the wearer.


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond. He nced at Yang Ming and the severely injured Bai Qi. The mask''s information indicated that to obtain the Genesis, he had to kill everyone else. But this rule didn''t apply to Fang Xiu because he could wear the masks one by one.


    Still, he was unsure if his current body could handle thousands of masks. When he devoured Snakeworms, he couldn''t eat too many at once, or his body would be overwhelmed.


    As he pondered, a sudden change urred.


    Thousands of masks, including the ones on Ma Xingbang and Fang Xiu, erupted in a burst of ck Specter mes.


    "

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189


    "Xiu! Your face is on fire!" Yang Ming shouted.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t react. He could feel the terrifying power of the ck fire, but it didn''t hurt him.


    Gradually, the ck fire burned more fiercely, covering all the maskspletely. Eventually, the masks melted away, turning into many faces made of ck fire. The Specter faces were strange, but all looked scary, grinning widely.


    Staring at the faces, Yang Ming felt a chill run down his spine, his hair standing on end.


    The next second, the mes surged. Thousands of Specter faces made of ck fire seemed to be drawn to Fang Xiu and rushed toward him.


    It was a terrifying sight. The masks lined up and stuck to Fang Xiu''s face one by one.


    In an instant, the terrifying ck mes burned even more fiercely. It covered Fang Xiupletely.


    Wrapped in the ck mes, Fang Xiu began to slowly rise into the air. The powerful force and terrifying mes burst out together.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi were instantly blown away, hitting the walls hard.For a moment, the ce seemed to turn into a sea of ck mes. And Fang Xiu stood in mid-air, like a god born from the ck fire.


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi watched in horror. The intense heat waves scorched them, and they realized their Spiritual Energy was burning away quickly.


    The ck fire used Spiritual Energy as fuel.


    Without Spiritual Energy, a psychic was like a gun without bullets, useless.


    Just as their Spiritual Energy was about to be drained, the scene changed again. The ck sea of fire surged toward Fang Xiu''s face.


    Momentster, the ck sea of fire disappeared, forming a Specter face on Fang Xiu''s face.


    This Specter face looked indescribably evil, almost alive. No matter from which angle they looked, it seemed to be staring right at them, grinning.


    Just one nce made Yang Ming and Bai Qi feel a shock in their hearts, their Spiritual Energy almost losing control.


    "We just looked at it and almost lost control of our Spiritual Energy. And Fang Xiu is wearing the mask¡­"


    Yang Ming and Bai Qi couldn''t imagine the rest; their faces were serious. They worried that if Fang Xiu turned into a Specter, he would be their enemy.


    Just as they were worrying, the Specter face disappeared, revealing Fang Xiu''s calm expression. He slowly descended from mid-air.


    At this moment, he had fully possessed the Genesis mask, and he didn''t need to kill others to do so.


    Fang Xiu realized he had identally solved the puzzle. The challenge had another solution: passing without killing anyone¡ªby having one person wear the masks of the others.


    Four people came in, each with a mask. To win the Genesis, one had to remove the others'' eligibility.


    It seemed like this could only be done by killing, but in reality, if one person wore all four masks, they would take away the others'' eligibility. This solution wasn''t really a loophole because, normally, no one could wear four masks at once.


    "Xiu? Are you okay?" Yang Ming gripped his short knife, staring at Fang Xiu, trying to see if he was still the same person he knew.


    Seeing their worried faces, Fang Xiu calmly said, "I told you, I''ve seen the future."


    Yang Ming was first stunned, then overjoyed. He clearly remembered Fang Xiu''s words from before.


    Fang Xiu had asked to keep the Genesis mask, saying he had seen the future. Now, it seemed he hadn''t lied.


    "Great, Xiu! I knew you''d be fine," Yang Ming said happily.


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond but looked calmly at the short knife in Yang Ming''s hand.


    Yang Ming noticed it and blushed. He quickly hid his hand behind his back, trying to act casual.


    He then tried to change the subject, asking, "By the way, was that ck fire Specter face the Genesis mask? Where did it go?"


    Fang Xiu nodded, "Yes, that was the true form of the Genesis mask. I have put it away."


    He didn''t exin further. Actually, the Genesis mask had merged with his mind.


    It was a very special Specter Gadget. It seemed to have no physical form, merging with the mind and continuously releasing Specter power, polluting the user''s mind and body. It would slowly and steadily turn the user into a Specter. If the mask''s power was used, this process would speed up greatly.


    If Yang Ming had gotten the mask, he would inevitably have been Specterized. But for Fang Xiu, it was different. His mind was already twisted and had been trained many times, so he wasn''t afraid of the Genesis mask''s pollution.


    In fact, the crazy, chaotic, indescribable whispers of Taotie constantly echoed in his mind, polluting the Genesis mask in return. It remained to be seen whether Fang Xiu would be Specterized or if he wouldpletely assimte the Genesis mask.


    As for his body being polluted, Fang Xiu wasn''t worried. He had the perfect physique to control Specters and Taotie''s Mouth, so the Genesis mask''s pollution would only serve as nourishment for his body.


    Fang Xiu felt he was now on a unique path. He was different from traditional psychics and from thosepletely Specterized. It was as if he was a perfect blend of both, controlling the powers of both psychic and Specter with his own will.


    Thinking about this, Fang Xiu suddenly felt something was off. This "unique" path he was on was very simr to what Zhou Qingfeng had described: _"With the human spirit, control the body of a Specter."_


    Fang Xiu suddenly realized that the so-called perfect Specterization might be the path he was on. If this was true, then all his previous assumptions needed to be reconsidered.


    Perhaps Zhou Qingfeng was not looking for Yang Ming but for him. After all, usually, a transmigrator had a higher chance of being the chosen one.


    _"So, did I ruin Zhou Qingfeng''s n, or was it exactly what he wanted? Or maybe it''s Yang Ming''s ability saving him, pushing all the troubles onto me?"_


    Fang Xiu still couldn''t be sure. But he was certain he was caught in the struggle between Zhou Qingfeng and Yang Ming.


    At that moment, there was a loud rumble.


    The entire mental hospital suddenly shook violently, like an earthquake. The surroundings began to blur, bing vague and unreal.


    Yang Ming''s face changed instantly, "What''s going on?"


    Fang Xiu calmly looked around and said, "The Genesis mask is the core of this Specter Zone. Once it is taken away, the mental hospital loses its support and will return to the Other Side."


    "Then we need to get out of here quickly!"


    Yang Ming hurried to help the heavily injured Bai Qi. At this point, Bai Qi looked quite miserable, with many broken bones and blood constantly oozing out.


    Fang Xiu found it a bit strange; almost every time they fought, Bai Qi ended up injured. He vaguely guessed it might have something to do with Yang Ming.


    It seemed that ever since he knew Bai Qi, the man was either injured or on his way to getting injured.


    "

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190


    "Bai Qi, are you okay?" Yang Ming asked. "If you''re not, you can put my Corpse Bead in your mouth, and we can leave quickly."


    When Bai Qi heard "Corpse Bead," his already pale face turned even paler.


    "Get lost! I''m fine!"


    He would rather die than put the Corpse Bead in his mouth. The fact that it had been in a corpse''s mouth was bad enough, but the thought of Yang Ming putting it in his mouth every day was even worse.


    "Don''t be stubborn now. Look, you''re bleeding. The Corpse Bead does smell bad, but it really works," Yang Ming said, looking concerned. He took out the Corpse Bead and tried to put it in Bai Qi''s mouth.


    Bai Qi''s expression changed dramatically, his whole body wiggling in resistance.


    "Get that away from me! I''d rather die than use it!"


    "Don''t be so stubborn, hurry up and..."


    "Enough, I''ll heal him," Fang Xiu said, tired of watching them argue. He ced his hand on Bai Qi''s shoulder.His pain-absorbing ability activated instantly.


    Bai Qi''s wounds healed quickly, visible to the naked eye.


    Both men were stunned.


    "I''m healed?" Bai Qi said, full of disbelief. He thought he would need at least a month to recover, but he was healed instantly. He couldn''t help but wonder how powerful Fang Xiu''s healing ability was.


    Yang Ming said enviously, "Xiu, how many abilities do you have? You can predict the future, make others feel pain, and now you can heal... That''s three abilities. I only have one. Who''s the chosen one now, huh? You or me?"


    Who is the chosen one? Truth be told, Fang Xiu didn''t even know.


    "Alright, let''s go quickly. If we don''t, we''ll be pulled into the Other Side."


    As he spoke, one of Fang Xiu''s silver hairs floated. It moved like a snake toward Ma Xingbang''s corpse. After retrieving a golden key from the body, the hair quickly retracted.


    With the Genesis mask taken away, the seal blocking the room disappeared.


    The group quickly reached the bronze door they had entered through.


    Fang Xiu inserted the golden key into the bronze door and turned it forcefully. They heard a click.


    His Spiritual Energy drained rapidly, more than half gone in an instant.


    The bronze door opened slowly, revealing a blinding white light that made it impossible to see inside.


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu stepped into the white light, Yang Ming and Bai Qi following closely behind.


    WHOOSH!


    The world spun, and the three of them vanished into the whiteness.


    When the light faded, they found themselves outside Green Mountain Mental Hospital.


    The hospital began to fade, bing more transparent until it finally shattered like a bubble and disappearedpletely.


    Then, their surroundings changed back to the sales office.


    In Fang Xiu''s view, Green Mountain Mental Hospital seemed to be pulled away by some force. It looked like it was teleporting away until itpletely disappeared from sight. Along with it went the Specters inside. They all returned to the Other Side.


    "Hahaha, we made it out alive, only the bad guy died," Yang Mingughed nervously.


    "Idiot," Bai Qi snorted, looking annoyed.


    "Let''s go."


    At the Investigation Bureau in Greenvine City, in Wang Dehai''s office¡­


    "Why are there only three of you? Where''s Mr. Ma?" Wang Dehai looked at the three unharmed people, feeling a bad hunch.


    "He''s dead," Fang Xiu said simply.


    "Dead?" Wang Dehai''s eyes widened. "How did he die?"


    Yang Ming shrugged, "He had his face taken by a ss-S Specter, Faceless. Then he was beaten to death by a five-meter-tall kid named Kangkang."


    "What do you mean, a five-meter-tall kid? Be serious! Mr. Ma was from the headquarters, like an imperial envoy in ancient times. Do you know how big of a deal it is that he died?" Wang Dehai roared.


    Yang Ming felt his eardrums itching from the shouting. He dug at his ears while exining, "Kangkang is a Specter, probably S-ss too. He said he hated people in suits and ties, then he killed Mr. Ma."


    Wang Dehai felt even angrier with the exnation, and quickly took some blood pressure pills.


    "Bai Qi, you tell me, how did Mr. Ma die?"


    "What he just said," Bai Qi replied coldly.


    Wang Dehai''s blood pressure spiked even higher.


    Finally, he turned to Fang Xiu, forcing a smile. "Fang Xiu, I know you''re an honest guy. You haven''t been around Yang Ming long enough to learn any mischief. Tell me the truth, how did Mr. Ma die?"


    "I killed him," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    "You¡­ you all..." Wang Dehai felt like he was about to pass out.


    "Are you trying to make me mad? Can you all speak properly? How did Mr. Ma die? If you can''t exin, write me a report! Twenty thousand words each. If you don''t finish, your sry and performance bonus will be cut in half, and all your Spiritual Energy materials will be confiscated!"


    In the end, Fang Xiu and the others left the office amid Wang Dehai''s yelling.


    As for the reports, Yang Ming didn''t know how to write, Bai Qi wouldn''t write, and Fang Xiu couldn''t write.


    Eventually, Wang Dehai wrote the report himself. In the report, Ma Xingbang was said to have died at the hands of the Specters in the mental hospital, and it was sent to headquarters.


    ¡­


    In a hidden manor in Shangjing City, a long-haired man dressed in a ck robe sat deep inside on a redwood chair. He was tall and strong, with bronze skin and well-defined, deep-set features like a Greek statue. His dark, deep, icy eyes showed a hint of wickedness.


    He was in a dark room, with only a small window above his head. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating half of his body, while the other half remained in darkness.


    At this moment, he held a report in his hand. It was the report written by Wang Dehai.


    "Ma Xingbang is dead," the long-haired man muttered to himself, his face expressionless.


    A voice came from the darkness.


    "Captain Yan, I have confirmed that Ma Xingbang is indeed dead."


    "Mm." Captain Yan gave a slight nod, showing little emotion.


    "Is his wife pregnant?" Captain Yan suddenly asked an unexpected question.


    The voice from the darkness answered again, "Yes."

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191


    "Very well, bring her here."


    "Yes."


    The voice in the darkness slowly faded, and the room fell silent again. Soon after, the door opened, and a woman with disheveled hair and a terrified expression was brought in.


    The woman screamed in fear, "Help! Who are you? What do you want? My husband works for the investigation bureau headquarters. If you harm me, we''ll definitely get back at you!"


    Yan remained unmoved and looked at her coldly. He said slowly, "Quiet. Your husband is right here."


    The woman was stunned and quickly looked around, yet she saw nothing but darkness. The only light was above Yan''s head.


    Looking at Yan''s face, half in light and half hidden in darkness, she trembled and asked, "Where is my husband?"


    Yan smiled slightly and pointed at her belly. "He''s inside you."


    The woman looked down at her slightly swollen abdomen, appearing frightened. "What are you talking about? What''s in my belly?"Before she could finish, arge hand appeared from the darkness. It tightly grabbed her mouth and poured an unknown green liquid into it.


    "Drink it, drink more. Only by drinking this nutrient solution can your husband grow quickly," Yan watched with interest.


    After the green liquid was poured in, the woman rolled her eyes and started convulsing as if she had been electrocuted.


    As she convulsed, a terrifying scene urred. Her belly began to swell rapidly, as if a balloon was being inted.


    As her belly grewrger, her body began to wither. Her once smooth and fair skin turned wrinkled, like dry tree bark. Her curvy figure shriveled up, as if all her life was being drained.


    Finally, her convulsions stopped, and she turned into a dried-up corpse. Her belly burst open, and a baby covered in blood walked out.


    This baby, though just born, could already walk. He even looked like a two or three-year-old child.


    Yan was slightly surprised at this sight and couldn''t help but praise, "Reviving in a new guise? What a wonderful ability. Ma Xingbang, if it weren''t for the limitations of your giarizing ability, I''d want you to copy mine. Then maybe you wouldn''t have died, and perhaps you could have brought back the Genesis."


    THUD!


    The blood-covered baby knelt on the ground, looking terrified. "Captain Yan, it wasn''t my fault. Someone sabotaged it!"


    "Oh?" Yan seemed interested. "Tell me more."


    "It''s Fang Xiu! Fang Xiu, the Foreseer! He has a big secret. I didn''t copy his ability to foresee the future but rather an ability rted to pain. I think he can foresee the future because of a powerful Specter Gadget."


    "A Specter Gadget that can foresee the future?" A greedy look shed in Yan''s eyes. "Go on, I''m listening."


    "Yes, sir. We entered the Specter Zone together and encountered a ss-S Specter named Faceless. She can take people''s faces. When someone loses their face, they also lose their abilities. Fang Xiu avoided the attack by foreseeing it, but I lost my face. Fortunately, I only lost my giarizing ability. The abilities I had already giarized remained. Later..."


    As Ma Xingbang continued to exin, the strange light in Yan''s eyes grew stronger.


    "He turned into Zhou Qingfeng?"


    "That''s right. I saw it with my own eyes. However, I think Fang Xiu isn''t part of the Pokers. Zhou Qingfeng is very good at brainwashing. If Fang Xiu were his subordinate, he wouldn''t betray him and try to take the Genesis. He probably foresaw everything with his Specter Gadget."


    Yan nodded. "Indeed, Fang Xiu can''t be a member of the Pokers. I know how Zhou Qingfeng controls people. The Pokers members can''t betray him. It''s surprising that Fang Xiu is also on the path of Specterization and can absorb Spiritual Energy. He really does have a big secret. The Genesis mask, the future-foreseeing Specter Gadget, the Specter mouth that absorbs Spiritual Energy¡ªFang Xiu, the Foreseer¡­ He''s bing more and more interesting to me. Oh, right."


    Yan seemed to remember something and looked at Ma Xingbang again. "Fang Xiu absorbed all your Spiritual Energy, right? And you lost your copying ability along, well, with your FACE?"


    Ma Xingbang trembled and bowed repeatedly. "I still have use! Captain Yan, I still can be useful for you... Just give me time, and I can recover my Spiritual Energy quickly. Even though I lost my copying ability, I still have other abilities. If I find Faceless and take back..."


    "You have time, but I don''t." Yan squinted, his eyes emitting a terrifying cold light.


    Suddenly, he stood up from his chair, exposing his entire body to the sunlight.


    Half of his body was covered in hideous tumors and tentacles. Half of his face was gone, reced by bloody flesh filled with countless eyes.


    Ma Xingbang had seen Yan''s Specterized half before but was still terrified every time.


    "The Specter power in my body is getting out of control. I can barely keep it suppressed. I only have one hour each day where I can maintain my human form. If you had brought back the Genesis mask, I could have perfected my Specterization. But now, you''ve messed everything up. Give me one reason why I shouldn''t kill you."


    "No, no... spare me! Spare my life, and I''ll definitely help you get it back¡ª"


    Before Ma Xingbang could finish, countless slimy tentacles emerged from the darkness and dragged him into the shadows.


    Crunch, crunch.


    Chewing sounds echoed through the room.


    After a while, Yan ordered the darkness, "Go kill Fang Xiu and take everything from him."


    "Captain Yan, are you sure Ma Xingbang''s assessment is urate? Although his ability is strong, there are abilities he can''t copy. If Fang Xiu truly can foresee the future without a Specter Gadget... wouldn''t it be a waste to kill such a talent?"


    Yan replied coldly, "In this world, only power matters. Without power, seeing the future is useless. With power, one won''t even need to see the future, because his words be the future."


    "I understand. But Fang Xiu has been gged as a key observation target by headquarters. He''s in the top ten of the psychic talent pool and recently resolved Grade-S Specter events. He''s about toe to headquarters for training andmendation. If we act now and make a mistake, it could jeopardize your bid for the chief captain position."


    "You don''t need to do it. Contact the Pokers organization and have the member closest to Greenvine City handle it. Fang Xiu''s natural ability to bear so much Specter power makes him the perfect test subject for the Pokers. Once he''s dead, discreetly take the Genesis and all his Specter Gadgets. No one will know it was us."


    "Yes, sir!"


    "

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192


    # Chapter 192 A Big Fight With The Wife


    Fang Xiu sat at the dining table, quietly eating the breakfast he made.


    His "wife" sat beside him. She rested her face on her fair, slender hands, watching him with a gentle smile.


    After finishing breakfast, Fang Xiu silently wiped his mouth and stood up.


    He looked at his "wife" and said, "With my current strength, I should be able to try."


    "You can see me!" His "wife''s" gentle smile turned hideous. Her skin cracked, and her smooth ck hair writhed like ck snakes.


    Fang Xiu did not back down. His hair turned silver instantly, and his right eye turned bloodshot. The scalpel in his right hand emitted chaotic Specter power, with ck aura flowing into his nose and mouth.


    Then, his left palm tore open, revealing Taotie''s Mouth. ck mes flickered on his face, transforming into a fierce Specter face.


    Compared to his "wife", Fang Xiu now looked more like a Specter.Fang Xiu moved. The ck me Specter face burst into bright mes, enveloping his entire body.


    He seemed to burn away, disappearing into thin air, and the ck mes vanished. But in the next second, the Specter¡¯s ck mes appeared behind his "wife."


    In the zing fire, Fang Xiu reappeared. The scalpel in his hand turned into a silver light, aiming for his "wife''s" fair neck.


    His revenge was within reach!


    Fang Xiu''s eyes boiled with the mes of hatred.


    His "wife" didn''t seem to react and was stabbed in the back. Finally, the scalpel pierced her body.


    A fierce smile appeared on Fang Xiu''s face, but then he felt something was wrong.


    The sensation was off! It felt like he had stabbed into mud with a strong suction force.


    Due to the force, Fang Xiu''s hand went in, followed by his arm, shoulder, and even his body.


    Moreover, as he touched his "wife''s" body, the ck mes on his Genesis Mask went out. His silver hair, which usually went wild, now drooped. His Blood Pupil closed, and Taotie''s Mouth shut.


    Most of Fang Xiu¡¯s body melted, merging into his "wife."


    At this moment, his "wife" turned her head. Her head rotated 180 degrees, showing her ecstatic expression.


    "Honey, get in and be one with me."


    This was thest thing Fang Xiu heard before losing consciousnesspletely. His head was absorbed, and he lost all awareness.


    ...


    The Death Reset was triggered, and Fang Xiu returned to the moment he was eating breakfast again.


    Fang Xiu silently finished his breakfast and quietly washed the dishes, never ncing at his "wife."


    It was close, but not enough. It seemed he was still too weak.


    He silently set a goal for himself. He would wait until he reached the third tier before trying again.


    What surprised him was that not only was the Genesis Mask suppressed, but even Taotie''s Mouth shut itself up.


    _''So she''s stronger than Taotie?''_


    Fang Xiu considered that for a moment but dismissed the thought immediately. The fact that his "wife" suppressed his Taotie''s Mouth skill didn''t mean she was stronger than Taotie. After all, his Taotie''s Mouth was not the real one.


    The Mouth on his palm couldn''t even bite through Kangkang, let alone his "wife."


    But there was one thing Fang Xiu was sure of¡ªhis "wife''s" strength was definitely higher than ss S. Kangkang was an S-ss Specter, and he couldn''t make Taotie''s Mouth shut, but his "wife" did.


    So it seemed even reaching the third tier wouldn''t be enough. He needed to reach the fourth tier. Fang Xiu set a goal for himself, and that was to be a fourth-tier psychic before trying to kill "wife" again.


    At that moment, the phone rang. It was Su Kexin.


    "Agent Fang, the headquarters has sent a message. They want you to head to Shangjing City. They said¡ª"


    Fang Xiu hung up the phone. There was no need to listen to the rest of the formalities.


    Ma Xingbang''s death was nothing big to him now. The headquarters had no evidence; even if they did, it wouldn''t matter. His ability to foresee the future was a get-out-of-jail-free card.


    Besides, there was another reason for him¡ªit was getting dark.


    To be precise, it wasn''t really dark, as it was still daytime, but his room became dark.


    A shadow, ck as ink, covered the entire room.


    Ace and the King of Spades emerged from the shadow.


    "Sir," they said and knelt respectfully.


    Fang Xiu''s gaze remained steady, his tone calm and indifferent, "I remember telling you not toe to me unless I summon you. Did you forget?"


    His calm tone carried no anger, but to Ace and the King of Spades, it was as terrifying as a devil''s demand, sending chills down their spines. They immediately recalled the fear of being dominated by pain.


    Two heavy thuds sounded as Ace and King of Spades pressed their foreheads firmly to the floor, trembling. "We remember every word you''ve said, sir. This time, we came because we have important news to report."


    "Speak."


    "Yes, sir! Not long ago, Yan Changshou from the Investigation Bureau''s headquarters contacted us and ordered us to assassinate you."


    _''The headquarters? Yan Changshou?''_


    Hearing the unfamiliar name, Fang Xiu quickly connected it to Ma Xingbang. The guy was his only connection to headquarters.


    If he had offended someone there, it was likely because of Ma Xingbang. Given Ma Xingbang''s evident ties with the Pokers, it was clear Yan Changshou, now seeking to use Ace and King of Spades to kill him, was behind this.


    Fang Xiu didn''t ask who Yan Changshou was. As someone pretending to be a high-ranking member of the Pokers, he would''ve some knowledge of people connected to them. He couldn''t afford to expose himself.


    "Yan Changshou, huh? Seems like he''s **tired of living***."


    Ace of Spades quickly agreed, "You''re right. Yan Changshou must have lost his mind. Even though he''s now one of the five captains in headquarters, if it weren''t for the Pokers, he would have died in some Specter Zone long ago. We were shocked that he dared to target you. Of course, he doesn''t know you''re undercover, but he''s a threat to you now. So, we took the initiative and killed his contact with us as a warning."


    "You fool!" Fang Xiu snorted coldly.


    Ace and King of Spades shivered, pressing themselves tter against the ground, unsure what they had said to anger Fang Xiu.


    "Yan Changshou is just someone unimportant. You should''ve killed him. Do you expect me to deal with him personally?"


    Ace of Spades'' face changed immediately, and he quickly said, "But sir, Yan Changshou cannot be killed. Joker has already arranged with Yan Changshou to cooperate during this headquarters training session¡ª"


    He was interrupted by King of Spades.


    "

 Chapter 193: Identity Exposed

    Chapter 193: Identity Exposed


    Ace of Spades looked at King of Spades, confused.


    King of Spades had a strange look in his eyes. He respectfully but oddly asked Fang Xiu, "Sir, didn''t Joker discuss this n with you?"


    Fang Xiu knew King of Spades was suspicious of him. He had met the two enough times to understand the two''s personalities.


    Ace of Spades was stronger but less smart. He acted impulsively and didn''t think much. King of Spades, on the contrary, was the opposite. He was weaker but smarter, calmer, and more perceptive.


    Fang Xiu thought this might be a w of the Specterization process, or maybe Ace of Spades was just naturally less intelligent.


    Even though he was under suspicion, Fang Xiu remained calm. He said coldly, "We didn''tmunicate."


    Hearing this, the suspicion in King of Spades'' eyes grew, and even Ace of Spades noticed something was wrong. It was such a big n; Fang Xiu, being a big shot in the organization, would surely know about it.


    King of Spades continued, "Nomunication? I thought you went undercover for training at headquarters for this n. So you had another purpose? By the way, sir, I always forget to ask you this, but¡­ what''s your rank?"


    A silver light shot straight at King of Spades'' throat. But he seemed prepared. A white bone grew instantly to block the scalpel. Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised; King of Spades was never weak. He increased his Spiritual Energy input, making the scalpel glow with a cold light.


    It cut through the bone, but King of Spades had already moved away. He was covered in bone armor, looking coldly at Fang Xiu. The attackpletely exposed Fang Xiu''s strength, which obviously didn''t match his previous haughty demeanor.


    "Who are you really?" King of Spades demanded.


    Ace of Spades was instantly furious, shouting, "You dared to deceive me?"


    Remembering how he had bowed and scraped, he was both angry and humiliated. A murderous intent began to brew within him.


    Ace of Spades attacked in rage. Shadows surged, turning into ck spears, attacking Fang Xiu wildly.


    Facing such a violent attack, Fang Xiu didn''t speak. He activated the scalpel and the Genesis Mask. ck energy and fire covered him instantly. His silver hair grew, and his eyes turned red.


    Seeing the Genesis Mask, Ace and King of Spades were shocked.


    "You stole the Chosen One''s Genesis Mask? How could you?" Ace of Spades yelled.


    ck mes burst out instantly, and Fang Xiu''s figure vanished in the firelight. He teleported to avoid the countless ck spears.


    Secondster, he reappeared right in front of King of Spades.


    King of Spades'' expression changed drastically as white bones grew all over his body, making him look like a porcupine.


    Fang Xiu kept shing, cutting down the bones, but King of Spades'' bones regenerated endlessly, making it hard to get close.


    With a sh of blood light from the Blood Pupil, King of Spades froze for a moment. Fang Xiu seized the chance, throwing the scalpel straight at his throat.


    At that moment, the shadows under King of Spades seemed toe alive, wrapping around him and merging into the surrounding darkness, allowing him to dodge the attack.


    Ace of Spades'' assault followed immediately, with ck spears filling the entire room.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu activated the Genesis Mask''s power. The ck mes on his face exploded, covering him and turning him into a figure d in ck fire. The ck spears melted like ice in the ck mes.


    For a moment, they were at a standstill, the ck fire and shadows shing.


    Fang Xiu knew this stalemate was a test of their Spiritual Energy; whoever''s energy ran out first would lose. He didn''t want to waste time in a meaningless standoff, so he charged at Ace of Spades, shrouded in ck mes.


    Ace of Spades, wary of the Genesis Mask''s fire, melted into the shadows.


    Fang Xiu frowned, surprised by their strange abilities. He tried to st the shadows with ck mes, but it was pointless. The shadows seemed endless, constantly regenerating.


    The situation reached a deadlock. Fang Xiu couldn''t pinpoint the true positions of Ace and King of Spades, only wasting energy against the shadows.


    This shadowy world felt strange, simr to a Specter Zone. He suspected Ace of Spades might not be a third-tier psychic. His strange methods and strength far exceeded third-tier levels.


    Even though Fang Xiu couldn''t fully harness the Genesis Mask''s power, he shouldn''t struggle this much against a third-tier opponent. So, there was only one exnation: Ace of Spades was fourth-tier.


    _''So that''s the power of a fourth-tier psychic? He can create a space like a Specter Zone?''_


    In truth, Fang Xiu hadn''t nned to kill Ace and King of Spades. He had overheard their conversations about the Pokers'' n and felt they could still be useful. His attack was merely to test his own strength.


    Now, Fang Xiu had a clearer judgment.


    With the scalpel and the Mask fully activated, he wasn''t invincible among third-tier psychics, but he was certainly among the top ones.


    If he wanted a more detailed assessment, he would have to visit the headquarters to see more third-tier psychics. After all, some psychics might have extremely powerful abilities.


    As for fourth-tier psychics, he still had to bridge the gap. If creating something like a Specter Zone was exclusive to fourth-tier psychics, then dealing with them would be more challenging than Fang Xiu had imagined.


    With this thought, he decided to end this farce. He unleashed all his Spiritual Energy, activating the Genesis Mask without restraint.


    A burst of fire shot up, crashing into the shadowy walls.


    The shadow wall exploded, creating arge hole that began to heal rapidly. But for Fang Xiu, that was enough. Enveloped in ck fire, he vanished and reappeared outside the shadow world.


    The furious Ace of Spades wasn''t ready to let Fang Xiu go. Boiling shadows turned into countless ck arms, reaching for him.


    Fang Xiu calmly nced at his "wife" outside the shadows and said, "Honey, it''s showtime."


    Yes, he nned to reset the situation. His "wife" instantly became terrifying, eximing, "You can see me!"


    She transformed, her pale skin cracking like a shattered porcin doll, and her ck hair whipped wildly. From where she stood, the surrounding darkness retreated like it had met its nemesis.


    With a loud bang, the shadowy domain shattered, and Ace and King of Spades fell out, looking terrified at Fang Xiu''s wife.


    "This is impossible! Just by standing there, she shattered my shadow domain? What kind of monster is that?"


    Quickly, Fang Xiu''s "wife" dealt with Ace and King of Spades, as well as Fang Xiu, effortlessly. She killed the three of them instantly, as Fang Xiu had nned."

 Chapter 194: Winning Trust Again

    Chapter 194: Winning Trust Again


    Familiar shadows once again covered the entire room.


    Ace and King of Spades emerged from the shadows.


    "Sir," Ace and King of Spades respectfully knelt on the ground.


    Fang Xiu''s gaze did not waver, and in a calm and indifferent tone, he repeated what he had said before, "I remember telling you not toe to me unless I summon you. Did you forget?"


    With a thud, the two prostrated before him, their forehead pressed firmly on the floor.


    "Every word you said is engraved in our hearts. We came this time because we have an important matter to report," they said, trembling.


    "How dare you bother me with something so unimportant?"


    Ace and King of Spades were stunned._ ''So unimportant? How did he know what we were going to say?''_


    "Sir, you already know?" Ace of Spades asked tentatively.Fang Xiu hummed, standing with his hands behind his back. He said, "Although Yan Changshou doesn''t know my identity, he poses a threat to me. You killing his subordinates serves as a small warning, and I felt pleased."


    Upon hearing this, Ace and King of Spades were instantly shocked. They were amazed at Fang Xiu''s mysterious methods. They hade to take credit for getting the information, but Fang Xiu already knew everything they were going to say and in such detail.


    "Indeed, nothing escapes you, sir," Ace of Spades said with fervor, a stark contrast to his previous anger.


    Fang Xiu made no response to it. Instead, he asked indifferently, "How is the n progressing?"


    Ace of Spades hesitated slightly, "Which n are you referring to, sir?"


    Fang Xiu''s mind stirred. It seemed the Pokers were involved in many secret activities, with several ns in motion.


    He nced at the two with a profound look, "Which n do you think is important enough for me to ask about? Naturally, the n regarding the training at headquarters. Think before you speak. Don''t make me ask twice."


    The two were instantly rmed and quickly replied, "Yes, sir! We understand. The n is progressing steadily, please rest assured."


    They were not surprised that Fang Xiu knew about the n. After all, he was one of the higher-ups in the Pokers; nothing in the organization would be hidden from him. It would only be strange If he didn''t know about it.


    Fang Xiu snorted coldly, "Steadily progressing? I''m using this training as a cover to infiltrate the Investigation Bureau headquarters. Yan Changshou failed this time, but when I reached headquarters, who knows what trouble he might cause. Is this what you call steady progress?"


    "Well¡­"


    Ace and King of Spades exchanged a nce and saw the troubled look in each other''s eyes.


    "Sir, should we reveal your identity to Yan Changshou?" Ace of Spades asked.


    "Fools! Does he deserve to know my identity? He is just a pawn for the organization."


    Ace and King of Spades were even more troubled.


    Yan Changshou is a destabilizing factor," Fang Xiu said coldly. "It seems we need to get him reced."


    The faces of the two Spades changed drastically.


    "Sir, we must not," said Ace of Spades, the more outspoken one. "Yan Changshou is a crucial part of the n. Only his domain, the Specter Gate, can transport the Specters prepared by the organization to headquarters without anyone noticing. If we rece him, no one else couldplete this part of the job."


    Fang Xiu''s mind whirled._ ''Specter Gate? The Specters prepared by the Pokers?''_


    His words revealed a lot of critical information. It seemed that the ability of a fourth-tier psychic was "domains."


    At the first tier, psychics showed their initial abilities; at the second tier, their abilities advanced; at the third tier, their abilities totally awakened; and at the fourth tier, they had their own domains.


    Fang Xiu was sure Yan Changshou was a fourth-tier psychic, not a fifth-tier. His reason was simple: Ace of Spades'' attitude. Although he showed some fear towards Yan Changshou, it wasn''t true fear. So Fang Xiu spected that they were of the same level, with only a little difference.


    As Fang Xiu pondered, the room fell silent. King of Spades, being more perceptive, saw Fang Xiu''s enigmatic expression and suddenly had an idea. His eyes lit up.


    "I was short-sighted, sir. I almost forgot you can summon Specters from the Other Side. With you infiltrating headquarters, we don''t need Yan Changshou at all."


    King of Spades'' reminder made Ace of Spades'' eyes light up too. "Right! That''s why you want to rece Yan Changshou. With you in action, we don''t need to rely on him."


    Fang Xiu was slightly taken aback, but he kept a calm and approving expression. "You''re smarter than I thought."


    Receiving praise from Fang Xiu, Ace and King of Spades were overjoyed. King of Spades, now emboldened, continued to reveal more information.


    "Sir, this move is a masterstroke. Yan Changshou is a greedy man who wants to use the Pokers to eliminate his rivals and take the Chief Captain''s position. Although he says he will support the Pokers and the Specterization of the masses if he bes Chief Captain, I believe his ambition for power is too great, and he will cause trouble in the future. His Specterization process must have gotten out of control, forcing him to cooperate with us, or he wouldn''t have done so. He''s a ticking time bomb; it''s better to eliminate him early, as you said."


    Fang Xiu looked approvingly at King of Spades, satisfied with the amount of secrets he revealed. Seeing he had earned Fang Xiu''s approval, King of Spades was overjoyed.


    Now, both sides were happy, making it a win-win situation.


    Seeing King of Spades stealing the spotlight, Ace of Spades felt a surge of jealousy. He quickly spoke up, "Sir, I''ll go back and tell other pokers to eliminate Yan Changshou as soon as possible. The moment he dared to send people to assassinate you, he was marked for death."


    Ace of Spades thought he was ttering Fang Xiu well, but he noticed Fang Xiu''s face turn cold.


    Go back and contact the organization? If Joker found out and discovered that Fang Xiu wasn''t part of the organization, his identity would be exposed again.


    Seeing Fang Xiu''s cold expression, Ace of Spades felt a jolt of fear. _"Oh no, I''ve messed up again."_


    Even though he didn''t know what he said wrong, he thought bowing and admitting his mistake was the safest move.


    "Sir, I''m so sorry. That was a bad idea."


    Fang Xiu''s gaze turned icy as he looked at Ace of Spades, his voice cold, "And why is that?"


    Ace of Spades began to tremble.


    "I''m sorry¡­sir, I do not know."


    "Hmph!"


    The sound of Fang Xiu''s disdain was like a thunderbolt exploding in Ace of Spades'' ear.


    "Your mistake is yourck of ambition!" Fang Xiu said, seemingly disappointed. "I thought you two had potential and wanted to give you important roles. But even if I favor you, you need to have achievements and strength tomand respect from others. I''ve given you enough hints. You''ve really let me down. I gave you a chance, but you''ve wasted it!"


    Ace of Spades was now petrified, only able to keep prostrating. As for the "hint" Fang Xiu mentioned, he was too dim-witted to figure it out.


    King of Spades was bitterly frustrated, almost ready to curse at him. He felt that Ace of Spades'' poor ttery had dragged him down. He had managed to earn a bit of Fang Xiu''s favor, but Ace of Spades had wasted it all. He felt exhausted.


    At the same time, King of Spades'' mind raced.

 Chapter 195: Heading To Headquarters

    Chapter 195: Heading To Headquarters


    King of Spades thought,_ ''Hint? What hint is he talking about? And what opportunity is he giving us? He got angry only after Ace of Spades said he would contact other pokers to kill Yan Changshou...''_


    As soon as he thought of this, King of Spades had a sudden insight and grasped the hint.


    He hurriedly said, "Please calm down, sir. We are slow-witted, but now we understand your kind intentions. Thank you for the opportunity. We will not disappoint you."


    "Huh?" Ace of Spades was dumbfounded. He didn''t understand a word of what King had just said.


    Suddenly, King of Spades kicked Ace of Spades. The kick seemed like a rebuke but was actually to protect Ace of Spades.


    "You fool. Mr. Fang gave such a clear hint, and you still don''t get it? Right now, we''re at a critical point in the n. If you go and kill Yan Changshou now, the chaos will ruin everything! Moreover, Mr. Fang wants to promote us, but weck the merit to convince others. Don''t you understand? He wants us to take care of Yan Changshou. If we can''t handle this small task for Mr. Fang, how can we take on more important ones?"


    "Oh, OK," Ace of Spades was confused. He even wondered if they had heard the same conversation. "But... didn''t you say killing Yan Changshou would cause trouble? How do we solve this?"


    King of Spades facepalmed in frustration. He said, "Use your brain. Mr. Fang means we shouldn''t kill Yan Changshou NOW to avoid chaos! Yan Changshou is in the headquarters. If we go there to kill him, we''d be walking into a trap! Mr. Fang values us too much to give us a mission destined to fail. So, his real n is for us to kill Yan Changshou during the chaos when the n is executed. That way, we prove our worth, and Mr. Fang will trust us with more responsibilities. Do you understand? You can''t ask for help. This is Mr. Fang''s test for us. Asking for help would be like cheating!"


    Ace of Spades suddenly understood and quickly bowed. "I see. Mr. Fang, I was blind and didn''t understand your intentions. Rest assured, I willplete the task even at the cost of my life."King of Spades also expressed hismitment, "I won''t let you down, sir."


    Fang Xiu nodded, his expression softening slightly as if pleased.


    "Good, you''re quick learners. Go now."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Then, the shadows slowly faded, and the room returned to peace.


    Fang Xiu didn''t expect to uncover such important information.


    The Pokers joined forces with Yan Changshou to create chaos. Although the two just now did not speak in detail, the general n was clear.


    The Pokers wanted to turn all humans into Specters, and the Investigation Bureau headquarters was a major obstacle. Yan Changshou seemed to be corrupted by Specter power and was about to expose himself. This would disqualify him from bing Chief Captain and even cost him his current position. So, they teamed up to make a big move at the headquarters.


    The details of their n and the timing were unknown. The only thing Fang Xiu knew was that Yan Changshou''s domain was called Specter Gate. It seemed capable of amodating Specters and could bring them to the headquarters without anyone noticing.


    After thinking for a moment, a smirk appeared on Fang Xiu''s face. Taotie''s Mouth cracked open on his left palm, and the white teeth inside began to chew.


    "It looks like I can have a feast."


    Now that he knew the Pokers'' n, he was determined to make a big move.


    This had nothing to do with Fang Xiu''s allegiance. It wasn''t because he was part of the Investigation Bureau that he felt obliged to help them.


    It was because the Pokers, and the person behind them, Zhou Qingfeng, shed with Fang Xiu''s beliefs.


    Fang Xiu believed that all Specters should be eliminated, and preferably in a cruel way. Those who wanted to turn humans into Specters, including Zhou Qingfeng and the Pokers, deserved to die.


    Additionally, he nned to use this information to extort the headquarters.


    Others might find it hard to use this information because of one question they might face¡ªhow did they know about the Pokers'' n? The headquarters would suspect if the person had an unspeakable connection with the Pokers.


    But for Fang Xiu, it was simple. He would im he saw the information while predicting the future, and that would exin everything.


    This was the benefit of his ability.


    When everyone knew Fang Xiu as the Foreseer, he wouldn''t need to actually foresee anything.


    If he said a stock would rise, people would believe it and drive the price up.


    If he wanted to frame someone, he could just say that the person would do something harmful to humanity in the future. No evidence would be needed to turn that person into a public enemy.


    This was the power of predicting the future.


    He didn''t need to actually predict; he just needed people to believe he could.


    The next day, with Wang Dehai''s constant urging, Fang Xiu set off for the headquarters.


    Hispanions were Yang Ming, Bai Qi, Zhao Hao, and Liu Shuai.


    In the entire Greenvine Investigation Bureau, only they were qualified to go for training at the headquarters. This was partly because they had earned merit in the Nightmare incident and partly because their abilities were valuable and full of potential.


    Their names had been added to the national list of psychic talents.


    "Xiu, how are we getting to the headquarters? Should we take the Investigation Bureau''s ne?" Yang Ming asked.


    Everyone''s eyes focused on Fang Xiu. They didn''t know when it started, but Fang Xiu had be the one who made decisions for the group.


    "We''ll take the train," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    He wouldn''t take the ne. It was simple: he couldn''t fly yet. If they were at an altitude of ten thousand meters and encountered an unsolvable Specter incident or enemy, and if his death reset point was on the ne, he would be stuck in an unbreakable loop.


    With Fang Xiu''s current physical abilities, he might survive a fall from a hundred meters, but falling from ten thousand meters would be certain death.


    "Okay, we''ll take the train. I''ll arrange it immediately," Yang Ming said.


    The others didn''t question Fang Xiu''s decision. They had gotten used to it¡ªwhatever Xiu said, they did.

 Chapter 196: A Century-Old Train

    Chapter 196: A Century-Old Train


    The group took a train to Shangjing City, where the headquarters of the Investigation Bureau was located.


    Greenvine City was far from Shangjing City. Even by train, the journey took five hours.


    The headquarter would cover their travel expenses, so they traveled in business ss.


    The carriage was quiet, with beautiful attendants serving drinks during the trip.


    No one really needed anything except Zhao Hao. He called the pretty attendant almost every five minutes. In the end, he drank almost all the beverages on the train and went to the bathroom several times.


    The train ride was boring and long. At first, Yang Ming and the others talked with Zhao Hao. But halfway through the trip, they ran out of things to say.


    Then, everyone rested quietly, yed on their phones, watched videos, or read novels.


    Fang Xiu slept the whole time. Actually, he was watching others sleep by entering their dreams.


    Many people on the train were sleeping, and they were all resources for him. He didn''t waste a single minute and collected their fears and pain from their dreams.Instead of wasting time sleeping, Fang Xiu liked to see the views from other people''s dreams. He enjoyed observing people and things during the journey, experiencing the many vors of life.


    As Fang Xiu kept entering dreams, the sleeping passengers on the train started to show fear, as if they were trapped in nightmares.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu found an unusual dream. He had seen many strange dreams, but this one was different because it belonged to a psychic.


    Psychics'' dreams were very different from ordinary people''s, so he easily sensed it.


    "Is this psychic on the train too? Is she also going to the headquarters for training?" Fang Xiu entered the psychic''s dream and saw the dream''s owner.


    She was a young, beautiful woman wearing a tight white t-shirt, denim shorts, and canvas shoes. A pink cartoon headset hung around her slender, fair neck, and a studded denim jacket was tied around her waist, covering her hips. Her long, fair legs were exposed.


    She was about 1.7 meters tall, with legs at least 1 meter long. By modern standards, she was definitely a beauty, even a campus belle.


    Fang Xiu only took a nce at her before looking away.


    He wasn''t Zhao Hao; he wasn''t attracted by beautiful women. No matter how "beautiful" she was, she couldn''tpare to his "wife."


    He didn''t have a good first impression of the woman because her long legs reminded him of his "wife''s." The shape and length were simr, except for the skin tone.


    The woman''s skin was milky white, like pure milk, while his "wife''s" was a cool white, like delicate porcin.


    The woman''s dream was very strange.


    She seemed to dream about the Investigation Bureau headquarters. In her dream, she bossed around people who looked like the director and the captains. She constantly yed tricks on them and deceived them. She fooled the Investigation Bureau leaderspletely.


    Then she put her hands on her hips andughed loudly, like a real shrew.


    Fang Xiu couldn''t see the faces of the Investigation Bureau leaders; they were just blurry figures. This meant that the woman hadn''t seen them in real life, so their faces couldn''t appear in her dream.


    From this dream, Fang Xiu assumed that she was also a psychic who was going to the headquarters for training.


    The headquarters training wasn''t for just anyone. Only the strongest or most talented psychics from each city were qualified to go. This meant that the woman must be extraordinary.


    But none of this mattered to Fang Xiu. Meeting an extraordinary psychic was even better; he could collect more high-quality fear and pain.


    So, with a wave of his hand, the blurry figures stopped what they were doing and began to move towards the woman.


    They kept growling, "How dare you lie to me! How dare you lie to me!"


    Dozens of blurry figures growled at once, and the woman, who had beenughing with her hands on her hips, was instantly stunned.


    "No, I didn''t, I never lie!" she said.


    The blurry figures didn''t listen to her exnations and kept repeating, "How dare you lie to me!"


    The woman waspletely scared. She turned and ran.


    Dozens of figures chased her like vengeful ghosts. One of them took out a bunch of silver needles.


    "Liars must swallow a thousand needles!"


    "Liars must swallow a thousand needles!"


    The woman was scared to tears. "I''m sorry, I won''t lie anymore!"


    Seeing that his goal was achieved, Fang Xiu left the woman''s dream. But after he left her dream, he noticed something was wrong.


    The dreams had disappeared!


    On the entire train, except for the woman, everyone else''s dreams had disappeared.


    Fang Xiu opened his eyes instantly. He looked around and saw that in the carriage, only his group was left. All the other passengers had disappeared.


    Yang Ming and the others were still asleep.


    _''Am I in a Specter event again? I didn''t look for Specter events, but now theye to me.''_


    Fang Xiu suppressed the excitement in his eyes. "Seriously, did the event find me? Or did I run into it?"


    "Wake up," Fang Xiu said in a low voice.


    Yang Ming and the others woke up instantly.


    "Huh? Are we in Shangjing?" Zhao Hao said, wiping the drool from his mouth.


    "We entered a Specter Zone," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    "Oh, we''re in a Specter Zone¡­ What? A Specter Zone?" Zhao Hao eximed, jumping up from his seat.


    The others also became alert immediately and started looking around.


    "Where are the other passengers?"


    "Why did I fall asleep just now?"


    "Quiet," Fang Xiu ordered, and everyone fell silent.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai used to be the least courageous, but after experiencing several Specter events, they were no longer as panicked as before. Even knowing they were in a Specter Zone, they didn''t show fear; they even seemed eager.


    Of course, it was also because Fang Xiu was with them now, boosting their confidence.


    "I think it is a Specter Zone because the surroundings have changed," Fang Xiu said, sharing his observation.


    "The surroundings changed?"


    Everyone quickly looked around, and their expressions shifted. At some point, the high-end business ss had turned into old-fashioned hard seats.


    The bright windows had be dark and yellow.


    The floor was dirty as if it hadn''t been cleaned for years. A faint smell of decay lingered in the air.


    "This isn''t the bullet train we were on. It''s an old-fashioned train!"


    "This train is too old. Even if we went back ten or twenty years, we wouldn''t find such an old train. This style seems to be from a hundred years ago, one of the earliest trains."


    ¡­

 Chapter 197: Im Hei Jiji

    Chapter 197: I''m Hei Jiji


    Fang Xiu felt a spark of interest. He had read posts about the origins of Specters on the Global Specter Forum website.


    The posts mentioned that about a hundred years ago, there were hints of strange and unique individuals. But as modernization began, these supposed psychic individuals disappeared, and even legends of Specters faded away.


    It seemed like everything beyond reality vanished, creating a hundred-year gap in history. Until now. After a century, Specter incidents reappeared, and psychics came back into the spotlight.


    Fang Xiu thought, "This train''s design is from a hundred years ago. Does it have something to do with the missing hundred years of history?"


    To be exact, it wasn''t the history in books. Human history didn''t disappear. The missing history was about Specters and psychics, creating a hundred-year gap.


    It was as if something erased those hundred years, leaving no Specters nor psychics.


    Fang Xiu pondered over it. ording to known information, Specters existed in ancient times, and Taotie was the best proof.


    The invasion from the Other Side began in ancient times. But because it was so long ago, documents about it didn''t exist. Those stories were mostly myths, impossible to verify.


    A hundred years ago, there were some traces of Specters, then they disappeared for a hundred years. And then, they reappeared.Fang Xiu mumbled to himself, "What happened in those hundred years? Why did all the Specters and psychics vanish?"


    It seemed like someone was hiding that part of history.


    "Xiu, this train is still running. Who''s driving it? Could it be a Specter?" Yang Ming suddenly asked.


    "Whoever is driving, I don''t care. I just want to know where the female attendants went. Why did everyone disappear except us?"---Fang Xiu didn''t need to guess that it was Zhao Hao speaking.


    Others entering the Specter Zone focused on Specters. Zhao Hao focused on the female attendants.


    "So this Zone likely only absorbs people with Spiritual Energy. Ordinary people are still on the bullet train. Let''s go to the front of the train," Fang Xiu suggested.


    No one objected, and they followed him to the front of the train.


    As they walked, all the carriages were empty and eerily silent.


    They tried to break the ss, but everything seemed frozen in time. Nothing can damage the train.


    Finally, they reached the driver''s cabin. Inside, they heard a crisp clicking sound, like someone was operating the controls.


    Everyone tensed, and they exchanged nces, nning to sneak in quietly.


    In such a strange train, the chance of a human being in the control room was almost zero. It had to be a Specter.


    Just then, Fang Xiu raised his hand to stop everyone. He calmly said to the person in the control room, "Come out, we are from the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the noise in the control room stopped abruptly, and everything fell silent.


    Everyone was stunned and thought, _''Does that really work? Is the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau''s name really that big now?''_


    Then, a woman''s voice came from inside.


    "Are you really my colleagues? Don''t lie to me. I''m from the Investigation Bureau of Xihong City."


    As she spoke, a pair of long, fair legs stepped out of the control room.


    Zhao Hao''s eyes widened.


    A beautiful woman appeared before them. She wore a tight t-shirt, denim shorts, a denim jacket tied around her waist, and pink cartoon headphones hung around her slender neck.


    Her big eyes looked at everyone with a mix of curiosity and caution. She was the psychic Fang Xiu had seen in the dream.


    "Are you also psychics going to the headquarters for training?" the woman asked.


    Seeing the beautiful woman speak, Zhao Hao quickly replied, "Yes, yes, are you too?"


    The woman nodded, "I''m also a psychic going to the headquarters for training. I didn''t expect to encounter a Specter incident halfway. Luckily, there are colleagues like you. If I were alone, I wouldn''t know what to do."


    As she spoke, she patted her chest, looking like a helpless girl finding support. Her big eyes blinked as if asking,_ ''Will you protect me?''_


    Fang Xiu nced at the woman indifferently. He knew this was all an act because the woman in the dream was nothing like this.


    She was clearly looking for some free bodyguards.


    However, Zhao Hao fell for it. Seeing her eyes, he immediately pounded his chest and promised, "Don''t worry, juste with us. Even if it''s a Grade-S Specter Zone, I can get you out."


    He seemed afraid she wouldn''t believe him, so he quickly added, "Really, I''m not bragging. Did you hear about the Nightmare event in Greenvine City recently? We solved it."


    The woman''s eyes lit up. "Really? I saw this incident on the Global Specter Forum. It said it was perfectly resolved by an investigator named Fang Xiu from the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau. You''re not the legendary Fang Xiu, the Foreseer, are you?"


    "Uh, no." Zhao Hao coughed. "I''m not, but if Xiu''s name is there, mine must be too."


    "What''s your name?" she asked.


    "Zhao Hao."


    "Let me check."


    The woman said as she took out her phone and logged into the Global Specter Forum to search for rted posts.


    Fang Xiu nced at the woman¡¯s phone screen from the corner of his eye and instantly disliked her more.


    He saw her ount name, **Sailor Moon***, and a familiar avatar.


    This woman was the one who posted on the Global Specter Forum, iming she had the power to control time.


    A woman with long legs like his "wife" was already unforgivable, and now her sins were even greater.


    The woman kept scrolling through her phone and finally said with some regret, "It seems your name isn''t here."


    "What!? Impossible!" Zhao Hao quickly looked at her phone. His face fell, clearly disappointed.


    "It''s okay, I believe you wouldn''t lie to me. The Investigation Bureau probably didn''t want to reveal too much information, so they didn¡¯t include your name. I heard Fang Xiu, the Foreseer, was mentioned only because he exposed his ability during the Nightmare event, making him well-known in the Greenvine City psychic circle. That''s why his name is there. Others were protected."


    Seeing the woman being so understanding, Zhao Hao felt like he was in love again and soon left his feelings for Li Feifei behind.


    The woman suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. We¡¯ll be facing challenges together from now on."


    She seamlessly included herself in the group.


    **"My name is Hei Jiji, but my friends call me Big ck. I''m a third-tier psychic, and my ability is ice and fire."***


    Everyone was stunned.


    Zhao Hao was particrly shocked, "Hei Jiji? Big ck? Ice and fire? Are you joking? How can someone have such a name?"


    "Really, I''m not lying. Look at my ID."


    Hei Jiji, **who wasn''t ck at all*,** took out her ID card. It indeed had the name Hei Jiji.


    Everyone was even more astonished. They couldn¡¯t believe a girl would have such a name, and her nickname, Big ck, was even more outrageous.


    "But even if your name and nickname are so unique, why is your ability ice and fire?" Yang Ming couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Hei Jiji tilted her head slightly, "What''s so strange about that? I have dual abilities: one is ice, and the other is fire."


    "Dual abilities?"


    Everyone was even more skeptical, finding it harder to believe than her name.


    Fang Xiu looked at Hei Jiji¡¯s innocent face, recalling her behavior in his dream. He began to analyze her character.


    He realized that nothing she said was true. Whether in dreams, reality, or online, she seemed to enjoy deceiving people.


    Perhaps this was her psychic w?...Or was there another reason?

 Chapter 198: The Drum Tower

    Chapter 198: The Drum Tower


    Hei Jiji blinked her big, watery eyes and said, "How about you? Let''s get to know each other since we''ll be training together and will berades soon."


    Even though her name was unusual, Zhao Hao didn''t care as long as she was pretty. Without waiting for anyone to speak, Zhao Hao started introducing everyone.


    "This is our captain, Yang Ming, Vice Captain Bai Qi, and Liu Shuai."


    Liu Shuai immediately protested, "What''s with that ''Liu Shuai''? Hi, my name is Liu Shuai. Just call me Shuai."


    "Okay, Shuai," Hei Jiji said yfully with a smile.


    Liu Shuai instantly felt the same as Zhao Hao. He was also falling in love.


    "Next, I want to introduce my best buddy, Xiu. He''s Fang Xiu, the Foreseer you mentioned earlier."


    While talking about the title of Foreseer, Zhao Hao''s head lifted slightly with pride.


    Hei Jiji''s eyes sparkled, and she looked at Fang Xiu with admiration. "You are the legendary Fang Xiu, the Foreseer, the only second-tier psychic in the country who has solved a Grade-S Specter event..."Before she could finish, Fang Xiu had already walked into the driver''s cabin. He preferred hearing the screams of Specters over the praise of pretty women.


    Hei Jiji''s adoration froze on her face.


    "Don''t take it personal. That''s just how he treated everyone," Zhao Hao quickly exined.


    Hei Jiji smiled sweetly, "It''s okay. Someone who can solve a Grade-S Specter event is truly extraordinary."


    A momentter, Fang Xiu came out of the driver''s cabin.


    "Xiu, did you find anything?" Yang Ming asked quickly.


    "The cabin is empty, and all the controls are off."


    "Off? So, the train isn''t running on its own but is being driven by a Specter''s power. Where does the Specter want to take us?" Yang Ming thought it over for a second but then stopped. With Fang Xiu here, he didn''t need to worry. He would just follow Fang Xiu''s orders.


    Suddenly, Hei Jiji spoke up, "I noticed something unusual."


    Her words immediately caught everyone''s attention. They were surprised that she could find something even Fang Xiu hadn''t.


    "I just fell asleep on the train and had a nightmare. I dreamt of many bad people chasing me. I never have nightmares, especially since bing a psychic. After all, we have stronger senses than ordinary people and don''t have nightmares easily because of our Spiritual Energy. If we do, it''s likely because of a Specter''s influence or a premonition of something bad. So, I believe this nightmare has something to do with the Specter train!"


    "Nightmare?"


    They all began to rack their brains.


    Fang Xiu suddenly spoke up, "Your nightmare has nothing to do with the Specter train. Everyone, check each train carriage now."


    "How do you know that?" Hei Jiji didn''t believe him and argued back. "That nightmare came out of nowhere. It must mean something¡ª"


    "I saw the future," Fang Xiu said firmly.


    Hei Jiji was stunned. She opened her mouth, but for once, the usually quick-witted girl didn''t know what to say. The reaction of the others surprised her even more¡ªthey didn''t ask any questions or doubt him. They just started searching the train cars immediately. No one paid attention to her unusual nightmare anymore.


    Only Zhao Hao approached her with a sycophantic smile and whispered, "Since Xiu said the train has nothing to do with your nightmare, it definitely doesn''t. Don''t worry about it too much. Better follow his instructions, finish the work quickly, and we can leave sooner. I''ll buy you a drink when we get off the train, okay?"


    Hei Jiji''s lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Sure, but I don''t handle alcohol well, so don''t try to get me drunk on purpose¡­"


    Despite her words, her eyes never left Fang Xiu. A strange light shone in her eyes, as if she had discovered a treasure. The unquestioning faith everyone had in Fang Xiu sparked an idea in her mind.


    The group started searching the entire train. The cars were all empty, with no sign of any Specters, as if they had been abandoned by the world.


    "What kind of Specter is this? He doesn''t show itself. Does he n to starve us to death?" Zhao Hao, no longer tense, started toin since the Specter had not appeared.


    "We''ll die of thirst before we starve. But you''llst the longest, considering you asked that pretty attendant for over ten cups of water earlier. I bet you''re not thirsty now," Liu Shuai said with a mischievous grin.


    Everyone knew Liu Shuai''s little scheme. He just wanted Hei Jiji to see Zhao Hao''s true nature and not be deceived by him.


    Zhao Hao wasn''t stupid. Seeing Liu Shuai expose him like that, he got angry. But just as he was about to retort, Yang Ming''s voice drew everyone''s attention.


    "Look, there''s a schedule board here."


    Everyone hurried over. On one side of the train car was a schedule board showing the stops the train would make.


    There were five stops listed: the Drum Tower, the City of Lust, the Old Mansion, the Graveyard, and the Lands Between.


    At this moment, the words "the Drum Tower" were shing with green light. The light blinked faster and faster.


    "What kind of station is this? Theter stops sound worse and worse. The Graveyard? Is this train heading to hell?" Liu Shuai said nervously.


    Hei Jiji suddenly eximed, "The Lands Between! I know this ce!"


    Everyone was startled. "You know it? What is the Lands Between?"


    Hei Jiji quickly exined, "I read about it in an ancient book. Legend says the Lands Between is where Specters originated. All these sudden Specterse from the Lands Between¡­ Ah!" She eximed again. "Could it be that Specters are using the train toe to our world?"


    Hearing this, Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai turned pale, imagining many terrible scenarios. They feared stepping off the train andnding in a Specter den, getting devoured by a horde of Specters.


    However, Yang Ming and Bai Qi had thoughtful expressions. Having survived the Green Mountain Mental Hospital with Fang Xiu, they knew Specters came from the Other Side, not from a train, which seemed absurd.


    Fang Xiu''s mind stirred. This woman was in the middle of a Specter event, yet she continued to lie.


    Fang Xiu suspected she had deeper issues than just psychological problems. No matter how wed someone''s mind is, they don''t usually gamble with their life.


    In dangerous situations, information is crucial, even a matter of life and death. Yet, Hei Jiji chose this moment to spread false information. While her lies seemed harmless now, this was beyond just a bad joke.


    Fang Xiu knew she had a purpose for lying. _''Could her real ability be rted to deception?''_


    He hadn''t believed a word Hei Jiji said, especially about her own abilities. Psychics typically kept their powers secret, revealing them only as ast resort. If she truly had dual abilities and wanted to gain trust, she would only need to reveal one ability and keep the other as a secret weapon.


    "What else did the book say?" Zhao Hao foolishly asked, oblivious to the fact that this pretty woman was a big liar.


    Liu Shuai was the same.


    They listened as Hei Jiji continued her nonsense.


    "The book was iplete and not very detailed. But I remember one thing. It said, in the Lands Between, never say your real name, or the Specters will take it."


    "What happens if they take your name?" Zhao Hao asked, nervous.


    "The person will be lost in the Lands Between forever, never able to leave. And the Specter that takes your name will live on in your ce, using your identity, eating your family and friends."


    "Ah!" The two were so scared. "What should we do?"


    Hei Jiji thought for a moment and then said seriously, "How about we start using code names from now on? The code name should have no connection to your real name. The more different it is, the safer you''ll be."


    "Right, right, you''re absolutely right. So what should my code name be?

 Chapter 199: Getting Off The Train

    Chapter 199: Getting Off The Train


    Hei Jiji was deep in thought for a moment. Then, she pointed at Zhao Hao and said, "Why don''t you call yourself Flora?"


    "Huh!?" Zhao Hao was stunned.


    "Think about it. You''re a man, so your code name should be something opposite. Flora sounds like it has nothing to do with you."


    "That''s right!" Zhao Hao''s eyes lit up. "From now on, I''ll be Flora."


    "What about me?" Liu Shuai asked with a mix of hope and nervousness.


    "You can be Aroma."


    "Good name! That sounds totally irrelevant to me."


    At this moment, Hei Jiji turned her attention to Fang Xiu. "Xiu, do you want a code name too? You have such a strong presence. Let me think¡­ how about¡ª"


    She was cut off by Fang Xiu''s calm voice, "It seems you haven''t learned your lesson."Hei Jiji immediately pouted. "Xiu, I meant no harm. It''s for your safety. If you don''t want to be called¡ª"


    "Liar swallows a thousand needles."


    His calm words struck Hei Jiji like a thunderbolt. Her heart surged with waves of panic.


    _''How does he know what I''ve dreamed of? Is it a coincidence? Or was it deliberate?''_


    Hei Jiji''s eyes became wary. She pretended to be upset. "Xiu, what are you talking about? When did I lie? I just¡ª"


    "The Drum Tower is here." Fang Xiu''s calm voice interrupted.


    Only then did everyone notice that the previously flickering green lights of the Drum Tower station had turned blood red.


    They could also feel the train slowing down.


    Their hearts tightened, and they quickly looked out the window. In the once pitch-ck surroundings, they could now see a faint light far away.


    As the train got closer, they finally saw what the light was. It was a lonely wooden Drum Tower, with torches barely illuminating it.


    Around it, where the light didn''t reach, there was only endless darkness.


    The Drum Tower stood alone in the darkness, in eerie silence.


    Seeing such a ghostly structure in the darkness was enough to scare anyone, especially on a train.


    Gradually, the train stopped near the Drum Tower.


    CREAK!


    The previously locked door suddenly opened. It seemed to be suggesting that they get off.


    But the problem was, getting off meant facing this ghostly Drum Tower.


    Unsure, everyone looked at Fang Xiu.


    "Xiu, should we get off?"


    "The train has arrived. So why not?" Fang Xiu said, staring at the Drum Tower. The Taotie''s Mouth on his left palm was itching to move.


    At that moment, a cold and terrifying atmosphere suddenly filled the train. It was invisible and intangible, but it felt as if invisible hands were brushing against everyone''s skin.


    Everyone was instantly rmed.


    "My Spiritual Energy is frozen!" Bai Qi''s face turned grim.


    "Mine too!"


    "Not only is Spiritual Energy frozen, but I can''t use my abilities either."


    Fang Xiu felt his heart sink as he found that his Spiritual Energy was also frozen. When he tried to use his Specter powers, he couldn''t.


    This was the special ability of the Specter Train; it could suppress both psychic and Specter powers.


    Even worse, as time went on, everyone felt colder and colder, as if they were in an ice cave, and it seemed like their blood was starting to freeze.


    Hei Jiji eximed, "This Specter Train has the power to freeze everything. If this continues, we will freeze to death. It''s urging us to get off."


    "Let''s go." Fang Xiu took the lead and got off the train.


    The moment he left the train, the freezing power disappeared. His body slowly regained its vitality, and he could think clearly again.


    This made him even more curious about the Specter Train. If the Specter Train was a Specter, it was at least ss-S.


    With his current strength still being suppressed and frozen, it was clear how powerful the Specter Train was.


    "My Spiritual Energy is back!"


    Everyone followed Fang Xiu off the train.


    "It seems we have only one path ahead. If we go back to the Specter Train, we will die. We can only go to the Drum Tower," Yang Ming said seriously.


    Hei Jiji had a different opinion.


    "Why do we have to go to the Drum Tower? It''s dark around here, but it seems to be an open space. Why don''t we walk into the darkness and away from the Drum Tower? The Drum Tower looks very sinister."


    "Don''t go into the darkness!" Liu Shuai shouted, frightened.


    "My ability is teleportation, so I can slightly sense the fluctuations in space. The darkness is full of space turbulence. Going in will surely lead to death!"


    "Space turbulence? Liu Shuai, are you sure you sensed it correctly?"


    Liu Shuai''s face was pale as he nodded, "I''m sure. The space in the darkness is chaotic. Once inside, it''s very likely we won''te out. We might even be torn apart by space turbulence."


    At this moment, the Drum Tower suddenly resounded with the sound of drums. The drumbeats were heavy, slow, and had an eerie rhythm.


    In the darkness, a sinister smile unconsciously appeared on Fang Xiu''s lips. "It seems the owner of the Drum Tower is weing us."


    Then, he walked straight toward it.


    Seeing this, everyone quickly followed.


    Fang Xiu followed the sound of the drums and quickly entered the Drum Tower. The tower was about five meters tall, painted in dark red, with many areas already faded and looking very worn out, as if it could copse at any moment.


    At the very top of the Drum Tower stood arge drum, painted red with a white face, also very worn out.


    The booming drum sounds wereing from this drum. Next to it stood a figure, extremely thin, almost like a bamboo pole. The most bizarre thing was her head, which was enormous, about five times the size of a normal human head. She looked like a deformed doll.


    This Big Head Doll was repeatedly using her massive head to hit the drum, producing the muffled drum sounds.


    Seeing this terrifying scene, coupled with the Specter drum sounds, everyone felt like they had difficulty breathing.


    At that moment, a clicking sound of gears turning came from the neck of the Big Head Doll. Her head suddenly rotated 180 degrees to face the group, fully revealing her face.


    Her face was perfectly round, like a wless circle. Thick white powder and eerie blush adorned it. Her eyes were asrge as an adult''s fist; she had no nose, and her mouth was a small cherry mouth painted with red lipstick.


    Her eyes were wide like copper bells but empty, like a soulless puppet.


    "So many people here, let''s hang out together, hee hee hee..."


    A chilling, sharpugh came from her crimson cherry mouth. The sound was like nails scratching a chalkboard, painfully grating on the ears.


    "I love to y Red Light, Green Light. I''ll hit the drum three times, then turn around. Don''t let me see anyone move. If you move, you''ll die. If you can reach the Drum Tower, you win."


    Without waiting for them to react, the Big Head Doll turned her head away with a click and started preparing to hit the drum.


    "I''ll handle this," Bai Qi stepped forward confidently. He trusted his speed. With a height of just over five meters, he thought he could reach the doll before she finished hitting the drum once.


    Bai Qi lightly tapped the ground, and his Extreme Speed ability burst forth, sending him shooting toward the Big Head Doll like an arrow.


    However, as he leaped into the air, thud!


    A heavy drumbeat echoed.


    Bai Qi''s face instantly changed, feeling as if his bones had dislocated and his muscles were all out of sync. His entire body stiffened, and he fell from midair.


    "

 Chapter 200: Breaking Through with Force

    Chapter 200: Breaking Through with Force


    Yang Ming quickly caught Bai Qi in a princess carry.


    "Well¡­ thank you for¡­ keeping my clothes clean¡­ I guess?" Bai Qi said. Even a normal person wouldn''t get hurt from this height, let alone a psychic. Bai Qi was a third-tier psychic, so he wouldn''t even get a scratch.


    "Bai, are you okay?" Yang Ming asked with concern.


    After the drum sound faded, Bai Qi felt his body slowly recovering. He quickly freed himself from Yang Ming''s arms and changed the subject, "There''s something wrong with the drum sound. When I got close to the Drum Tower and the drums started, I lost control of my muscles and bones. I couldn''t control my body."


    Everyone was shocked._ ''If we can''t control our bodies, how can we defeat this Specter?''_


    In Red Light, Green Light, you have to be quick and control your body. When Big Head Doll turns around, everyone must stay still. It was supposed to be simple. But the drum sound made people lose control of their bodies, causing them to move and fail the game.


    And, you wouldn''t want to know what happened if they failed.


    "What now? Should we just stay here? That way, we won''t win, but we won''t lose either," Zhao Hao suggested.


    "No!" Liu Shuai shouted. "We can''t stay here. Haven''t you noticed? The darkness around us is closing in. If we stay, we''ll be swallowed by the chaotic space in the darkness."Everyone looked around and noticed the darkness slowly closing in. In less than ten minutes, it would swallow them.


    "Xiu, what do you think? Should we go for it?" Yang Ming asked.


    Everyone waited for Fang Xiu''s decision.


    Hei Jiji rolled her eyes. These people never thought on their own. They always asked Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu never disappointed them. He said calmly, "You all wait here. I can handle it alone."


    Everyone felt reassured. Fang Xiu never let them down. They always saw his sesses, never his countless failures.


    Fang Xiu''s figure turned into a blur as he ascended the steps of the Drum Tower under everyone''s watchful eyes.


    The second drum beat echoed, sending invisible waves outward.


    Fang Xiu immediately felt the power of the Specter affecting his entire body, causing his bones and muscles to lose control. But his expression didn''t change.


    In the next second, his ck hair turned into a cascade of silver, flowing all over his body. The strands of hair, like puppet strings, controlled his body and kept him moving up the steps.


    He strode forward quickly, covering more than half the distance in no time.


    Fang Xiu''s silver hair was a familiar sight to everyone, but Hei Jiji was surprised._ ''Is this Specter power? Is his hair a Specter? Did he turn a Specter into his hair? Isn''t he afraid those strands will pierce his brain?''_


    Still, the silver hair looked so cool that Hei Jiji wanted to dye her hair silver too.


    Just then¡­


    The third drum beat came. This beat was louder than the previous twobined. The invisible Specter waves grew stronger, even affecting the hair Specter, which started to lose control.


    Fang Xiu''s expression remained unchanged. He raised his right hand, and his long, white fingers brushed across his face.


    With a poof, a strange ck me appeared, forming a mask on his face.


    It was the Genesis Mask.


    The ck mes from the Genesis Mask red up, enveloping Fang Xiupletely. In a sh, the ck mes reappeared behind Big Head Doll.


    When the mes vanished, Fang Xiu''s figure emerged.


    The third beat ended, and cracking sounds came from Big Head Doll''s neck as she started to turn around. She was halfway turning when Fang Xiu raised his left hand, which had the Taotie''s Mouth.


    _SMACK!_


    He pped the back of the Doll''s head, forcing it to turn back. Then he kicked her in the back, knocking her to the ground.


    His right footnded on her, pinning her down.


    His swift actions left everyone in awe. They were used to Fang Xiu''s incredible feats, so they weren''t too shocked. But Hei Jiji, seeing this for the first time, was astonished. She gazed at the proud figure on top of the Drum Tower, her beautiful eyes full of surprise.


    She wasn''t shocked that Fang Xiu reached the top of the Drum Tower but that he seemed to break through the Specter''s killing moves. He not only overcame the drum''s control but also pped Big Head Doll''s head back when she tried to turn.


    What Hei Jiji didn''t know was that the Specter''s killing moves were useless against a higher-level Specter.


    The strong set the rules, and the weak followed them. The Genesis and Taotie were beyond what Big Head Doll could resist.


    Fang Xiu had struggled against his "wife" because her power exceeded the S-ss Specter range. Big Head Doll''s abilities, while unique, were no match for his "wife."


    Fang Xiu looked at the Big Head Doll pinned under his foot. The Taotie''s Mouth on his left hand bared its sharp white teeth, with a bit of drool dripping


    Just as he was about to ce his hand on the Doll''s head, there was a cracking sound.


    The sound of breaking wood filled the air. The Big Head Doll''s body turned into wooden pieces, splitting into fragments.


    Her torso and head broke apart, bing chunks of wood.


    Fang Xiu frowned, and the Taotie''s Mouth closed, losing its appetite.


    _''Did the Specter escape? Was Big Head Doll just a shell?''_ As he thought about it, another change urred.


    Therge drum, over a man''s height, emitted a blinding white light from its surface, forming a rotating white hole. The inside was all white, making it impossible to see anything clearly.


    "Liu Shuai,e and tell what''s behind this," Fang Xiu ordered.


    "Got it, Xiu," Liu Shuai responded, running up the Drum Tower in a few quick steps. He stood before the white hole and concentrated.


    After a moment, his face lit up with joy. "Xiu, if my senses are right, there''s a way out behind this white hole! It''s a spatial passage, a way to leave this ce."


    Fang Xiu thought deeply. _''That''s it? We can leave like this after getting rid of the doll? What about the next three train stops? This doesn''t seem like a typical Specter Zone, because they never have such an escape route. It seemed more like a trial. It''s like passing levels in games, where you can choose to leave after the first level, or you can continue to the next.''_


    "Let''s go back to the train," Fang Xiu said.


    Liu Shuai was puzzled. "Xiu, the way out is right here. Why go back?"


    Before Fang Xiu could answer, Zhao Hao spoke up. "You don''t get it. Xiu must have seen the future. Let''s get back to the train."


    "

 Chapter 201: The City of Lust

    Chapter 201: The City of Lust


    Everyone started walking toward the train, leaving Hei Jiji confused. She didn''t understand why they didn''t take the way out but returned to the dangerous Specter Train instead.


    She was sure that the way out was behind the white portal because she had just used her ability to sense it.


    She was certain she wasn''t wrong. However, seeing everyone else go back to the Specter Train without hesitation made her doubt herself. She even began to question if her senses were off.


    Unable to hold back, she asked Fang Xiu, "Xiu, isn''t this the way out? Why aren''t we leaving?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t look back and said, "IT IS the way out. You can leave if you want to."


    Hearing this, Hei Jiji hesitated no more. She followed everyone onto the Specter Train because she didn''t believe Fang Xiu.


    Since she often lied, she thought others would lie too.


    After everyone got back on the train, the doors closed with a bang. As the doors shut, they all felt the terrifying frozen sensation disappear. Everything returned to a state of calm.


    This made Fang Xiu more certain of his guess: the Specter Train was likely arranged by someone on purpose, instead of being a Specter. Its behavior was very different from Specters¡ªit didn''t seem to be here to eat them, but just to transport them. This journey was clearly a trial, making them deal with challenges. Fang Xiu couldn''t help wondering: what will thest stop be like? What''s ''the Lands Between?'' What does it have to do with the Other Side?


    Fang Xiu found a seat and sat down.


    Hei Jiji quickly came over. "Xiu, did you foresee something? Can you tell me?"


    Fang Xiu closed his eyes to rest and did not answer. Hei Jiji pouted and went to talk to Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai.


    Time passed, and soon they reached the second stop. The sign for the City of Lust turned blood red.


    BANG!


    The doors opened again.


    Fang Xiu immediately opened his eyes. He stood up, and walked out.


    "Let''s go."


    With the previous experience, everyone got off quickly, not daring to stay on the train any longer.


    The feeling of their Spiritual Energy and bodies freezing was too ufortable. It felt like a martial arts expert having their inner strength drained and their tendons cut.


    As soon as they got off, they were stunned. The City of Lust was indeed what they thought¡ªa city of bright neon lights and vibrant colors.


    At the entrance of the street was a tall archway with the words "Lust" hanging in bright decorations.


    Inside, there was a district with many two or three-story buildings. The streets were lined with red, yellow, and pinknterns, dazzling and making it look like a huge nightclub.


    The various lights were blinding and overwhelming.


    However, in stark contrast to the lively scene, the entire street was empty. As the group walked in, they found that all the buildings had a very vintage feel, reminiscent ofst century, like something out of an old movie about Shanghai at night.


    "This ce is just like the Specter Train, all styled from thest century! Did we travel through time back to thest century?" Hei Jiji asked, her mouth open in surprise.


    "Let''s go inside and see," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    He then began walking into the City of Lust as if he were just taking a leisurely stroll.


    The others followed closely behind, but unlike Fang Xiu, they weren''t calm. Even though they had experienced many Specter events, it was still hard to get used to the feeling of being on the edge of life and death.


    Not long after they entered the City of Lust, a faint moaning sound came from deep within the street.


    The sound was mixed, seemingly from both men and women. The women''s voices were high-pitched, and the men''s were low, all merging into a primal symphony.


    "Is that it?" Fang Xiu narrowed his eyes, and his left hand began to twitch with anticipation.


    The next moment, a huge figure emerged from the darkness at the end of the street. Seeing the figure, everyone was instantly shocked.


    It was a hill of flesh made up of people. These people had grotesque, deformed reproductive organs growing on them, glowing with a faint pink hue.


    "What kind of monster is this?"


    "This is so disgusting!"


    Facing such a grotesque and disgusting Specter, everyone felt their minds being assulted.


    Seeing such an obscene scene, their first reaction wasn''t embarrassment but nausea and disgust.


    "Come¡­ join us!" The mound of bodies spoke in unison, countless voices ovepping, making people''s ear ache.


    "How unsightly," Fang Xiu said calmly as he pulled out his scalpel and rushed toward the mound of flesh.


    The red and green lights couldn''t keep up with his ghost-like movements. His silver scalpel shed in the night like a streak of lightning.


    SWISH!


    The scalpel plunged into one of the bodies on the flesh mound.


    "Ah!" Countless screams of agony pierced the night, and the faces, previously in ecstasy, were now twisted in pain. The entire flesh mound began to tremble and writhe.


    Momentster, with a thud, the mound fell to the ground, lifeless.


    Fang Xiu killed the monster with one strike.


    "Is it really over?" Hei Jiji found it hard to believe.


    _''Could such a grotesque and terrifying Specter be this weak? Or was Fang Xiu just that strong?''_


    However, Fang Xiu did note back after defeating the mound. He stood still, as if waiting for something.


    The others also realized something was wrong.


    The spatial passage hadn''t appeared.


    Last time, it appeared after they defeated the Big Head Doll, but this time, it didn''t.


    _''Did the flesh hill not diepletely?''_


    Just as everyone was puzzled, the hill suddenly began to inte, like a balloon being blown up rapidly.


    BANG!


    The flesh hill exploded violently, its body bursting apart. A dense pink mist gushed out from the corpses and spread in all directions.


    Fang Xiu swiftly dodged the pink mist.


    The others, their faces showing panic, ran away as fast as they could.


    However, the pink mist seemed endless, continually pushing everyone outward until they could retreat no further.


    Any further, and they would be stepping into the darkness, where the chaotic spatial currents would tear them apart.


    "Cover your nose and mouth!" Yang Ming shouted anxiously.


    Even though they didn''t know what the pink mist was, it definitely wasn''t anything good.


    Eventually, the pink mist engulfed everyone.


    Covering their noses and mouths did no good, as the mist seemed to seep into their bodies on its own.


    For a moment, everyone smelled a fragrance so strong that it made them nauseous. It was overpowering, making their minds reel and their senses blur.


    Fang Xiu also got enveloped by the pink mist. He thought it was poisonous and tried to use his pain-absorbing ability to heal himself. However, after waiting for a while, he realized he wasn''t affected at all.


    He frowned.


    _''Is my body immune to the poison in the pink mist? Or does it have a dyed effect?''_


    As he pondered this, a painful scream suddenly came from behind him. He turned around to see Zhao Hao screaming in agony.


    "

 Chapter 202: Human Nature

    Chapter 202: Human Nature


    Zhao Hao fell to the ground, writhing. Pink mes were swallowing him.


    The strangest part was his expression. He looked extremely pained and even howled, but his face showed a very lewd expression. His eyes were like mas, tightly staring at Hei Jiji''s exposed thighs.


    At this moment, Yang Ming and the others also screamed. The same pink mes were burning their bodies. Like Zhao Hao, they lewdly stared at Hei Jiji.


    Hei Jiji was also burning with pink mes, looking confused and dazed. She bit her tender lips and stared at Fang Xiu with watery eyes.


    Fang Xiu''s frown deepened. From their expressions, he understood what the pink mist did. Clearly, the mist could stir up lust within everyone. As for the pink mes, they might be fueled by lust.


    If the lust wasn''t removed, everyone might be burned to death. This was probably why the city was called "Lust."


    As for why it didn''t affect him, Fang Xiu knew very well¡ªhis heart was already filled with hatred, leaving no room for anything else.


    At this moment, Hei Jiji''s pretty face showed a hint of struggle. She kept mumbling, "I have no feelings, I have no feelings, I have no feelings."


    She repeated it several times. Then, something amazing happened¡ªthe pink mes on Hei Jiji''s body slowly started to go out. Her confused and dazed expression turned into a nk one. Her sultry eyes became cold, like those of an emotionless killer.However, her nk expression onlysted a few seconds. After the pink mespletely went out, Hei Jiji returned to her original state. Her eyes became sultry again, full of her original seductive charm, just like how she was when Fang Xiu first met her.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu began to wonder.


    Based on Hei Jiji''s previous behavior, he roughly guessed her ability. Now Fang Xiu understood why this woman was required to be trained at the headquarters. Her ability was very special; Fang Xiu wanted to see how far she could go with it.


    Hei Jiji was the first to escape, and soon the second survivor appeared. It was Bai Qi.


    Bai Qi took out a short knife and stabbed it hard into his arm, then twisted it. Blood gushed out.


    Using the pain, he sessfully suppressed his lewd thoughts and extinguished the pink mes.


    Next was Yang Ming.


    "Hurry, Bai, stab me. I can''t do it myself."


    Bai Qi stabbed Yang Ming''s arm and twisted the knife hard.


    "Ah!"


    A scream like that of a pig being ughtered echoed. However, the mes on Yang Ming''s body only weakened slightly and showed no sign of going out.


    "What?" Bai Qi was shocked and stabbed again and again, making several puncture wounds.


    "Arghhh!"


    Yang Ming kept screaming, but the mes on his body did not extinguish.


    Bai Qi''s face turned serious. He was still holding the knife but hesitated to continue, because he was afraid he might kill Yang Ming.


    "Captain Yang, are you a masochist?" Hei Jiji asked strangely from the side.


    Yang Ming was in so much pain that he couldn''t argue. Worse, as the pink mes burned, he grew weaker, like an old man on hisst legs.


    "Move aside," Fang Xiu said, taking out a scalpel and walking toward Yang Ming.


    Bai Qi looked worried and said, "We can''t stab him again. He''ll die if this goes on."


    "No worries, I''ve seen the future," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Upon hearing this, Bai Qi immediately stepped aside, letting Fang Xiu pass.


    Fang Xiu gently made a small cut on Yang Ming with the scalpel.


    Just this small cut made Yang Ming scream much more horribly than before. As his screams echoed, the pink mes on his body finally went outpletely.


    Bai Qi was stunned. He couldn''t believe that his multiple stabs were less effective than Fang Xiu''s single cut. It was like the knife was poisoned.


    Next, Fang Xiu walked to Liu Shuai and made a simr gentle cut.


    "Ah!"


    The scream sounded like a pig being ughtered, and the mes on Liu Shuai''s body went out.


    Lastly, Fang Xiu walked to Zhao Hao. Zhao Hao''s condition was the worst, with pink mes almost twice as high as the others''.


    With just one cut, Zhao Hao screamed miserably. However, the pink mes only flickered twice before they continued burning stronger.


    Everyone was stunned. They had all known how painful Fang Xiu''s cut was. That single cut had erased all lustful thoughts from their minds, leaving only the wish to die.


    But the mes on Zhao Hao''s body didn''t go out.


    Fang Xiu frowned and was about to cut again.


    Zhao Hao quickly shouted in terror, "Xiu! Wait a moment!"


    Though the cut hadn''t extinguished the mes, it did help Zhao Hao regain some rity, although it seemed limited.


    "Put all your clothes on!" Zhao Hao pointed shakily at Hei Jiji.


    Hei Jiji was stunned. "Hello? I''m wearing all my clothes."


    "An overcoat! Put on an overcoat! Hurry up!" Zhao Hao shouted anxiously.


    Hei Jiji finally realized what Zhao Hao meant. She quickly untied the denim jacket from her waist and put it on, covering her bare arms. Then she zipped it up, hiding even her delicate corbones.


    Yet, Zhao Hao was still shouting, "Legs! The legs too!"


    Hei Jiji was stunned. She looked down at her shorts. Her long, slender, fair legs were still exposed.


    Just then, Bai Qi threw over a coat at her.


    Hei Jiji caught it and quickly covered her legs. Feeling it wasn''t enough, she pulled out a mask and sunsses from her bag and put them on. Atst, she put on the hood of her jacket.


    Now, she was covered tightly, not showing any skin. She was even more covered than a celebrity hiding from the paparazzi.


    After all this, everyone thought it was enough, but Zhao Hao was still not satisfied.


    He said, his voice trembling, "Fingers! Cover the fingers!"


    Everyone else was speechless.


    Hei Jiji almost rolled her eyes. She thought Zhao Hao must have lots of fetish. Reluctantly, she put her hands in her pockets.


    Only then did Zhao Hao stop. Lying on the ground, he said to Fang Xiu, "Xiu, do it now!"


    _SWISH!_


    One cut.


    "Argh!"


    The miserable scream pierced the night.


    The pink mes on Zhao Hao finally disappeared.


    "Quick, help me up, I can''t stand," Zhao Hao said weakly. His eyes were sunken, and his face was pale, looking as if he had overindulged.


    However, no one helped him. They looked at him with disdain, as if even touching him was dirty.


    Shame and anger filled Zhao Hao. "Don''t look at me like that! Don''t you know that that is just basic human nature?"


    In the end, Zhao Hao struggled to get up by himself.


    Fang Xiu silently observed everyone, making a judgment in his mind. Clearly, the pink mes burned a person''s vital essence. If it didn''t extinguish for a long time, the person would weaken and die.


    These pink mes were extremely troublesome for those with desires. It was hard to control one''s desires because it was human nature.


    Bai Qi could easily escape because he probably had low desires.


    Zhao Hao struggled because his desires were too strong.


    As for Hei Jiji, she relied on her special ability to ovee it."

 Chapter 203: The Old Mansion

    Chapter 203: The Old Mansion


    When everyone emerged from the pink mist, a slowly rotating white hole appeared deep in the City of Lust.


    Fang Xiu looked at it calmly, then turned his head and said, "Get on the train."


    They all nodded and were about to get on, but Hei Jiji stood out and blocked them.


    She said anxiously, "Haven''t you noticed? The City of Lust is much more dangerous than the Drum Tower. If Xiu hadn''t saved you, half of you would have burned to death."


    "So what?" Yang Ming asked, confused.


    "So? Isn''t it obvious? If I''m not mistaken, the next stop, the Old Mansion, will be even more dangerous than the City of Lust! Each challenge is likely to be harder than thest. Shouldn''t we explore that white hole, as it might be a way out? We should look for an escape, not just follow Xiu onto the train. We survived this time, but who knows about next time or the time after that?"


    Hei Jiji felt that Fang Xiu seemed to deliberately avoid leaving. He seemed to want to go straight to the final stop, the Lands Between.


    The others didn''t care about her desire to leave. Zhao Hao even looked puzzled, as if wondering,_ ''How could anyone not trust Xiu?''_


    Yang Mingughed heartily, "You said it yourself, Xiu saved us. What are you hesitating for? Why don''t you get in the white hole by yourself?"Then, Yang Ming turned and followed Fang Xiu onto the train. The others did the same, entering one by one.


    Hei Jiji stood there, stunned. She couldn''t describe what she was feeling at that moment. It was a mix of emotions, as if something had struck her.


    The backs of Fang Xiu and the others were deeply etched in her eyes. Gradually, her beautiful eyes sparkled with a strange light.


    _''So that is the feeling of being trusted? The unconditional trust, with no one questioning Xiu or caring if he was right or wrong?''_


    She hadn''t felt this way in a long, long time. But since when? Probably since the first time she lied.


    She was so used to lying before. Now, seeing everyone''s trust in Fang Xiu, she felt like a beggar who had been poor all her life suddenly saw a mountain of gold¡ªafter all, honesty is golden.


    Hei Jiji suddenly became very curious about Fang Xiu. She wondered what kind of man could be trusted so deeply by everyone.


    She took a step and followed the others onto the Specter Train.


    CLANK!


    The train door mmed shut, and the rumble began. The train continued forward, taking everyone to the next stop in the endless darkness.


    On the Specter Train, Fang Xiu sat alone, deep in thought.


    As Hei Jiji had said, the ces this train went to were more dangerous with each stop.


    The City of Lust was clearly more dangerous than the Drum Tower. Even Yang Ming was helpless when he got caught, showing how perilous it was. The City of Lust seemed to be thrilling but was actually full of danger.


    Lucky for them, Fang Xiu had the power of pain, and he could use extreme pain to awaken people. If any ordinary psychic came here, they would most likely die.


    Bai Qi was an exception; he was naturally cold inside.


    The second stop was already so dangerous. What about the third stop, the fourth stop, and even the final stop, the Lands Between? If this trend continued, Fang Xiu thought it would be normal to encounter ss-S Specters.


    Moreover, the strangest thing was that although these Specters seemed to be dealt with, Fang Xiu didn''t gain anything from them. They all disappeared without a trace. So he assumed that maybe all the answers were at the final stop, the Lands Between.


    Time slowly passed. Soon, the sign for the third stop, the Old Mansion, turned blood red.


    BANG!


    The train door opened with a roar. Everyone followed Fang Xiu off the train.


    The Old Mansion stop was true to its name. In front of them was an old mansion. The building had a style from a hundred years ago, simr to a traditional quadrangle courtyard. There were two stone lions at the entrance, and tworge rednterns hung from the beams, emitting a spectral red light.


    The main door was vermillion, old, and peeling. With the endless darkness around, the building looked like a giant beast lying in the dark, ready to devour.


    Before entering, everyone felt an inexplicable fear. Unlike Western gore horror, this was a kind of Chinese horror that gave strong psychological hints.


    The unseen Specter was often the most terrifying.


    Seeing the Old Mansion, everyone instantly thought of many terrifying images hidden deep in their minds. For example, a bride might be standing inside the Old Mansion. She wore a red wedding dress, a red veil, and embroidered shoes, standing still like a zombie.


    Just thinking about such a scene made them all shiver¡ªeverybody except for Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao.


    Fang Xiu would only get excited by such a scene, and so would Zhao Hao, although it would be a different kind of excitement.


    Fang Xiu kicked open the Old Mansion''s door, revealing an endless, deep darkness inside.


    He ignored everything, his eyes calm as he walked into the Old Mansion. Everyone followed closely behind.


    The Old Mansion was deep, with dozens of eerie rooms lined up. In the courtyard was a crooked tree, a dry well, and fallen leaves all over the ground.


    Apart from that, there was nothing else.


    "Xiu, this Specter seems different from the previous two. The first two appeared directly, but this one seems to be hiding," Yang Ming said, his tone serious.


    Fang Xiu''s lips curled into a sinister smile. "Hide and seek, huh? Make sure I won''t find you."


    For some reason, his calm voice made everyone feel that the Old Mansion wasn''t that scary after all.


    The next moment, a shocking scene urred. Fang Xiu''s ck hair suddenly turned into long silver hair, and countless strands began to float, defying gravity.


    Then, like millions of silver snakes, the hair spread out like a tide in all directions.


    The silver hair spread into every room and every corner of the Old Mansion, covering everything. It looked like a giant spider web in the darkness.


    Everyone stepped back, avoiding the snake-like silver strands.


    Hei Jiji watched the impressive scene, her eyes glowing with excitement. She murmured, "That is so cool! I must dye my hair silver!"


    In the next second, Fang Xiu suddenly turned his head. His calm gaze pierced through the darkness, looking at the old well in the yard.


    Countless silver strands floated around the well. These strands seemed to sense a threat, always circling the well.


    "Found you!"


    WHOOSH!


    The silver strands shot into the well like wild pythons.


    Momentster, the hair pulled back, dragging out a figure¡ªa humanoid Specter.


    This Specter was strange, with skin dry like tree bark yet showing a hint of paleness. His eyes had rusty nails stuck in them, and his ears too. It was as if he had suffered brutal punishment in life.


    He remained still, wrapped in silver hair, like a corpse.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t let him y tricks. He pulled out the scalpel, ready to act.


    Just then, the Specter moved. He raised his dry arm, reaching for his eyes.


    SQUELCH!


    He pulled out the nails from his eyes, revealing blood-red eyes. These eyes had no pupils, only holes left by the nails, and there was foul-smelling blood slowly oozing out.


    Everyone tensed up, knowing a fight could break out at any moment.


    In an instant, something terrifying happened. Everyone''s vision went ck¡ªthey could see nothing. They were plunged into deep darkness without a glimmer of light.


    Even Fang Xiu couldn''t see. He tried to activate his Blood Pupil, but it failed. It was as if he had gonepletely blind.


    He frowned slightly, _''What kind of attack is this? When the Specter opens his eyes, everyone is plunged into darkness?''_


    "I can''t see!"


    "Me neither!"


    "I think I''m blind!"


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai panicked. Not just them, even Bai Qi felt uneasy. Facing a terrifying Specter while blind made everyone feel utterly vulnerable."

 Chapter 204: Everyones Dead Except Yang Ming

    Chapter 204: Everyone''s Dead Except Yang Ming


    "Locate the sound and move quickly! If he pulls out the copper nails from his ears, we might not even hear anything!" Hei Jiji shouted anxiously.


    Her judgment was sharp and correct. After all, when this Specter pulled out the copper nails from his eyes, everyone went blind. Based on that, it wasn''t hard to guess that if he pulled out the nails from his ears, everyone would likely go deaf.


    If they lost both sight and hearing, they would be pretty much defenseless,pletely losing the ability to perceive the outside world.


    Before anyone could react, Fang Xiu had already made his move the moment they went blind.


    His silver hair strandsshed out at the Specter furiously.


    However, with a loud snap, the Specter broke all the silver strands wrapped around him.


    Fang Xiu had anticipated this. He knew that this Specter had such terrifying means, making everyone blind, so he certainly wouldn''t be subdued easily.


    Fang Xiu stepped forward, and in the endless darkness, he could only feel the cold scalpel in his hand.


    _SWISH!_Relying on his exceptional hearing, Fang Xiu shed out, but it hit nothing.


    The others also attacked based on the sounds they heard.


    In the darkness, a mix of hot and cold air flowed, along with the sound of several des slicing through the air.


    The hot and cold must be from Hei Jiji, given her ice and fire abilities. The des came from Bai Qi and Yang Ming.


    Soon, the sound of a de cutting into flesh sounded.


    Following that was Bai Qi''s angry cursing.


    "Idiot! You cut me!"


    Just like that, Bai Qi got injured again. Everything quickly descended into chaos.


    There were too many people, and only one Specter. Even though everyone''s hearing was far beyond normal, it was still difficult to distinguish which sound came from the Specter and which from their teammates.


    However, soon they didn''t have to worry about that.


    The Specter pulled out the nails from his ears, and the world instantly became silent, dead silent.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai screamed in fear, but they couldn''t hear their own voices.


    Losing both sight and hearing meant losing about ny percent of their sensory input from the outside world.


    Now, they were left with smell, taste, and touch. These senses weren''t very useful for locating the Specter.


    Unlike Ma Xingbang, they didn''t have the ability to smell the Specter. Taste was even more useless¡ªthey couldn''t exactly lick the Specter.


    The only useful sense left was their touch.


    In absolute silence andplete darkness, even Fang Xiu found it difficult to move. However,pared to the others, he was much better off because he could use the hair Specter''s ability.


    Fang Xiu''s extremely fine silver strands spread out around him like a web, allowing him to sense any disturbances in the threads, just like a spider.


    However, this type of sensing was slowerpared to seeing directly. In a life-or-death situation, even a split-second dy could mean the difference between living and dying.


    Fang Xiu instantly sensed movement at his ten o''clock, about ten meters away, where his strands were disturbed.


    He could clearly tell it was the Specter, not a person. The Specter''s power was unmistakable as it interacted with the silver strands.


    His scalpel turned into a sh of silver light, slicing towards the Specter.


    Unfortunately, it missed, as the Specter moved very quickly.


    Suddenly, he felt movement behind him.


    Fang Xiu was ready to attack, but the signal from his strands had a fatal timeg.


    Just as he was about to turn, he felt a cold sensation on his back, followed by intense pain.


    He could clearly feel a deep w mark on his back, almost reaching his bones. If it weren¡¯t for his bones, the attack might have torn through his heart.


    Worse still, the w mark carried a strong corrosive force, like acid, rapidly eating away at his body.


    Despite the severe injury, Fang Xiu''s expression remained calm.


    Ignoring the pain, he attacked in the direction from which the Specter had struck.


    But once again, he missed.


    Meanwhile, thanks to his pain-absorbing ability, the deep w mark on his back healed instantly.


    However, the corrosive force in the wound consumed a significant amount of his Spiritual Energy during the healing process.


    Soon, a second wound appeared on his body, this time on his neck.


    A wave of pain hit him as his neck was nearly severed, with only a bit of flesh connecting his head to his body.


    In the next moment, a sh of light appeared. The flesh and sinews in his neck intertwined rapidly, knitting back together and restoring his neck to its original state.


    Although the wound healed, it drained arge portion of his Spiritual Energy.


    Then, the Specter moved on. Realizing how hard it was to kill Fang Xiu, he targeted the others instead.


    The first was the seemingly weakest Zhao Hao. Since it wasn''t midnight yet, Zhao Hao was still very weak.


    _SWISH!_


    With just one swipe, Zhao Hao''s neck was sliced open.


    His head was cut offpletely and rolled on the ground like a ball. His eyes were wide open, dying with a look of disbelief.


    Zhao Hao''s death was silent, mainly because no one could hear or see anything. Only Fang Xiu sensed it. His silver strands spread throughout the Old Mansion, so he clearly felt Zhao Hao being beheaded.


    _WHOOSH!_


    His scalpel shot out toward where Zhao Hao had died, but it missed again.


    Soon, the Specter targeted Liu Shuai next.


    Even though Liu Shuai had the ability to teleport, without his senses, he had no idea where the danger wasing from. He didn''t know which direction to teleport to.


    Naturally, Liu Shuai met his end. The Specter pierced his heart, and shattered pieces of it, along with blood, spilled all over the floor.


    Liu Shuai didn''t die immediately. He screamed in agony, but in this silent world, no one could hear his cries, not even himself.


    As the Specter continued its rampage, Bai Qi was killed too.


    In the end, only Fang Xiu, Yang Ming, and Hei Jiji remained alive.


    Fang Xiu survived by absorbing pain and healing his wounds; Yang Ming relied on his Corpse Bead; and Hei Jiji had an interesting method¡ªshe kept deceiving herself, suggesting that she wasn''t injured, thus numbing herself to the pain. However, judging by her heaving chest and pale face, she wouldn''tst much longer.


    Fang Xiu realized that, as they faced stronger Specters, the ones who survived were those with high tolerance for mistakes, the psychics who weren''t easily killed in one blow.


    Fighters like Bai Qi, with high attack power but low defense, had no room for error.


    If he encountered a Specter he could handle, he''d win in one strike. If not, he''d be taken down just as quickly.


    His battles were straightforward¡ªhe won without much excitement and lost without much pain.


    Before long, Hei Jiji also died. She exhausted all her Spiritual Energy and sumbed to fatigue.


    Fang Xiu followed, for the same reason.


    Yang Ming''s death was thest and most obvious because he was the chosen one. Perhaps he wouldn''t have died at all and might have even turned the situation around, but he didn''t get the chance to show it because Fang Xiu activated death reset.


    When the timeline reset, Fang Xiu stood before the eerie Old Mansion once more, choosing to enter with the same calm determination.


    He wouldn''t die in vain, and was now seeking revenge. Moreover, he had figured out how to defeat this Specter."

 Chapter 205: Dying Countless Times

    Chapter 205: Dying Countless Times


    "You all wait outside the Old Mansion. I''ll be right back," Fang Xiu said calmly to the group.


    They nodded, epting his decision without question.


    "Xiu, are you really going in alone? ording to the pattern, the Specter in here will be stronger than the ones before. If you go alone..." Hei Jiji expressed her concern.


    "Don''t worry about it," Zhao Hao responded casually. "Since Xiu says it''s fine, it must be. You don''t know him well yet, that''s why you have all these questions. Once you get to know him, you''ll understand. When you''re with Xiu, you don''t need to think or ask anything. Just trust himpletely."


    Hei Jiji was speechless. She looked at the others and saw they all agreed with Zhao Hao. For some reason, this blind trust made her a bit angry.


    "What if he told you to die?"


    Zhao Hao paused, then replied, "If that happened, it would mean there''s an even worse way to die waiting for me, so Xiu would be doing me a favor."


    Hei Jiji felt defeated by their unwavering trust. She was angry but also a bit envious. She might never trust someone sopletely. Sometimes, she didn''t even trust herself. After all, she often lied to herself.


    Fang Xiu ignored Hei Jiji''s reaction and walked into the Old Mansion alone.Inside for the second time, he headed straight for the dry well.


    SWISH, SWISH!


    Countless silver hairs danced like giant snakes pouring into the well. The next second, a Specter with nails in its eyes and ears was pulled out.


    SLASH!


    A silver lightning bolt shed in the gloomy mansion. The cold scalpel plunged into the Specter''s forehead.


    This time, Fang Xiu wanted to see if he could kill the Specter before it removed the nails from its eyes.


    However, his n failed. Just as the scalpel neared, bang! The nails in the Specter''s eyes shot out like bullets, deflecting the scalpel with great force.


    Then, Fang Xiu''s vision went ck, and he was blind again, surrounded by darkness.


    But he wasn''t surprised. He kept shing as the Specter broke free from the silver hairs and disappeared.


    Just as he tried to locate it by sound, two clear sounds rang out.


    The nails fell from its ears.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu lost his hearing.


    He was in the same situation as before. But this time, Fang Xiu didn''t use the hair Specter''s power.


    If he spread the silver hairs throughout the mansion to sense the Specter''s movements, he''d always be a step behind.


    Instead, he closed his eyes and stood still, waiting for the Specter''s attack.


    SWISH!


    The first strike came from behind, opening a huge wound on Fang Xiu''s back, flesh and bone exposed.


    He stood still, not fighting back, and the wound quickly healed. The second strike followed almost immediately, hitting his left arm.


    SWISH!


    His arm was cut off, but he still didn''t move.


    The third, fourth, and fifth strikes followed. The sixth strike, which hit his chest, split it open.


    Finally, Fang Xiu made his decision. But this time, he didn''t use his pain-absorbing ability. He simply stood still and died quietly.


    ¡­


    Fang Xiu entered the Old Mansion for the third time, positioning himself exactly as before, down to the millimeter.


    Silence and darkness enveloped him.


    The first strike was on his back, yet he remained still.


    The second strike was on his arm, and he didn''t react.


    Even when the fifth strikended, he didn''t move.


    Counting silently in his head, he anticipated the sixth strike, and before it couldnd, he struck with his knife, aiming directly at somewhere before him.


    SLASH!


    The sharp de seemed to pierce through steel. Simultaneously, Fang Xiu''s chest was cut open, blood gushing out, the wound sorge that his beating heart was visible.


    But Fang Xiu smiled because he had finally injured the Specter.


    A wave of excruciating pain exploded, and an inhuman scream of agony erupted from the Specter.


    Suddenly, a sinister smile appeared on Fang Xiu¡¯s face. His white teeth showed, his handsome face turning ferocious, like a cruel demon.


    "It will take you countless strikes to kill mepletely, yet I just need one to take you down."


    His terrifyingughter echoed in the gloomy Old Mansion.


    Then, he twisted the scalpel, stirring it inside the Specter. All the pain he had absorbed from the countless deaths erupted within the Specter.


    WHOOSH!


    His vision returned, and he heard the most beautiful sound in the world¡ªthe Specter¡¯s scream of pain.


    He had endured all those attacks, waiting for this moment.


    Fang Xiu had let himself be attacked to memorize the Specter¡¯s attack patterns. He didn¡¯t need to see or hear; he could still predict the Specter¡¯s moves, even if it meant dying a few times.


    Knowing the Specter''s every move, he could have counterattacked on the first strike.


    But Fang Xiu waited for the perfect angle. He couldn''t get fast enough to counter attacks from behind, and side attacks were no better.


    Only when the Specter attacked his chest, facing him directly, could Fang Xiund the fastest strike. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.


    This was his most confident strike. By timing it right, even if the Specter was faster, it wouldn''t matter.


    BANG!


    Overwhelmed by pain, the Specter copsed.


    Just as Fang Xiu was about to feel satisfied, the Specter¡¯s body disintegrated into a pile of yellow sand.


    A cold light shed in his eyes, and his dissatisfaction with the Specter Train and its unseen controllers grew.


    "

 Chapter 206: Strange Graves

    Chapter 206: Strange Graves


    When Specter disappeared, a slowly spinning white hole appeared at the bottom of the dry well.


    Fang Xiu nced at the white hole and then turned to leave the Old Mansion. He was heading to his next stop, the Graveyard.


    He had traveled through three stations and wanted to see what the final stop, the Lands Between, was all about.


    The challenges at the Old Mansion were much tougher than the first two stops. Fang Xiu had to activate death reset several times, otherwise, his team would have beenpletely wiped out.


    He expected the Lands Between to be even more terrifying. Fang Xiu was ready to die many times to catch a glimpse of the Lands Between.


    They had faced three challenges on the train, and each time they seeded, they could choose to quit. His intuition told him that the Lands Between held some incredible secrets.


    It was like a trial in a fantasy novel. The harder the challenge, the greater the reward.


    Everything seemed to be deliberately arranged. Fang Xiu wanted to know who set this up and what their purpose was.


    He knew that at least a fourth-tier expert couldn''t do this. He was sure of this because he had fought with the Ace of Spades. Although the Ace of Spades'' domain was powerful, it didn''t have such astonishing methods.Soon, he walked out of the Old Mansion. The others saw hime out unharmed and weren''t surprised. It was as if they thought Fang Xiu had just gone out for dinner.


    In their minds, if Fang Xiu dared to enter the Old Mansion alone, he must have already seen the future and knew he could handle it by himself. In their eyes, once Fang Xiu decided to go in alone, the oue was already determined, with no unexpected events.


    Only Hei Jiji''s beautiful eyes sparkled, showing her admiration as she looked at Fang Xiu.


    "Get on the train," Fang Xiu said.


    Everyone nodded and boarded the Specter Train.


    On the train, Hei Jiji approached him.


    "Xiu, what was the Specter in the Old Mansion like? Was it strong? Did you get hurt?"


    Fang Xiu heard her fake concern calmly and said, "No need to worry about it. It''s already gone."


    After that, he closed his eyes to rest and prepared for the battle at the Graveyard.


    Hei Jiji pouted, dissatisfied, and said no more.


    Soon, they arrived at the fourth stop, the Graveyard. After getting off the train, they saw an endless graveyard before them.


    On the gray-whitend stood countless scattered graves.


    The distribution of these graves was very strange. Some were scattered with gaps of tens of meters, while others were clustered together in groups of five or six. This scene gave a very discordant feeling.


    The Graveyard was filled with a faint gray mist, making everything look hazy and unclear.


    Fang Xiu frowned when he saw this mist. He had seen simr mist before, on the Other Side.


    But the mist in the Graveyard was different from that on the Other Side. It was much lighter, as if it had been diluted several times.


    _''Could it be...?'' _Fang Xiu wondered.


    He had a suspicion. He walked straight into the Graveyard, stepping onto the gray-white ground. The others followed closely behind.


    Zhao Hao, a bit scared, asked, "Why is the mist gray? Is it poisonous?"


    Before anyone could answer, they heard a loud inhale from Fang Xiu. He took a deep breath, drawing in a lot of the gray mist.


    "Xiu, you..." Zhao Hao was stunned.


    Fang Xiu slowly exhaled a breath of foul air. "Yes, that''s the smell."


    He was almost certain that this faint gray mist hade from the Other Side because the two mists smelled the same. Inhaling it was like breathing in sulfuric acid, which corroded the internal organs severely.


    But Fang Xiu had adapted to the real Other Side, so this diluted mist was nothing to him.


    Suddenly, Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai started coughing violently. It sounded like they were going to cough up their lungs.


    They couldn''t say a word and just kept coughing. Soon, blood began to flow from their mouths and noses as they started coughing up blood.


    The faces of the others changed slightly.


    "The mist is poisonous!"


    Seeing Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai almost coughing their hearts out, Fang Xiu told them to go back. They needed to stay away from the Graveyard and wait by the Specter Train.


    "The mist has a strong corrosive effect on humans. Only third-tier psychics can resist it. Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, you two stay here and wait."


    Fang Xiu then led Yang Ming and the others deeper into the Graveyard. He needed to find out the connection between this ce and the Other Side.


    The Other Side was very important to him. It was his ultimate destination because wherever there were Specters, he would be there. The Other Side was the home of Specters, and therefore, his "home."


    Ever since he had seen the Other Side, Fang Xiu had set a goal. One day, he would conquer the Other Side!


    As they went deeper, the gray mist became thicker, and even Yang Ming and the others started coughing asionally.


    Fang Xiu knew that third-tier psychics couldn''t survive in the real Other Side. The reason Yang Ming and the others could enter the Graveyard was not because they were strong enough, but because the mist here was rtively thin.


    If this were the real Other Side, everyone else would die, except for him.


    Even Hei Jiji, who could deceive herself, would eventually run out of Spiritual Energy and die.


    To survive in the Other Side, there were only two possibilities.


    One was to be strong enough to ignore the gray mist. So far, third-tier psychics couldn''t achieve this, and it was uncertain if fourth-tier psychics could.


    The second option was to be Specterized. Since the Other Side was the home of Specters, one could survive there by bing a Specter.


    There was no other way.


    The Graveyard had the mist from the Other Side, but it was very thin.


    Fang Xiu guessed that the further they went, the closer they got to the Other Side, which was why there was a faint mist.


    _''What is the final stop, the Lands Between? Could it be another name for the Other Side?'' _


    Fang Xiu needed to see it for himself.


    They all walked carefully, observing their surroundings with intense focus. They were tense for two reasons.


    First, the mist alone was so powerful, which meant the Specters ahead would be even stronger. Second, Fang Xiu hadn''t yet said the words that would reassure everyone, ''I have seen the future.''


    This phrase was like a magic pill. No matter how dangerous the environment or how powerful the Specters were, hearing these words would calm everyone down.


    "Look, it seems like every tombstone has a name," Hei Jiji said, pointing to a nearby tombstone.


    Everyone looked and saw the inscription: "Zhou Zhennan''s Grave."


    No one recognized the name.


    They looked at the surrounding tombstones, each with a name: Chen Yongjun, Song Xiangrong, Yang Shufen, Li Fangfang, Chen Jianguo.


    "Does anyone else feel like these names sound very old-fashioned?" Hei Jiji asked, surprised.


    "Could these be graves of people who died a hundred years ago?"


    "That''s very likely. The previous three stops all had a historical feel. Now these names too. Could we have traveled back in time to a hundred years ago?" Yang Ming asked, strangely excited.


    "Idiot, what are you so happy about?" Bai Qi scolded.


    Yang Ming chuckled, "Traveling back a hundred years, that''s time travel! With our modern knowledge, going back a hundred years would be like an ace strike. With our understanding of history, bing the world''s richest person would be easy!"


    Everyone was a bit speechless. Yang Ming''s focus was always different from others.


    Hei Jiji even rolled her eyes helplessly. "Is he really your leader? If your Greenvine Branch has someone like him for a leader and still survives, you are incredibly lucky."


    Yang Ming was slightly taken aback. "Huh, how do you know I''m always the luckiest one? Have you heard of me?"


    Hei Jiji just sighed.


    Fang Xiu ignored the bickering and continued walking deeper into the Graveyard.


    Suddenly, he stopped. His pupils widened, and his gaze fixed on a particr tombstone.


    "Xiu, what''s wrong? Why did you stop?" Yang Ming asked in surprise.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t answer. He continued to stare intently at the seemingly ordinary tombstone.


    The tombstone had a fewrge characters engraved on it.


    "The Grave of Zhou Qingfeng."

 Chapter 207: Im Zhou Qingfeng

    Chapter 207: I''m Zhou Qingfeng


    "Zhou Qingfeng''s grave? Is Zhou Qingfeng dead?"


    Fang Xiu suddenly thought of the information that Ace and the King of Spades had revealed to him before¡ªZhou Qingfeng had disappeared, and they didn''t know where he had gone.


    "So, is he dead?" Fang Xiu felt it was unlikely. Zhou Qingfeng dared to plot against the chosen one, and he could control ss S Specters. It didn''t seem possible that he would die here.


    ''Could it be someone with the same name?'' Fang Xiu wondered.


    The others noticed that Fang Xiu was not responding and became curious. They followed his gaze and were immediately shocked.


    "Zhou Qingfeng''s grave? Zhou Qingfeng is dead?" Yang Ming was stunned.


    Even the stoic Bai Qi was equally shocked.


    After their experience at the Green Mountain Mental Hospital, no one knew better than them how terrifying Zhou Qingfeng was.


    They had encountered two ss S Specters in the mental hospital alone, not to mention the many other Specters they hadn''t faced. And they were all Zhou Qingfeng''s creations.They couldn''t believe that someone who could create ss S Specters had died so quietly here.


    Hei Jiji looked curiously at everyone and then at Zhou Qingfeng''s grave. She asked, "Who is Zhou Qingfeng? Is he your friend? Why are you so shocked to see this grave?"


    Yang Ming took a deep breath and exined, "Although we haven''t seen the real Zhou Qingfeng, we''ve seen the ss S Specters he created."


    "What?" Hei Jiji was instantly shocked, her mouth slightly open. "He created ss S Specters? Did I hear that right? Can ss S Specters be created by humans? Are you joking?"


    However, no one wasughing; they all looked serious.


    Seeing this, Hei Jiji felt a chill in her heart. She couldn''t imagine that there was someone in this world who could create ss S Specters. That was beyond human capability.


    ss S Specters were the highest level of Specters in the world. Without control, a ss S Specter could destroy a nation.


    "Could it be someone with the same name?" Bai Qi asked seriously.


    "Whether it is or not, we''ll know by digging it up," Fang Xiu replied and began digging the grave.


    He was going to dig up Zhou Qingfeng''s grave.


    Hei Jiji was a bit worried. The Graveyard was so terrifying that digging up a grave might cause some bad consequences.


    But she remembered the trust everyone had in Fang Xiu and didn''t stop him in the end. She thought that perhaps he had seen the future, which made him so sure.


    Fang Xiu''s silver hair grew and gathered, drilling into the grave. Soon, a big hole was dug in the grave.


    Inside the hole was a coffin, a very ordinary wooden coffin. It was so ordinary that it didn''t seem like it could hold a powerful person''s body.


    But when he saw the coffin, Fang Xiu had a feeling. He felt that Zhou Qingfeng''s body was inside, and this feeling grew stronger.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu reached out and gently grasped the side of the coffin. Yang Ming and the others watched him nervously, curious to see if Zhou Qingfeng was inside.


    The next second, the answer was revealed.


    BANG!


    Fang Xiu lifted the coffin lid, revealing what was inside.


    A persony quietly inside, or more urately, a corpse. The body looked fresh, as if it had been preserved. It looked more like someone sleeping than a dead person.


    Seeing the person in the coffin, they were all shocked.


    The person inside was indeed Zhou Qingfeng.


    He was dressed in a well-fitted, vintage suit, wearing a gentleman''s hat, and an old-fashioned pair of sses, looking like someone from thest century. He appeared to be at peace, as if he were merely sleeping.


    "It''s really Zhou Qingfeng!?" Yang Ming stared at the body. He had seen Fang Xiu transform into this face, and he was sure he couldn''t be mistaken about someone so mysterious.


    Fang Xiu gazed at Zhou Qingfeng''s body for a long time, examining every detail. All the details were identical to the real Zhou Qingfeng.


    _''Could Zhou Qingfeng really be dead? This ce seems like a ce from a hundred years ago, and Zhou Qingfeng''s clothes are also from that time. Did he die a hundred years ago? And his body didn''t change for a century? No, that''s not right!''_


    He recalled the information he had gotten from Ace and the King of Spades. Though it was indirectly obtained, it was clear from their tone that Zhou Qingfeng had disappeared, but not for a century.


    If he had been gone for a hundred years, it would mean Ace and the King of Spades were over a hundred years old, which was unlikely. Ace and the King of Spades were clearly from modern times.


    Moreover, while the facilities at Green Mountain Mental Hospital were old, they still had sma TVs, which were not from a century ago, but from decades ago.


    Fang Xiu considered two possibilities. One, this body was not Zhou Qingfeng but perhaps a substitute. In a world with Specters, psychic abilities were varied and strange. Creating an exact copy of oneself wasn''t something extraordinary.


    The other possibility was that the body in the coffin was the real Zhou Qingfeng, and the President of Green Mountain Mental Hospital wasn''t. He had merely assumed Zhou Qingfeng''s identity for some reason.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu took out a scalpel and stabbed it into Zhou Qingfeng''s neck.


    Everyone was startled by his sudden action.


    Looking at the scalpel in the neck, Fang Xiu frowned. He had used the power of pain, but Zhou Qingfeng had no reaction, and no blood flowed from the neck.


    It seemed the person was really dead; this was indeed a corpse."

 Chapter 208: The End of an Era

    Fang Xiu frowned, his mind wondering if these were Zhou Qingfeng''s final words before his death.


    "Who took him down? If someone managed to kill such a powerhouse, just how terrifying must they be?"


    With a deep breath, Fang Xiu continued reading.


    <em>"I buried myself in the Graveyard, hoping to warn future generations."</em>


    Fang Xiu''s frown deepened. "Bury himself in the Graveyard? How can a dead man bury his own body?"


    <em>"To those reading this, heed my warning: the Specters can never be defeated. Humans cannot triumph over them.</em>


    <em>You mightugh at me or call me weak. After all, those who chose this path do so to battle the Specters at the space nodes.</em>


    <em>But, as pessimistic as it sounds, my words hold an unchanging truth. I was once like you, filled with passion, aiming to save our copsing world and stop the chaos. And I did.</em>


    <em>I followed our ancestors, sealed channel, and ended the Specter era. I seperated the two worlds and granted humanity a hundred years of peace.</em>


    <em>Back then, I believed my mission was to vanquish the Specters and conquer the Other Side.</em>


    <em>Reflecting now, it seems ridiculous.</em>


    <em>After the separation, I ruled the Lands Between, eradicating any Specters that dared to invade. Over time, my power grew, and with it, my arrogance.</em>


    <em>I even thought humans could counterattack the Other Side. So, I rallied the strongest among us, thousands swore an oath, and we charged into the Other Side.</em>


    <em>But they all perished... everyone died... It was then I understood our weakness before the Specters.</em>


    <em>We only managed to repel them because the space nodes were too small for the powerful Specters to cross into our world.</em>


    <em>Compared to the Specters, humans are like ants, and ants can never hope to destroy them. It¡¯sughable, trulyughable!"</em>


    Fang Xiu fell silent after reading that.


    Yang Ming and the others nearby, however, were in an uproar.


    "Zhou Qingfeng imed he ended the Specter era and brought a hundred years of peace to the human world!? How is that possible!? The one who created countless Specters was once a savior?" Yang Ming shouted in shock.


    Hei Jiji was even more incredulous. Her small, red lips parted in disbelief.


    Even Bai Qi, usually quiet and cold, was stunned. Known for his silence, he suddenly spoke at length, "Is this the real story behind the missing hundred years of history? Specters and psychics only appeared in modern times; a hundred years ago, there were no signs of Specters.


    "If this ount is true, it means Zhou Qingfeng eradicated all Specters from the world a hundred years ago and led a group of psychics to their deaths. Yet, such a person dered that humans can never defeat the Specters. He called humans ants before the Specters. It''s hard to imagine the horrors Zhou Qingfeng and all the human warriors faced on the Other Side."


    His words echoed his deep shock.


    Despite everyone giving their two cents, Fang Xiu remained silent. He stared intently at the word "ants" and then, unexpectedly,ughed.


    "Ants? Whether humans or ants, it doesn''t matter. The important thing is, as long as I am alive, the Specters must die!"


    Fang Xiu didn''t care how strong Zhou Qingfeng was or how terrifying the Specters might be.


    No matter how powerful the enemy, he would seek revenge. Perhaps he might die on this path or encounter a Specter that even his ability to reset from death could not defeat, but that didn''t matter.


    He couldn''t let the Specters go just because they were formidable. The hatred from being killed hundreds of times was not easy to forget.


    If a person could forgive everything, then he deserved everything awful he experienced.


    "There''s more writing on the back," Hei Jiji eximed.


    Fang Xiu paused, then flipped the parchment over.


    It read, _"I am Zhou Qingfeng. God''s favor made me think I was unique until I stepped onto the Other Side.


    <em>There, a weeping bride brought storms of blood, and twisted Specters cried incessantly.</em>


    <em>I lived again, thinking I had seen the highest view.</em>


    <em>I believed I could reach the top, but then I saw the world-devouring Taotie.</em>


    <em>Only then did I understand what true supremacy was.</em>


    <em>The Wedding God tore my heart and lungs, and angels dismembered my flesh and bones.</em>


    <em>Human strength at its peak was just a remnant of despair!"</em>


    Reading this, Fang Xiu''s pupils suddenly contracted.


    <em>''Fate? Taotie? Wedding God? Angels!?''</em>


    In his mind, he envisioned three terrifying figures: the world-devouring Taotie on the Other Side, the bride in a wedding robe standing tall in the sky, and the huge, blood-eyed angel with white, blood-streaked wings hanging high above!


    Fang Xiu never expected Zhou Qingfeng to have such a past. He thought the man was just the president of Green Mountain Mental Hospital, a mad scientist capable of creating ss-S Specters. He never imagined Zhou Qingfeng was the chosen one of the previous era, who sessfully ended an entire Specter era. The extent of his power was beyond words.

 Chapter 209: Fishman

    Chapter 209: Fishman


    All the psychics in the worldbined couldn''t match these three. Fang Xiu, having faced this scenario countless times, knew it well. The gap between their strength wasn''t just vast, it was likeparing ants to gods.


    Judging by what he saw, Fang Xiu assumed that Zhou Qingfeng had led the human powerhouses to the Other Side. Their first encounter was with the Weeping Bride and the twisted Specter, leading to aplete defeat. But somehow, Zhou Qingfeng might have had some resurrection ability, or maybe he survived because he was the chosen one.


    Back then, he still had hope. He believed he could grow stronger, reach the top, and defeat the Specters. This made sense since he was the strongest human of thest era. Someone who had reached such heights wouldn''t give up easily.


    However, after regaining his confidence, he faced Taotie, the Wedding God, and the Angel. These Specters, powerful like gods, tore him apart like a toy. He finally lost all hope and understood the true gap between humans and Specters. This led him to believe that humans could never defeat Specters.


    So, the big question was, did Zhou Qingfenge back to life and establish the Green Mountain Mental Hospital, or did someone else carry on his mission?


    Fang Xiu leaned toward thetter. He doubted anyone could survive after facing those powerful Specters, except maybe himself. And if he was right, this Graveyard was where Zhou Qingfeng and hisrades were buried.


    As for who buried them, it was probably someone who inherited Zhou Qingfeng''s will, maybe a descendant or a follower.


    Zhou Qingfeng was likely truly dead; otherwise, Yang Ming wouldn''t be the new chosen one. But this was all guesswork.


    With Fang Xiu''s current strength, it was hard to grasp the full extent of such beings'' capabilities.Or, perhaps Zhou Qingfeng really wasn''t dead.


    "He was once the chosen one," Yang Ming said, unusually low-spirited. Maybe he was thinking about himself. If the chosen one of the past failed, what about him?


    This led him to ask, "Xiu, can humans really not defeat Specters?"


    "Yes, we can."


    Yang Ming was slightly stunned, and there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Really?"


    Fang Xiu looked at him calmly and said, "I''ve seen the future."


    Yang Ming''s eyes widened, and a joyful grin spread across his face. "Hahaha, I knew it! I knew it!"


    In stark contrast, Bai Qi stayed silent. He knew Fang Xiu was lying.


    Fang Xiu was only a second-tier psychic, and his foresight was limited to short periods¡ªusually the same day or a few days ahead. Seeing the distant future and humanity''s victory was beyond his reach.


    Bai Qi nced worriedly at the beaming Yang Ming. He couldn''t tell if Yang Ming truly didn''t catch Fang Xiu''s lie or if he just chose to ignore it.


    People needed hope to keep going, even if it was false hope.


    What Bai Qi didn''t know was that Fang Xiu''s words were not predictions but beliefs. Fang Xiu firmly believed he would see such a future someday. If he didn''t, it would mean he had already disappearedpletely.


    "Look! The words on the parchment are disappearing!" Hei Jiji suddenly shouted.


    Everyone quickly turned to look. The writing on the parchment was slowly fading, just like it had on other parchments before.


    The strangest part was that Zhou Qingfeng''s body also started to disappear, gradually turning into dust.


    A breeze blew, and he vanished into the air, leaving no trace behind.


    This scene was eerily familiar. Anything rted to Zhou Qingfeng would disappear once discovered.


    Fang Xiu wondered if someone was trying to erase Zhou Qingfeng''s existence or if Zhou Qingfeng himself was doing this.


    After a moment of pondering, Fang Xiu decided to investigate the Lands Between. He suspected it was the spatial node Zhou Qingfeng mentioned, the border between the Other Side and reality. This could also exin the thin gray fog from the Other Side hovering over the Graveyard.


    But to enter the Lands Between, they had to defeat the Specter of the Graveyard first. Despite their long walk, they hadn''t encountered a Specter yet.


    "Keep moving deeper into the Graveyard," Fang Xiumanded.


    They set off again, heading further into the seemingly endless Graveyard. It was so vast that they walked for ages without seeing the end.


    There were always graves around them. If not for the increasingly thick fog, it felt like they were walking in ce.


    Suddenly, a cold wind blew, and the sound of a young girl''sughter echoed in their ears.


    "Who''s there?!" Hei Jiji was startled and nervously scanned the surroundings. Yang Ming and the others did the same.


    Only Fang Xiu remained calm. He was familiar with thisughing wind, a sound from the Other Side that mimicked a girl''sughter when it blew.


    "It''s the wind," Fang Xiu exined.


    Everyone was stunned._ ''The wind? In this world, there''s actually a wind that sounded like a Specterughing?''_


    Suddenly, Bai Qi started coughing violently. He covered his mouth and nose with his hand, and when he opened his palm again, there was bright red blood on it.


    "The gray fog is too thick, and the sound of the wind seems to have a corrosive effect on my body. I''ve been using Spiritual Energy to resist, but it can''tpletely protect me, and it consumes a lot of my Spiritual Energy."


    It was clear that Bai Qi was injured again, which wasn''t much of a surprise.


    "Bai, maybe you should go back and find Liu Shuai and the others?" Yang Ming suggested, worried.


    Hearing this, Bai Qi got angry. Ever since he didn''t be the team leader, he had beenpeting with Yang Ming but always falling behind.


    Yang Ming became the captain, while he was the vice-captain. Yang Ming broke through to the third tier first, and he did itter. Now that Yang Ming wasn''t leaving, he definitely wouldn''t either.


    "Hmph, it''s just a small injury."


    "Right, you''re used to getting hurt all the time."


    "What did you say, you bastard?! Want me to beat you up?!"


    After their argument, Bai Qi, who had been a bit down, was now fully energized.


    The group continued to move deeper into the Graveyard, and finally, they saw something different.


    In the depths of the gray fog sat an old, hunched figure,pletely still, like a statue. He was holding a fishing rod, fishing in the graveyard.


    Seeing this eerie scene, everyone became alert. Fang Xiu led the group closer, and they got a clearer look at the old figure.


    He looked like a corpse¡ªdry and stiff, with bluish skin covered in corpse spots. The fishing line from his rod was connected to a grave.


    Everyone found it unbelievable._ ''Is he fishing for corpses?''_"

 Chapter 210: Fishman

    Chapter 210: Fishman


    As the group pressed closer, Fishman sprang into action. He carefully raised his fishing rod, and the ground split open. A corpse was pulled up by the fishing line.


    This corpse was massive, towering at 1.9 meters and weighing over 250 kilograms, resembling a giant meatball.


    Despite the huge size, Fishman lifted the corpse effortlessly with one hand. With a flick of his wrist, the fishing line slipped away. The corpse stood firm on the ground.


    Amidst the confusion, the fat corpse suddenly opened his eyes, revealing gray, empty orbs.


    It let out an inhuman scream and charged at the group.


    They were stunned.


    "So this Specter''s power is controlling corpses?" Hei Jiji eximed, and worry spread across everyone''s faces.


    They were in the Graveyard, surrounded by corpses. All of them were the bodies of elite psychics from a century ago.


    They could only hope these corpses didn''t retain their past powers. If they did, survival seemed impossible.No one knew how strong the psychics from a hundred years ago were.


    The fat corpse rushed at them with surprising speed, covering dozens of meters in an instant.


    They couldn''t just stand there, waiting for their demise.


    Bai Qi was the first to act. He was the fastest, using his Extreme Speed ability to blur as he charged at the fat corpse.


    SWISH!


    His short sword, quick as lightning, struck.


    He aimed for the fat corpse''s neck, or rather, the fat around his neck, as there was no clear neck to target.


    The fat corpse roared and tried to catch Bai Qi''s sword with its huge hand, but Bai Qi was too quick.


    As the fat corpse reached for the sword, the de had already sunk deep into his neck.


    The short sword, made of Mind Steel, was infused with violent Spiritual Energy. The sharp de embedded itself in the fat corpse''s neck, but Bai Qi soon realized he couldn''t pull it out.


    "What?!" Bai Qi''s expression changed. He wondered what kind of body could mp down on a de with neck fat.


    Clearly, this was the fat corpse''s special ability.


    Now, the fat corpse''s hand was reaching for Bai Qi.


    Bai Qi tried to yank the sword free and dodge, but it was stuck like in a vice. He had no choice but to let go of the sword and quickly dodge, making the fat corpse miss.


    "Weapons seem useless against him! With this power, he must be a third-tier psychic!" Bai Qi said seriously.


    "Then use fists!" Yang Ming shouted, charging at the fat corpse with a fist like a cannonball.


    He punched the fat corpse hard in the stomach.


    But something strange happened. The fat corpse''s stomach suddenly caved in, swallowing Yang Ming''s entire right arm.


    Yang Ming was shocked and tried desperately to pull his arm out, but it was tightly gripped by the fat. He couldn''t free it.


    Also, the fat corpse grabbed Yang Ming''s waist with both hands and tried to pull him into his stomach.


    "Damn it!" Yang Ming was both scared and angry. He quickly put the Corpse Bead in his mouth, but half his body was already inside the stomach, wrapped in fat.


    At this moment, Hei Jiji took action.


    "If you can ignore physical attacks, then try this¡ªIce and Fire!"


    She opened her small, pale hands. mes appeared in her left hand, and a cold stream in her right.


    BOOM!


    Ice and fire struck the fat corpse''s body. Half of his body was burning, and the other half was covered in ice.


    Of course, Yang Ming was also within the attack range. However, with the Corpse Bead''s protection, he was unharmed. Taking advantage of the attack, he quickly pulled himself out and moved far away.


    "Big ck, you handle this fat corpse. Let him have a try on your Ice and Fire!" Yang Ming said to Hei Jiji. He was still trembling.


    Hei Jiji rolled her eyes and almost attacked Yang Ming out of anger. She wasn''t naive and understood Yang Ming''s sneaky and dirty implication. But with the enemy in front, she had to fight first. Only her powers could hurt the fat corpse.


    Since the fat corpse was dead, he felt no pain. Even with fire and ice on his body, he continued attacking with a stiff face. His body kept oozing oil, making sizzling sounds like roasting meat.


    Hei Jiji attacked from a distance, constantly dodging to keep away. She used Ice and Fire repeatedly, slowly breaking down the fat corpse''s body.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu kept his eyes on Fishman. The corpses were just appetizers; Fishman was the real target.


    SWISH!


    A strand of silver hair, tied to a scalpel, shot toward Fishman like a meteor.


    However, Fishman remained unmoved. As the scalpel approached, the ground at his feet rose, forming a high wall that blocked it.


    Then he swung his fishing rod, and the hook fell into another grave. With a gentle pull, another corpse appeared.


    This time, it was a woman with long hair and simple clothes. Her skin was pale, the kind of paleness that only the dead have.


    Suddenly, the woman opened her eyes, revealing gray, lifeless eyes.


    The woman stared directly at the crowd, and blood started flowing from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The blood was thick and foul-smelling, making her look like a demon from hell.


    The blood flowed more and more, gradually evaporating. Her blood turned into a blood mist, spreading outward and enveloping her.


    As the blood mist neared the group, their skin began to sting, apanied by a sizzling sound.


    Everyone''s faces changed. "The blood mist is poisonous."


    Bai Qi quickly dodged, moving out of the blood mist''s range.


    Yang Ming, with the Corpse Bead''s protection, faced it head-on.


    "I''ll handle her. You guys deal with that Fishman. We can''t let him raise more corpses!" he shouted, determination in his voice."

 Chapter 211: The Real Foreseer

    Chapter 211: The Real Foreseer


    Fang Xiu and Bai Qi knew they had to stop Fishman from summoning more corpses. No one wanted to find out just how many bodies Fishman could control.


    If it could manage all the corpses in the Graveyard, even all Investigation Bureau headquarters membersbined wouldn''t stand a chance.


    The top psychics of thest era had already ventured to the Other Side to attack the Specterir. No one knew how that fight ended, but just reaching the Other Side was impressive. If the elites from that era fought the current ones, the current psychics would lose for sure.


    The Graveyard''s thin gray mist could harm third-tier psychics, meaning those at third-tier and below couldn''t go to the Other Side; they''d die if they tried.


    This meant the powerful ones buried here were at least third-tier or higher. They probably didn''t use their domains because they were corpses.


    Even though they were dead, their controlled bodies likely couldn''t use all their strength from when they were alive.


    WHOOSH! WHOOSH!


    Fang Xiu and Bai Qi turned into two blurred shadows, attacking Fishman from the left and right.


    But just as they were about to get close, a tall earth wall rose from the ground, blocking their way. They kept changing directions, but the wall kept rising, always blocking their path.At this moment, Fishman acted again, throwing his hook towards a nearby grave, and another corpse was pulled out.


    It was a middle-aged farmer with a slightly slouched body. His face had some wrinkles, and he held a worn-out ax for chopping wood.


    As soon as the farmer appeared, his eyes widened in anger. He let out a roar, and his veins bulged, muscles swelling crazily.


    In the blink of an eye, he turned into a two-meter-tall muscr monster. His face was no longer simple and honest but full of rage and violence, as if he had gone berserk.


    Roaring, he raised his ax and charged at the nearest person, Bai Qi.


    Bai Qi''s eyes turned cold, and his short knife shed like lightning.


    A loud metallic sh sounded.


    Bai Qi felt an irresistible force hit him, sending him flying. But he reacted quickly, twisting his body mid-air tond steadily.


    However, the attack still made his hand holding the short knife bleed, his grip shaky.


    The pain ignited his fighting spirit. He knew he couldn''t match the farmer in strength, but in speed, he was confident he could beat anyone.


    WHOOSH!


    Bai Qi''s figure split into three, creating three afterimages that attacked the farmer from three directions.


    The farmer couldn''t defend in time, managing to block only one of the afterimages. The remaining two left him with deep gashes.


    But being a corpse, the farmer felt no pain. He roared louder, his muscles swelling further and turning faintly red. He grew even stronger and faster.


    The battle intensified.


    Fang Xiu, hiding behind the earth walls, crept closer to Fishman.


    He had tried attacking the walls, but even his scalpel couldn''t pierce them.


    Slowly inching closer, Fang Xiu finally reached Fishman. His scalpel was aimed straight at Fishman''s neck.


    The scalped moved as fast as lighting, but it couldn''t prate Fishman''s neck.


    Fang Xiu frowned, staring at Fishman''s neck as grayish-white earth ked off.


    _''Is Fishman made of earth?''_


    Before he could figure it out, Fishman moved again, summoning another corpse.


    This time, it was a young man in a** Zhongshan suit***. He looked ordinary but had a schrly air, like a student from thest era.


    The young man opened his grayish-white eyes and shook his right hand, revealing a ck pen. He gently removed the cap, exposing a sharp tip.


    Fang Xiu ignored the young man. He noticed that Fishman had stopped summoning corpses and stood still like a statue.


    He had a guess that Fishman summoned a corpse for each enemy and that defeating them would mean passing the test.


    As Fang Xiu pondered, the young man lifted his pen, striking like a viper.


    The pen tip got closer, growingrger in Fang Xiu''s eyes, as if it would pierce his eye in the next second.


    But Fang Xiu simply tilted his head slightly, dodging the attack.


    Unexpectedly, the pen tip immediately changed direction, striking at him again.


    SWISH!


    A cut appeared on Fang Xiu''s pale face, blood slowly oozing out.


    But the next second, a sh of light healed his wound.


    He raised his scalpel like lightning, shing with the young man.


    The sound of metal shing filled the air around them.


    Fang Xiu felt the difficulty of dealing with the young man. He summoned the scalpel again, chaotic Specter power surging into him. His silver hair flew wildly, and his Blood Pupil glowed intensely red.


    The Blood Pupil''s attack was ineffective against the dead, so Fang Xiu relied on the scalpel''s power and his Specter hair to fight.


    Specter hair struck like countless venomous snakes, unleashing a storm of attacks. Yet, none of the hair''s strikes hit the young man.


    The young man''s strength and speed weren''t exceptional, and Fang Xiu should have easily overpowered him. However, his attacks never reached the young man.


    The young man seemed to foresee each move, gracefully dodging every attack as if he were dancing in a storm, untouched by a single drop.


    Fang Xiu frowned. Others might not notice, but he recognized the young man''s ability¡ªtrue foresight.


    The young man could foresee a few seconds into the future, allowing him to dodge in advance.


    Fang Xiu never expected that one day, as a false foreseer, he would face a real one.


    In battle, the ability to foresee the future was indeed troublesome. If one''s next move was entirely predicted, speed wouldn''t matter; the opponent could always evade.


    "Foresight, huh? But that''s not enough. In the face of absolute power, the only future you can foresee is your own death," Fang Xiu murmured calmly. He then spread his fingers and dragged his hand across his face. ck mes erupted, forming a ck fire mask on his face.


    The young man quickly retreated, sensing danger.


    "Oh? You foresaw your death? Then ept it calmly."


    As soon as Fang Xiu spoke, he vanished.


    When he reappeared, he was behind the young man.


    The young man seemed to have foreseen this too, but Fang Xiu''s speed overwhelmed him. Just as the young man began to react, Fang Xiu''s scalpel was already at his neck.


    With one swift sh, the young man''s head rolled to the ground.


    His body then copsed, merging into the earth.


    With the young man defeated, Fang Xiu immediately turned his attention to Fishman.


    But Fishman had already transformed into a pile of grayish-white earth, forming a small mound on the ground.


    At the same time, Hei Jiji had also finished her battle. She was panting heavily, clearly exhausted. Her opponent, the fat corpse,y on the ground, half-charred and half-frozen, before merging into the earth.


    Soon after, Yang Ming and Bai Qi brought good news as well, both having defeated their opponents.


    The farmer and the woman''s corpses had also merged into the earth.


    "Hahaha, Bai, you were slower than me. I finished my enemy first," Yang Mingughed loudly, hands on his hips.


    Bai Qi''s face was grim, teetering on the edge of fury.


    "Is this round over?" Hei Jiji asked with a hint of excitement.


    Fang Xiu, however, frowned slightly, looking at the ground beneath him, which was gradually turning ck.


    "No, it''s not over yet."


    "

 Chapter 212: Hei Jijis Real Name

    Everyone''s eyes followed Fang Xiu''s gaze, and their jaws dropped.


    "The soil on the graves is turning ck! What''s going on?"


    "Get back!" Bai Qi shouted, but it was toote. The soil, now pitch ck, began to rise on its own, as if it wanted to engulf everyone.


    Yang Ming, the slowest to react, found his feet quickly swallowed by the dirt.


    "Damn it, I can''t get my feet out!" Yang Ming struggled, his face reddening, but he couldn''t break free.


    He pulled out a short knife and tried to cut through the dirt. The de hit with a ng, as if striking steel.


    The ckened dirt was tougher than it looked.


    Bai Qi, moving swiftly, dodged the rising dirt. But without the ability to fly, he eventually had tond. The ckened earth spread as far as he could see.


    When he touched down, he faced the same fate as Yang Ming.


    Fang Xiu also couldn''t avoid it. With no ability to fly, he was ensnared by the dirt as soon as hended.


    The dirt didn''t stop at their feet; it kept rising. Before long, it covered their calves.


    It was clear they''d soon be buried alive, bing part of the Graveyard.


    Only Hei Jiji was spared.


    "I can fly, I can fly, I can fly!" she chanted to herself. And then, she did. She floated a meter off the ground, safe from the rising dirt.


    Just as she sighed in relief, her expression shifted dramatically.


    A powerful force, like intense gravity, yanked Hei Jiji back down.


    "Ah!" she screamed as the dirt swallowed her feet that was d in white canvas shoes.


    Now, everyone was trapped. The dirt continued to rise, like a relentless tide, ready to bury them all.


    Fang Xiu nced at the dirt now up to his calves. He unleashed the power of the Genesis Mask, and ck mes roared around him.


    <em>BOOM!</em>


    With a powerful burst, the dirt trembled and exploded away.


    But within seconds, more dirt surged back, covering Fang Xiu''s calves once more.


    Fang Xiu frowned, eyeing the seemingly endless ck dirt around them.


    He knew he couldn''t keep using his power this way. As a second-tier psychic, he needed to conserve his Spiritual Energy if he wanted any chance of escaping the Graveyard.


    "Is this the end?" Fang Xiu wondered, feeling the power of the ck dirt. It was like being trapped in the domain of a fourth-tier psychic.


    The entire Graveyard seemed to be the Fishman''s domain. If the Fishman was a Specter, then this ce should be called a Specter Zone.


    The power and range of this domain far surpassed the Ace of Spades'' domain.


    "Xiu, what do we do now?" Yang Ming asked, his voice shaky in the crisis.


    Fang Xiu shook his head. He hadn''t died so far, so he didn''t have a n.


    With his current strength, he couldn''t see a way out.


    This situation demanded raw power to break free, so death reset might be less useful here. Against the endless ck dirt, without overwhelming strength, escape seemed impossible.


    Suddenly, Bai Qi''s eyes hardened as he raised his short knife.


    Yang Ming was startled. "Bai, what are you doing?"


    "We can''t just sit here and wait to die," Bai Qi growled, gritting his teeth.


    Before Yang Ming could respond,_ _Bai Qi swung the knife. He groaned and fell heavily to the ground. Blood poured from his legs.


    Bai Qi had cut off his own legs. But it was futile. His death only came quicker.


    As Bai Qi copsed, he tried to prop himself up with his hands. But the ck dirt quickly engulfed his hands and then his entire body.


    Lying down, he was buried even faster.


    Bai Qi struggled in terror, but it was hopeless. He was buried alive.


    "Xiao Bai!" Yang Ming screamed in despair, unable to move or help.


    Soon, he too was swallowed by the dirt.


    Only Fang Xiu and Hei Jiji remained.


    Fang Xiu used the Genesis Mask''s power to hold back the dirt. He was being buried the slowest among them.


    Hei Jiji used her abilities to dy the dirt''s advance. However, she was just a third-tier psychic, and the dirt''s power was too strong.


    She could only stall hering death.


    Her power was weaker than Fang Xiu''s. She was buried up to her waist, while Fang Xiu was only buried up to his knees.


    Then, something eerie happened. Tombstones appeared where Bai Qi and Yang Ming were buried.


    The tombstones read "Bai Qi''s Grave" and "Yang Ming''s Grave."


    Small mounds of dirtpleted the graves.


    Fang Xiu''s expression shifted._ ''It''s automatic?''_


    It seemed Zhou Qingfeng had indeed buried himself. This scene suggested that once someoney down in the Graveyard, they were automatically buried.


    Compared to Fang Xiu''sposed demeanor, Hei Jiji was obviously panicking as she faced death.


    "Xiu, you''re so calm. Do you have a n?" she asked, her voice trembling.


    "No," Fang Xiu replied, his tone steady.


    If she weren''t on the brink of death, Hei Jiji might have been frustrated.


    <em>''If you don''t have a n, at least look worried. We''re about to die, can''t you show some concern?''</em>


    Hei Jiji rolled her eyes and asked, "But why aren''t you scared? Aren''t you afraid of dying?"


    "Death is a familiar friend of mine." His nonchnt response left Hei Jiji speechless.


    By now, the dirt had climbed to her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.


    As death loomed closer, Hei Jiji''s panic started to fade. eptance began to take over. When fate was unavoidable, the only thing she could do was to face it with calm.


    She nced at the newly formed graves of Yang Ming and Bai Qi and, she said to Fang Xiu, "Looks like I''ll be next. When I''m gone, can you check what name is on my grave?"


    Fang Xiu was taken aback.


    <em>''Does she really not know her own name?''</em>

 Chapter 213: Lies

    Chapter 213: Lies


    Hei Jiji''s delicate, fair face looked a bit gloomy.


    She gave a small smile. "Since I''m going to die anyway, I guess this will be the only time in my life I tell the truth. I don''t want to die with a mouth full of lies. You''ve probably guessed my ability by now. Yes, my ability is ''Lying.'' I can gather the power of lies by constantly deceiving others. The more people I deceive, the stronger my ability will be. Then, I can use this power to turn lies into reality. Of course, the more outrageous the reality, the more power it consumes, and the more Spiritual Energy it takes."


    Listening to Hei Jiji''s exnation, Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised at all. He had already figured it out from the way she acted.


    What he hadn''t expected was that her ability evolved through continuous deception. He always thought that her lying was just a personality w, like Zhao Hao''s lecherous nature.


    It turned out she never told the truth to umte the power of lies.


    "I grow stronger through lies, but I also lose myself in them. I''ve deceived so many people that sometimes I even deceive myself, to the point where I''ve forgotten who I really am. ''Hei Jiji'' is just one of the many names I''ve used. I''m not even sure if this appearance is my true one."


    As she spoke, a deeper sadness settled on Hei Jiji''s face, her lips forming a bitter smile.


    "You''re probably confused, right? How can lying make me forget my name and appearance? Because I''ve deceived so many people and been exposed many times, I''ve made a lot of enemies. I''ve had to change my identity over and over. I had to deceive myselfpletely, forget my past names and looks, to avoid being hunted down.


    "Psychics'' abilities are strange and varied; many can see through disguises. Even lie detectors can expose my lies. I have to thoroughly deceive myself, turning lies into reality, to avoid detection. "I''ve also encountered a Specter that can erase a person''s personality. To survive, I had no choice but to create one fake personality after another to sacrifice. That Specter erased my personality multiple times. Although I survived in the end, like Theseus''s ship, I can''t be sure if the personality left is my original one. The real me might have died long ago, and what remains is just an empty shell made of countless lies."


    Hei Jiji gave a grim smile as she spoke. Paired with her fake but beautiful face, it looked incredibly sorrowful, even making Fang Xiu feel a pang of sadness.


    Fang Xiu calmly asked, "So you might be a man?"


    Hei Jiji''s bitter smile stopped abruptly, and she was stunned. Her lips twitched uncontrobly, and the emotions she had painstakingly built up dissipated in an instant.


    "A woman! I''ve always been a woman! Even though I deceive myself and lie about many things, I''ve never lied about my gender! That''s my bottom line!" Hei Jiji shouted angrily. If she weren''t buried in the dirt, she would have desperately tried to prove it to Fang Xiu.


    "What kind of look is that? I''m a woman! And a very pretty one!" she insisted.


    Fang Xiu gave a nomittal hum.


    To Hei Jiji, it seemed like he still didn''t believe her. She grew more frantic, wanting to exin further. But by this time, the grave soil had covered her neckpletely and was starting to spread over her chin.


    A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, and she hurriedly said, "Fang Xiu! Find my name for me! Even though we''re both going to die, I still hope that in our final moments, someone can remember my name, even if it''s just for a moment. If you somehow survive, write my name on a piece of paper and burn it to..."


    Before she could finish, her words were cut off. The soil had covered her mouth, then her nose, eyes, and finally her head. Momentster, Hei Jiji waspletely buried, bing a mound in the earth, and a gravestone stood in front of it.


    Fang Xiu looked calmly at the gravestone. It read: "Tomb of Xiao Chuxia."


    Chuxia means ''early summer.''


    So, Hei Jiji''s real name was Xiao Chuxia.


    After just a nce, he shifted his focus back to observing the graveyard. The soil had already reached his chest. He looked around for a long time but still couldn''t find any way to break free.


    This was pure power suppression; without enough strength, he could only be buried alive.


    Realizing this, Fang Xiu stopped resisting.


    He put away the Genesis Mask and let himself be buried. Without the Specter''s power to counter it, the soil quickly piled up, and in just a moment, the ce Fang Xiu was buried in turned into a grave.


    Like the others, a gravestone appeared in front of it.


    However, buried alive, Fang Xiu couldn''t see his own name on the gravestone.


    As he was buried, the first sensation Fang Xiu felt was suffocation, followed by a sense of nothingness.


    His whole body was swallowed by the void, and the connection between his mind and body began to sever. Gradually, he lost awareness of his physical existence, and his consciousness started to blur.


    The third stop, the Old Mansion¡­


    Fang Xiu walked out of the Old Mansion with a calm expression, seeing Yang Ming and the others waiting outside.


    "Come in, all of you," he said.


    Everyone nodded without hesitation and followed Fang Xiu into the Old Mansion. Soon, they saw an ancient well inside the mansion, and a slowly rotating white hole had appeared at its location.


    "Let''s go, we''re leaving this ce," Fang Xiu said as he headed toward the white hole.


    He knew they weren''t ready to face the fourth stop. The Specter''s grave soil was too powerful for them to handle at their current strength, so he nned to return after breaking through to the third tier.


    "Xiu, why the sudden change of ns? Weren''t we heading to the next stop? Why are we going through the white hole now?" Xiao Chuxia asked curiously.


    Without looking back, Fang Xiu replied, "Because the next stop will kill us all."


    His calm words struck the group like a bolt from the blue. They never doubted Fang Xiu''s words; if he said the next stop would kill them all, it would.


    "Shit, I didn''t expect the Graveyard to be so dangerous! Everyone would die? Good thing you saw thising, Xiu, or we''d all be screwed," Yang Ming said, visibly shaken as if he''d just faced death.


    The others had simr expressions of relief and fear. Xiao Chuxia, on the other hand, still looked curious and somewhat uneasy.


    "Xiu, what kind of Specter is at the next stop that''s so strong?"


    Before Fang Xiu could answer, Yang Ming interrupted impatiently. "Big ck, why do you ask so many questions? Just follow Xiu. Let''s get out of here. The thought of us all dying in this ce makes me not want to stay a second longer."


    One by one, they jumped into the white hole, trusting Fang Xiupletely, regardless of what might lie beyond. Xiao Chuxia puffed out her cheeks in frustration, stomped her foot, and finally followed them through the hole."

 Chapter 214: Returning

    Chapter 214: Returning


    As everyone stepped into the white hole, they were enveloped in a gentle, all-epassing white light. It wasn''t harsh or blinding, just soft and pervasive.


    Liu Shuai shouted from within the light, "I can feel spatial fluctuations. It''s simr to when I teleport."


    Gradually, the white light dimmed, and they found themselves in a deep tunnel.


    The scene that greeted them was unexpected.


    The tunnel was packed with soldiers in specialbat uniforms, armed with submachine guns. Rows upon rows of dark barrels pointed straight at Fang Xiu and the others.


    Though surprised, no one panicked. With their current abilities, firearms posed little threat. For instance, Bai Qi could swiftly close the distance and take down the soldiers before they even had a chance to shoot.


    "Who are you? How did you get here?" a soldier demanded.


    Xiao Chuxia, noticing the insignia on the soldiers, quickly waved her hand, "Hold on, don''t shoot! We''re on your side. You¡¯re from the Special Operations Unit of the headquarters, right? We''re psychics here for the training."


    Despite her exnation, the soldiers kept their guns trained on them, waiting for orders.At that moment, a handsome man in a ck casual outfit stepped forward, eyeing Fang Xiu and the others with a mix of seriousness and caution.


    "I''m Wen Yang, an investigator from the headquarters. You¡¯re really here for training? Then tell me the full name of the Investigation Bureau."


    _''The full name?'' _Hei Jiji tried to speak up but hesitated, struggling to recall the awkwardly long title.


    "I got this," Yang Ming chimed in confidently. "It''s the Global Specter... uh, something... Attack and Defense Investigation Bureau!"


    The more he tried, the worse it got until hepletely botched it. "Can any of you remember the full name?" he asked, looking at the others.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai exchanged nces, both at a loss. Finally, Yang Ming scratched his head and offered a sheepish smile, "Investigator Wen, can we prove it another way? Maybe call the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau?"


    At that, Wen Yang burst outughing. "Haha, I was just joking. If anyone could recite the full name in one go, that''d be suspicious. It''s normal not to remember it."


    Wen Yang''sughter was warm and genuine, putting them at ease.


    "Joking?" Yang Ming echoed, still processing the shift in tone.


    "That''s right, just a joke," Wen Yang said with a chuckle. "Everyone recognizes the famous members from the Greenvine Branch: Captain Yang Ming, the world''s only second-tier psychic who solved Grade-S Specter events. And Fang Xiu, the Forseer, along with all of you who''ve dealt with Grade-S Specter events¡ªI''ve seen all your photos."


    Wen Yang continued smoothly, adding, "Oh, and **Miss Bai Jie***, the strongest psychic in Xihong." He made sure to acknowledge everyone. The guy was like a good toastmaster at a banquet, either recognizing all or none, never leaving anyone out.


    "Bai Jie?!" Zhao Hao eximed, his eyes nearly popping out as he looked at the pretty Xiao Chuxia.


    Xiao Chuxia shed a yful smile, "Sorry for lying. That was our first meeting, so I didn''t dare use my real name. I hope you don''t mind."


    "Who cares about that? I just need to know, is your real name Bai Jie? And your power is Ice and Fire?" Zhao Hao asked, his curiosity piqued.


    Xiao Chuxia, now Bai Jie, smiled innocently and blinked, "Yes, my name is Bai Jie. Is there a problem with that? I think it''s a nice name."


    Zhao Hao grinned strangely, "It''s a lovely name. I had a teacher named Bai Jie too."


    "Really?" Bai Jie asked, her eyes lighting up. "What did your teacher teach?"


    Zhao Hao''s expression turned awkward, and he stammered, unable to answer.


    Liu Shuai, grinning mischievously, jumped in, "What else? Biology, of course. You know, stuff like **''Spring is here, and it''s time to¡ª*''**"


    "Shut up! Would it kill you to keep your trap shut?" Zhao Hao quickly covered Liu Shuai''s mouth.


    Wen Yangughed heartily, "You''re getting along really well."


    Then, addressing Fang Xiu, he said, "Mr. Fang, this ce isn''t safe for a long stay. Why don''t we continue our chat in the car?"


    Clearly, Wen Yang had done his homework, knowing who led the group. Fang Xiu nodded in agreement.


    Wen Yang ordered the soldiers to lower their guns and led the group to a sleek ck luxury minivan, fully equipped with amenities like a refrigerator and a television.


    As they settled in, Wen Yang showed his credentials to everyone, confirming his identity. "There are drinks and alcohol in the fridge. I didn''t know your preferences, so I stocked a bit of everything. Please, help yourselves."


    "Wow, this is so nice! I''ll have an iced coke," Xiao Chuxia said, acting innocently. She grabbed a can and took a sip.


    But in reality, the c vanished the moment it touched her lips, never making it to her stomach.


    Xiao Chuxia, who often tricked others, was more cautious than most. She trusted no one, not even herself.


    She had only confessed the truth to Fang Xiu earlier because she was about to die.


    Everyone appreciated Wen Yang''s thoughtful preparations. They had encountered many entric psychics, so meeting someone so gentle and straightforward, especially from headquarters, was a pleasant surprise.


    Wen Yang began chatting with them. "If I''m not mistaken, you all just came out of a Specter Zone. The higher-ups are very concerned about you, especially Mr. Fang, so they sent me specifically to wee you. I''ve been waiting at the station for three days and only saw you appear today, so I guessed you must have entered a Specter Zone."


    _''Three days?''_ Fang Xiu thought to himself.


    It seemed the time on the Specter Train was different from the outside world. Or rather, the time flow in the Other Side was different from that in the human world.


    The Lands Between was a space node between the human world and the Other Side, so its time was also different. He clearly remembered that they had spent less than a day on the Specter Train, yet three days had passed in the human world."

 Chapter 215: Spiritual Energy Bullet

    Chapter 215: Spiritual Energy Bullet


    "Three days?" Yang Ming and the others eximed.


    "We went into the Specter Zone less than a day ago, but in the real world, three days have passed. No wonder we saw so many fully armed soldiers when we came out. Were they searching for us?"


    Wen Yang, still driving, nodded. "Yes, your sudden disappearance caused a huge stir at headquarters. They immediately sent out a lot of people to search the area for miles but found nothing.


    "Though the main force withdrew, some soldiers and I stayed behind to wait for you. Lucky we found you. Otherwise, the higher-ups would be furious. The country couldn''t afford to lose so many talented people at once.


    "As for the different time flow, it''s amon urrence. Many Specter Zones mess with human senses and make people lose track of time."


    Yang Ming''s face brightened slightly, "Looks like headquarters values me a lot, huh."


    "Idiot!" Bai Qi sneered, "Do you really think you''re the one they care about?"


    Yang Ming felt embarrassed and annoyed at being scolded in front of people from headquarters. He shot back, "I''m sure it wasn''t you either!"


    "Hmph! At least I have some self-awareness, unlike you."Sensing another argument brewing, Wen Yang quickly switched topics, "So, what happened to you all in the Specter Zone? With your abilities, you can handle Grade-S Specter events, yet you were trapped for three days in an unknown Specter Zone. This must be an extraordinary one. Do you mind sharing some details with me?"


    Yang Ming perked up, ready to brag, but Fang Xiu''s calm voice cut in, "I do."


    Wen Yang went silent.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t want to reveal any details about the Specter Train, so the others stayed quiet too.


    Wen Yang finally broke the silence with augh, "Sorry for that. The Specter Zone is dangerous, and you might have had some bad experiences. I understand you don''t want to talk about it.


    "Next, we''ll head to the hotel arranged by headquarters. Psychics from all over the country are staying there. Most psychics have odd temperaments, so we need special guards to prevent trouble. The headquarters is short on staff, so they arranged for everyone to stay together.


    "Oh, I already reported your safe return to the director. He said it¡¯ste and you just escaped danger, so he will meet you tomorrow. For now, get some rest. If you need anything, just contact me."


    Zhao Hao hesitated, feeling awkward about making his "special" request in front of everyone.


    As the conversation flowed, the car arrived at arge, remote hotel on the outskirts of town. Security was tight, with cameras everywhere and armed soldiers patrolling the grounds.


    Curiously, Yang Ming asked, "I wanted to ask earlier, why so many soldiers? There were also a lot in the tunnel. You knew there was a Specter event, yet you still sent regr people?"


    Wen Yang smiled, "Mr. Yang, don''t underestimate these soldiers. They may be regr people, but they''ve undergone special training to handle Specter events. Their guns are specially made and loaded with bullets crafted from Mind Steel and infused with Spiritual Energy. These bullets can hurt Specters."


    "Spiritual Energy bullets?" Everyone was immediately excited.


    "These bullets¡­ Can regr people fight Specters with them? If we encounter a Specter, we could just send the army to suppress it and we''ll be invincible?"


    Wen Yang shook his head regretfully, "I wish it were that simple. The production of Spiritual Energy bullets is too low. It''s limited by the amount of Mind Steel and the Spiritual Energy required. Psychics need to infuse the bullets with Spiritual Energy using a special method. There aren''t enough psychics in the country to make enough bullets to arm the entire army."


    "Oh, I see." Everyone felt a bit disappointed.


    Fang Xiu, however, was impressed. Headquarters was indeed well-resourced. They had developed Mind Steel to conduct Spiritual Energy, spiritual incense to suppress psychic breakdowns, and now even Spiritual Energy bullets. These were just the things on the surface. God knows what other powerful tools they had.


    "Everyone, let''s get out. For safety reasons, we need to go through a routine check before entering the hotel. Psychic abilities are diverse, so we must ensure no one is impersonating you, that you bear curses, and to check if your Spiritual Energy is close to losing control."


    Following Wen Yang''s lead, they walked into a checkpoint filled with medical staff in white coats and gas masks, along with a few psychics.


    They operated various precise instruments to check everyone, including lie detectors.


    An hourter, the checks wereplete.


    It took them some time, but no oneined. After all, they were at headquarters and would be meeting the director of the Investigation Bureau. Such checks were necessary.


    After the checks, Wen Yang guided them into the hotel. The interior was luxurious, with dark golden patterns carved into the floors and walls, giving the ce a regal vibe.


    Fang Xiu immediately recognized the dark golden patterns. It was Mind Steel!


    He was amazed and muttered to himself, "This is really extravagant. Using Mind Steel to build the hotel? Although it''s not entirely made of Mind Steel, just these carvings alone must have consumed a huge amount."


    Yang Ming and the others also noticed the Mind Steel and eximed in surprise.


    "So much Mind Steel? How much does this cost? I really want to scrape some off."


    Wen Yang smiled slightly, "Mr. Yang, please don''t do that. These Mind Steel patterns are specially made. They can defend against Specters. Damaging them is a crime."


    Yang Mingughed awkwardly, "I was just joking. Do I look like I''d do something like that?"


    "You do," Bai Qi said mercilessly from the side.


    Seeing the two about to argue again, Wen Yang quickly interjected, "Your rooms are on the 8th floor. The elevator is this way. Please follow me."


    Saying this, he led everyone to the elevator.


    Soon, they arrived on the 8th floor.


    "

 Chapter 216: Youre The Foreseer?

    Chapter 216: You''re The Foreseer?


    As soon as everyone stepped off the elevator, they were met with the sounds of fighting and screams echoing from deep within the 8th floor.


    Wen Yang''s face changed immediately. "Everyone, stay here. I''ll be right back," he said.


    He then darted off like a ghost, his speed surprising them all.


    Till then, Xiao Chuxia and the others finally realized that Wen Yang, who seemed gentle and friendly, was actually incredibly powerful. His speed was enough to outmatch most third-tier psychics.


    Xiao Chuxia was amazed. "Wow, amazing speed! Wen must be at the peak of the third tier. The folks from headquarters really sent the best to receive us. In other branches, third-tier psychics are top leaders, but here they''re just reception."


    Yang Ming chimed in, "Really? That''s all you care about now? Aren''t you curious about who''s causing all thismotion? I sure am."


    With that, Yang Ming started walking deeper into the 8th floor to see what was happening.


    The others exchanged looks and, driven by curiosity, followed him.


    Fang Xiu also followed, a thoughtful look shing in his eyes._ ''Gravity again, huh?''_He was certain he had seen it right. Wen Yang''s power was gravity, the ability Ma Xingbang had copied before.


    Wen Yang was so fast was because he manipted gravity. Just like when Fang Xiu fought Ma Xingbang; the guy had reduced his own gravity to increase his speed.


    Seeing this gravity ability, Fang Xiu had a lot of thoughts going on in his mind.


    Firstly, he became suspicious of Wen Yang. Ma Xingbang was Yan Changshou''s ally and had copied Wen Yang''s ability, suggesting they had a possible connection.


    Wen Yang might also be working for Yan Changshou.


    Of course, the ability alone wasn''t enough for Fang Xiu to confirm anything, but Wen Yang was too-perfect, too-normal personality raised red gs for Fang Xiu.


    A psychic acting normal is the most abnormal thing.


    Before long, they caught up with Wen Yang.


    A young man, covered in blood and wounds, was standing over someone,ughing wildly. Despite his injuries, which would have killed an ordinary person several times over, he wasughing loudly and arrogantly.


    Numerous psychics surrounded them, enjoying the scene. A team of soldiers with submachine guns were looking on nervously.


    "Hahaha, the famous Specter Hands, Wu Xin, is such a disappointment in person," the young manughed.


    The man on the ground, Wu Xin, looked furious and cursed, "Chu Feng! I dare you to let me go! I''ll kill you this time!"


    He kept struggling, his right arm covered in ck scales, gripping Chu Feng''s foot tightly.


    The sound of bones breaking filled the air, but Chu Feng just keptughing like a maniac.


    "Kill me? I''m undead! No one can kill me!"


    "Stop right now!" Wen Yang yelled, his anger clear.


    But no one paid attention. Psychics were a rebellious bunch, tough to control.


    Anger shed in Wen Yang''s eyes. "Twenty times gravity!"


    BOOM!


    A powerful gravity field mmed down on Chu Feng and Wu Xin, pinning them to the ground.


    "Headquarters rules forbid investigators from fighting, especially during training. If you two don¡¯t stop, your training will be canceled."


    "Seriously? I''m the victim here. Look at my injuries; I''m almost dead," Chu Feng said with disdain, as he was still pinned to the ground.


    "This is thest time I''ll say it: no fighting."


    "Alright, alright, got it. No point in fighting a loser anyway," Chu Feng grumbled.


    Wu Xin responded, "Chu Feng, I''m letting you go for the sake of the headquarters. I''ll get you when the training''s over."


    Wen Yang slowly lifted the gravity.


    The two men got up, grimacing. They didn¡¯t fight again, but they kept hurling insults, almost spitting at each other.


    The onlookers looked disappointed. Some even muttered about how boring it was now.


    "They''re done fighting. Let''s go," someone said.


    Wen Yang gave the two a final warning, then sent them back to their rooms.


    He returned to Fang Xiu and the others, looking apologetic.


    "Sorry about that. When a bunch of psychics gather, trouble is bound to happen. The troublemaker is Chu Feng, AKA ''the Undead.'' He ims his ability is immortality. Such an arrogant jerk, he¡¯s been here for three days and picks fights daily, especially with well-known psychics. He wants to step on them to rise up¡ªhis motto is, ''I never challenge nobodies.''"


    Wen Yang smiled bitterly and tapped his head, hinting that Chu Feng had lost his mind.


    Then he led everyone to their rooms.


    "Mr. Fang Xiu, this is your room."


    It was unclear if he did it on purpose or by ident, but this time he said "Mr. Fang Xiu" instead of "Mr. Fang."


    As soon as he said that name, the psychics who were about to head to their rooms stopped.


    Various looks¡ªsome curious, some intense, some cold¡ªwere directed at Fang Xiu.


    Although Wen Yang spoke quietly, the psychics staying there were all top-notch from across the country. Some were incredibly powerful, while others had great potential. These people had sharp senses, so they naturally picked up on Wen Yang''s deliberately lowered voice.


    Fang Xiu was famous. In the psychic world, both nationally and globally, everyone knew Fang Xiu, the Foreseer. They had heard about him solving Grade-S Specter events with his second-tier psychic abilities.


    Fang Xiu was the most famous person in this training. Many psychics attending had hoped to meet him, eager to witness his ability to predict the future, imagining he was like a precise fortune-teller who could foresee their destinies.


    Fang Xiu calmly took the room card from Wen Yang''s hand, watching him with a steady gaze.


    Wen Yang seemed to realize his mistake and looked apologetic.


    At that moment, Chu Feng, who had already left, suddenly turned back. He strutted arrogantly toward Fang Xiu.


    Wen Yang quickly shouted, "Chu Feng, what are you doing? Go back!"


    Chu Feng smiled maliciously. "What do you think I¡¯m doing? Just saying hello."


    As he spoke, his injuries began to heal visibly, with even the blood being reabsorbed by his body. In the blink of an eye, he went from gravely injured to perfectly fine.


    He looked Fang Xiu up and down with a mocking gaze and said, "So, you''re Fang Xiu? I''ve heard you''re quite the hotshottely."

 Chapter 217: Challenged By Chu Feng

    Chapter 217: Challenged By Chu Feng


    The psychics were about to retreat to their rooms when Chu Feng''s provocative words pulled them back.


    Normally, they wouldn''t care much, but his target this time was Fang Xiu, the famous foreseer.


    Everyone wanted to see if Fang Xiu lived up to his legendary reputation. Some even hoped to witness him being embarrassed in public.


    "Chu Feng! I said no fighting during training! Go back!" Wen Yang shouted angrily.


    Chu Feng casually scratched his ear.


    "Heard you. Just saying hello, right? The famous foreseer wouldn''t be scared of a simple greeting, would he?" Chu Feng taunted, his gaze fixed on Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu remained unfazed. He''d seen plenty of the so-called "undead" or "immortal", and he never took them seriously.


    "Now that you''ve said hello, go back!" Wen Yang shouted again.


    Chu Feng justughed. "Why the rush? I haven''t finished my greeting. The famous foreseer should know who stands before him. Fang Xiu, listen up. My name is Chu Feng, also known as the Undead. Remember it."Fang Xiu looked at him calmly. "And why should I?"


    "Wow!" Chu Feng sneered. "You handled Grade-S Specter event, and you think you''re better than anyone, huh?"


    Yang Ming and the others covered their eyes, looking like they regreting there.


    "Oh, he''s looking for trouble. Does anyone have earplugs?" Yang Ming asked quietly.


    Xiao Chuxia looked puzzled. "Why earplugs? Xiu is being provoked, and you''re just watching?"


    "Big ck, you don''t get it. Just cover your ears."


    Yang Ming covered his ears first, and the others followed.


    "In three seconds, you''ll regret this provocation for the rest of your life," Fang Xiu said calmly, pulling out a scalpel.


    Wen Yang''s face showed a trace of concern. "Mr. Fang, the headquarters has rules, you can''t¡ª"


    But he was cut off by loudughter. "Hahaha, what''s this? A fruit knife? No way, no way, someone is actually using..."


    SHING!


    With a sh of silver, and the scalpel flew straight at Chu Feng.


    Chu Feng''s eyes showed disdain; he didn''t even n to dodge.


    As the Undead, he couldn''t be killed by a forty-meter machete, let alone a small knife. So he let the scalpel strike him.


    The slick sound of the scalpel piercing flesh resounded. Chu Feng had a disdainful smile on his face, ready to mock. But the next second, Fang Xiu activated his ability of pain.


    "Arghhhhh!"


    A horrendous scream echoed through the entire hotel, hurting everyone''s ears.


    Xiao Chuxia didn''t cover her ears, so her eardrums were ringing. She quickly covered her ears and finally understood why Yang Ming had asked for earplugs earlier.


    The same happened to everyone on the eighth floor. But soon, the scream stopped abruptly because Chu Feng had fainted from the pain.


    Fang Xiu didn''t stop there. He slightly turned the scalpel, causing an even stronger wave of pain.


    "Arghhhhhhh!" Chu Feng woke up screaming. The intense pain made his eyes roll back. His mouth started foaming, and his body began to convulse.


    "What the hell! What''s on your knife! Why does it hurt so much!"


    Seeing Chu Feng''s miserable state, a look of excitement finally appeared in Fang Xiu''s calm eyes. He realized Chu Feng truly deserved his title. An ordinary person would have died from such pain, but Chu Feng was still alive and could even speak.


    _''How funny.'' _


    Fang Xiu twisted the scalpel again, increasing the pain. This time, Chu Feng''s veins bulged as if they would burst. He kept screaming, and blood started seeping from his pores due to the ruptured capiries.


    This was the first time Chu Feng experienced such horrific pain. Because he couldn''t die, he was often injured to the extreme, so his pain tolerance was far beyond normal.


    Even pain as severe as childbirth, he could endure while calmly ying a ranked game without letting it affect his performance. But now, he couldn''t move a single finger due to the pain.


    He wanted to pull out the scalpel, but his body no longer felt like his own,pletely overwhelmed by pain.


    Gradually, he became scared and terrified.


    For the first time, the Undead wanted to die. He hated that he couldn''t die.


    Only a few seconds had passed, but for Chu Feng, it felt like centuries.


    "Stop, stop!" Chu Feng''s voice was distorted by pain, and his once proud eyes now showed a plea for mercy.


    Seeing him give in, anger shed in Fang Xiu''s eyes, as if a new toy had broken too soon.


    "I liked your arrogant attitude better, you know."


    "Please, please, pull it out! I can''t take it anymore!" Chu Feng kept convulsing, his speech bing more and more slurred. Soon, he rolled his eyes and passed out again.


    The people around them were stunned by what they saw.


    They knew Chu Feng was tough, not because he was strong, but because he was unkible and didn''t fear pain.


    They had just watched his fight with Wu Xin. Wu Xin had crushed Chu Feng''s testicles, and Chu Feng didn''t even flinch. But now, he had fainted twice from just a stab with a scalpel.


    It was unbelievable.


    "Is that scalpel a Specter Gadget?" Many people''s eyes sparkled. They thought Fang Xiu''s ability to do this must be due to the special properties of the scalpel.


    Everyone felt a sense of dread. Although they were the best psychics from across the country and were naturally proud, they weren''t fools.


    They knew Chu Feng''s pain tolerance. Yet, he was begging for mercy from a mere scalpel. They could only imagine how painful it was, maybe far worse than being sliced to death or boiled in oil.


    _''Indeed, if a person''s reputation is significant, they must have abilities others cannot match. Fang Xiu solving Grade-S Specter events must rely on more than just foreseeing the future. It''s like solving math problems in an exam¡ªeven if someone knows the answer, they won''t get the score if they don''t write down the process.''_


    Seeing Chu Feng faint, Fang Xiu felt even more bored. He liked screams, especially continuous screams. It wasn''t because he was a sadist but because he was too lonely. His power over pain was deeply connected to his own experiences, so he wanted someone to understand and share his pain.


    Everyone saw Fang Xiu''s current glory, but no one understood his loneliness and suffering.


    Meeting Chu Feng, who couldn''t die, was a rare find for Fang Xiu. At least he was stronger than others, but even he could only understand a fraction of Fang Xiu''s pain.


    Fang Xiu turned the scalpel again, the de twisting in Chu Feng''s flesh.


    "Arghhhh!"

 Chapter 218: A Late-Night Visit

    Chapter 218: A Late-Night Visit


    Chu Feng jolted awake from the agony, his eyes now filled with a longing for death. He finally grasped what "envying the dead" truly meant.


    Yet, death remained out of his reach now.


    "Do you regret challenging me?" Fang Xiu''s voice was as calm and chilling as a ghostly whisper, haunting Chu Feng''s very soul.


    "Please, forgive me. I won''t do it again," Chu Feng pleaded desperately.


    The pain had immobilized him. If he could, he''d be on his knees, begging for mercy at Fang Xiu''s feet.


    Fang Xiu shook his head, disappointment etched on his face. "How boring."


    With that, he withdrew the scalpel from Chu Feng''s body.


    Relief washed over Chu Feng as the pain receded. But before he could catch his breath¡ª


    SLASH!Another searing pain shot through him, eliciting a blood-curdling scream.


    Fang Xiu''s calm voice followed, "Ah, I almost forgot. You greeted me earlier, didn''t you? It''s only polite to respond. Remember my name, Fang Xiu. Seek revenge whenever you like. But know this: next time you fall into my hands, I''ll let you suffer eternally."


    His calm tone sent shivers down everyone''s spine.


    Those who had been eager to challenge Fang Xiu reconsidered. Many psychics had hoped to defeat him.


    They thought that would elevate them to Fang Xiu''s level, given his reputation for solving Grade-S Specter events. While the idea seemed absurd, psychics often had a unique perspective on things.


    Fang Xiu''s disy was a clear message to deter minor threats. He had no time for petty opponents.


    He pulled the scalpel out once more.


    This time, as soon as the scalpel was removed, Chu Feng sprang to his feet. He crawled and rolled away without looking back, his previous bravado entirely gone. The idea of revenge was a distant memory; he couldn''t even muster the courage to face Fang Xiu again.


    After themotion, Wen Yang dispersed the crowd and refrained from punishing Fang Xiu. He told them a few tips about the hotel and then left.


    Wen Yang knew that, given Fang Xiu''s value to the headquarters, they were likely to overlook this conflict since no one died; especially since Chu Feng was the one who started it.


    In the still of the night, Fang Xiuy alone on his hotel bed, drifting into sleep.


    While others slumbered, his real work began.


    First, he slipped into Chu Feng''s dream.


    Chu Feng was trapped in a nightmare, reliving the torment of the scalpel.


    Fang Xiu was pleased. There was no need to induce nightmares; he could simply collect the fear and pain directly from Chu Feng''s dream.


    The fear and pain he gathered from Chu Feng this time were exceptionally rich. Fang Xiu was very satisfied; he decided Chu Feng should endure more torture in the future.


    Next, he ventured into the dreams of other psychics. Some woke up immediately, maybe because they had certain defenses against dream invasions.


    Fang Xiu wasn''t surprised. Those who trained here were all elite psychics, with some having extraordinary strength.


    In the midst of his harvesting¡ª


    KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!


    His door was knocked.


    Fang Xiu opened his eyes. His heightened senses identified the person outside.


    It was Xiao Chuxia.


    "Xiu, are you awake? May Ie in? I had a nightmare and I''m scared to sleep alone."


    Her voice was pitiful, like a wounded little animal.


    Fang Xiu''s response was simple, "Get lost."


    "How could you¡­" Xiao Chuxia''s anger red, her chest heaving.


    "Fang Xiu! Don¡¯t you know how to treat ady? We¡¯ve faced death together! Open the door, I need to talk to you."


    She had nned to use her charm, but Fang Xiu was unfazed. She had to switch tactics.


    "We can talk tomorrow."


    Silence followed.


    Momentster,_ _CLICK.


    The door opened automatically, and a graceful figure slipped in under the cover of night.


    It was more than easy for Xiao Chuxia to unlock a door with her ability.


    She approached Fang Xiu''s bed, ring at him as hey with his eyes closed.


    "Hey! Wake up, I need to ask you something."


    Fang Xiu remained still.


    "I can pay. How many spiritual coins do you want?"


    Finally, Fang Xiu slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was an angry, pouty, and delicate face.


    "I don''t want spiritual coins," replied Fang Xiu.


    Xiao Chuxia''s demeanor shifted instantly. She crossed her arms and stepped back.


    "Then what do you want? I''m warning you, don''t ask for anything outrageous. I won''t agree."


    "Stop with the act; it doesn''t work on me," Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Xiao Chuxia''s wary expression faded, reced by a colder look.


    "I knew it¡­ I knew can''t fool you. Since you can foresee the future, you must know why I''m here."


    Fang Xiu nodded. "You came to see me because you want to know your true name."


    Xiao Chuxia''s eyes widened with shock, though she quickly regained herposure. He really had foreseen it!


    "Yes, I do want to know my real name."


    Actually, Fang Xiu hadn''t foreseen this; he had guessed it. Last time, even near death, Xiao Chuxia was obsessed with her name. Clearly, she had a deep need to know who she truly was.


    "I did see your name in the future."


    Xiao Chuxia''s breathing quickened, and hope sparkled in her eyes.


    "Really? Tell me, what''s my name?"


    Fang Xiu remained silent.


    Xiao Chuxia bit her lip. "What do you want? Let me make this clear: if you want me to spend the night with you, y around, have sex, or anything like that, forget it!"


    Fang Xiu''s face was expressionless.


    He was puzzled about why she would think he was that kind of person. Her words might work on someone like Zhao Hao, but not him.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not interested in your fake body."


    Xiao Chuxia''s expression shifted instantly. "You know?"


    Fang Xiu nodded.


    In that moment, Xiao Chuxia better understood the terrifying power of someone who could foresee the future. She was genuinely curious about what Fang Xiu had seen that revealed even her deepest secret.


    Before Fang Xiu, her lies seemedughable, and she felt she had no secrets left.


    "I can tell you your name, but the price is that you work for me for three years."


    "

 Chapter 219: Bed Wetting

    Chapter 219: Bed Wetting


    Xiao Chuxia''s expression changed in an instant. "Three years? You expect me to work for you for three years just for a name?"


    "Yes." Fang Xiu nodded, his expression calm and collected.


    He had thought it through carefully. Xiao Chuxia''s unique ability intrigued him. From the moment he realized she could detect lies, a n began to form in his mind.


    If everything went as he envisioned, Fang Xiu would benefit the most.


    "No way, I''m not agreeing to that. Who knows what kind of work you want me to do? What if it''s something¡ª"


    "Yourst name is Xiao."


    The words hit Xiao Chuxia like a bolt of lightning, and she froze. The surname Xiao held a certain power, stirring a strange sense of familiarity within her.


    She instinctively felt herst name might really be Xiao. It resonated deeply like it was a part of her identity.


    "What''s the rest of my name?" she asked urgently.Fang Xiu remained silent.


    Xiao Chuxia''s face grew dark with uncertainty. After a moment, she bit her lip and asked, "What kind of work are we talking about? Let me be clear: no selling my body, nothing immoral, and nothing dangerous."


    Her tone made it obvious she was skeptical.


    "Don''t worry, I just need your ability. You don''t have to worry about your body; I''m not interested. I''m only interested in what you can do."


    Hearing this, Xiao Chuxia felt a wave of relief mixed with a tinge of disappointment.


    She couldn''t quite understand why she felt disappointed.


    Maybe it was Fang Xiu''s earlier demeanor that had sparked her curiosity. She longed to be trusted unconditionally, as Fang Xiu seemed to be trusted. This led her to pay more attention to Fang Xiu than she intended.


    In the end, however, the person she focused on didn''t care about her at all, seeing her merely as a tool. This realization left her feeling disappointed.


    Despite her mixed feelings, she kept herposure. "Hmph! It better stay that way. I''m not interested in you, only in your ability. We''re just using each other; you use my ability, I use yours."


    "Then, we have a deal."


    "Aren''t you afraid I''ll deceive you? That after you tell me my name, I''ll go back on my word?"


    "You won''t dare," Fang Xiu replied, his voice steady.


    Xiao Chuxia''s breath caught, a sh of Chu Feng''s screams echoing in her mind. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.


    "Hmph! I''m not one to break promises. I said I''d work for you for three years, so I will. Not a day more, not one less. Now, the deal is done. Tell me my name."


    Seeing her agreement, Fang Xiu didn''t hesitate. He spoke inly.


    "Chuxia, your name is Xiao Chuxia."


    The room fell silent.


    Xiao Chuxia stood stunned, the name hitting her like a spell. It felt like a piece of her soul was restored. It truly felt like her name.


    She kept murmuring, "Chuxia¡­ Xiao Chuxia¡­ So, my name is Xiao Chuxia!"


    Her eyes sparkled with a new light, as if she had been reborn. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, and before she knew it, her face was wet with them.


    "Xiao Chuxia, so my name is Xiao Chuxia. **It''s such a beautiful name***!"


    "Step back, your tears are getting my bed wet."


    Fang Xiu''s calm voice cut through her emotions like a de, silencing her.


    Xiao Chuxia cried out, "You¡ªFang Xiu! You''re such a jerk! Ah, you''re making me so mad!"


    She cursed and cried simultaneously, anger mixing with the joy of rediscovering her name. She even shook her head, trying to spread her tears all over Fang Xiu''s bed and on him.


    "I''ll wet your bed! I''ll wet it all over to make you mad!"


    In that moment, she dropped all her defenses, showing a side of her no one had ever seen.


    Then, there was a knock at the door.


    KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.


    Fang Xiu frowned, surprised by how busy the night was turning out to be.


    "Mr. Fang, I apologize for thete visit."


    "Leave."


    Silence followed.


    Xiao Chuxia quickly wiped her tears and hid her emotions again, reverting to her usual guarded self. But Fang Xiu''s abrupt dismissal made her a bit happy. Maybe it was because he treated everyone the same way, not just her.


    CLICK!


    The door opened again.


    A man with nted eyes, an upturned nose, and a gap-toothed smile walked in slowly. He nced at Fang Xiu on the bed and Xiao Chuxia beside it, noting the wet spot on the bed. A sleazy grin spread across his face.


    "Mr. Fang, you''re quite enjoying yourself."


    Xiao Chuxia was stunned at first. Then, she looked at the wet spot on the bed, her face turning red.


    "What nonsense are you talking about! That''s not what you think, it''s just tears!"


    The ugly man, hearing this, showed a look of admiration and gave Fang Xiu a thumbs up.


    "Mr. Fang, good job. You have my respect."


    Xiao Chuxia understood immediately, her face turning even redder. She was so angry she could barely speak.


    "You, you, you¡ª"


    "I told you to leave, didn''t I?" Fang Xiu ignored themotion and stared coldly at the ugly man.


    The ugly man acted as if he hadn''t heard, smiling slightly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sun Dehua. I''ve long heard of the name ''the Foreseer,'' and I''vee to visit."


    Fang Xiu slowly got up and took out a scalpel. He said, "It seems Chu Feng''s torment wasn''t enough to deter people. They keeping to my door."


    "Mr. Fang, I am not like Chu Feng. I have important matters to discuss. You recently resolved a Grade-S Specter event, and I heard the headquarters is offering a Spiritual Gadget as a reward. I am here for that Spiritual Gadget. I hope that after you receive it, you won''t be stingy and will grant it to me. I would be deeply grateful."


    Spiritual Gadget?


    Hearing this unfamiliar term, Fang Xiu was deep in thought. Could this be a new weapon developed by headquarters?


    At this moment, Xiao Chuxia mocked him.


    "Grant it to you? You have a lot of nerve."


    Sun Dehua nced at the graceful Xiao Chuxia, seemingly recalling something. Then, he added, "Oh, and thisdy as well. I hope Mr. Fang will grant her to me too."


    With the conversation reaching this point, Fang Xiu would be a fool not to realize there was a problem. It was clear that Sun Dehua was deliberately causing trouble.


    _''So, what''s his purpose?'' _


    Fang Xiu knew this was his first time at headquarters, so it was impossible for him to have any grudges with others. The only person from headquarters he had offended was Yan Changshou.


    "Did Yan Changshou send you?" he asked."

 Chapter 220: A Set-up

    Chapter 220: A Set-up


    Sun Dehua narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low tone, "Are you talking about Headquarters'' Yan Changshou¡­" His words trailed off, his mouth opening wide.


    A dark, creepy light shot out of his mouth, zooming straight toward Fang Xiu.


    This sudden move would catch most off guard, but Fang Xiu wasn''t most people.


    As the dark light raced toward him, Fang Xiu quickly raised his hand, attempting to deflect it with the scalpel. However, the light was like a ghost, passing right through the de and hitting his body without leaving a mark.


    The moment it entered, Fang Xiu knew it was a mind attack.


    Seeing his sneak attacknd, Sun Dehua grinned with satisfaction. "Fang Xiu, this is a death curse. It''s in your mind now. With a single thought, I can erase your consciousness. So, you better do what I say. Hand over your Specter Gadget and thisdy. Oh, wait, you don''t have it yet. Fine, just give me thedy. Lady, you don''t want anything bad to happen to you, do you? And Fang Xiu, stick around. I like an audience."


    "Fang Xiu, are you okay?" Xiao Chuxia asked, worry in her voice.


    "Hahaha, it''s useless. My death curse controls your life now. Fang Xiu, no matter how famous you are, you''re still just a second-tier¡ª"


    _SWISH!_Fang Xiu moved like a shadow, his scalpel slicing through the air as he charged forward.


    Sun Dehua smirked and tried to activate the death curse, ready to teach Fang Xiu a lesson. But to his shock, the curse didn''t respond.


    "What?" Horror filled his eyes. "How is this possible..."


    Before he could finish, Fang Xiu''s scalpel sliced through his neck.


    "Ah!"


    A scream echoed through the hotel as Sun Dehua died, writhing in pain.


    Not one to waste an opportunity, Fang Xiu used Taotie''s Mouth to absorb Sun Dehua''s Spiritual Energy.


    After consuming Sun Dehua, Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy level hit 38%, edging him closer to the third tier.


    Xiao Chuxia rushed over, "Was he joking? He said you were under a death curse and that he controlled your life and death. How did he die so quickly?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t exin.


    The truth was, Sun Dehua''s power was indeed sinister. For an ordinary psychic, the death curse would have been fatal.


    But thanks to Nightmare, Fang Xiu was immune to mind attacks. He had trapped the death curse in a dream he created.


    Soon, the wail of police sirens filled the air outside the hotel, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    Armed soldiers rushed in. Seeing Sun Dehua''s dead body on the floor, their faces changed drastically, and they nervously pointed their guns at Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia.


    Other psychics were also alerted and came to see what was happening.


    "Whoa! Someone''s dead!"


    "It looks like Sun Dehua, the Curser."


    "He died in Fang Xiu''s room. Did Fang Xiu kill him?"


    "Fang Xiu sure is bold. He thinks solving Grade-S Specter events can let him get away with murder during headquarter training?"


    "Who''s that woman? Is she why he killed the guy?"


    "Quick, spread the word. Sun Dehua caught Fang Xiu and a woman cheating and got killed for it!"


    Everyone talked at once, some even joking around, treating the situation like a spectacle.


    For psychics, death wasmon and didn''t stir much emotion. They were just curious to see how Headquarters would handle Fang Xiu, the famous Foreseer.


    Wen Yang arrived quickly. He seemed to live in the hotel and reached the scene in less than three minutes.


    "I''m sorry, everyone, make way!"


    Wen Yang pushed through the crowd, entering the room. Seeing Sun Dehua''s body, his face changed.


    "Mr. Fang, what is this..."


    "I killed him," Fang Xiu calmly admitted.


    Seeing Wen Yang arrive so quickly, Fang Xiu already had a suspicion about what was happening.


    Wen Yang''s face grew even darker. "Mr. Fang, Headquarters has strict rules against internal conflict during training, especially killing. You need toe with us."


    Xiao Chuxia immediately stepped forward. "Fang Xiu killed Sun Dehua because Sun provoked him first. The jerk deserved it."


    Fang Xiu admired Xiao Chuxia''s cunning. Her words both defended him and kept herself out of trouble.


    At that moment, Yang Ming and others also stepped up.


    "Exactly! Whoes to someone else''s room in the middle of the night? It was clearly an attack, and Fang Xiu was just defending himself."


    "Everyone, we will investigate the matter," Wen Yang said seriously. "If it is as you say, we won''t trouble Mr. Fang. He is a hero, and Headquarters will give you an exnation. Now, Mr. Fang, pleasee with us to cooperate with the investigation."


    Fang Xiu calmly looked at Wen Yang, understanding his true intent. It was all a setup to take him away.


    This was, however, exactly what Fang Xiu wanted, as it gave him a chance to see what Yan Changshou was nning.


    "It''s okay, I''ll go with them," Fang Xiu told Yang Ming and the others.


    When Yang Ming and the others heard this, they thought Fang Xiu had foreseen that everything would be fine. So, they rxed and went back to sleep, showing a carefree attitude.


    Before leaving, they nced at the wet bedsheet, giving knowing looks.


    Xiao Chuxia was furious. She felt her reputation was tarnished. Soon, the whole headquarters would think she had something going on with Fang Xiu.


    Wen Yang took out a pair of dark gold handcuffs made of Mind Steel. "I''m sorry for this," he said, putting the handcuffs on Fang Xiu.


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Fang Xiu was taken away.


    In the car, Wen Yang still looked apologetic. "Mr. Fang, sorry for what happened earlier. There were too many people just now, and I had no choice but to take you back for investigation. I couldn''t show favoritism in front of so many people.


    "But don''t worry, it won''t be a big problem. Considering your merits and that Sun Dehua provoked you first, the higher-ups will likely just give you a light reprimand andbel his death as a result of his Spiritual Energy going out of control. This will all blow over."


    Fang Xiu looked at Wen Yang''s apologetic face and smirked.


    "Cut the crap. Your acting is pathetic."

 Chapter 221: Boring Tricks

    Chapter 221: Boring Tricks


    "Mr. Fang, what''s that supposed to mean?" Wen Yang was slightly surprised and looked confused.


    Fang Xiu calmly watched him pretending, a mocking smile appearing on his face. "You said my full name in the hotel on purpose, trying to make everyone recognize me. Then Chu Feng came to challenge me, and Sun Dehua came to my room to provoke me... You''re behind all these, right? You''ve been looking for a legitimate excuse to take me away. It seems like Yan Changshou''s got the security system here under his thumb, so you used these petty tricks."


    As Fang Xiu exposed his n, Wen Yang''s friendly expression faded, reced by a cold smirk. "No wonder you''ve sessfully handled a Grade-S Specter event. You got me. But if you knew about our n, why did you get into the car? Isn''t that like walking into a trap?"


    "Oh? And why shouldn''t Ie?" Fang Xiu retorted, "You think you all are so formidable?"


    Wen Yang burst intoughter. "Fang Xiu, seems like your foresight isn''t working that well. If you really saw the future, you''d know that once you put on those handcuffs, you''re as good as done."


    Just as he finished, Fang Xiu felt a sharp pain on his wrist. He nced down and saw a fine needle emerging from the handcuffs, injecting some unknown substance into his system.


    As the liquid spread through his body, Fang Xiu quickly realized something was off¡ªhis Spiritual Energy was suppressed, and even the Specter''s power was muted.


    "Can you feel it? This is a rare suppressant. Just a tiny bit and you''re an ordinary person for an hour. No tricks up your sleeve can help you now," Wen Yang said smugly.


    Fang Xiu just shook his head, looking disappointed. "I had some hopes for Yan Changshou. Thought he might surprise me with something different. But seeing these methods now¡­ It''s pretty disappointing. Using tricks isn''t the issue, but only relying on tricks is.""Hmph!" Wen Yang snorted, "I hope you still have that confidence when you meet Captain Yan."


    Before long, they arrived at a secret detention facility. Fang Xiu didn''t put up a fight, walking in as if he owned the ce, not like a prisoner at all.


    He was soon taken to an interrogation room. Oddly enough, no one came in to question him.


    Soon, another person walked into the room¡ªa middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance. He nodded at Wen Yang and made his way toward Fang Xiu.


    As he got closer, he ced a hand on Fang Xiu''s shoulder, and something strange happened.


    The man''s body and features began to shift until he looked exactly like Fang Xiu. The two now appeared as identical twins¡ªor more urately, as a perfect copy.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu quickly figured out what Yan Changshou and his team were nning. "Let''s go; it''s time to meet Captain Yan," Wen Yang said, his voice cold andmanding.


    The middle-aged man, now a duplicate of Fang Xiu, stayed behind in the interrogation room for what seemed like a formal questioning. Two officers entered the room, taking notes and recording everything.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu was escorted back to the car.


    This time, they drove to a secluded estate. The property was expansive and isted, surrounded by tall trees that obscured it from view, creating a menacing atmosphere.


    At the estate, Fang Xiu finally came face to face with Yan Changshou in the dining room.


    Yan Changshou, dressed in an immacte ck robe, had long ck hair tied back. He was using a knife and fork to cut into a te of bloody meat.


    He sat at a long mahogany dining table, adorned with various pieces of raw meat and garnished with flower petals.


    The scene was macabre; Yan Changshou looked like a sophisticated cannibal, elegantly feasting on human flesh.


    Fang Xiu recognized it instantly, as he had experienced the horrors of being consumed by Taotie multiple times.


    "Captain Yan, Fang Xiu is here," Wen Yang announced respectfully.


    Yan Changshou put down his knife and fork. He wiped his mouth with a white napkin and smiled, "Mr. Fang, please, have a seat."


    This unsettling scene would likely disturb most people, but Fang Xiu remained calm and took a seat. They sat across from each other at the long table.


    Wen Yang bowed slightly and exited, closing the door behind him. Yan Changshou smiled, "Mr. Fang, please enjoy the meal. I wasn''t sure what you preferred, so I had a variety prepared. There are men, women, and some tender children. I avoided elderly meat, as it''s often too tough; I figured you wouldn''t enjoy it."


    Yan Changshou smiled politely, like a high-society gentleman.


    Fang Xiu, however, was unimpressed. "Boring tricks," he remarked, looking at Yan Changshou with a neutral expression.


    Yan Changshou didn''t seem bothered by Fang Xiu''sment. He calmly replied, "Mr. Fang, we are quite alike, aren''t we? There''s no need to pretend. Specters are meant to feast on humans, after all.


    "You''ve got the Genesis Mask, so you''ve been holding back that urge for a long time, haven''t you? Today, feel free to indulge, and then you can meet your end. Oh, I almost forgot you''re still wearing those handcuffs; that must make things a bit tricky."


    As he finished speaking, a crimson, tumor-covered tentacle extended from beneath Yan Changshou''s sleeve, darting toward Fang Xiu''s eyes like a snake.


    _WHOOSH!_


    The tentacle stopped just two centimeters from Fang Xiu''s eyes. Yet, Fang Xiu''s expression remained unchanged; he didn''t even blink.


    The tentacle then shifted direction, wrapping around the handcuffs on his wrists. With a quick twist, there was a cracking sound, and the supposedly unbreakable Mind Steel handcuffs shattered.


    The tentacle swiftly retreated back into Yan Changshou''s sleeve.


    "I don''t know if you''re trying to act like a gangster or just enjoy these little scares. But if there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way," Fang Xiu said, his tone calm butced with impatience. He was clearly fed up with Yan Changshou''s theatrics.


    Maybe Yan Changshou was trying to intimidate him, but after experiencing the horrors of Taotie, Fang Xiu found these tricks to be almostughable¡ªlike a child pretending to be scary with a toy gun.


    "

 Chapter 222: Spiritual Gadget

    Chapter 222: Spiritual Gadget


    "Doesn''t it hurt?" Yan Changshou''s smile disappeared as he nced at Fang Xiu, who remained calm andposed.


    "Is it supposed to hurt?" Fang Xiu responded, almost catching Yan Changshou off guard with the question.


    "This can''t be real! How can you not feel any pain?" Yan Changshou eximed, growing increasingly frustrated. Yet, Fang Xiu appeared more at ease as the pain within him intensified.


    Seeing Yan Changshou getting more agitated, Fang Xiu decided to exin. "Quit ying games. I was born without emotions. Fear and pain aren''t things I experience."


    Yan Changshou was stunned. _''No emotions? No pain?''_


    Reflecting on Fang Xiu''s fearless behavior, even in dangerous situations, Yan Changshou started to believe there might be some truth to his words.


    That would exin Fang Xiu''s fearless attitude and why he seemed to mock him unintentionally. It wasn¡¯t on purpose; Fang Xiu just didn''t understand what fear felt like.


    So, Fang Xiu wasn''t lying, but it was still infuriating.


    Yan Changshou took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. "If you don''t have emotions and don''t feel pain, why did you give me the Genesis Mask and decide to work with me? People like you shouldn''t be easy to scare."Fang Xiu could have given a hundred reasons for such a simple question. "You should know I have connections with the Pokers. That''s why your attempts to kill me didn''t work. Being able to see the future is valuable to any group."


    Yan Changshou nodded, thinking it over. Seeing the future was definitely a valuable skill, and that''s why he didn¡¯t kill Fang Xiu after getting the Genesis Mask. He wanted Fang Xiu to take down the head of the headquarters, and even more, to use Fang Xiu''s foresight.


    "The Pokers want to use my abilities, and I want to use theirs to help me be a Specter. Specters had a desire to kill and feels negative emotions, but as a human, I have none. While I''ve gotten used to it, there was a time when I wanted to feel human emotions."


    "You want to be a Specter to feel human emotions?" Yan Changshou looked as puzzled as he felt. "Do you hear yourself?"


    Fang Xiu looked at him steadily and said, "You wouldn''t get it, and I don''t me you. But with your twisted emotions, you have no right to judge me."


    Yan Changshou''s face darkened, and violent thoughts began to churn inside him. Now more Specter than human, his heart was a nest of negative emotions.


    Normally, anyone else talking to him like that would have met a swift end. But Fang Xiu was different; he was still useful.


    Besides, Fang Xiu didn¡¯t feel fear or pain, so threats were pointless against him.


    "Fine, if you want to be a Specter, why give up the Genesis Mask? With it, you could have achieved perfect Specterization by slowly merging with it."


    Fang Xiu looked at Yan Changshou like he was missing the obvious, which only fueled Yan''s anger.


    "Isn''t it because you told me to?" Fang Xiu replied.


    Yan Changshou clenched his fists, struggling to keep his fury in check. "But you said you don''t have emotions, so why would my threats matter? Just because I told you to?"


    "Not being afraid to die and not wanting to die are different things. The opportunity to be a Specter is right here, so why waste it? Your goal and the Pokers'' goal is to make everyone be a Specter, right? So, I''ll just wait. Is that a problem?"


    Fang Xiu¡¯s straightforward response left Yan Changshou momentarily speechless.


    Fang Xiu seemed to be making sense. Yan Changshou¡¯s face went from pale to red, and after a long pause, he finally muttered, "No problem."


    Yan Changshou didn''t want to continue the conversation. He could barely contain the Specter power within him, and if they kept talking, he might lose control and attack Fang Xiu, ruining their ns. So, he decided to keep it short and assigned Fang Xiu his task.


    Taking another deep breath to calm himself, Yan Changshou got straight to the point. "Fang Xiu, since we share the same goal, I''ll get to it. Your task is to kill the head of the headquarters with your scalpel tomorrow night when he hands you the Spiritual Gadget."


    "That''s it?" Fang Xiu asked.


    "The best assassinations are often simple. Remember how **Jing Ke tried to assassinate the Qin Emperor with a dagger hidden in a map?***"


    "Yes, and he failed," Fang Xiu noted.


    "That''s why I¡¯m not giving you a map," Yan Changshou retorted.


    A brief silence followed. Then Fang Xiu broke it. "What''s a Spiritual Gadget?"


    At the mention of the Spiritual Gadget, a gleam of greed shed in Yan Changshou''s eyes. He licked his lips like a predator eyeing its prey.


    "A Spiritual Gadget is an ancient Specter Gadget," Yan Changshou exined.


    Fang Xiu felt a surge of curiosity. An ancient Specter Gadget? Was it from the era that ended with Zhou Qingfeng? Or even earlier?


    "If it''s an ancient Specter Gadget, why change the name?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Yan Changshou shook his head. "There''s a big difference between a Spiritual Gadget and a Specter Gadget. Using a Specter Gadget too often can mess with a psychic''s mind; it''s not great for humans. But a Spiritual Gadget is different. It usually has more power than a Specter Gadget and rarely causes mental pollution. Basically, a Specter Gadget is better for Specters, while a Spiritual Gadget is better for humans."


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu''s interest in the Spiritual Gadget waned. A weapon that doesn''t corrupt the mind didn¡¯t seem all that appealing to him.


    Yan Changshou sighed slightly. "It''s incredible how the psychics of the past could create such powerful tools like the Spiritual Gadget."


    _''Powerful?''_ That word caught Fang Xiu''s attention. From Yan Changshou''s description, it sounded like the Spiritual Gadget had some extraordinary abilities, impressive enough to earn respect from even a fourth-tier psychic like him.


    "

 Chapter 223: Spiritual Gadget

    Chapter 223: Spiritual Gadget


    "Doesn''t it hurt?" Yan Changshou''s smile disappeared as he nced at Fang Xiu, who remained calm andposed.


    "Is it supposed to hurt?" Fang Xiu responded, almost catching Yan Changshou off guard with the question.


    "This can''t be real! How can you not feel any pain?" he eximed, growing increasingly frustrated. Yet, Fang Xiu appeared more at ease as the pain within him intensified.


    Seeing Yan Changshou getting more agitated, Fang Xiu decided to exin. "Quit ying games. I was born without emotions. Fear and pain aren''t things I experience."


    Yan Changshou was stunned. _''No emotions? No pain?''_


    Reflecting on Fang Xiu''s fearless behavior, even in dangerous situations, Yan Changshou started to believe there might be some truth to his words.


    That would exin Fang Xiu''s fearless attitude and why he seemed to mock him unintentionally. It wasn''t on purpose; Fang Xiu just didn''t understand what fear felt like.


    So, Fang Xiu wasn''t lying, but it was still infuriating.


    Yan Changshou took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. "If you don''t have emotions and don''t feel pain, why did you give me the Genesis Mask and decide to work with me? People like you shouldn''t be easy to scare."Fang Xiu could have given a hundred reasons for such a simple question. "You should know I have connections with the Pokers. That''s why your attempts to kill me didn''t work. Being able to see the future is valuable to any group."


    Yan Changshou nodded, thinking it over. Seeing the future was definitely a valuable skill, and that''s why he didn''t kill Fang Xiu after getting the Genesis Mask. He wanted Fang Xiu to take down the head of the headquarters, and even more, to use Fang Xiu''s foresight.


    "The Pokers want to use my abilities, and I want to use theirs to help me be a Specter. Specters had a desire to kill and feels negative emotions, but as a human, I have none. While I''ve gotten used to it, there was a time when I wanted to feel human emotions."


    "You want to be a Specter to feel human emotions?" Yan Changshou looked as puzzled as he felt. "Do you hear yourself?"


    Fang Xiu looked at him steadily and said, "You wouldn''t get it, and I don''t me you. But with your twisted emotions, you have no right to judge me."


    Yan Changshou''s face darkened, and violent thoughts began to churn inside him. Now more Specter than human, his heart was a nest of negative emotions.


    Normally, anyone else talking to him like that would have met a swift end. But Fang Xiu was different; he was still useful.


    Besides, Fang Xiu didn''t feel fear or pain, so threats were pointless against him.


    "Fine, if you want to be a Specter, why give up the Genesis Mask? With it, you could have achieved perfect Specterization by slowly merging with it."


    Fang Xiu looked at Yan Changshou like he was missing the obvious, which only fueled Yan Changshou''s anger.


    "Isn''t it because you told me to?" Fang Xiu replied.


    Yan Changshou clenched his fists, struggling to keep his fury in check. "But you said you don''t have emotions, so why would my threats matter? Just because I told you to?"


    "Not being afraid to die and not wanting to die are different things. The opportunity to be a Specter is right here, so why waste it? Your goal and the Pokers'' goal is to make everyone be a Specter, right? So, I''ll just wait. Is that a problem?"


    Fang Xiu''s straightforward response left Yan Changshou momentarily speechless. He seemed to be making sense.


    Yan Changshou''s face went from pale to red, and after a long pause, he finally muttered, "No problem."


    He didn''t want to continue the conversation. He could barely contain the Specter power within him, and if they kept talking, he might lose control and attack Fang Xiu, ruining their ns. So, he decided to keep it short and assigned Fang Xiu his task.


    Taking another deep breath to calm himself, Yan Changshou got straight to the point. "Fang Xiu, since we share the same goal, I''ll get to it. Your task is to kill the head of the headquarters with your scalpel tomorrow night when he hands you the Spiritual Gadget."


    "That''s it?" Fang Xiu asked.


    "The best assassinations are often simple. Remember how **Jing Ke tried to assassinate the Qin Emperor with a dagger hidden in a map?***"


    "Yes, and he failed," Fang Xiu noted.


    "That''s why I''m not giving you a map," Yan Changshou retorted.


    A brief silence followed. Then Fang Xiu broke it. "What''s a Spiritual Gadget?"


    At the mention of the Spiritual Gadget, a gleam of greed shed in Yan Changshou''s eyes. He licked his lips like a predator eyeing its prey.


    "A Spiritual Gadget is an ancient Specter Gadget," Yan Changshou exined.


    Fang Xiu felt a surge of curiosity. An ancient Specter Gadget? Was it from the era that ended with Zhou Qingfeng? Or even earlier?


    "If it''s an ancient Specter Gadget, why change the name?" Fang Xiu asked.


    Yan Changshou shook his head. "There''s a big difference between a Spiritual Gadget and a Specter Gadget. Using a Specter Gadget too often can mess with a psychic''s mind; it''s not great for humans. But a Spiritual Gadget is different. It usually has more power than a Specter Gadget and rarely causes mental pollution. Basically, a Specter Gadget is better for Specters, while a Spiritual Gadget is better for humans."


    Hearing this, Fang Xiu''s interest in the Spiritual Gadget waned. A weapon that doesn''t corrupt the mind didn''t seem all that appealing to him.


    Yan Changshou sighed slightly. "It''s incredible how the psychics of the past could create such powerful tools like the Spiritual Gadget."


    _''Powerful?''_


    That word caught Fang Xiu''s attention. From Yan Changshou''s description, it sounded like the Spiritual Gadget had some extraordinary abilities, impressive enough to earn respect from even a fourth-tier psychic like him.


    "

 Chapter 224: Xuanyuan Sword

    Chapter 224: Xuanyuan Sword


    "How strong is this Spiritual Gadget?" Fang Xiu asked, curious.


    Yan Changshou gave a sly smile and exined, "Spiritual Gadgets, like Specter Gadgets,e in different levels of power. The weaker ones are pretty much like regr Specter Gadgets, but they don''t mess with your mind. The stronger ones¡­ they''re incredibly powerful, almost beyond imagination.


    "Fang Xiu, do you know why, even with the tight and powerful bond between me and the Pokers, we decided on assassination?"


    "Is it because of the Spiritual Gadget?" Fang Xiu guessed.


    "That''s right. Besides me, there are four more captains at the headquarters. They''re all fourth-tier psychics, but three of them don''t concern me. Only one does, and the Pokers feel the same.


    "His name is Fang Moli, known for his sword skills. He''s the captain of the Sword Edge squad and the top psychic in Asia. He''s powerful, but he''s only at the fourth tier, which isn''t enough to worry me.


    "What I really fear is the sword he wields! The sword is called Xuanyuan, a Spiritual Gadget from ancient times. They say no one has seen the sword drawn because those who did are dead."


    "Xuanyuan Sword?" Fang Xiu immediately thought of the mythical sword. If something like the Taotie exists, it''s not surprising that the Xuanyuan Sword does too.


    Yan Changshou continued, "Fang Xiu, you''ve dealt with Grade-S Specter events, so you know how terrifying it can be. However, the one you handled hadn''t fully developed. But Fang Moli once single-handedly dealt with a fully developed ss-S Specter with just his sword."Yan Changshou spoke with deep concern in his voice.


    Fang Xiu was also surprised by this news. Having faced Nightmare, he knew how tough it could be, and that was when the Nightmare wasn''t fully grown. A fully developed Specter could easily destroy a country. The fact that someone could handle such a Specter alone was truly shocking.


    And Fang Moli isn''t even fifth-tier, just fourth-tier, which showed how strong Xuanyuan Sword must be.


    _''No wonder Yan Changshou and the Pokers are so wary of it.'' _


    With that thought, Fang Xiu asked, "If Xuanyuan Sword is that powerful, then why assassinate the headquarters chief? As far as I know, he''s just an ordinary person, and his death wouldn''t change the situation."


    "The assassination is to draw Fang Moli''s attention. Tomorrow, during the training, each of the five captains will give a lecture. Afterward, the headquarters chief will give a final summary and present you with an award.


    "Psychics from all over the country are tough to handle, so if the chief directly steps in, it could lead to unpleasant incidents. So, the five captains will teach first and exert some pressure, and then the chief will make an appearance.


    "When he presents you with the Spiritual Gadget, the five of us will be on the stage. This will be my best chance to get close to Moli. Normally, we''re all busy with our own duties and rarely meet."


    Fang Xiu finally understood Yan Changshou''s n. "So you''re saying you want me to kill the chief in front of everyone, causing amotion. Then, while everyone is focused on me, you''ll take the chance to attack Fang Moli?"


    Yan Changshou nodded and replied, "Exactly. The best way to deal with Fang Moli is not to give him a chance to draw the Xuanyuan Sword. We need to attack him when he''s distracted. Given how high his level is now, small things rarely catch his attention. We need to hit him with something big, like the death of the chief.


    "Your assassination will be the start of our n. While you assassinate, I''ll attack, and the Pokers willunch an assault in the chaos. I''ve also prepared Specters in advance, so we''ll win amidst the confusion."


    Fang Xiu nodded silently. This time, he knew what was going to happen without using his abilities, and he felt quite satisfied with that.


    To get more details about the n, he asked, "You''re worried about Xuanyuan Sword, right? What if Fang Moli survives the attack and hands the sword to another captain? How will you handle that?"


    Yan Changshou smirked slightly, "Xuanyuan Sword isn''t something just anyone can use. Moli was the only one in the headquarters who can handle it."


    "Oh? Why is that?"


    "Because Fang Moli''s domain is ''Sword Infinity.'' His main ability is to control swords. Only with this power can he manage the Xuanyuan Sword, even just barely. That''s why the headquarters trusted such a legendary weapon to him¡ªhe''s the only one who can use it. So if Fang Moli is taken out, Xuanyuan Sword is essentially useless."


    Fang Xiu felt a mix of curiosity and concern. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''A domain for controlling swords? And Fang Moli, Asia''s top psychic, with the ''Sword Infinity'' domain¡ªthis is quite something.''</em>


    He continued, "Why do I have to be the one to carry out the assassination? The headquarters chief is just an ordinary person; surely there are plenty of others who could do it."


    Yan Changshou shook his head, "The chief always has a bodyguard, Xiao Zhenhua, who''s also a fourth-tier psychic with a military background. His domain, ''All Equal,'' is a real problem. It neutralizes all psychic abilities within its range. With him around, conventional means of assassination won''t work. That''s why you''re the best option, especially during the award ceremony.


    "Just make sure you don''t reveal any intentions beforehand. Xiao Zhenhua is very sharp. Before bing a psychic, he was a top-notch soldier, a real military ace. He believes in strict justice¡ªbetter to catch a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person escape. If he senses anything off, he''ll act without hesitation, regardless of how valuable your foresight might be."


    "All Equal, huh? Xiao Zhenhua with a domain that neutralizes powers?" Fang Xiu muttered to himself.


    The more Yan Changshou shared, the more Fang Xiu realized how formidable the people at the headquarters were. The captains weren''t just fourth-tier psychics¡ªthey were the best of the best.


    "Is there no fifth-tier psychic at the headquarters?" Fang Xiu asked, wondering about the hierarchy.


    "Fifth-tier? Ha," Yan Changshouughed. "Not just at the headquarters; there aren''t any fifth-tier psychics anywhere in the world. The world isn''t big enough to sustain such power."


    Fang Xiu understood Yan Changshou''s point. Even though the rate of Specter invasions was increasing, it hadn''t reached the level needed to produce a fifth-tier psychic. After all, psychic powerse from the Specters.

 Chapter 225: Specter Gate

    Chapter 225: Specter Gate


    No matter how strong a psychic''s mental power was, it could not affect reality without the help of Specter power.


    At this moment, Yan Changshou asked, "Do you know why the position of Chief Captain at headquarters has been vacant? Because they''re waiting to see who breaks through to the fifth tier first! Whoever bes a fifth-tier psychic first will definitely get the Chief Captain position."


    He added a few more words, not wanting Fang Xiu to underestimate him, "If anyone is going to be the world''s first fifth-tier psychic, it''ll definitely be me. The only reason I''m still at fourth-tier is because, fourth-tier is now the limit that this world can amodate. If I could stay in human form for more than an hour each day, I wouldn''t have to use these tricks to get the Chief Captain position; it would be a breeze for me."


    Fang Xiu didn''t want to hear Yan Changshou bragging anymore, so he quickly asked, "You mentioned releasing pre-prepared Specters and that the Pokers would take advantage of the chaos. Have they already infiltrated headquarters?"


    This question made Yan Changshou a little wary. He didn''t answer directly and instead said, "That''s not something you need to worry about. Just focus on your part. It''s time for you to head back to the hotel. If you stay in the interrogation room too long, it''ll look suspicious. Also, your double isn''t needed anymore; I''ll have him revert to his original form. You don''t need to worry about being exposed."


    Realizing Yan Changshou wouldn''t share more, Fang Xiu knew it was time to act. With his blood on the parchment, his life was entirely under Yan Changshou''s control. Yan Changshou had also taken his Genesis Mask, so even though there was no immediate danger, Fang Xiu needed to reset the situation.


    Fang Xiu stood up slowly. Looking at Yan Changshou calmly, he said, "If you have nothing else to say, you can go ahead and die now."


    Yan Changshou seemed taken aback, almost in disbelief. "You''re telling me to die?"


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly, "Did Specterization make you deaf?""Fang Xiu, this joke isn''t funny. I don''t know if you''re losing it or if your Spiritual Energy is acting up, but don''t forget, your life is in my hands," Yan Changshou responded coldly.


    Fang Xiu shook his head, his tone detached, "Actually, your life has always been in my hands. Come on out."


    As he focused his gaze, looking beyond the immediate reality, something incredible happened.


    Suddenly, several terrifying Specters appeared out of nowhere. There was one like a lion with human heads, another that looked like a dried-up corpse, and a ghostly shadow figure.


    After many encounters with Specters from the Other Side, Fang Xiu had started to understand some patterns. He noticed that the Specters he called were generally more powerful than those in the human world.


    It was probably because the Other Side hadn''t fully invaded the human world yet, so the more formidable Specters couldn''t enter, leaving only the less powerful ones toe through first.


    Yan Changshou jumped up, staring at the Specters in shock. "How is this even possible? You can summon Specters directly from the Other Side? Is your ability also to control Specters?"


    "Also?" Fang Xiu caught on quickly¡ªYan Changshou could control Specters. That made him quite formidable, as he wasn''t fighting alone.


    Feeling the powerful energy radiating from the Specters around him, Yan Changshou''s face turned serious. He realized he''d been tricked.


    The fact that Fang Xiu could summon Specters from the Other Side meant he wasn''t just a second-tier psychic.


    Yan Changshou also understood why Fang Xiu wasn''t afraid of bleeding on the parchment¡ªhis strength made him confident against the curse.


    Yan Changshou didn''t hesitate any longer. He mmed his hands on the ground. "Specter Gate!"


    With a loud crack, the ground behind him split open, and the floor shook violently, like an earthquake.


    A towering, ominous ck gate covered in engravings of fierce Specter creatures rose slowly. It exuded an overwhelming sense of dread.


    With a loud boom, the Specter Gate swung open, releasing a terrifying Specter enegy.


    Swarms of Snakeworms poured out like a gue, quickly filling the space. But the Snakeworms were just the beginning.


    Next came a humanoid Specter wreathed in a creepy green me, a malformed Specter with three heads and mantis-like de arms, a giant blue Specter with fangs, and more...


    This scene thrilled Fang Xiu. For someone who could absorb Specter powers, Yan Changshou was a goldmine of Specters.


    Finally, the grand finale approached.


    The Specter Gate began to tremble and twist under some immense force. A terrifying aura filled the area even before the Specter appeared.


    Just as Fang Xiu eagerly awaited its emergence, intense pain hit him.


    He looked down to see the ghostly Shadow he''d summoned earlier clinging to him.


    It had a powerful Specter energy, and as ittched on, Fang Xiu felt himself bing insubstantial, starting to fade.


    He tried to absorb the pain and recover, but it was useless.


    After all, he was still just a second-tier psychic, and no matter how special his abilities were, they needed a solid foundation.


    So, Fang Xiu began to die slowly.


    Yan Changshou was stunned, his eyes nearly popping out. He struggled to keep the Specter Gate open, but in his shock, he identally closed it.


    He couldn''t understand¡ªhow could the summoned creature attack its master? Was Fang Xiu being consumed by his own power? But if Fang Xiu could summon Specters from the Other Side, he had to be powerful. Could he really be defeated so easily?


    As Fang Xiu''s life ebbed away, everything around him faded to darkness, and the fabric of time and space began to shatter.

 Chapter 226: Resetting

    Chapter 226: Resetting


    "Your room is on the 8th floor. The elevator''s this way, please follow me," Wen Yang said with a polite smile, guiding Fang Xiu and the others as he pressed the elevator button.


    Fang Xiu calmly watched Wen Yang''s back, a creepy smile forming on his lips.


    Soon, they reached the 8th floor. The familiar sound of fighting broke the silence again.


    Wen Yang''s face changed. "Please wait, everyone... Hey, Mr. Fang, where are you going?"


    Before he could finish, Fang Xiu was already walking toward the sound of the fight. Wen Yang and the others quickly followed.


    Fang Xiu saw the familiar scene once more. Chu Feng, covered in blood and wounds, wasughing wildly while stepping on Wu Xin.


    "Hahaha, the famous Specter Hands, Wu Xin, I didn''t expect today... Ow!"


    Before Chu Feng could finish, he felt a kick on his butt and fell t on his face.


    "Who the hell kicked me?"Fang Xiu calmly withdrew his foot and walked straight toward Chu Feng.


    Chu Feng red angrily, a vicious smile appearing on his lips, "You bastard, you kicked me? You''re so dead."


    "Mr. Fang Xiu, what are you doing? The headquarters regtions forbid internal fighting!" Wen Yang said anxiously.


    As soon as Fang Xiu''s name was mentioned, the room went silent, just like before. After a moment, the crowd started murmuring, all eyes on Fang Xiu.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t care. He walked up to Chu Feng.


    By now, Chu Feng had stood up, looking at Fang Xiu with great interest.


    "Fang Xiu, the foreseer? Haha, I''ve heard so much about you. If I remember right, this is our first meeting. We have no grudge, but you attack me. If you don''t... Ah!"


    A horrifying scream rang out.


    A sharp scalpel had stabbed into Chu Feng''s neck.


    Chu Feng''s face twisted in pain as he screamed. His body started twitching, slowly copsing to the ground.


    "What... what are you doing?"


    Fang Xiu slowly bent down and said in a calm, almost indifferent voice, "Just giving you a lesson in advance."


    "In advance?"


    Not only was Chu Feng stunned, but the onlookers were also dumbfounded. Only Yang Ming and the others understood.


    "That''s right, I foresaw that you would cause me trouble in the future, so I''m giving you a lesson now to make you remember."


    After speaking, Fang Xiu twisted the scalpel.


    "Ah!"


    Chu Feng''s body convulsed. He foamed at the mouth, his eyes rolling back. The onlookers shivered at the sight.


    What Fang Xiu did seemed unbelievable to them. They had never seen someone give a preemptive lesson like this.


    A few minutester, Fang Xiu let go of the scalpel. Chu Feng immediately ran away.


    This time, Fang Xiu left him with even more fear.


    Fang Xiu didn''t enjoy torturing people; he just wanted to reduce trouble. With Chu Feng''s personality, he would get stabbed sooner orter, so why not sooner?


    After the incident with Chu Feng, Wen Yang looked at Fang Xiu with a mix of doubt and uncertainty. He wasn''t sure how much Fang Xiu could foresee.


    Wen Yang was puzzled because every psychic''s abilities had limits; there was no way that Fang Xiu could foresee the future at will.


    Now, he worried if Fang Xiu had foreseen the events of the night.


    Despite his worries, the n had to proceed.


    Soon, Fang Xiu entered the room and waited silently for events to unfold. Time passed slowly, and it was gettingte.


    Then the first night visitor appeared.


    "Xiu, you..."


    <em>CLICK. _The door opened.</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia was startled. At the door, a tall figure stood silently; it was Fang Xiu.</em>


    <em>"Xiu, you... ow."</em>


    <em>Before she could finish her sentence, Fang Xiu pulled her inside.</em>


    <em>He frightened Xiao Chuxia._ ''No way, Fang Xiu usually seems so indifferent, but in reality, is he a lecherous fiend?! This is bad!''_</em>


    <em>"What do you want to do? I tell you..."</em>


    <em>"Stop your unrealistic fantasies. If you want to know your real name, work for me for three years," Fang Xiu said calmly.</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia was stunned, disbelief in her eyes. "You even foresaw why I came to see you?!"</em>


    <em>"Cut the crap. Your name in exchange for three years of work. Don''t worry, I just need your abilities."</em>


    <em>"I''ll think about it."</em>


    <em>"Don''t waste time. I''ve seen the future, and in the end, you''ll agree. So let''s skip the middle part."</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia was dumbfounded, mouth agape. That "I''ve seen the future" left her speechless.</em>


    <em>After a moment of silence, Xiao Chuxia, not knowing why, nodded in agreement. Perhaps she had been convinced by Fang Xiu''s certainty.</em>


    <em>"Remember, I''ll only say your name once. And don''t cry after hearing it, because I have tasks for you. If you want to cry, do it in your own room."</em>


    <em>"Why would I cry? I''m an adult, tough enough to face anything harsh," Xiao Chuxia said dismissively.</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu gave her a thoughtful look. "I hope you mean it. I saw that, in the future, you cried so much that you wetted my bed."</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia''s face turned slightly red as she connected the dots between the elementste night, hotel, man, woman, bed, crying, wet.</em>


    <em>At the same time, a strange feeling rose in her heart, indescribable. It felt quite strange that someone in front of her was urately telling her what she was going to do next.</em>


    <em>"Your name is Xiao Chuxia," Fang Xiu''s calm voice cut through Xiao Chuxia''s thoughts.</em>


    <em>As soon as she heard those words, her body trembled. It felt like something deep within her had been awakened, a sensation both strange and incredibly familiar, washing over her entirely. An inexplicable emotion welled up, bringing tears to her eyes.</em>


    <em>But just as the tears began to form, she caught sight of the man in front of her, quietly staring at her with a calm expression. Whether it was a trick of the light or not, she felt there was a hint of mockery in his calm demeanor.</em>


    <em>This instantly made Xiao Chuxia angry, and she forced the tears back.</em>


    <em>"Don''t give me that look. I won¡¯t cry."</em><em>


    </em>

 Chapter 227: In Fang Xius Pocket

    Chapter 227: In Fang Xiu''s Pocket


    "Alright, let''s get to it," Fang Xiumanded, sounding like a boss who cared more about getting things done than his team''s feelings.


    Xiao Chuxia hesitated, "What do you need me to do in the middle of the night? Surely it''s not..."


    "Stop with the dirty thoughts. I''ll tell you what to do, and you just follow. Got it?"


    Xiao Chuxia was taken aback. She pointed at herself in disbelief, "Me? Dirty? How dare you..."


    "Shrink yourself."


    Seeing the steely look in Fang Xiu''s eyes, Xiao Chuxia pouted, silently cursing him to stay single forever, but sheplied. A soft glow surrounded her, and an amazing transformation began.


    Xiao Chuxia, tall and slender, shrank down until she was no bigger than a palm-sized figurine, looking like a tiny, delicate doll.


    "This is as small as I can get. What now?" she demanded.


    Before she could react, Fang Xiu picked up the tiny Xiao Chuxia and tucked her into his pocket, making her let out a surprised squeak.She was so small that Fang Xiu''s hand enveloped herpletely, touching everything. The warmth of his touch made her face flush.


    Inside the pocket, she yelled, "Fang Xiu, why am I in your pocket?"


    "Be quiet. Someone''sing. Don''t make a sound. I''ll let you out when it''s safe."


    Judging by his serious tone, Xiao Chuxia guessed he had predicted something important. Reluctantly, she hugged her knees and sat quietly in the pocket. The room grew silent.


    About ten minutester, just as Xiao Chuxia was getting restless, there was a knock at the door.


    The sound made her marvel at Fang Xiu''s foresight. Someone actually showed up.


    "Mr..." Sun Dehua''s voice called from outside.


    The door opened with a click.


    Seeing the tall figure at the door, Sun Dehua was slightly taken aback. Before he could process it, Fang Xiu spoke.


    "You''re two minutes early this time."


    Fang Xiu''s calm remark left Sun Dehua even more puzzled. He wondered what "this time" meant.


    Fang Xiu''s deep familiarity with the events had led to a slight change in the timeline, causing Sun Dehua to arrive a bit earlier.


    "Come in, Sun Dehua."


    As soon as Fang Xiu spoke his name, Sun Dehua understood. A deep fear appeared in his eyes. He followed Fang Xiu into the room and tested him, "Mr. Fang, did you foresee my arrival?"


    "Yes, I foresaw your arrival and¡ª"


    Just like how Sun Dehua had attacked him all of a sudden, this time Fang Xiu used the same trick on him.


    Fang Xiu stopped speaking halfway to grab Sun Dehua''s attention, and then struck decisively when Sun Dehua was distracted.


    Fang Xiu''s right eye, with the Blood Pupil, emitted a dazzling red light in the darkness.


    Caught off guard, Sun Dehua was hit immediately.


    Despite his constant vignce, his attention to Fang Xiu''s every move led him to look right into the Blood Pupil.


    Sun Dehua felt like his head was struck by a heavy hammer. His mind went nk for a moment.


    In a fight between experts, a moment of distraction can change the oue. This was no exception.


    When Sun Dehua regained his senses, it was toote to react.


    With silver sh, a cold scalpel was already embedded in his neck.


    "Argh!" A horrible scream pierced the night, waking everyone in the hotel. Fang Xiu didn''t stop Sun Dehua''s scream because he need that to lure Wen Yang.


    As Sun Dehua slowly died, the events unfolded just as before, with Wen Yang arriving with his team.


    Fang Xiu calmly allowed himself to be handcuffed and left with Wen Yang.


    In the car, Wen Yang spoke the same hypocritical words as before.


    "You''re as pathetic as ever," Fang Xiu said with a mocking smile.


    Wen Yang was slightly taken aback, "Mr. Fang, what do you mean by that?"


    "Stop wasting time acting. I have seen the future."


    At this, Wen Yang instantly dropped his pretense, a cruel smile forming on his lips. "So what if you''ve seen the future? Fang Xiu, the moment you were handcuffed, you were already meat on our chopping board."


    He pressed a button on a remote in his pocket. "Hahaha, feel that? This is a very precious energy suppressant. It makes you an ordinary person for an hour. No matter what tricks you have, you can''t use them now."


    Despite Wen Yang''s sneer, Fang Xiu remained calm. He even asked, "That''s right. But do you feel it?"


    Wen Yang was puzzled, "Feel what?" Before he could react, a sharp pain like a needle prick came from his leg. A wave of weakness spread through his body.


    Wen Yang''s Spiritual Energy disappeared, and he felt like an ordinary person.


    "What? How is this possible! A suppressant?" Wen Yang shouted in shock. He quickly looked down at his leg. A very thin silver hair was wrapped around a needle, quietly stuck in his leg. The needle looked very familiar.


    In disbelief, he looked at Fang Xiu''s handcuffs. At some point, the cuffs had been opened, and their mechanisms destroyed, packed with dense silver hairs.


    Turns out, as soon as Fang Xiu got into the car, he had used his silver hair to unlock the handcuffs from the inside and retrieve the suppressant.


    The handcuffs were made of Mind Steel and extremely tough, but unlocking them only required skill, not brute force.


    "Now you see what knowing the future can do?" Fang Xiu said calmly.


    Wen Yang, being an experience and powerful psychic, quickly regained hisposure even though he had lost his Spiritual Energy.


    His eyes shed as he calcted his options. He suddenly grabbed the steering wheel, hoping to cause some trouble for Fang Xiu and then jump out of the car.


    Even without his Spiritual Energy, his body was much stronger than a normal person''s. He believed that even if he jumped from a moving vehicle, he would only be slightly injured and not in serious danger.


    Wen Yang''s n was good, but it failed at the first step¡ªthe steering wheel in his hand just wouldn''t budge an inch.

 Chapter 228: Wrong Duplicate

    Chapter 228: Wrong Duplicate


    "What?"


    Wen Yang looked at the steering wheel. He found several silver hairs tightly wrapped around it, holding it firmly in ce. The silver hairs even twisted the wheel slightly to avoid the cars ahead.


    He tried to m the brakes, but it was useless. The brakes were supported by the silver hairs, so he couldn''t push them down. Even the car doors were sealed shut.


    If he could use his Spiritual Energy, he could fight against the silver hairs. But now his Spiritual Energy was all gone, and he was just like an ordinary person,pletely trapped. Any resistance was futile.


    In the end, Wen Yang could only look at Fang Xiu with fear.


    "Fang Xiu, what are you trying to do? Since you''ve seen the future, you should know I work for Captain Yan. If you hurt me, Captain Yan won''t let you go!"


    Fang Xiu nced at him but didn''t reply, as talking to a dying man was a waste of time. He casually controlled the silver hairs, took Wen Yang''s phone from his pocket, and crushed hisst hope.


    "Time for you to work."


    Fang Xiu said as he took Xiao Chuxia out of his pocket and ced her on the seat next to him. In a sh of light, the tiny Xiao Chuxia grew back to her previous tall and youthful form.When she appeared, she looked at Fang Xiu with aplex and slightly worried expression.


    "What did you foresee? He''s from the headquarters. Are you nning to kill him?"


    "Don''t worry, he''s a traitor. And I won''t kill him, someone else will do it for me."


    Hearing Fang Xiu''s calm words, Wen Yang felt a sense of doom.


    "Fang Xiu! What are you trying to do! I..."


    "Be quiet!" Fang Xiu said, and he controlled the silver hairs to seal Wen Yang''s mouthpletely.


    Then, Fang Xiu turned to Xiao Chuxia.


    "Make him look like me."


    Xiao Chuxia was stunned for a moment. She looked at the restrained Wen Yang and slowly said, "My lie ability isn''t invincible. I can change myself because I don''t resist my power. But changing someone else is harder if they resist."


    Fang Xiu nodded. "That''s easy. I won''t let him resist."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he hit the back of Wen Yang''s neck, knocking him out.


    Then, Fang Xiu entered Wen Yang''s dream, creating a dreamscape to trap his consciousness.


    Now, Wen Yang was like a conscious vegetative person. He could sense the outside world but couldn''t control his body.


    "Now use your power on him. Make him look like me. Also, create a fake personality in his body. It doesn''t need to beplex, just enough to control the body and have simple conversations."


    Xiao Chuxia nodded and began to work. She ced her hand on Wen Yang and chanted softly. Soon, light flowed from her and covered Wen Yang.


    Xiao Chuxia''s face turned pale quickly. After a moment, she withdrew her hand.


    Wen Yang hadpletely transformed to appear like Fang Xiu, and he sat still in his seat like a robot.


    The real Wen Yang could only watch helplessly as his body was controlled by Fang Xiu and the others, unable to resist.


    "Very good," Fang Xiu said with satisfaction. "Give me control of the fake personality."


    After a series of operations, Fang Xiu finished all the preparations and turned into Wen Yang.


    "By the way, you will probably die at Yan Changshou''s hands, but your Spiritual Energy shouldn''t be wasted. Give it to me," Fang Xiu said.


    In Xiao Chuxia''s shocked gaze, a crack appeared in Fang Xiu''s left palm, revealing menacing teeth. The teeth bit into Wen Yang, mercilessly devouring all his Spiritual Energy.


    Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy awakening had reached 40%. This meant he was only 1% away from advancing to the third tier.


    However, this 1% breakthrough was not just about umting energy. Even after devouring almost half of Wen Yang''s Spiritual Energy, Fang Xiu still remained at 40%.


    He might need higher-quality Spiritual Energy.


    Once everything was handled, they took the car to the previous hidden detention site.


    Fang Xiu, now looking like Wen Yang, pushed the transformed Wen Yang, who now looked like Fang Xiu, into the detention ce.


    Xiao Chuxia hid in the car and did not follow.


    The process was as before. The psychic who once transformed into Fang Xiu reappeared. He ced his hand on Wen Yang''s shoulder and slowly transformed into Fang Xiu''s appearance. Fang Xiu nodded at him and then left with the calm-looking Wen Yang.


    They headed straight to Yan Changshou''s manor. Since Fang Xiu had been there before, he navigated the ce with ease.


    He took Wen Yang to the dining room and once again saw Yan Changshou, who was eating someone.


    Yan Changshou was as elegant as ever, but Wen Yang and Fang Xiu had switched identities.


    "Captain Yan, Fang Xiu is here," Fang Xiu announced.


    Yan Changshou slowly put down his knife and fork. He wiped the red blood from his lips with a white napkin, and smiled at Wen Yang, "Mr. Fang, please sit."


    The fake personality controlled Wen Yang''s body, and he slowly sat in the chair Fang Xiu had sat inst time, calmly facing Yan Changshou.


    The real Fang Xiu left the dining room and the manor. He returned to the car, closed his eyes, and entered Wen Yang''s dream.


    Wen Yang''s consciousness was still trapped in the dream, where it was pitch ck except for a giant mirror showing the outside world. He desperately banged on the mirror, trying to warn Yan Changshou, but it was useless.


    Fang Xiu''s arrival caught his attention, and Wen Yang frantically lunged at Fang Xiu. However, in the next second, his body was immobilized.


    In the dream realm, Fang Xiu was the absolute master.


    "Fang Xiu! You bastard! What do you want?" Wen Yang shouted angrily.


    Fang Xiu''s lips curled into a chilling smile. "Just watch."


    Outside the dream, Fang Xiu fed instructions to the fake personality to converse with Yan Changshou.


    Yan Changshou continued his elegant act, wearing a look of control. asionally, he would pick up a crystal ss and take a sip of blood.


    "Mr. Fang, please dine. I wasn''t sure what you prefer, so I..." Yan Changshou began.


    "Did I tell you to speak?" "Fang Xiu" said calmly.

 Chapter 229: Tricking Yan Changshou Again

    Chapter 229: Tricking Yan Changshou Again


    Yan Changshou was stunned for a moment. Then, a dangerous look appeared in his eyes.


    "It seems you still haven''t understood the current situation. Very well, then I..."


    "What makes you think you''re in control now? You''re just a useless fool who can''t even maintain your human form. You brought me here for the Genesis Mask, right? Okay, I''m a reasonable person. If you kneel and bow to me three times, maybe I''ll give you the Genesis Mask," Fang Xiu said.


    Hearing this, Yan Changshou was shocked, and so was the real Wen Yang. His face changed dramatically, realizing Fang Xiu''s true intention. But he was trapped in his own dream, watching everything helplessly.


    "Fang Xiu! You bastard! Keep doing this and I swear I''ll kill you!" Wen Yang shouted angrily, like a defeated dog barking. But no one could hear his voice.


    Yan Changshou became furious. He couldn''t even maintain his human form and half of his body turned into a Specter.


    Heughed angrily and said, "Who would''ve thought that the famous Fang Xiu, the foreseer, is such an arrogant asshole? You want me to kneel and beg you? Your life is in my hands now, so you should be the one begging for mercy!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, a scarlet tentacle shot out from Yan Changshou''s body, piercing Wen Yang''s left shoulder.


    The excruciating pain directly affected Wen Yang''s consciousness. In his dream realm, Wen Yang screamed in agony."Ah! Fang Xiu, you bastard! How dare you set me up!"


    Outside the dream realm¡­


    "Fang Xiu" looked at his pierced left shoulder with a mocking expression, "This is it? And you want the Genesis Mask? In your dreams!"


    "Bastard!" Yan Changshou became even more furious. "You''ll regret every word you''ve said just now!"


    In the dream real¡­


    Wen Yang looked at the furious Yan Changshou with extreme terror.


    "No, no, no! Captain Yan! It''s me! Don''t do it!"


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!</em>


    Several tentacles shot out from Yan Changshou''s body, striking "Fang Xiu." The tentacles were like small knives, constantly cutting "Fang Xiu," destroying his flesh.


    In just a moment, "Fang Xiu" became a bloody mess, with gaping wounds and his bones visible.


    Amazingly, "Fang Xiu''s" face showed no pain, only mockery. He continued to taunt, "Grab dinner ande back, see if you can do better then. The night is long, and I''ll wait here for you."


    Yan Changshou almost lost his mind from his rage. He had tortured many people before, but this was the first time he met someone like "Fang Xiu."


    If someone didn''t witness the scene and just heard them talking, he would think "Fang Xiu" was the one in control.


    From the moment Fang Xiu entered, he became more arrogant as the time passed despite being seriously injured. His body was a tangled mess, but he seemed not to care, as if it wasn''t his body.


    Yan Changshou continued to torture "Fang Xiu."


    Wen Yang kept screaming, the pain twisting his consciousness. Seeing his messed up body, he was on the verge of copse. He knew that even if he regained his bodyter, it would bepletely useless.


    After a long time, Yan Changshou stopped. He didn''t dare to continue because the wounds on "Fang Xiu" were too severe, and he feared killing him.


    However, "Fang Xiu" kept taunting him.


    "No way, no way, is that all? The great Captain Yan, one of the five captains of the headquarters, can''t take it? No wonder you can''t be the Chief Captain. You turned yourself into a Specter for power, but you''re still so useless."


    A cold smile shed across Yan Changshou''s face.


    "Fang Xiu, stop pretending. I know what you''re doing. You want to die, so I can''t get the Genesis Mask. Soon you''ll see, all your suffering was for nothing. Now,e out and control his body."


    With Yan Changshou''smand, a pale skull appeared in the corner, connected to countless transparent tentacles. It floated in the air and slowly moved toward "Fang Xiu," finallynding on his head.


    The tentacles moved and prated "Fang Xiu''s" body. Strangely, there were no visible wounds where the tentacles entered, as if they merged into him.


    The next second, the fake personality was controlled by the Specter and started searching for the Genesis Mask.


    Seeing this, excitement shed in Yan Changshou''s eyes. He licked his lips like a greed snake.


    Then, one second, two seconds, three seconds...


    The smile on Yan Changshou''s face gradually disappeared, reced by irritation and anger.


    "Where is the Genesis Mask!" His furious roar almost shook the roof.


    As the skull slowly left "Fang Xiu''s" body, Wen Yang''s fake personality fell back under Fang Xiu''s control. A sneering look of contempt appeared on his face again.


    "Mask? What mask? Oh, I remember, I must have left it somewhere. As for where it is¡­. Why don''t you kneel and beg me? Maybe I''ll remember after that."


    "Go to hell!" Yan Changshou lost all reason. He had never been mocked for so long before. Half an hour had passed since "Fang Xiu" entered the room.


    "You have a solid backbone, huh? I''ll see how hard it is. I''ll take you to the execution room, where I have hundreds of torture instruments¡ªtoday, I''ll use them all on you!"


    In the dream, Wen Yang''s terrified expression was beyond words; he almost went insane.


    "No, no, no! Captain Yan, please don''t! I''m not Fang Xiu, I''m Wen Yang!"


    His pleas were useless.


    Even when "Fang Xiu" was taken to the execution room, he remained arrogant. He disdainfully looked at the numerous torture instruments and sneered, "Is this your precious junk collection? That tiger chair looks nice, let''s try it first."


    "Fang Xiu" even started picking torture instruments.


    "No! Please! Fang Xiu, I beg you, don''t make me say anything anymore."


    Soon, Wen Yang''s heart-wrenching screams echoed in the dream realm.


    However, these screams transformed into the tauntsing from "Fang Xiu''s" mouth in reality.


    The real Fang Xiu quietly left, his consciousness returning to his own body.


    It wasn''t that Fang Xiu didn''t want to continue controlling Wen Yang, but Wen Yang''s body had been tortured too severely. He was having stress reactions, frequently passing out, so Fang Xiu decided to leave.

 Chapter 230: The Fall of The The Headquarters

    Chapter 230: The Fall of The The Headquarters


    When Fang Xiu''s consciousness snapped back to reality, he quickly shifted back into his disguise as Wen Yang. Tucking Xiao Chuxia safely in his pocket, he made his way to the area where the prisoners were kept.


    A short whileter, he led the psychic¡ªwho had taken on his own appearance¡ªinto a waiting car.


    ording to Yan Changshou''s n, the real Wen Yang was supposed to escort this imposter Fang Xiu back to the hotel, where they would lie low until the time came to assassinate the headquarters director the next day.


    The car sped toward the hotel.


    As soon as they found themselves on a deserted stretch of road, Fang Xiu''s ck hair shimmered, shifting into long, silvery strands.


    In a sh, the hair pierced the psychic impersonating him. The poor psychic never saw iting. He was only second-tier, with a transformation ability that gave him more confidence thanbat skills. He had fully trusted that Wen Yang was driving, leaving him wide open to Fang Xiu''s deadly strike.


    After eliminating the psychic, Fang Xiu absorbed his Spiritual Energy and gently pulled Xiao Chuxia out of his pocket.


    "Your turn to be me," he said with a calm tone. "I''ll take you back to the hotel."


    Xiao Chuxia''s eyes lingered on Fang Xiu, a whirlpool of emotions brewing within her. She had no clue what Fang Xiu had been up to all night, but it was clear he was working on something massive, something hidden.She couldn''t shake the feeling that she was stuck on a ship with no way off now. Eventually, she sighed, morphed into Fang Xiu''s likeness, and let him escort her back to the hotel.


    With that done, Fang Xiu, still in his Wen Yang disguise, hopped into another car, this time heading straight for the headquarters. But he wasn''t behind the wheel; one of Wen Yang''s subordinates handled the driving since Fang Xiu didn''t know the exact location of the headquarters.


    The subordinate didn''t question their destination. After all, Wen Yang had captured Fang Xiu earlier, so it seemed natural for him to need to file a report at the headquarters.


    Half an hourter, they pulled up to a secret military zone. High walls, electric fences, and armed soldiers on patrol made the ce look like a fortress.


    Wen Yang''s subordinate guided them through a maze of security checks until they finally entered the heart of the headquarters.


    "Wait here. I''ve got a report to make," Fang Xiu instructed, his tone firm but casual.


    The subordinate nodded, lighting a cigarette and leaning against the car.


    This was Fang Xiu''s first time inside the headquarters. It wasn''t as grand as he had imagined¡ªjust a regr office space, albeit a massive one. But what really caught his attention was the intense security: state-of-the-art surveince tech was everywhere, along with mysterious Mind Steel runes that Fang Xiu couldn''t decipher.


    Despite thete hour, the ce buzzed with activity. Through the ss walls, Fang Xiu saw operators sifting through files, coordinating with psychics on the front lines.


    Specter incidents didn''t care about the time of day, and the headquarters had to keep the nation''s psychics in line, so the workload never seemed to stop.


    As he walked, Fang Xiu exchanged nods with a few colleagues who greeted him along the way.


    When the crowd thinned, he casually stopped someone. "Is the Director still around?"


    "Yeah, he''s in his office," came the quick reply.


    With the Director''s location pinned down, Fang Xiu started navigating thebyrinth that was the headquarters, intent on finding the Director''s office.


    Fortunately, the Director''s office stood out, so Fang Xiu found it with ease. As he neared the door, a deep male voice, steady and firm, filtered through, indicating someone was on the phone inside.


    Fang Xiu paused to sense the surroundings and noted something odd: only one person seemed to be inside. With a slight frown, he knocked.


    "Come in," the voice called out from within.


    Fang Xiu pushed the door open, his eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and caution. To his surprise, there were two people in the room, not one.


    The office was spacious, with a middle-aged man seated behind arge desk, dressed in a traditional Zhongshan suit. Beside him stood a young man in abat uniform, his posture stiff and his gaze intense.


    The younger man''s expression was cold. His eyes, sharp like a predator''s, was locked onto Fang Xiu the moment he walked in.


    Fang Xiu instantly sensed the young man was dangerous¡ªlikely one of the top psychics in the country.


    It didn''t take long for Fang Xiu to piece things together. The man in the Zhongshan suit had to be the Director of the Investigation Bureau the headquarters, and the stern young man next to him was probably Xiao Zhenhua, also known as "the All Equal," one of the few fourth-tier psychics besides the five captains.


    Yan Changshou had mentioned these powerhouses, highlighting two in particr: Fang Moli, Asia''s top psychic who wielded the Xuanyuan Sword, and Xiao Zhenhua, the one standing before him now.


    The fact that Fang Xiu hadn''t sensed Xiao Zhenhua''s presence before entering the room spoke volumes about the man''s formidable abilities.


    "Wen Yang, here to report on the Fang Xiu situation, right? I''ve already heard the details. You managed it well¡ªjust give him a light warning," the Director said, his tone calm but with an underlying weariness. Clearly, the weight of his responsibilities took its toll.


    With the rise in Specter incidents, overseeing all psychics and Specter cases across the nation was no small feat, especially for someone without any special powers.


    "Tell me briefly what happened. Why did Sun Dehua provoke Fang Xiu in the middle of the night when they had no prior conflict?" the Director asked, his gaze fixed on "Wen Yang" as he waited for an exnation.


    But what Fang Xiu said next caught thempletely off guard.


    "So you''re the Director of the headquarters?" Fang Xiu asked bluntly.


    Before the Director could respond, Xiao Zhenhua''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "You''re not Wen Yang! Who are you?" he barked, his voiceced with suspicion.


    In that instant, a powerful energy surged from Xiao Zhenhua, crashing down on Fang Xiu like a tidal wave.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes widened as he felt his Spiritual Energy drain away, leaving him powerless. Even his Specter abilities were suddenly inessible, as if he had been injected with a suppressant.


    This was Xiao Zhenhua''s domain, known as "All Equal." It had the terrifying ability to strip away all powers, rendering even the strongest psychics defenseless.


    No wonder Yan Changshou feared him.


    Fang Xiu had a guess that the suppressants used on psychics were likely developed based on the principles of "All Equal."


    As Xiao Zhenhua''s power took hold, Fang Xiu''s disguise began to unravel. Wen Yang''s face slowly dissolved, revealing Fang Xiu''s true identity.


    "You''re Fang Xiu?" the Director recognized him immediately. Given his position, he was well aware of the rising star among psychics¡ªFang Xiu, the second-tier psychic who had recently tackled a Grade-S Specter event.


    "Yes, that''s me," Fang Xiu confirmed with a nod.


    With Fang Xiu''s admission, the Director''s frown deepened, his mind clearly racing to figure out why Fang Xiu had shown up in the middle of the night.


    After a tense moment, the Director''s expression softened, and he offered a warm smile. "Mr. Fang, you''vee at ate hour. What brings you here?"


    "I''ve seen the fall of the headquarters in the future," Fang Xiu replied, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of the most shocking news imaginable.

 Chapter 231: Tomorrow

    Chapter 231: Tomorrow


    "What did you just say?"


    Even the usuallyposed Director couldn''t mask his shock.


    If anyone else had made such a im, he might have brushed it off. But this was Fang Xiu, a top ten figure in the national psychic talent database. His foresight had previously averted a Grade-S Specter disaster, making him a rising star and a respected figure among the country''s psychics.


    When Fang Xiu spoke of the future, people listened.


    "Mr. Fang, are you sure? You really foresaw the fall of the headquarters?"


    The Director''s disbelief was met with Fang Xiu''s nod. "My foresight has never been wrong."


    Fang Xiu hadn''t seen the exact moment of the headquarters'' downfall, but he knew that if Yan Changshou and his group seeded, the result would be catastrophic¡ªeither destruction or severe damage.


    Psychics were not ordinary people; power often twisted them, making them rebellious.


    The headquarters, with its five captains and the formidable Xiao Zhenhua, could keep them in check. But if the headquarters fell, psychics across the nation would be restless, and foreign psychics would see an opportunity to strike.This wasn''t just a battle; it was an all-or-nothing fight. A mere victory wouldn''t suffice¡ªonly a decisive win would do.


    As Fang Xiu''s words sank in, the Director''s face grew more serious, his eyes reflecting deep thought.


    The room was swallowed by silence.


    After a few moments, the Director''s gaze sharpened, locking onto Fang Xiu.


    "Mr. Fang, can you tell me when this destruction will happen? Is a Specter behind it?"


    Fang Xiu shook his head and uttered two chilling words, "Human disaster."


    The Director''s eyes narrowed instantly. "A human disaster? Who''s behind it?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "I heard the headquarters has a Spiritual Gadget for me as a reward?"


    The Director, an experienced man, understood the unspoken message. Fang Xiu was making it clear that such valuable information wouldn''te for free.


    Rather than being offended, the Director recognized the practicality of the request¡ªafter all, this information was worth more than gold.


    "What exactly are you asking for, Mr. Fang?"


    "More rewards."


    The Director chuckled, appreciating Fang Xiu''s straightforwardness. "If your information proves urate, the reward will be far beyond your expectations. We value and reward merit here. What is it you want?"


    Fang Xiu noted the Director''s willingness to negotiate and gave a slight nod. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''It''s no wonder this man became the Director; he knows what to prioritize.''</em>


    "No need to rush. We can talk about rewards after we''ve dealt with the crisis," Fang Xiu replied, maintaining his calm.


    The Director was surprised. He had expected Fang Xiu to make immediate demands but was intrigued by his decision to wait. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Isn''t he concerned that the headquarters might not follow through?''</em>


    What the Director didn''t realize was that Fang Xiu wasn''t worried about the headquarters breaking their promise. He had a trump card: he could reset the entire world.


    If they tried to cheat him, Fang Xiu wouldn''t need Yan Changshou or the Pokers to lift a finger¡ªhe could obliterate the headquarters, and the world with it, in the blink of an eye. <strong>One look at the sky, and it would all be over.</strong>*


    "Aren''t you concerned that if your demands get too highter, the headquarters might not be able to meet them?" the Director asked, his tone carrying an undertone of caution.


    Fang Xiu''s response was cool and unwavering. "It doesn''t matter. If I can change the future to save the headquarters, I can just as easily ensure its fall."


    "Fang Xiu! Are you threatening us?" Xiao Zhenhua, who had been standing nearby, finally snapped, unable to hold back his anger.


    He had already been on edge when Fang Xiu hinted at makingrger demands. Now, with Fang Xiu openly threatening them, it shed violently with his strict sense of fairness.


    Fang Xiu turned his indifferent gaze toward Xiao Zhenhua, as if the fourth-tier powerhouse posed no threat to him at all. He replied with a single word, "Yes."


    "Why you¡ª"


    "Zhenhua!" The Director''s sharpmand cut him off, forcing Xiao Zhenhua to step back, though his anger was barely contained.


    Instead of reacting with anger to Fang Xiu''s words, the Director''s eyes held a newfound respect.


    He understood that in a world where the Specter threat was growing more dangerous by the day, a psychic with a temper was not an issueck of ability was.


    As long as Fang Xiu had the power he imed, even if he demanded ess to the headquarters'' most valuable resources, the Director would have no choice but to let him have his pick. The price of his greed would be irrelevant as long as he could deliver results.


    "Mr. Fang, please forgive Zhenhua. He''s straightforward and not always tactful," the Director said with a measured tone.


    Fang Xiu simply nodded. "He''s not worth my time."


    At this, Xiao Zhenhua nearly lost control again, but the Director''s firm gaze kept him in check.


    "Mr. Fang, I agree to your terms. Now, can you tell me more about this future? When will the headquarters face this disaster?" the Director asked earnestly.


    Fang Xiu didn''t hesitate. "Tomorrow."


    "Tomorrow?" The Director was taken aback, a trace of disbelief flickering in his eyes.


    Had Fang Xiu predicted the headquarters'' fall years from now, the Director might have found it more usible, due to the growing Specter threat. But tomorrow? With the five captains guarding the headquarters, it seemed impossible that it could be destroyed so quickly.


    However, the Director wisely kept his doubts to himself. Questioning Fang Xiu without knowing all the facts would only reveal his own ignorance.


    "What will cause the fall?" he asked.


    "The headquarters will be attacked tomorrow night by someone working with the Pokers from within," Fang Xiu answered inly.


    The Director''s expression darkened as he considered the implications.


    Xiao Zhenhua scoffed. "Fang Xiu, is this really what you saw? Do you honestly think a mere traitor and the Pokers could bring down the headquarters? You have no idea how strong we are."


    Fang Xiu knew exactly what Xiao Zhenhua was hinting at¡ªXuanyuan Sword. With such a powerful weapon in their possession, the headquarters indeed had the ability to suppress almost any threat.


    But Fang Xiu''s next words cut through their confidence like a knife. "What if Fang Moli dies?"


    Both the Director and Xiao Zhenhua froze, shock rippling through them.


    "Impossible!" Xiao Zhenhua eximed, disbelief etched across his face. "Who in the world could possibly take down Fang Moli?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t bother to borate. He simply added, "It''s not just Fang Moli who will die; you two are destined for the same fate."


    The Director''s frown deepened, his eyes bing unreadable windows to his thoughts.


    "Mr. Fang, did you see this exact future? What''s the reason behind Fang Moli''s death?" the Director questioned, deliberately ignoring the mention of his own demise to focus on Fang Moli.


    "Yan Changshou will kill Fang Moli," Fang Xiu replied calmly, dropping yet another bombshell.


    The Director''s expression shifted instantly. "Are you telling me that Yan Changshou is the insider coborating with the Pokers?"


    "Exactly. Yan Changshou has been working with the Pokers for quite some time. He''s already undergone Specterization. Haven''t you noticed he''s been making fewer public appearancestely?"


    The Director fell into deep thought. With Fang Xiu''s revtion, he realized the truth. Given how upied the five captains usually were, he hadn''t paid attention to this detail before.

 Chapter 232: Killing Yan Changshou

    Chapter 232: Killing Yan Changshou


    Fang Xiu dropped another bombshell. "In Yan Changshou''s domain, called ''Specter Gate,'' there are countless Specters that the Pokers have been stockpiling, including a few at the S ss. They even got someone lined up to impersonate me.


    "Tomorrow night, during the award ceremony, this double will try to assassinate you in front of everyone. While the crowd is in chaos, Yan Changshou will make his move and kill Fang Moli.


    Once Fang Moli is gone, no one can wield the Xuanyuan Sword. That''s when the Pokers will hit the headquarters hard. Without your strongest fighter, how do you n to fend off a swarm of Specters, plus Yan Changshou and the Pokers?"


    The Director and Xiao Zhenhua felt a cold shiver run down their spines. If things went down the way Fang Xiu predicted, the headquarters would be facing utter devastation.


    The Director stayed quiet for a moment before speaking up, his tone heavy, "Mr. Fang, if what you''re saying is true, we owe you a debt of gratitude. This information could save the entire nation."


    "You can verify my ims," Fang Xiu replied calmly. "An operation this big will leave traces. With the resources at your disposal, it shouldn''t be hard to confirm. But once you do, what''s your n?"


    The Director took a moment to think before responding, "We''ll turn the tables on them."


    A satisfied glint shed across Fang Xiu''s eyes. The Director was on the same page. Sure, they could take down Yan Changshou now, but that wouldn''t solve the bigger problem¡ªthe Pokers, still lurking in the shadows. Even if Yan Changshou was dealt with, other traitors might rise up, still working with the Pokers down the line.


    The real enemy was the Pokers. This secretive group was deeply embedded, able to reach into the Other Side, and constantly stirring up trouble. This crisis at the headquarters, while dangerous, could be the perfect chance to wipe them out.The Director then added, "If Yan Changshou ns to strike during the ceremony, we can beat him to it. If we eliminate him quickly, he won''t have a chance to open the Specter Gate, and we won''t have to deal with the Specters. That way, we can focus all our efforts on the Pokers."


    Fang Xiu nodded in agreement. "I''ve already dealt with the imposter. I''ll be at the ceremony myself, so Yan Changshou won''t suspect a thing. The rest¡ªhandling the other team leaders and securing the venue¡ªwill be up to you."


    "Consider it done," the Director confirmed.


    "Good. Then, I''ll see you tomorrow." Fang Xiu stood up, leaving without another word.


    Once he was gone, the Director pulled out an encrypted phone from his drawer and made a few calls. Half an hourter, he got some news that left him stunned.


    He had quietly tasked the headquarters'' secret forces with investigating Yan Changshou. As expected, they uncovered some leads. Every bit of evidence aligned with what Fang Xiu had said.


    As the Director, he couldn''t just take someone''s word for it, even if that person could see the future. He needed solid proof before he could fully trust the information.


    However, the Director secretly wished that Fang Xiu''s prediction would be wrong, just this once. Losing a captain would be a heavy blow to the headquarters. But deep down, he knew the truth: Fang Xiu''s predictions, like he said before, had never been wrong.


    "Sir, could it be..." Xiao Zhenhua''s voice broke through the Director''s thoughts, his concern clear as he watched his superior struggle to process the information.


    The Director, still in a daze, muttered to himself, "Fang Xiu, the Foreseer, truly lives up to his reputation."


    "But could it really be true?" Xiao Zhenhua''s voice wasced with horror. "Yan Changshou is a captain of the headquarters. Why would he betray us?"


    "Because he is finding it harder and harder to hold onto his human form. Imagine the scandal¡ªone of our five captains turning into a Specter. The world wouldn''t stand for it. On top of that, he''s gunning for the Chief Captain position. Aren''t those reasons enough?" The Director''s voice dropped to a rough whisper.


    Xiao Zhenhua''s expression flickered between shock and fury, until finally, his eyes hardened with resolve. "These damned traitors¡­ tomorrow, I''ll make sure every one of them pays!"


    A fierce determination sparked in the Director''s eyes. "You''re right. Tomorrow''s battle is our chance to weed out these traitors. Losing a captain is a hard blow, but we''ve gained a prophet. That could turn out to be a blessing in disguise."


    He continued, his voice tinged with awe, "Fang Xiu''s foresight is invaluable. Without him, we''d still be in the dark, unaware of the danger lurking in our ranks. By this time tomorrow, the headquarters could''ve been wiped off the map, and the country thrown into chaos."


    The Director paused, then looked at Xiao Zhenhua with grave seriousness. "Fang Xiu may have just saved the nation. Zhenhua, if things go awry tomorrow, your priority is to protect Fang Xiu at all costs."


    "But sir, what about you?" Xiao Zhenhua''s concern deepened, his voice tense.


    The Director shook his head solemnly. "If I fall, the headquarters will find a new Director. But if Fang Xiu dies, who else can see into the future?"


    Xiao Zhenhua fell silent, the weight of the situation settling in. He couldn''t deny it¡ªFang Xiu''s value was immeasurable. Today, he might have saved the headquarters. Tomorrow, he might save it again, and again, as long as he lived.


    Meanwhile, in a shadowy alley, Fang Xiu stood alone, gazing up at the night sky. Behind him knelt the Ace and King of Spades, their heads bowed in respect.


    Earlier, Fang Xiu had arranged a secret meeting with them in Shangjing City.


    "Sir, you summoned us. What can we do for you?" the Ace and King of Spades asked in unison, their voices low and respectful.


    Without turning to face them, Fang Xiu spoke coldly, "What are your ns regarding Yan Changshou?"


    The two exchanged a quick nce before the Ace of Spades replied, "We n to strike him tomorrow, during the chaos at the headquarters."


    "Oh? And the organization hasn''t given you the special task for tomorrow''s operation?"


    "Master, our task was simple: create chaos and eliminate the enemy. Tomorrow, with the headquarters inplete disarray, no one from the organization will be focused on us. Both of us arepletely loyal to you, so our priority will naturally be carrying out the task you''ve given us," the King of Spades quickly affirmed, eager to show his loyalty.


    To them, it made perfect sense. The organization''srger mission was just to cause mayhem and kill as many as possible. In the ensuing chaos, no one would be keeping tabs on their individual contributions.


    Butpleting the mission given by Fang Xiu? That was a different story. If they pulled it off, Fang Xiu would see their value and might even reward them with a promotion.


    They knew where their true advantagey.


    "Good," Fang Xiu nodded, a glint of approval in his eyes. "Since your loyalty is clear, I''ll give you some guidance. Yan Changshou had an underling named Wen Yang, who''s dead¡ªI''ve taken care of him. One of you can take on his identity and stay close to Yan Changshou. When chaos erupts tomorrow, that will be your moment. Eliminate Yan Changshou and his followers."


    Fang Xiu''s tone grew colder. "Understand this: we cannot share power with Yan Changshou. He''s just a pawn, a dog being used by the Pokers. Once the chaos starts tomorrow, his usefulness ends. That''s when he needs to be taken out. And it''s not just him¡ªhis entire faction must be wiped out, root and branch."

 Chapter 233: Juggling Three Parties

    Chapter 233: Juggling Three Parties


    Ace and King of Spades exchanged nces, a spark of excitement in their eyes.


    They weren''t just relieved that assassinating Yan Changshou had be easier; they were thrilled by the realization that Fang Xiu genuinely valued them.


    The fact that he was willing to personally intervene to smooth the path for their mission showed how highly he regarded their abilities.


    With this newfound confidence, the two were ready to go to any lengths for Fang Xiu.


    "Yes, sir, we won''t let you down!" they both responded eagerly, their voices brimming with determination.


    "Hmm," Fang Xiu acknowledged with a cold nod. Then he told them something about Wen Yang before dismissing them.


    "You may go now."


    "Yes, sir!" they replied, then vanished into the shadows without another word.


    Fang Xiu didn''t bother asking how they nned to impersonate Wen Yang. He figured that the Pokers, such a powerful organization, could easily handle something as basic as a disguise.Given that they had already infiltrated the headquarters unnoticed and prepped for tomorrow''s attack, altering their appearance should be well within their capabilities.


    The real reason Fang Xiu had summoned the Ace and King of Spades wasn''t just to discuss Wen Yang¡ªit was to set them on the trail of Yan Changshou''s loyalists.


    As one of the five captains, Yan Changshou had many subordinates who needed to be dealt with, and Fang Xiu intended to use the Ace and King of Spades to take care of them.


    Yan Changshou himself wasn''t their main target; that would be the headquarters'' responsibility.


    After putting all the pieces in ce, Fang Xiu realized he was like a master puppeteer, skillfully manipting Yan Changshou, the headquarters, and the Pokers, ying them off against each other. Using his foresight as a cover, he shifted between identities, deceiving all three sides.


    Tomorrow, when these three forces shed, Fang Xiu looked forward to seeing how the drama he had orchestrated would unfold.


    Later that night, Fang Xiu returned to his hotel room.


    Inside, Xiao Chuxia had reverted to her usual appearance and was sprawled out on the bed, fast asleep. Her limbs was syed out in every direction, with a small trail of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.


    Seeing the bed wet once again, Fang Xiu couldn''t help but ponder the nature of fate. "Is this destiny? No matter how many times I reset the world, I still can''t escape this bed getting wet?"


    SMACK!


    "Ouch! Who hit me?" Xiao Chuxia jolted awake, startled. She red at Fang Xiu when she realized it was him.


    "Your task is done. Go sleep in your own room," Fang Xiu said calmly, not bothering to exin further.


    "Hmph! Fine, I''ll go! It''s not like I want to sleep here anyway!" Xiao Chuxia huffed as she mbered off the bed, her hair a tangled mess.


    But just as she was about to leave...


    "Wait," Fang Xiu called out.


    Xiao Chuxia turned back, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What now?"


    "Do you want to increase the power of your lies?" Fang Xiu asked, his tone serious.


    Xiao Chuxia blinked, caught off guard. "You want me to lie to you?"


    "No, I''m going to take you to lie to someone else."


    "Someone else? At this hour? Who could possibly¡ª"


    "That''s not for you to worry about. What you need to do now is sleep."


    Xiao Chuxia was more confused than ever. "Sleep? What are you nning?"


    "I''m going to sleep too," Fang Xiu replied, his voice steady.


    Xiao Chuxia''s eyes widened in shock. "You want to sleep with me? No way¡ª"


    Before she could finish her protest, Fang Xiu knocked her out with a swift chop to the neck.


    Fang Xiu really didn''t have the patience to argue with Xiao Chuxia. After knocking her out, he closed his eyes, diving straight into her dream.


    His goal was simple but ambitious: he wanted to test the potential of lying within a dream.


    By merging his ability with Xiao Chuxia''s unique talent, he was conducting an experiment that, if sessful, could unlock tremendous possibilities.


    The ability to manipte reality through dreams, coupled with the power of deception, could be a game-changer, opening doors to strategies and oues that were previously unimaginable.


    Fang Xiu understood the stakes. If this worked, thebination of their powers could be an invaluable asset, not just for the uing confrontation but for any challenge thaty ahead.

 Chapter 234: Xiao Chuxias Dream

    Chapter 234: Xiao Chuxia''s Dream


    In her dream, Xiao Chuxia found herself standing in a vast, empty space, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. She waspletely still, lost in the nothingness.


    Out of nowhere, Fang Xiu appeared. He took in the void around him, then looked at Xiao Chuxia, who stood there in a daze. He quickly figured out what was happening.


    "This must be what it''s like when someone isn''t actively dreaming," he thought.


    There was nothing around him¡ªno scenery, no colors. His mind was just as nk.


    With a snap of his fingers, Fang Xiu broke the silence. Xiao Chuxia suddenly came to life, her big eyes slowly regaining their spark. She hadn''t even realized she was dreaming since Fang Xiu had knocked her out earlier.


    "Where are we? Fang Xiu, where did you take me?" Xiao Chuxia asked, fear creeping into her voice as she nced around the strange, empty space.


    "This is your dream," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    "My dream?" Xiao Chuxia looked around, still not fully believing him. It made sense, though¡ªmost people don''t realize they''re dreaming.


    "I remember now," she said, her voice growing sharper. "You knocked me out, and now we''re in this weird ce. What''s your game?"Before Fang Xiu could answer, the emptiness around them began to shift. The space transformed into a room straight out of a romantic hotel¡ªpink lights, a waterbed, a bathroom with ss walls, and rose petals scattered everywhere.


    Xiao Chuxia gasped in shock, her eyes wide with panic like a startled deer. "What''s happening? Don''t you dare try anything!"


    As her fear grew, the room filled with things like whips, handcuffs, candles, and uniforms, making the scene even more unsettling.


    Fang Xiu''s expression darkened. "Enough!" hemanded.


    With that, the room disappeared in an instant, leaving them back in the empty space.


    Xiao Chuxia froze, something clicking in her mind.


    "This is your dream," Fang Xiu exined sternly. "Everything changes based on what you''re thinking. Stop letting your imagination run wild."


    Her cheeks turned red, but she wasn''t ready to admit anything. "No way! You must''ve done that on purpose!"


    Even as she denied it, doubt crept in._ ''No way, that couldn''t be me. Am I really that kind of person? The type who says no but secretly wants it? There''s no way I''d want to be in a romantic hotel with Fang Xiu! It''s just because I''ve read too many romance novels. Yeah, me it on the Inte.''_


    Fang Xiu simply watched her, not bothering to argue. "I brought you here to test your abilities," he said inly. "Soon, we''ll enter other people''s dreams. You''ll see if you can deceive them, and maybe even gain the power of lies."


    Xiao Chuxia eyed him suspiciously. "So you knocked me out just for an experiment?"


    "Of course," Fang Xiu replied, his tone matter-of-fact.


    Xiao Chuxia pouted but kept quiet.


    But all her thoughts spilled into the dream. The scene around them shifted again, bing misty with a soft, otherworldly fog.


    Suddenly, they were surrounded by peach trees, their branches heavy with ripe fruit. Among the trees were seven beautiful women, dressed in ancient, flowing robes, picking peaches with delicate hands. Just then, a monkey appeared out of nowhere.


    "Freeze!"


    With thatmand, the seven women were instantly paralyzed, unable to move a muscle.


    <strong>The monkey, barely giving the women a nce, strutted over to the peach trees, proudly picking the juiciest fruits.</strong>*


    Fang Xiu watched the scene with a detached expression, then turned his gaze to Xiao Chuxia.


    Xiao Chuxia felt a wave of embarrassment crash over her. She quickly stared down at her toes, wishing the ground would swallow her up.


    "Let''s go," Fang Xiu said, breaking the silence.


    With that, they entered a different scene¡ªthe dream of another psychic, who was inside the hotel.


    The dreamer was a young man who lookedpletely ordinary, the kind of person who could easily disappear into a crowd. His dream was as cliched as theye: he fantasized about awakening countless powers, showing off at headquarters, rising through the ranks to be the Chief Captain, with women in both arms, living the high life.


    "Go deceive him," Fang Xiu instructed, pointing at the young man.


    Xiao Chuxia blinked, caught off guard. "How am I supposed to deceive him?"


    Fang Xiu rolled his eyes. "You''ve been deceiving people for years, and you need me to teach you how to do it?"


    "Hmph, you''re awful at givingpliments. I didn''t deceive people on purpose. It was all for my growth!" she snapped back.


    With that, Xiao Chuxia started walking toward the young man.


    As she approached, her body began to glow with a golden light. She slowly rose into the air, her figure now floating high above, standing atop a dome.


    She looked down solemnly, now seated on a sacred golden lotus, resembling Avalokitesvara (Bodhisattva of Compassion) in her divine form.


    Fang Xiu had given her partial control of the dream, allowing her to reshape and manipte it at will.


    "Ye Tian," she called out, her voice booming as if a million voices were speaking in unison.


    The young man''s head snapped up, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Xiao Chuxia, now appearing like the Bodhisattva herself. He waspletely stunned.


    "Bodhisattva!"


    "Ye Tian," she continued, her voice echoing with authority, "you are chosen by the heavens. The world is in chaos, and it is your destiny to save it."


    "The chosen one!" Ye Tian gasped, his excitement reaching a fever pitch. "I knew it! Don''t worry, Bodhisattva, I''ll save the world!"


    Xiao Chuxia waved her hand gracefully, sending a golden light that flowed into Ye Tian''s body.


    "Ye Tian, this golden light of infinite merit will greatly enhance your potential, elevating you to level-five power. Remember your promise."


    With those final words, Xiao Chuxia''s image began to fade, leaving Ye Tian in a state of wild euphoria. He kept muttering to himself, "Level Five! Level Five! Haha, I''m going to be the world''s first Level Five powerhouse!"


    When she returned, Fang Xiu asked, "How did it go?"


    A wide grin spread across Xiao Chuxia''s face. "Hehe, it was amazing! He actually called me Bodhisattva. I realized that in dreams, people don''t question anything. No matter how ridiculous it is, they believe itpletely. It''s way easier to deceive people in dreams than in real life."


    "I was asking how much power of lies you gained," Fang Xiu said, cutting through her excitement.


    He already knew the truth¡ªdeceiving people in dreams is like shooting fish in a barrel. In the dream world, no matter how absurd things get, people believe them, losing the ability to tell truth from lies.


    Xiao Chuxia briefly focused inward, sensing the new power she had gained. The excitement on her face slowly dimmed as she processed the result.


    "What? It is only one-tenth of what I get in reality?"


    Disappointment tinged her voice. She had expected more. But Fang Xiu, on the other hand, looked quite satisfied¡ªhis experiment had worked.


    "It''s more than I expected," he replied calmly.


    "That''s what you call ''more''? You''re easily pleased, aren''t you? If it''s only one-tenth, then deceiving ten people in a dream is just the same as deceiving one person in real life."


    Fang Xiu gave her a cool, measured look.


    "And how many people can you deceive in reality in a single day?"

 Chapter 235: The Weak

    Chapter 235: The Weak


    Xiao Chuxia paused, thinking it over. "It really depends on the situation. If luck''s on my side and the timing''s just right, I might be able to deceive dozens of people. But on a slow day, I could only manage about a dozen."


    Fang Xiu''s expression remained calm as he responded, "In the dream realm, I can have you deceive hundreds, maybe even thousands, in a single night."


    "What?" Xiao Chuxia was stunned. "That many?"


    Fang Xiu nodded, his demeanor as calm as ever.


    With his current abilities, the range of his dream control wasn''t huge yet. However, as he continued to absorb fear night after night, his influence would grow. Eventually, he might even surpass the level of Nightmare.


    If he could one day envelop the entire country, or perhaps the world, Xiao Chuxia could use her powers to deceive the masses on a grand scale.


    At that point, her words could potentially reshape reality itself.


    And Fang Xiu would reap unimaginable rewards from it.


    "Let''s get to work," he said.So, the two of them spent the night moving from one dream to the next.


    That night, every psychic staying in the hotel, who had traveled from all over the country, shared the same dream. They all dreamed of the Bodhisattva who blessed them with a golden light, granting them the potential to reach the fifth tier.


    Whether the psychics believed this when they woke up didn''t really matter. Potential was just that¡ªpotential, and it couldn''t be easily proven.


    If they believed it and eventually reached the fifth tier, it would be seen as the Bodhisattva''s blessing. If they didn''t make it, well, most psychics who failed to advance didn''t live long anyway. If they died, there would be no one left to question it.


    The next morning, Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia woke up at the same time.


    Xiao Chuxia''s face lit up with excitement as she waved her small, delicate fists.


    "This is incredible! Just one night of sleep gave me more power of lies than I usually get in an entire month of deceiving people!"


    "With the power of lies you''ve umted now, can you help me break through to the third tier?" Fang Xiu asked, his tone as direct as ever.


    Xiao Chuxia paused, her mind racing as she realized something. "Ah, so that''s why you made me agree to work for you for three years. This was your n all along."


    "Just answer the question."


    "Give me your hand so I can check."


    Fang Xiu extended his hand, and Xiao Chuxia reached out with her fair, slender fingers, gently holding his. She closed her eyes, carefully sensing the power within him.


    After a moment, she opened her eyes and shook her head. "No, with the power of lies I have right now, it''s not enough. I''ll need a few more days to gather more."


    <em>''A few days, huh?'' _Fang Xiu''s eyes flickered with thought, but he didn''t seem overly concerned.</em>


    <em>Compared to most psychics who struggle for years to break past the second tier, he knew that in just a few more days, he''d be able to push through to the third tier with rtive ease.</em>


    <em>Each tier for a psychic represented a significant leap in power: the first tier marked the initial manifestation of abilities, the second tier strengthened those abilities, and the third tier awakened new powers. The fourth tier brought with it a personal domain, while the fifth tier was still shrouded in mystery.</em>


    <em>As Fang Xiu thought about what mighte after the third tier, he felt a dark anticipation. Each step brought him closer to making his "wife" feel the same depth of pain he had endured.</em>


    <em>"Alright, I''m heading out. Let''s sleep together again next time," Xiao Chuxia teased with a yful wink before turning to leave. She was clearly pleased with herself.</em>


    <em>She walked away with a confident sway in her step, like a wealthy woman who had just indulged in a luxurious night out with her gigolo, her hips swinging as she disappeared from view.</em>


    <em>Just as Xiao Chuxia opened the door, she froze in ce. Standing right outside were Yang Ming, Bai Qi, and a few others. Yang Ming even had his hand raised, ready to knock.</em>


    <em>"Xiu, it''s time for brea¡­ Big ck? What are you doing in Xiu''s room?"</em>


    <em>The group stood there, momentarily stunned, then exchanged amused and knowing nces.</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia''s face showed a flicker of difort, but years of experience in deception quickly took over, and she regained herposure. She smiled as if nothing unusual was happening.</em>


    <em>"What a coincidence! You all came to wake Xiu up for breakfast too? No need to knock, I just came to wake him up myself."</em>


    <em>"Oh? Is that so?" Yang Ming responded with a yful grin, his eyes shifting back and forth between Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia. It was obvious he didn''t buy her exnation.</em>


    <em>"Let''s go," Fang Xiu said calmly, brushing off the awkwardness, and then followed the group out of the room.</em>


    <em>After breakfast, they all boarded the vehicle that the headquarters had arranged.</em>


    <em>At the headquarters, arge base awaited them,plete with a specially designed tiered ssroom set up for this training session.</em>


    <em>Psychics from various cities across the country were gradually filing in. There weren''t many, only about a hundred or so, but these were the elite among psychics. They either had abilities with great potential or were already powerful enough to hold their own.</em>


    <em>However, the nature of psychics meant that when gathered together, conflict was inevitable.</em>


    <em>As Fang Xiu and his group entered the tiered ssroom, they immediately noticed two young male psychics in the front row locked in a standoff.</em>


    <em>One stood with his hands behind his back, ring down at everyone with a smug expression, while the other had his hands stuffed casually in his pockets, acting as if he was above it all.</em>


    <em>"This is my seat. Get lost."</em>


    <em>"Weaklings should sit in the corner."</em>


    <em>"Oh? Can''t you sense my power, you bug?"</em>


    <em>"Sensing? Sorry, I''m not interested in weaklings."</em>


    <em>"Hmph, bugs always have a narrow view."</em>


    <em>"Heh, the weaklings only believe what they want to."</em>


    <em>The two kept trading insults, calling each other "bug" and "weakling," though the meaning behind their words was essentially the same.</em>


    <em>But the bystanders, eager for some action, were growing impatient.</em>


    <em>"Fight already!"</em>


    <em>"Kick his ass!"</em>


    <em>"You two have been talking long enough¡ªjust start fighting!"</em>


    <em>A group of psychics, not content to just watch, began shouting and jeering, trying to provoke the two into a brawl.</em>


    <em>But the two in the standoff weren''t fazed. Instead, they both nced around with faint disdain in their eyes.</em>


    <em>"So noisy."</em>


    <em>"Truly annoying."</em>


    <em>BOOM!</em>


    <em>Out of nowhere, a powerful explosion of mes erupted where the two were standing, sending them flying through the air. Their clothes caught fire, and they quickly rolled on the ground to extinguish the mes.</em>


    <em>Their cool demeanor waspletely shattered. Their faces were now covered in soot, their hair and eyebrows singed, and their clothes had several charred holes.</em>


    <em>In the middle of the front row, where they had been standing, a humanoid figure made of fire was zing.</em>


    <em>As the mes gradually died down, they revealed a muscr man with a rebellious glint in his eyes. He was dressed in ck casual wear, with spiky hair that added to his wild look.</em>


    <em>The sight of this man instantly caused a stir among the crowd.</em>


    <em>"Fireform? That''s Lin Tianhe!"</em>


    <em>"What? He''s the only fourth-tier psychic in this training group, Lin Tianhe!"</em>


    <em>Those who hadn''t heard of Lin Tianhe were taken aback, their shock growing as they learned that he was a fourth-tier psychic.</em><em>


    </em>

 Chapter 236: Luo Qingxin, Frozen Zone

    Chapter 236: Luo Qingxin, Frozen Zone


    Lin Tianhe had reached the fourth tier. That put him on par with a captain from headquarters.


    Fourth-tier psychics weren''t just rare in the country; they were a global rarity. Even at the headquarters, there were only five fourth-tier captains.


    No one saw iting¡ªa fourth-tier psychic from a branch of the bureau. The gap between a fourth-tier psychic in the headquarters and one in a branch was huge. Headquarters had way more resources, while there was little for those in branches.


    The two who were fighting earlier were ready to face Lin Tianhe, but the moment they heard his name, they quickly backed down from any ns to do so.


    "Hmph! One day, I''ll make you pay for this a hundredfold."


    "Hmph! Just you wait!"


    Lin Tianhe didn''t even bother acknowledging them. To him, they were nothing more than a bad joke.


    Even the rowdiest psychics didn''t dare to challenge Lin Tianhe when he took the central seat in the ssroom.


    "Whoa, Xiu, one of the psychics is a fourth-tier. Guess there are still some serious powerhouses out there," Yang Ming said, his voice filled with awe."Let''s move," Fang Xiu replied, unbothered. He had no interest in these people and quietly found a corner to sit in. Petty psychic squabbles didn''t catch his attention; he was holding out for the real actionter that night.


    But as soon as they settled, the temperature in the room dropped sharply. What had been a warm ssroom now felt like it was below freezing.


    The sound of high heels echoed through the room, drawing everyone''s eyes to the doorway.


    A tall woman entered, moving with an air of elegance. She looked around twenty-six or twenty-seven, draped in a luxurious purple cheongsam. Her expression was cold as ice, her skin pale like porcin, and her eyes were distant, almost empty. Her long, ck hair cascaded down her back, reaching her waist. With each step, the slit in her cheongsam revealed a long, slender, pale leg.


    As she walked further into the room, the temperature continued to drop, clearly emanating from her.


    She stepped up to the podium, her icy gaze sweeping the room. Her cold eyes were like daggers, piercing into everyone''s hearts. Even the mostid-back psychics straightened up.


    Only Lin Tianhe, seated in the front row, showed a flicker of interest in his usually rebellious eyes.


    Then, the woman spoke. Her red lips parted.


    "I am Luo Qingxin, captain of Team Illusionary Life, and I will be your instructor for these lessons."


    A few soft gasps rippled through the crowd.


    "She''s one of the five captains from headquarters, Luo Qingxin!"


    "I heard only five teams at headquarters get to choose their own titles, and she''s the only female captain among them. I didn''t expect her to be so powerful¡ªand so beautiful."


    "Yeah, but she''s cold, definitely an ice queen."


    "Why is she the only female captain among the five? That doesn''t seem fair!"


    "Save it, man. Don''t kill the vibe while we''re admiring the view."


    In the corner, Fang Xiu observed Luo Qingxin with a steady gaze._ ''Another captain?''_


    This was the second one he''d encountered, and the first one was Yan Changshou. Given her ability to manipte the temperature so drastically, he guessed her powers were tied to ice.


    Next to him, Zhao Hao was practically glued to Luo Qingxin, unable to tear his eyes away.


    "Xiu, I think I''ve fallen in love again," Zhao Hao murmured, soundingpletely smitten.


    "You fall in love about a thousand times a day!" Liu Shuai retorted with a mix of annoyance and amusement. "If I''m not mistaken, yourst grand love was just an hour ago¡ªwith the waitress at breakfast."


    "You don''t get it. I was jokingst time. This time, it''s real. My heart''s actually pounding."


    Even while bickering with Liu Shuai, Zhao Hao didn''t once look away from Luo Qingxin, as if she had cast some spell over him.


    "Heart pounding? More like you wouldn''t need a defibritor if your heart stopped. One look at a woman and boom¡ªback to life," Liu Shuai joked.


    "Honestly, Liu Shuai, you might be onto something. Zhao Hao could probably restart his heart with a single nce," Yang Ming chimed in, pretending to ponder the idea seriously.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Chuxia quietly muttered under her breath, "Illusionary Life? What a cheesy name, so cringe."


    On the podium, Luo Qingxin''s expression tightened slightly as she spoke.


    "Quiet."


    With that one word, the temperature plummeted even more, and silence fell across the ssroom like a nket of snow.


    "First, the headquarters has a strict rule: no fighting between trainees. You broke that rule. Stand at the back and listen to the ss."


    Her finger pointed straight at Lin Tianhe, who had imed the front row''s center seat.


    The room erupted in murmurs and gasps. No one expected Luo Qingxin to single out Lin Tianhe right from the start.


    Fang Xiu, however, wasn''t the least bit surprised. He knew from Yan Changshou that the captains weren''t just here to teach¡ªthey were here to keep the psychics in line.


    Tonight, when the Director spoke, they didn''t want any troublemakers.


    Among the trainees, the sole fourth-tier psychic would be the best to make an example of.


    Lin Tianhe didn''t budge. Instead, a smirk tugged at his lips.


    "Woman, you''ve got my attention," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.


    But as soon as the words left his mouth, his expression twisted in difort.


    A bone-chilling cold wrapped around him from every angle. The floor, the desks, and even the air began to freeze over, creeping toward him.


    "Hmph!"


    Lin Tianhe let out a cold snort.


    BOOM!


    In an instant, mes erupted from his body, transforming him into a zing figure. Yet something bizarre urred¡ªhis mes began to freeze.


    The sight of fire encased in ice sent shockwaves through the room. No one had ever witnessed something so strange.


    Lin Tianhe''s face darkened further as he muttered, "Inferno Realm, activate!"


    With thatmand, the temperature surged upward. Volcanic shadows flickered into existence, threatening to turn the entire ssroom into a zing inferno.


    Panic spread among the psychics, who instinctively prepared to flee.


    "So this is the fearsome power of a fourth-tier psychic! He''s warping reality with his ability!"


    Cries of astonishment echoed through the room.


    As chaos rippled through the room, a cold,manding voice sliced through the panic.


    "Frozen Zone!"


    In an instant, the volcanic shadows Lin Tianhe had conjured were snuffed out as if they''d never existed.


    Snowkes began to swirl through the air, and the entire room transformed into a frozen wondend.


    Ice coated every surface¡ªthe walls, the floor, the ceiling, and even the desks. The onlookers felt like they had been plunged into the heart of winter itself.


    Lin Tianhe shot to his feet, his face a mask of shock.


    "This... this is impossible! We''re both fourth-tier, yet you can overpower my domain!"


    "You''ve got it wrong."


    Luo Qingxin''s voice was as frigid as the ice shemanded. She stepped down from the podium, her heels clicking sharply against the frozen floor as she moved toward Lin Tianhe.


    With each step she took, the air seemed to grow colder.


    Lin Tianhe felt a sudden chill creeping up from his feet. He looked down and was horrified to see that his feet were encased in ice, fused to the ground.


    Panic gripped him. The reality of the situation sank in, and he began toprehend the true power of one of the five captains from headquarters.


    "While it''s true that we''re both fourth-tier, there''s a crucial difference between us. You reached the fourth tier because your ability evolved to that level."


    As she spoke, the ice spread rapidly, climbing up Lin Tianhe''s body until his entire lower half was encased in solid ice.


    "But I am considered fourth-tier only because that''s the highest level in the current ranking system."


    She stopped directly in front of him, her icy gaze locking onto his, capturing the sheer terror in his eyes.

 Chapter 237: Chewing On The Domain

    Chapter 237: Chewing On The Domain


    The sound of ice cracking echoed closer and closer. Lin Tianhe could barely move; only his head remained unfrozen, the rest of him encased in solid ice.


    "Is it toote to opt for standing in the back as a punishment?" Lin Tianhe forced out a weak smile.


    "What do you think?" came the icy reply.


    In the next instant, ice crept up, sealing his head in a frosty tomb, turning him into a human popsicle.


    "You''ll be frozen for the entire ss," Luo Qingxin dered, her voice as cold as the ice she wielded. Her eyes swept the room, daring anyone to challenge her. "Anyone else?"


    The room fell into a heavy silence. Psychics might be unpredictable, but they weren''t foolish. If Lin Tianhe, the strongest among them, could be turned into an ice statue, no one else dared to step out of line.


    Well, almost no one.


    "I want to listen while frozen!" a voice rang out, shattering the silence.


    Everyone turned in disbelief. Zhao Hao had risen from his seat.Liu Shuai''s jaw dropped. "Whoa! You''ve got guts!"


    Yang Ming followed, "Seriously, are you out of your mind?"


    Bai Qi, who usually kept a cool head, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. Even he had to admit, "That''s... impressive."


    Zhao Hao''s bold move instantly made him the talk of the ss.


    "Who is this guy? Is he fearless or just crazy?"


    "Either way, he''s got my respect!"


    "New favorite student right here!"


    Luo Qingxin''s eyes narrowed as she sized up Zhao Hao.


    "Miss Luo, my name is Zhao¡ª" He began to introduce himself, but before he could finish, a st of cold air hit him, freezing him solid in a heartbeat.


    Watching from the sidelines, Xiao Chuxia burst intoughter, nearly doubling over.


    This was all her doing. She had joked with Zhao Hao that if he wanted to catch a girl''s attention, he had to do something unforgettable¡ªwhat could be more memorable than challenging her in front of everyone?


    "When all the other psychics are too scared to move, someone suddenly standing up seems super brave and attention-grabbing."


    Zhao Hao had bought into her words, and now he was paying the icy price.


    After freezing Zhao Hao, Luo Qingxin didn''t bother asking if anyone else wanted to join the ice sculpture club.


    Clearly, she had figured out that these psychics weren''t the most rational bunch. If she asked again, someone might actually think it was a fun challenge.


    She turned back to the podium, her expression calm as she began the day''s lesson.


    "The power I just used is called a domain. It''s a special ability that only fourth-tier psychics can ess. Once you reach that level, you can shape your abilities into a domain."


    Many of them were third-tier psychics, so they perked up at this. Understanding domains could be the key to leveling up.


    As she spoke, the room was abuzz.


    Some psychics began probing the icy atmosphere around them, trying to sense the power within. A few even reached out to touch the ice, hoping to connect with its energy.


    One overly curious student even licked the ice and promptly got their tongue stuck, screaming in agony.


    Fang Xiu, sitting quietly, sensed something deeper in the ice. He noticed a faint thread of Spiritual Energy woven through it, moving in a mysterious rhythm.


    Suddenly, a small crack appeared on his left hand. The Taotie''s Mouth emerged, chomping into the ice as if it were soft butter, not solid ice.


    As the ice vanished down the mouth''s gullet, a wave of understanding washed over Fang Xiu. His eyes lit up with realization.


    "So, this is a domain," he mused. The Taotie''s Mouth seemed eager for more.


    But just then, he felt a cold, almost surprised gazend on him.


    Luo Qingxin had noticed.


    Fang Xiu didn''t seem bothered. The five captains had probably received a heads-up about him from the Director, so they weren''t likely to cause any problems.


    He quietly murmured to himself, "This mouth can even devour a domain? That''s... pretty wild. But with my current strength, I can probably only eat a domain that''s just sitting there."


    In other words, if Luo Qingxin were to go on the attack, he might not have the time or power to snack on her domain.


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t done yet. Sensing an opportunity, he decided to push his limits further.


    Ignoring the subtle nces Luo Qingxin threw his way, he pressed his hand against the ice once more.


    Taotie''s Mouth eagerly consumed the frozen remnants within the domain. With every bite, the ice disappeared, and the understanding in Fang Xiu''s eyes deepened. If he kept this up, the mysteries of the fourth tier would soon unravel before him.


    On the podium, Luo Qingxin continued exining her insights about the fourth tier, but Fang Xiu wasn''t paying attention. Real knowledge isn''t something you just listen to¡ªit''s something you seek out and grasp for yourself.


    As Fang Xiu devoured more ice, Luo Qingxin''s gaze lingered on him more often.


    At first, it seemed like she was just casually scanning the room, but the repeated nces caught Xiao Chuxia''s attention.


    She leaned over and whispered, "Xiu, why do I feel like she''s checking you out?"


    "Shut up," Fang Xiu muttered, not breaking his focus.


    Xiao Chuxia pouted, clearly not deterred. "Xiu, do you have a thing for Miss Luo? I mean, she''s pretty amazing¡ªsmart, strong, beautiful... unlike me..."


    "Get lost," Fang Xiu snapped, still engrossed in his task.


    Xiao Chuxia huffed. "You''re so mean!"


    Right then, Luo Qingxin waved her hand. Instantly, all the ice in the room vanished.


    In her cool, detached voice, she said, "Every domain is unique. You can learn from others, but you can''t just copy them. Otherwise, you''ll never find your own path. To ensure this doesn''t hinder your future progress, I''m retracting the domain."


    As the Frozen Zone dissolved, Taotie''s Mouth also withdrew, its feast cut short.


    Luo Qingxin continued sharing more insights about the fourth tier, and shortly after, the ss ended. The sound of her high heels echoed as she walked away, growing fainter with each step.


    As she left, Lin Tianhe, who had been frozen solid, began to thaw out slowly. However, Zhao Hao remained a block of ice, showing no signs of melting anytime soon. The stark difference had Yang Ming and the othersughing.


    "Hao, looks like she''s really got it in for you," one of them teased.


    "Yeah, man. You messed with Luo Qingxin''s authority. She was justying down thew, and you had to go and poke the bear. What did you think was gonna happen?"


    During the break, the usual rowdiness among the psychics was noticeably absent. It seemed Luo Qingxin''s disy of power had left asting impression, keeping the typically unruly bunch in check.


    Before long, the second ss of the day began.


    This time, two new faces entered the room. One was a gentle-looking woman, probably in herte twenties, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and fitted jeans. She was pushing a wheelchair, in which sat a young man around twenty years old. His hair was a mess, as if he''d just rolled out of bed.

 Chapter 238: That Nerd

    Chapter 238: That Nerd


    The two made quite the impression as they entered.


    The girl was graceful and poised, like the caring older sister next door. The guy, on the other hand, had a casual look¡ªmessy hair, heavy ck-framed sses, and an air that screamed "nerd."


    But the real attention-grabber was his wheelchair. It was no ordinary wheelchair; it had a built-in table that held a shyptop decked out in 24-color RGB lights. Overkill? Maybe.


    As soon as they walked in, all eyes turned toward them. The girl blushed under the weight of their stares, her head slightly bowed as she pushed the wheelchair up to the tform.


    Meanwhile, the guy was glued to hisptop screen, typing away like a man on a mission,pletely in his own world.


    "Tian, Tian¡­" she called out softly, but he didn''t even flinch.


    Getting flustered, she gave the wheelchair a firmer push.


    Finally, Tian snapped out of his trance, looking mildly irritated.


    "What is it, Xian? I already had breakfast."Xian''s face darkened as she fought to keep her cool.


    "We''re in the ssroom, Tian. It''s your turn to give the lecture."


    "Huh?" He blinked, finally taking in his surroundings.


    "Why''s there such a big crowd?"


    "It''s your turn to teach. I made notes for you; just read them."


    "Notes? Oh, those. I left them at home."


    "What?" Xian''s patience finally snapped.


    "Xiong Tianguang! I reminded you before we left! I knew you''d struggle, so I stayed up all night writing those notes, and you left them at home?"


    The moment his full name, Xiong Tianguang, was mentioned, whispers rippled through the students.


    "No way, that''s Xiong Tianguang, the captain of Team Hero? This guy is supposed to be a hero?"


    "Seriously? I thought heroes were all tough and legendary, not¡­ this."


    The gap between what they imagined and what stood before them was massive. They had pictured the captain of Team Hero as some battle-hardened warrior, not a video game-obsessed nerd.


    "A nerd as a captain? If he can do it, maybe I can too!"


    Despite their murmurs, no one dared to challenge him, especially with Xian around. They knew better than to judge based on appearances alone.


    Sure, Xiong Tianguang looked like azy gamer and sat in a wheelchair, but being the headquarters'' captain meant he had serious skills.


    "Xian, chill. It''s just a lecture. I don''t need the notes," Xiong Tianguang said, standing up from the wheelchair and tinkering with hisptop on the podium.


    Only then did they realize he wasn''t actually disabled.


    So why the wheelchair? And theputer setup?¡ªClearly, it was all about convenience¡ªgaming whenever he wanted.


    Settling back down, Xiong Tianguang grabbed the microphone.


    "Can you hear me? Whoa, this channel is loud." His voice echoed through the hall.


    "Uh, I''m Xiong Tianguang, captain of Team Hero. I''m not here to talk about Specters or psychics today. I''m sure other captains will cover that. Instead, I''m going to teach you something different, something only I can teach! Heeheehee¡­"


    His mischievousugh didn''t exactly win the students over; instead, it made them uneasy.


    And their unease was justified. After a few more taps on his keyboard, the big screen behind him came to life.


    It wasn''t what they expected. It was a character selection screen from a video game.


    "Today, I''m going to teach you how to reach the top rank in the game!"


    The room fell silent.


    Even though the psychics were a bit quirky themselves, they were baffled by this sudden shift.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''What on earth is happening?''</em>


    Just as they started thinking this might be some borate joke, Xiong Tianguang really began ying the game, live, in front of everyone.


    At first, he even threw in some tips¡ªexining hero abilities, rune choices, and item builds.


    But soon, he was fully immersed in the game, shouting outmands.


    "Go in! Start the fight!"


    "What are you scared of? You''re the tank! Don''t wait for me, the assassin, to dive in first!"


    "Destroy the tower! Why are you diving? This game is about killing towers!"


    "They''re sending two to gank me, and you guys can''t win a 4v3?!"


    "Even a pig in the jungle could y better!"


    The psychics were speechless again.


    Finally, after about ten minutes, someone had had enough. A guy with a mohawk stood up.


    "Hey! I came to headquarters for training, not to watch you y games!"


    Xiong Tianguang, still engrossed in the game, shot back, "Haha, can you y? Can you? Five of you against one, and you still got wrecked?"


    Mohawk guy fumed. Hearing the snickers around him, his anger boiled over. He grabbed a water bottle and hurled it at Xiong Tianguang.


    What happened next was incredible.


    On the big screen, the game character, who had been dashing forward, suddenly spun around and drew his sword.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">WHOOSH!</em>


    A wind wall, formed from pure sword energy, materialized in front of Xiong Tianguang.


    The water bottle hit the wind wall and exploded into dust.


    Mohawk guy froze.


    The entire room was stunned.


    Fang Xiu frowned, deep in thought as he watched the wind wall vanish and then nced at the game character.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''So his power makes gamese to life? Is that Xiong Tianguang''s ability? He''s so obsessed with games that it awakened a game-rted power?''</em>


    Xiong Tianguang remainedpletely unfazed. He never looked up, still lost in his game.


    But the room had gone dead silent. The only sound was Xiong Tianguang''smentary as he yed.


    The others weren''t foolish. They figured that next time, instead of just a wind wall, the actual game character might appear in real life.


    And no one, not even the most arrogant psychics, thought they could take on a video game character brought to life.


    So, everyone ended up spending the entire ss watching Xiong Tianguang y games.


    As soon as it ended, Xian quickly wheeled Xiong Tianguang out, looking more than a little embarrassed.


    After they left, the headquarters staff arrived to guide the psychics to lunch.


    Everything seemed normal, like it was just another training session.


    But Fang Xiu knew better. The real danger woulde at night.


    Big events often begin on days that seem perfectly ordinary.


    Oh, and it''s worth noting that Zhao Hao skipped lunch.

 Chapter 239: Fang Moli Disappearing

    Chapter 239: Fang Moli Disappearing


    In the afternoon, everyone got back to their lessons, and this time, the instructor seemed a bit more down-to-earth.


    He was a middle-aged guy, not particrly tall but built like a tank.


    With a rugged beard and a steely look in his eyes, he gave off the vibe of someone who''s seen and done it all.


    Compared to Luo Qingxin and Xiong Tianguang, this man seemed a lot older, probably in his thirties. He stood tall, like a soldier, which made it clear that he likely had a military background.


    The moment he stepped onto the tform, he didn''t waste a second.


    His sharp gaze swept across the room, and the air filled with the intense presence of a fourth-tier psychic mixed with a raw, violent energy.


    Meeting his eyes felt like locking eyes with a wild beast, making a deep, primal fear rise in anyone who dared to look back.


    "Listen up, everyone! My name is <em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0">Li Xiaoru</em>,</em>* Captain of Team Vanguard. But I don''t like being called Captain. If you''re going to call me something, call me General Li. Got it?"


    "Yes, sir!" many psychics quickly replied, feeling like they were facing a drill sergeant."Louder!"


    "YES, SIR!!"


    "Good. I''m very busy, so I don''t have time to teach you rookies everything. I''ll just give you a few pointers on handling Specters. Pay attention because these tipse from life-and-death experiences."


    Everyone leaned in closer, hanging on his every word. Despite his rough demeanor and <strong>the odd contrast between his name and his tough personality</strong>*, he radiated an air ofpetence.


    Li Xiaoru nodded, satisfied. "Remember this: the most important thing when facing a Specter is to be fierce!"


    <em>''Fierce?'' _</em>


    <em>Everyone looked confused.</em>


    <em>"That''s right! Be fierce! As the ancients said, a true warrior dares to face a Specter head-on, dares to charge into the Specter Zone! What fear has a ss-S Specter ever shown? A true warrior lives fierce and dies as a fierce Specter!"</em>


    <em>At first, his words felt inspiring, but as he continued, things started to sound a bit off, and everyone''s expressions grew increasingly awkward.</em>


    <em>"Why do I feel like this General Li is somewhat educated but not too much?" Xiao Chuxia whispered.</em>


    <em>Yang Ming and the others nodded, sharing the same feeling.</em>


    <em>So, the ss turned into a long session of listening to Li Xiaoru''s intense, yet sometimes nonsensical, rants.</em>


    <em>He didn''t seem to notice, though, and he was quite pleased with himself.</em>


    <em>The more he spoke, the more fired up he became, as if he was ready to run out and take on a few Specters right then and there.</em>


    <em>An hourter, the staff finally had to drag the overly enthusiastic General Li off the stage.</em>


    <em>Next up was an old acquaintance of Fang Xiu, Yan Changshou.</em>


    <em>Dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo and carrying a gold-embellished cane, Yan Changshou walked onto the tform with a calm, elegant demeanor.</em>


    <em>Compared to the previous instructors, Yan Changshou definitely seemed more normal. After all, thest ones were an Ice Queen, a nerd, and a guy who seemed a bit full of himself. Yan Changshou, however, looked like a proper gentleman.</em>


    <em>But Fang Xiu knew better. People who try too hard to look normal often have the most to hide. Yan Changshou was exactly that type.</em>


    <em>This ss, though, was different. Yan Changshou stuck to teaching, and the knowledge he shared was genuinely interesting.</em>


    <em>He taught about Specters, covering everything from their appearances to their anatomy. He listed various types of Specters and shared the findings from his dissection experiments.</em>


    <em>Even though many psychics had dealt with Specters before, today, they felt like they were truly learning about them for the first time.</em>


    <em>Yan Changshou''s ss was packed with valuable information.</em>


    <em>The final ss was supposed to be a big deal¡ªtaught by Fang Moli, the psychic hailed as the strongest in Asia.</em>


    <em>But something odd happened. Fang Moli didn''t show up.</em>


    <em>Not long after, a staff member walked in, looking a bit sheepish. "Sorry, everyone. Captain Fang had an urgent matter to attend to, so this ss is canceled for now. You all get a one-hour break, and then the Director of the headquarters will wrap things up with a closing speech."</em>


    <em>Hearing this, a lot of people started grumbling. Many had shown up just to see Fang Moli in action. After all, the title of the strongest psychic in Asia isn''t something you hear every day.</em>


    <em>This news made Fang Xiu frown. He wondered, "What happened? Or is this a deliberate move by the headquarters?"</em>


    <em>With the uing award ceremony, the top priority was protecting Yan Changshou, and Fang Moli was the ideal person for the job.</em>


    <em>With the Xuanyuan Sword in his hands, Fang Moli was the mightiest force in the headquarters and possibly all of Asia. If he were on duty, nothing could go wrong. But now, he hadn''t even shown up for his ss.</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu considered the situation for a moment, then let it go. Whether Fang Moli was there or not didn''t really affect him. If things went sideways, Fang Xiu knew he could always reset the situation and devise a new n.</em>


    <em>With the ss canceled, the trainees headed outside to the yground to take their break.</em>


    <em>As Fang Xiu was about to head out, Yang Ming walked over. "Xiu, let''s go. I need a smoke."</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu nodded. Maybe a walk would give him a chance to pick up on something unusual.</em>


    <em>Just as they were about to leave, they heard a shaky voice from behind. "W-w-wait for me!"</em>


    <em>They turned to see Zhao Hao, who had just recovered from being frozen earlier. He looked pale, his whole body trembling, and even his hair, eyebrows, and eyshes were still dusted with white frost.</em>


    <em>Seeing his sorry state, Xiao Chuxia and the others burst outughing.</em>


    <em>But to their surprise, Zhao Hao startedughing too, and he actually seemed pretty pleased.</em>


    <em>"Hao, did the cold scramble your brain? Why are you so happy?" Yang Ming asked, baffled.</em>


    <em>Zhao Hao, still shivering, replied with a grin, "Look, both Lin Tianhe and I were frozen, but I stayed frozen longer. That means Qingxin cares more about me."</em>


    <em>Yang Ming shook his head, amused. "He''s lost it. The cold really messed him up."</em>


    <em>"He''s beyond saving now," Xiao Chuxia added with a smirk.</em>


    <em>"You guys just don''t get it. Being trapped in an ice block filled with Qingxin''s scent¡ªit''s the best thing ever," Zhao Hao said, still smiling like he was on cloud nine.</em>


    <em>Everyone was speechless.</em>


    <em>They couldn''t figure out how Zhao Hao could even smell anything through solid ice.</em>


    <em>Thankfully, they already knew Zhao Hao was a bit of an oddball, so they didn''t put much stock in his wild ims.</em>


    <em>Time flew by, and soon it was time for the award ceremony.</em>


    <em>But instead of the usual lecture hall, the ceremony was held in a massive venue that Headquarters had specially prepared.</em>


    <em>Security was tight¡ªsoldiers were everywhere outside, armed with guns loaded with Spiritual Energy bullets.</em>


    <em>And that was just the security you could see. Thanks to Fang Xiu''s earlier warning, The headquarters had also set up plenty of hidden defenses.</em>


    <em>The psychics filed into the venue and, following the staff''s directions, took their seats.</em>


    <em>After being put through the wringer by the various captains, the psychics were now on their best behavior.</em>


    <em>The solemn atmosphere of the venue made everyone sit up straight, fully aware of the gravity of the moment.</em>


    <em>This serious mood hit its peak when the captains made their entrance.</em>


    <em>Luo Qingxin, Xiong Tianguang, Li Xiaoru, and Yan Changshou were all there, but Fang Moli was still nowhere to be found.</em><em>


    </em>

 Chapter 240: The Directors Speech

    Chapter 240: The Director''s Speech


    Fang Xiu furrowed his brow, sensing the inevitable unraveling of his ns. He had a gut feeling something would go wrong, and now it had.


    Fang Moli was a key piece in his strategy because Yan Changshou and his group were most wary of the Xuanyuan Sword. Without his presence, it was clear the enemy would shift their tactics.


    This creeping loss of control didn''t sit well with Fang Xiu. It only meant one thing: he''d likely have to die once again.


    Not long after, the Director made his entrance, with Xiao Zhenhua trailing close behind.


    Xiao Zhenhua''s expression was severe, his usual reserved demeanor intact as he shadowed the Director. His sharp eyes darted around, vigntly scanning for any sign of threat.


    Most of the crowd, except for the higher-ups, were clueless about who Xiao Zhenhua was. Unlike the five captains, he didn''tmand much public attention, but his strength was on par with theirs.


    This made sense¡ªjust like in movies where all eyes are on the leading stars, the bodyguards fade into the background, unnoticed.


    Xiao Zhenhua preferred it that way, operating under the radar. Only those who were truly in the know understood just how formidable he was.


    "Now, let''s wee the Director to give his address," the host announced. The Director walked steadily to the podium, his gaze sweeping across the hall filled with hundreds of elite psychics from across the nation.His eyes settled on the four captains seated on the stage, noting the empty chair meant for Fang Moli.


    The Director''s frown deepened for a moment, but he quickly masked his irritation and began speaking into the microphone, his voicemanding and serious, "Ladies and gentlemen, you represent the finest of the Investigation Bureau, the backbone of our nation''s defense. On behalf of headquarters, I extend my warmest wee. I''ll keep this brief and focus on three key points. First, heighten your vignce. The Specter situation is escting across the country, and we must abandon any notions ofcency or overconfidence¡ª"


    BANG!


    Before the Director could finish, the sharp crack of shattering ss echoed through the hall.


    For a split second, everyone braced for an attack. Soldiers in the room instantly drew their weapons, the sound of guns cocking filling the air.


    But then, a gleaming sword light shed into the hall.


    A man with a calm expression and sharp eyebrows made his entrance.


    Dressed in flowing white robes, he stood atop a dark golden sword, a matching sword box strapped to his back.


    Recognizing him, the soldiers eased up, lowering their guns, but the Director''s face remained stern.


    "Apologies for being sote," the young man in white said coolly, hovering above the crowd on his flying sword.


    "Fang Moli! Don''t you know about today''s meeting? Where have you been?" the Director bellowed, barely containing his frustration.


    "I got held up by a ss-A Specter on my way here," Fang Moli replied, his tone casual, as if such an encounter was mere child''s y.


    The room buzzed with astonishment at his nonchnce, amazed that he treated a ss-A Specter like a mere nuisance.


    But instead of being relieved by Fang Moli''s exnation, the Director''s anger only deepened.


    "Really? Weren''t you supposed to be in seclusion at headquarters, meditating on your sword technique? So, tell me, where exactly did you run into this ss-A Specter? And which foolish Specter dared approach headquarters?"


    Even after being called out, Fang Moli''s expression remained unbothered. "Is this my seat?" he asked coolly.


    A streak of sword light sliced through the air as Fang Moli descended silently onto the stage. Then he took his ce among the other captains with an air of calm indifference.


    "Sir, please continue," Fang Moli said, his tone as nonchnt as ever.


    The Director''s face darkened, clearly irritated by Fang Moli''s attitude. To an outsider, it might seem like he was the one in charge, not the Director.


    Each of the other four captains reacted differently to Fang Moli''s grand entrance.


    Luo Qingxin remained cold, her icy demeanor unshaken, as if she hadn''t noticed him at all.


    Yan Changshou''s face held a polite smile, but a subtle flicker of caution appeared in his eyes.


    Li Xiaoru scoffed, "Hmph, still the same show-off!"


    Xiong Tianguang grumbled, "You glory hound! I asked for backup, and you were nowhere to be found. Now you show up just to steal the spotlight?"


    The Director, struggling to keep his temper in check, realized it wouldn''t be wise tosh out in front of so many people. He took a calming breath before resuming his speech.


    "Second, we must ensure strict adherence to protocols, and third, we need to solidify ountability¡­"


    The Director''s speech dragged on, leaving many of the psychics fighting off drowsiness. The core of it all was pretty straightforward: Specter activity was on the rise, so everyone had to step up, train harder, and sharpen their skills.


    Fang Xiu observed the five captains on stage, his mind racing. Initially, he suspected something had gone wrong, preventing Fang Moli from showing up earlier. But now it was clear¡ªFang Moli had orchestrated his ownte entrance, flying in on his sword just to make a statement.


    It became evident that none of the captains were exactly what you''d call "normal."


    Luo Qingxin might look like an ice queen, but deep down, she had a ir for the dramatic. Naming her team "Illusionary Life"? That''s the kind of thing only a college student coulde up with¡ªtoo pretentious for anyone else.


    Xiong Tianguang was a gaming nerd, convinced that women were just distractions in the gaming world.


    Li Xiaoru was blunt, loud, and had just enough education to be annoying.


    Fang Moli was cold and pretentious, always acting like he was above everyone else, whether or not he actually was.


    And then there was Yan Changshou¡ªwell, there wasn''t much more to say about him since he wasn''t even human.


    Despite how strange they all were, their quirks didn''t matter as long as the n stayed on track.


    After what felt like an eternity, the Director''s speech was finally winding down.


    "Now, as many of you are aware, a recent Grade-S Specter event urred in Greenvine City¡­"


    Xiao Chuxia leaned in close to Fang Xiu, whispering excitedly, "Xiu, they''re talking about your big moment! They''re going to give you an award. You''re amazing!"


    Fang Xiu didn''t respond, instead preparing himself to head up and receive his recognition.


    But then¡­


    "This Specter event was unprecedented in its severity and the extent of the damage caused to Greenvine City. While the power of the ss-S Specter yed a role, it also highlights theck of emergency preparedness by the Investigation Bureau for city-wide incidents, and the failure to¡­"


    Another half-hour passed¡­


    "Fang Xiu, an investigator from Greenvine City''s Investigation Bureau, and the key hero in this incident¡­"


    "Xiu, it''s finally your turn to get the award. This director can really talk¡ªI almost fell asleep," Xiao Chuxia yawned, her voice heavy with boredom.


    Fang Xiu''s frown deepened. He wondered if the Director was intentionally droning on to lull Yan Changshou into a false sense of security, or if this was just his usual style¡ªlong-winded and tedious.


    Just as Fang Xiu was about to stand and ept his award, the Director continued


    "Fang Xiu, with his extraordinary ability to foresee the future, along with the qualities and determination expected of an investigator, risked his life with the safety of the people in his heart, saving Greenvine City from disaster¡­"


    Fang Xiu''s patience, already stretched thin, finally snapped. Right in the middle of the Director''s passionate speech, he stood up and began walking directly toward the stage.

 Chapter 241: Switching Sides

    Chapter 241: Switching Sides


    The room was on the brink of dozing off when Fang Xiu made his entrance, snapping everyone back to attention.


    Even Yan Changshou, standing on stage, felt a sudden surge of energy.


    This time, Yan Changshou hade prepared. Knowing how long the Director''s lecture could drag on, he''d taken a special potion to suppress the Specter power within him, just to maintain his human appearance. But after nearly two hours, the strain was starting to show. If they didn''t wrap things up soon, he might lose control.


    Seeing Fang Xiu take the stage, a flicker of relief crossed his face. He appreciated the timely interruption from his subordinate.


    The Director, noticing Fang Xiu approaching, quickly switched gears. "Now, let''s wee the hero who made the greatest impact on resolving the Grade-S Specter event¡ªFang Xiu, the Foreseer. Pleasee up to receive your award."


    Fang Xiu was already there before the Director finished speaking.


    "Nice speech. No need next time," Fang Xiu said, cutting straight to the point.


    The Director, unfazed, kept his smile as he pulled out a small, dark golden box crafted from Mind Steel. "Fang Xiu, this is your reward from headquarters. We hope you keep up the good work. Feel free to open it."


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu opened the box right there in front of everyone. He knew the Director''s game¡ªthis was a show to motivate the crowd by highlighting how heroes were rewarded.Inside the box, nestled on a dark cushion, was a simple bronze ring with a unique design. It resembled a coiled dragon, but with a twist¡ªit had two heads instead of a tail, each one biting into a red gem, forming the intricate bronze ring.


    Under the Director''s expectant gaze, Fang Xiu slowly slipped the ring onto his finger.


    All eyes were on him, curiosity buzzing about what power this ring might hold.


    Meanwhile, Yan Changshou was secretly frowning._ ''Why did he actually put it on? Hurry up and make your move!''_


    He was poised for action, waiting for Fang Xiu''s signal tounch a surprise attack on Fang Moli. His own men and the hidden Pokers in the crowd were ready to strike the moment Fang Xiu made his move.


    Sitting just a meter away from Fang Moli''s left, Yan Changshou was confident he could seriously wound him before he even drew his Xuanyuan Sword. But he wanted to wait until Fang Xiu dealt with the Director first.


    The n was to strike when all eyes were on Fang Xiu and the Director, ensuring they could pull off the attack without a hitch.


    As Fang Xiu slid the ring onto his finger, he immediately noticed something unusual.


    Unlike Specter Gadgets that came with an overwhelming, corrupting energy, this Spiritual Gadget exuded a gentle, calming force.


    This made Fang Xiu feel a bit bored. He decided that once he dealt with Yan Changshou and the Pokers, he would request some Specter Gadgets from headquarters instead.


    The ring was nice, but he preferred something with a bit more edge.


    "Fang Xiu, this ring''s official name is the ''Ring of Golden Engraved Double Dragon ying with Pearl,'' but most people just call it the Double Dragon Ring. Its primary function is storage," the Director said with a smile.


    Fang Xiu remained expressionless, but the trainees around him were clearly unimpressed.


    Some of them even quietly grumbled about how stingy the headquarters seemed. Solving a Grade-S Specter event, and all they got was a storage ring? Sure, being able to store items was handy, but it wasn''t exactly the kind of tool you''d use to fight a Specter.


    However, as the Director continued, the crowd began to grasp the true worth of the ring.


    "It can store not just physical items, but also Spiritual Energy and even abilities. You can infuse it with your Spiritual Energy daily or store your abilities inside. When you''re battling a Specter and find yourself running low on Spiritual Energy, you can draw directly from the stored Spiritual Energy and abilities within the ring."


    The room erupted in shock. "It can store Spiritual Energy and abilities?"


    This ring wasn''t just special¡ªit was game-changing. For psychics, Spiritual Energy is the backbone of their power, the fuel for all their abilities. The more powerful the ability, the more Spiritual Energy it drains.


    Imagine two equally matched psychics facing off, both exhausted and nearly out of Spiritual Energy. But if one of them had the Double Dragon Ring, filled with enough stored Spiritual Energy to keep fighting, they''d suddenly have a massive advantage, possibly turning the tide of the battle in their favor.


    Even against a stronger opponent, this ring could be the deciding factor. As long as the gap in power wasn''t too wide, the stored energy could allow a psychic to oust and eventually ovee their enemy.


    All eyes in the room were now glued to the ring on Fang Xiu''s hand, many of them filled with envy. Some people even started having the idea of stealing it.


    But Xiao Chuxia''s thoughts were a bit more cunning. While others were dreaming of snatching the ring, she imagined Fang Xiu simply giving it to her as a gift.


    To her, the ring was perfect. Her ability to weave lies drained her Spiritual Energy rapidly¡ªthe bigger the lie, the more energy it took. With this ring, she wouldn''t have to worry about running out of energy mid-lie ever again.


    She began scheming, wondering if Fang Xiu proposed to her with this ring should she say yes right away or y hard to get for a moment?


    As Fang Xiu listened to the Director, something clicked in his mind. It seemed like the Director was dropping hints.


    Carefully, Fang Xiu channeled his Spiritual Energy into the Double Dragon Ring. Instantly, he sensed something unexpected¡ªa hidden scene within the ring.


    The ring already contained stored abilities. Not just one, but five different abilities!


    As he probed further, he recognized them as the domain powers of four captains and Xiao Zhenhua. The powers stored were Luo Qingxin''s "Frozen Zone," Li Xiaoru''s "Infinite Conflict," Xiao Zhenhua''s "All Equal," Fang Moli''s "Sword Infinity," and Xiong Tianguang''s "Summoner''s Rift."


    The only one missing was Yan Changshou''s "Specter Gate." Every other domain of the headquarters'' fourth-tier psychics was tucked away in this ring.


    These stored powers weren''t reusable; each of the five domains could only be unleashed once. But five domains'' worth of power was nothing to scoff at.


    With this ring, Fang Xiu could stand toe-to-toe with a fourth-tier expert. In fact, he felt confident that he could even defeat and kill a slightly weaker fourth-tier expert if it came to that.


    The headquarters had truly outdone themselves this time, giving him a gift that was more valuable than anyone could have guessed.


    Fang Xiu maintained a calm gaze as he looked at the Director, who kept his usual smile, eyes betraying nothing.


    There was no silent exchange of looks, no subtle gestures like you''d see in the movies. They stood close but acted as if this was just another typical meeting, like two people who had never crossed paths before.


    Fang Xiu grasped the subtle message behind the headquarters'' actions. They clearly wanted to equip him with enough power to safeguard himself in the battles ahead.


    "Fang Xiu, are you satisfied with the headquarters'' reward?" the Director asked, his smile never faltering.


    Fang Xiu gave a slight nod, his demeanor steady.


    Meanwhile, Yan Changshou, standing on stage, was growing increasingly uneasy. Outwardly, he kept hisposure, but inside, his thoughts were in chaos.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Why hasn''t he made his move yet?''</em>


    Breaking the tension, Fang Xiu suddenly spoke. "Since the headquarters has been so generous with their gift, I think it''s only right I offer something in return."

 Chapter 242: The Assassination Begins

    Chapter 242: The Assassination Begins


    Fang Xiu''s words instantly grabbed everyone''s attention, setting off a wave of curiosity.


    They all began specting about the mysterious "gift" he was about to present to the headquarters.


    On stage, Yan Changshou was silently fuming. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Idiot! An assassination should be swift and unexpected. All this suspense is just going to put people on edge!''</em>


    In his mind, Fang Xiu''s so-called "gift" had to be a dagger aimed straight at the Director''s heart.


    "Oh? And what kind of gift might that be?" the Director asked, ying along with a look of mild curiosity.


    "A message," Fang Xiu responded, his tone steady and calm. "A message about the future."


    As soon as those words left his lips, every psychic in the room straightened up, their focus razor-sharp.


    This was Fang Xiu, the legendary foreseer, about to make a live prophecy.


    It''s human nature to be fascinated by the future, whether you have psychic abilities or not. If ordinary folks knew a great master was about to give a perfect prediction for free, they''d scramble to listen.For the psychics, this was on a whole different level. They knew that special abilities were real and believed that Fang Xiu could glimpse the future with absolute rity.


    Ordinary fortune-tellers might be phonies, but Fang Xiu? He was the real deal.


    A future that was 100% certain wasn''t something you could afford to ignore.


    "We''re listening," the Director said, his smile widening in anticipation.


    The room fell silent. Every murmur and whisper died down as people leaned in, eager not to miss a single word.


    "I saw death tonight," Fang Xiu stated.


    "Death?" The Director''s eyebrow shot up in surprise.


    That single word set everyone on high alert. In a different setting, someone would''ve probably jumped up, demanding to know who was going to die.


    "Correct," Fang Xiu affirmed, his voice still calm. "Tonight, someone important will die."


    His words sent a ripple of shock through the room. Curiosity was now at its peak.


    Some, like Lin Tianhe, the top student and only fourth-tier powerhouse, felt an uneasy tension growing inside them. He couldn''t shake the feeling that he might be the "important person" Fang Xiu was referring to.


    Even the Director, typically unppable, looked taken aback and quickly pressed, "Fang Xiu, who is this important person?"


    He had voiced the question everyone was desperate to ask.


    Meanwhile, Yan Changshou was practically boiling with rage. His instructions to Fang Xiu had been crystal clear: just carry out the assassination, no theatrics.


    But then, something caught his attention. The four team leaders beside him were leaning forward, utterly engrossed in what Fang Xiu was saying, and he paused.


    Even Fang Moli, who usually acted disinterested in everything, was now listening intently.


    And Xiong Tianguang, usually absorbed in his game, had momentarily looked away from his screen. His interest was piqued while his character respawned.


    A sudden wave of realization hit Yan Changshou. "Well done! That''s my man!"


    He finally understood Fang Xiu''s n¡ªhe was using this "future prediction" as a ruse to grab everyone''s attention.


    The announcement that someone important would die tonight left everyone guessing.


    Yan Changshou could even predict what Fang Xiu was going to say next. He was sure Fang Xiu would point out that the "important person" was the Director!


    Then, in the midst of the crowd''s shock, Fang Xiu would plunge a dagger into the Director''s chest.


    Chaos would erupt, creating the perfect moment for Yan Changshou tounch a surprise attack.


    Right now, everyone in the room, both allies and enemies, waited on edge for Fang Xiu to reveal the name of this important person.


    Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the signal.


    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Fang Xiu calmly spoke, his voice ringing out across the room.


    "That person is you, Yan Changshou."


    The room exploded into chaos, like cold water hitting hot oil.


    Yan Changshou waspletely blindsided. The carefully rehearsed n he''d run through his mind a thousand times crumbled in an instant. For a brief moment, he was lost, those shocking words echoing in his mind.


    Suddenly, rm bells went off in his head, yanking him back to reality.


    But it was toote¡ªa master can''t afford even a moment of shock.


    In an instant, violent energy surged through the room.


    "Domain Activated, All Equal!"


    "Domain Activated, Frozen Zone!"


    "Domain Activated, Infinite Conflict!"


    "Domain Activated, Sword Infinity!"


    "Domain Activated, Summoner''s Rift!"


    The four team captains and Xiao Zhenhua had been listening so intently just seconds before. Now theyunched their attacks all at once, as if they had rehearsed it themselves. It was as though they had all been ying a part in some grand scheme.


    In the blink of an eye, five powerful domains surrounded Yan Changshou.


    All Equal suppressed his abilities, the Frozen Zone immobilized him, and the swords from Sword Infinity pinned his limbs.


    Summoner''s Rift conjured a game character that looked like a humanoid Nasus, who immediately cast Wither on Yan Changshou, draining his strength and leaving him feeling weak, as though his life force was being sucked away.


    Infinite Conflict summoned soldiers resembling terracotta warriors, who encircled himpletely.


    In less than a second, Yan Changshou was utterly restrained, without a single chance to fight back.


    The crowd was stunned.


    "Did Fang Xiu''s prophecy juste true? Why are the headquarters'' captains attacking Yan Changshou?" Countless questions swirled through everyone''s minds.


    "Attack!" the Directormanded, his deep voice cutting through the noise. The friendly smile he''d worn earlier was gone, reced by a stern authority and an iron will.


    At hismand, soldiers surged into the hall like a tidal wave.


    Suddenly, cries of rm rang out from the crowd.


    "Bad news! The n''s been exposed!"


    "Save Yan Changshou, quickly!"


    Yan Changshou''s hidden allies, who had been blending in, immediately sprang into action. Some tried to break through the encirclement and escape, while others rushed toward Yan Changshou, desperate to rescue him.


    Even among the soldiers, staff, and students in the hall, unexpected changes began to unfold.


    Their clothes ripped apart, and their faces started to melt like wax, revealing something far more sinister underneath. Muscles twisted grotesquely like tumors, writhing beneath their skin.


    They sprouted tentacles, grew tumors, and some even developed multiple deformed, bloodied arms.


    They had all transformed into Specters.


    But the most chilling detail of all was that each one wore a mask from the Pokers¡ªtheir faces marked with the symbols of Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, and Hearts.


    Shouts, screams, and explosions filled the air.


    The once peaceful hall had transformed into a chaotic battlefield in a matter of moments.


    And the spark that ignited it all was Fang Xiu''s prophecy.


    That prophecy had been like a starter pistol, triggering the mayhem that was now tearing through the hall.

 Chapter 243: Chalice Mist

    Chapter 243: Chalice Mist


    "Yan Changshou is captured! Surrender now, and we''ll spare those who do!" Li Xiaoru''s voice thundered, nearly drowning out the chaos around him.


    His words hit hard, though they didn''t shake the Pokers much. But Yan Changshou''s followers? They hesitated. Some were captured by the headquarters'' psychic, but a few still clung to their defiance, fighting back with everything they had.


    "Yan Changshou, your n is a bust. Order your people to stand down," Xiao Zhenhua said, his voice ice-cold.


    Yan Changshou didn''t even acknowledge them. His eyes locked onto Fang Xiu was filled with a wild, burning rage.


    <strong>"Who are you?!" he demanded.</strong>*


    Fang Xiu, calm as ever, walked toward him, closing the distance step by step.


    He looked at Yan Changshou with cool indifference, like he was staring at a cornered animal.


    "How sad. You''re trapped, and you still have no clue who I am? You didn''t lose by chance."


    Yan Changshou''s eyes narrowed, and something clicked in his mind."You''re Fang Xiu!"


    "The moment you targeted me, you were doomed," Fang Xiu replied.


    Yan Changshou fell silent, but nearby, Fang Moli''s eyes lit up as if something just clicked for him. He started muttering to himself, trying to piece together Fang Xiu''s words.


    Then, without warning, Yan Changshou broke into hystericalughter.


    "Do you really think you''ve won?" he mocked, his voice edged with madness.


    Suddenly, his restrained body began to convulse. From one side of him, tentacles and eyes started to sprout grotesquely.


    The other captains scowled, their expressions darkening.


    And then¡ª


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">CLANG!</em>


    A sword appeared, sounding like a dragon''s roar echoing across the heavens.


    Everyone was blinded by a sh of sword light so bright that it made their eyes water.


    Fang Moli had made his move.


    He held a sword, glowing with divine golden light. One side of the de was engraved with the sun, the moon, and stars, while the other side depicted mountains, rivers, and nts.


    It was the Xuanyuan Sword.


    As soon as the sword appeared, a powerful, awe-inspiring energy filled the air. Everyone felt incredibly small, like ants before a chasm, like mortals in front of a god.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Is this the legendary Xuanyuan Sword?''</em>


    Fang Xiu''s eyes shed. The pressure from the sword felt eerily simr to what he''d experienced with Taotie.


    It was impossible to tell which was stronger, but one thing was clear: they both existed on the same otherworldly level.


    The Xuanyuan Sword and Taotie gave Fang Xiu the feeling of facing something beyond this world, like a lowly creature staring up at a higher being¡ªa mere mortal before a godpletely out of their depth.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">SWISH!</em>


    With a single strike, the sword pierced through Yan Changshou''s body.


    The moment the de sank in, all the strange changes in his body stopped, frozen in ce.


    His eyes widened in shock, anger etched across his face as he died, unable to believe what had just happened.


    This isn''t the cartoon; no one waits around for their opponent to transform.


    No matter how powerful a move was, if it takes too long to set up, it''s just dead weight.


    That''s why the best fighters stick to the basics. Striking a fraction of a second faster than your opponent is always better than showing off shy moves.


    After finishing Yan Changshou, Fang Moli couldn''t help but add, "The moment I drew my sword, you''re doomed."


    The captains were left speechless, caught off guard by Fang Moli''s quick imitation of Fang Xiu''s words.


    However, in the very next moment, something bizarre happened.


    Yan Changshou''s body started to fade, gradually dissolving into a thin wisp of green smoke, and then he vanished entirely.


    Where his corpse should''ve been, there was only a straw doll, pierced straight through.


    Everyone''s expressions darkened immediately.


    "Damn it, it''s a Substitution Doll!"


    Fang Moli''s face was especially grim, though it wasn''t clear if he was more upset about failing to kill Yan Changshou or the fact that his dramatic disy had been for nothing.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently.


    In the northwest corner of the sky, a massive, pitch-ck door appeared out of nowhere. Its surface was covered in engravings of hellish scenes.


    "It''s Yan Changshou''s Specter Gate!"


    "Hurry! Stop him!" The captains were now in shock and fury. They rushed to prevent Yan Changshou from escaping.


    But then, another startling event unfolded.


    In the midst of the chaos, the very fabric of space began to twist.


    With a sh of light, five figures dressed in ck uniforms, each wearing a Poker mask, appeared on the scene.


    As soon as these five arrived, a terrifying energy filled the air, suffocating everyone around.


    The masks they wore represented the Ace of Spades, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Ace of Hearts, and the most formidable of all, the Big Joker.


    "The Big Joker!" Xiao Zhenhua''s face turned serious as he locked eyes on the figure with the clown mask. Without wasting a second, he moved to shield the Director and Fang Xiu, retreating cautiously.


    Meanwhile, in the northwest sky, the Specter Gate had fully opened, unleashing a horde of Snakeworms. They swarmed out, ckening the sky with their sheer numbers.


    The Ace of Spades noticed Xiao Zhenhua protecting Fang Xiu and grew more respectful, marveling at how Fang Xiu''s true identity remained hidden.


    Muttering to himself, the Ace of Spades thought, <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''If Mr. Fang is watching, I can''t mess this up. I''ve got to find a way to break free and kill Yan Changshou. If Mr. Fang praises me in front of the Director, I''ll be unstoppable. I can''t let anyone else get this glory¡ªit has to be mine!''</em>


    Determined, he turned to hispanions and said, "I''ll handle things here. The rest of you, go stop Yan Changshou."


    This time, Fang Moli didn''t draw the Xuanyuan Sword. Instead, he gripped a long sword forged from Mind Steel and stepped forward alone, ready to confront all five of them by himself.


    "You won''t escape," came a cold, steady voice from beneath the Big Joker''s mask.


    He raised a pale hand and suddenly pressed down into the air.


    BOOM!


    In an instant, the weather shifted dramatically. The sky roared with thunder, and lightning bolts rained down furiously, aiming directly at the captains.


    The captains quickly summoned their abilities, blocking the lightning. They weren''t injured, but their advance was slowed.


    "Ace of Clubs, stop drinking and do your job!" Ace of Hearts yelled angrily.


    At that moment, Ace of Clubs was busy downing a bottle of liquor, gulping it down as if he were in a bar, not a battlefield.


    He lowered the bottle,ughing loudly, "Hahaha, nothing beats a 50-year-old Moutai! I wouldn''t be drinking this if it wasn''t for such a special asion."


    "Shut up and focus!" Ace of Hearts snapped.


    "No rush, no rush! ''Golden cup filled with green foams; I would die drunk without regret!'' Domain activated: Chalice Mist!"


    With a heartyugh, the Ace of Clubs waved his hand, and a giant golden chalice materialized faintly in the sky.


    The chalice tipped, and a stream of crystal-clear wine with sparkling bubbles cascaded down from the heavens like a waterfall.


    Strangely, as the wine fell, it evaporated into a thick mist mid-air.


    In seconds, a rich aroma of alcohol filled the entire area.


    As the scent spread, soldiers who were just ordinary humans started to stagger and copse, as if they were deeply intoxicated.


    But it wasn''t just them. Even the psychics in the area began to feel the effects, their movements sluggish as if they too were drunk.

 Chapter 244 The Chaotic Battle

    Fang Xiu also caught the strong scent of alcohol in the air. His head suddenly spun, as if he''d just downed a huge amount of strong liquor.


    But this wasn''t enough to throw him off. He quickly used his power of pain, and a sharp, intense pain surged through his body, snapping him back to rity.


    The Director wasn''t so fortunate, though. He copsed instantly, and if Xiao Zhenhua hadn''t acted fast to catch him, he might have hit his head and started bleeding.


    "Quick, we need to get out of here," Xiao Zhenhua urged, supporting both the Director and Fang Xiu as they hurried to leave. Protecting them was more important than fighting right now.


    The strong smell of alcohol didn''t seem to affect those at the level of captain.


    Fang Moli sighed softly, "I wanted to hold back, but you''ve left me no choice."


    He drew the Xuanyuan Sword again, and a divine power descended from the heavens.


    In an instant, the raging thunder in the sky was swept away by the sword''s energy. However, as soon as he wielded the Xuanyuan Sword, his face paled.


    It all made sense now. Given Fang Moli''s shy style, there was no reason he didn''t use such a showy weapon all the time¡ªunless the cost of using it was too steep.


    Facing the Xuanyuan Sword, a flicker of fear crossed the faces of Joker and the others, but they didn''t panic. They had clearly nned for this.


    "Everyone, scatter and start destroying different parts of the headquarters!" Joker ordered. Immediately, Ace of Spades and the others dispersed in all directions.


    "What? Damn it!" The captains'' faces turned dark with worry, but they didn''t have the time to think about anything else. They had to split up too, to stop the Pokers.


    Joker smirked, "Fang Moli, you can''t be everywhere at once."


    "Then I''ll kill you first!" Fang Moli, rarely one to get angry, was now furious. With the Xuanyuan Sword in hand, he transformed into a streak of sword light and charged at Joker.


    But Joker was ready. A wave of energy from Specter Gadget rippled from him, and his body melted into the ground, disappearing from sight.


    Fang Moli''s eyes shed coldly. Without even looking back, he rushed toward the Specter Gate.


    Halfway there, Joker reappeared. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a roaring thunder dragon from the sky. The massive hundred-meter-long dragon temporarily blocked Fang Moli''s path.


    "Hmph! Coward! Sword Infinity, activate!"


    CLANG!


    The sound of countless swords echoed like a dragon''s roar.


    Thousands of swords appeared in the sky around Fang Moli, each one glowing with a cold, sharp light. The sheer power of the swords seemed strong enough to rip through space.


    For a moment, swords rained down like a storm, furiously attacking the ground as if determined to find Joker''s true body.


    Joker kept moving, avoiding a direct confrontation with Fang Moli.


    Meanwhile, more and more powerful Specters emerged from the Specter Gate¡ªB ss, A ss, even S ss!


    The Specter Gate itself began to twist violently.


    Pale, withered arms reached out from within, grabbing the sides of the gate and pulling hard.


    CRACK!


    The Specter Gate shattered with a deafening noise, and the S-ss Specter emerged.


    His limbs were pale and emaciated, his body shriveled and bony. He looked like a dried-up corpse that had just been pulled out of formaldehyde.


    His face was a grotesque sight, covered in tiny red eyes, with insect-like antennae sprouting from its forehead.


    On his back were wings resembling those of a butterfly, but they were coated in bloody scales. The creature was a horrifying mix of a human corpse and a giant moth.


    With a light flutter of its blood-stained wings, a foul wind began to blow, and filthy, corrosive blood rained down.


    Wherever the bloodnded, it left only barrennd behind, as if burned away by a powerful acid.


    The creature seemed to catch the scent of human flesh and flew toward the densest crowd, escting the chaos even further.


    Fang Xiu watched the chaotic scene with a calm detachment as he retreated. He didn''t choose to die this time because resetting now would be pointless.


    It felt as though everything was predestined. Yan Changshou had a Substitute Doll that could absorb fatal damage, and even a strike from the Xuanyuan Sword couldn''t kill him. This meant Fang Xiu had no way to stop him from opening the Specter Gate and unleashing the Specters that the Pokers had gathered from the Other Side.


    Even if Fang Xiu reset everything, rewinding time to before the meeting and capturing Yan Changshou at the manor¡­ that wouldn''t make a difference.


    He couldn''t kill him instantly, and eventually, the Specter Gate would still be opened. The opening of the gate was the signal for the Pokers to act.


    Overall, the headquarters held the advantage this time. They had prepared their forces in advance and identified some of the Pokers who had disguised themselves as staff, preventing aplete surprise attack.


    Now, it all came down to raw power.


    Fang Xiu didn''t believe he would lose because he had a backup n.


    Yan Changshou looked at the shattered Specter Gate and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    He was in a pitiful state. Half of his body was fully Specterized, and a deep sword wound ran across his chest, cutting through his entire body.


    The flesh around the wound squirmed as if trying to heal, but a powerful force kept it from closing.


    Despite his condition, a cruel smile spread across his lips, and his eyes were filled with hatred.


    "Fang Xiu! So what if you foresaw my n? No one can stop me from opening the Specter Gate. All of you will die!"


    He suddenly started coughing violently, spewingrge amounts of blood and even chunks of flesh.


    "The Xuanyuan Sword lives up to its reputation! I didn''t expect that even with the Substitute Doll, I couldn''t fully transfer the damage. The sword had traced me through the connection between me and the Doll. If Fang Moli had been able to fully unleash the sword''s power, I would be dead for sure. I failed to catch him off guard this time, so now I have no choice but to fight head-on. This is the only chance¡ªif I fail, everything will be lost."


    A resolute look shed in Yan Changshou''s eyes.


    The Pokers understood their situation all too well. They had gone to great lengths to gather Specters and sessfully release them at the headquarters.


    Even though they hadn''t managed to take down Fang Moli, there was no turning back now; they wouldn''t get another opportunity like this.


    At this moment, Yan Changshou could only hope that the always enigmatic Joker would pull through. He didn''t expect Joker to defeat Fang Moli, but he needed him to hold him off for a while. The enormous energy cost of using the Xuanyuan Sword meant that Fang Moli couldn''tst much longer.


    Just then, a figure rushed over from the distance.


    "Captain Yan! Are you okay?" Wen Yang asked, his voice filled with deep concern as he ran up.


    Seeing his most trusted subordinate, a sh of murderous intent appeared in Yan Changshou''s eyes.

 Chapter 245: A Message from Mr. Fang

    Chapter 245: A Message from Mr. Fang


    Yan Changshou fumed internally, silently cursing Wen Yang. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''What a worthless idiot! I told you to bring back Fang Xiu, but instead, you let him get in control. And what did you even manage to bring back? Nothing! If it weren''t for your ipetence, I wouldn''t be stuck in this mess!''</em>


    Despite the anger boiling inside him, Yan Changshou kept a calm exterior. He knew he couldn''t afford to lose people now¡ªevery extra hand meant more strength.


    So, he decided to y the part, tricking Wen Yang into continuing to work for him.


    Yan Changshou didn''t realize that Wen Yang was ying a part too.


    Wen Yang stopped in front of him, his expression a mix of concern and guilt.


    "I''m fine," Yan Changshou said, his tone steady.


    Wen Yang sighed with relief, a small smile of happiness shing across his face. "I''m d to hear that, Captain Yan. I knew you''d pull through."


    "Hmm, this isn''t the time for that. The Pokers are fighting with headquarters. Get over there and support them!"


    "Yes, sir, I''ll¡ª"Before Wen Yang could finish his sentence, somethingpletely unexpected happened.


    Out of nowhere, countless sharp, white bones erupted from his body. These bones, pointed like spears, gleamed with a cold, eerie light as they struck straight toward Yan Changshou.


    Yan Changshou was already injured and, he didn''t anticipate an attack from Wen Yang, so he was caught off guard. In an instant, his body was skewered like a porcupine.


    "You!" Yan Changshou''s eyes widened in shock as blood gushed from his wounds. His throat, eyes, heart, neck¡ªnearly every part of him was pierced by the bones, leaving him looking like a horrific sight.


    At that moment, Wen Yang''s cold smile revealed his true identity: King of Spades.


    With a mocking tone, King of Spades said, "Captain Yan, Mr. Fang Xiu sends his regards."


    "Wha¡ª?" Yan Changshou was stunned. Realizing that Wen Yang was actually a Poker in disguise was shocking enough, but what really threw him was the name King of Spades mentioned.


    "Fang Xiu? Damn it! What''s happening?!" Yan Changshou suddenly felt as though he was caught in a giant, inescapable web,pletely at the mercy of someone else.


    And that someone was Fang Xiu!


    "It''s you again! Fang Xiu!" Yan Changshou screamed, his voice full of rage.


    King of Spades'' expression grew cold as he kicked Yan Changshou''s battered body away.


    Yan Changshou''s form flew off the bone spikes like a ragdoll, tumbling across the ground until it finallyy still, lifeless.


    "Hmph! You don''t get to speak his name!"


    King of Spades doubted if the guy''s name was really Fang Xiu, but that was at least what he always referred to himself as. King of Spades assumed it was his code name, maybe.


    King of Spades was well aware of how terrifying Fang Xiu was¡ªable to summon Specters straight from the Other Side.


    Right now, Fang Xiu might even be watching him, so King of Spades knew he had to act like a loyal servant to keep Fang Xiu pleased.


    After finishing off Yan Changshou, King of Spades walked over to the corpse, intent on cutting off the head to present it to Fang Xiu as a reward.


    Just as King of Spades approached, a crimson tentacle shot out from Yan Changshou''s seemingly lifeless body.


    King of Spades, caught off guard, quickly summoned his bone armor.


    Pale, sharp bones covered his form, but the tentacle tore through the armor as if it were paper.


    The tentacle''s corrosive energy eating away at the protection and stabbing deep into King of Spades'' chest.


    "What?" King of Spades was stunned. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    Yan Changshou was still alive. Despite being struck by the energy of the Xuanyuan Sword and having his body impaled, Yan Changshou still had enough strength to mount a surprise attack.


    In desperation, King of Spades fought back. His spine twisted violently, and a pale bone dragon emerged from his body, lunging straight for Yan Changshou.


    But before he could even reach halfway, the bone dragon copsed, falling lifelessly to the ground.


    The crimson tentacle was rapidly draining King of Spades of his flesh and blood, leaving him nothing but skin and bones, a dried-out husk of what he once was.


    Meanwhile, Yan Changshou''s broken body began to heal before King of Spades'' very eyes. His wounds closed at an unnatural speed, though the deep gash in his chest from the Xuanyuan Sword remained.


    Yan Changshou retracted his crimson tentacle, and King of Spades'' lifeless body crumpled to the ground.


    Without even sparing a nce at the corpse, Yan Changshou''s eyes burned with an intense, murderous fury.


    "Fang Xiu! You''ve pushed me too far!"


    Yan Changshou had been outyed by Fang Xiu three times now, and his patience had worn thin¡ªespecially given his half-transformed state as a Specter, which only heightened his instability.


    The first time, Fang Xiu tricked him at his own home, leading him to torture a decoy.


    The second time, at the conference, Fang Xiu upended his ns and made him the target of a coordinated attack.


    And now, this third betrayal, with Fang Xiu sending King of Spades disguised as Wen Yang.


    These consecutive deceptions had driven Yan Changshou to the brink, like a cornered animal ready tosh out.


    At this point, Yan Changshou no longer cared about the Pokers or the headquarters. All that filled his mind was a burning desire for revenge against Fang Xiu. But before he could act, a cold voice echoed through the air.


    "Bear the darkness¡ªShadowy World!"


    A pitch-ck shadow spread across the ground, enveloping everything around Yan Changshou. He found himself trapped within a shadowy domain, with Ace of Spades looming above him.


    Ace of Spades nced at the shriveled corpse of King of Spades, his expression darkening with anger.


    "Damn fool! I told you to wait for me so we could execute Mr. Fang''s orders together, but you just had to rush in, trying to snatch all the credits¡­"


    Ace of Spades'' words were abruptly interrupted by a furious, almost animalistic roar.


    "Fang Xiu! It''s you again!!"


    Yan Changshou had lost all semnce of sanity. Three times was already too much to bear, but now there was a fourth! Any remaining shred of his reason was burned away by his rage.


    BOOM!


    The other half of Yan Changshou''s body morphed grotesquely,pleting his transformation into a Specter.


    He became a monstrous figure, covered in writhing crimson tentacles. His face still held traces of humanity, yet it was twisted and covered in countless eyes.


    He lunged at Ace of Spades, and the two shed fiercely.


    Meanwhile, at the edge of the battlefield, Xiao Zhenhua was urgently trying to get Fang Xiu and the Director to safety.


    He opened the car door with urgency in his voice. "Fang Xiu, you and the Director need to get in the car and leave now!"


    Despite the chaos engulfing the entire headquarters, Xiao Zhenhua''s protection had ensured that Fang Xiu and the Director reached this point unscathed.


    "Let the Director go alone. I still have things to take care of," Fang Xiu replied, his voice calm and unwavering amidst the turmoil.


    Xiao Zhenhua immediately frowned, concern etched across his face. "You''re just a second-tier psychic. Staying here won''t help anyone. Your abilities are too valuable to risk. What if you end up getting killed?"


    "I won''t die," Fang Xiu responded, his voice steady. "Because I''ve already seen the future."


    Xiao Zhenhua was taken aback. It was as if the air had been knocked out of him, leaving him momentarily speechless.


    He stared at Fang Xiu, stunned by the calm certainty in his words. Before he could gather himself to argue, Fang Xiu had already turned and started walking away.


    Watching Fang Xiu''s retreating figure, Xiao Zhenhua gritted his teeth, battling the urge to call him back.


    In the end, he chose to prioritize the unconscious Director''s safety, deciding to get him out first before returning to the battlefield as quickly as possible.


    Meanwhile, in a corner of the conference hall, the scene was grim.


    The floor was littered with severed limbs and the bodies of countless unconscious people, the aftermath of a brutal fight.


    Yang Ming had managed to resist the intoxicating alcohol thanks to his Corpse Bead.


    Bai Qi, being a third-tier psychic, naturally had a strong resistance and had regained his rity after stabbing himself a few times to stay focused.


    Xiao Chuxia, having absorbed a significant amount of the power of lies the night before, easily dispelled the drunken haze that had overtaken so many others.


    But Liu Shuai and Zhao Hao weren''t so lucky¡ªthey werepletely knocked out, dead drunk and oblivious to the chaos around them.


    Seeing the situation escting, Bai Qi pulled out a short knife and gave both Liu Shuai and Zhao Hao a sharp jab, hoping to rouse them. But it was no use; they were far too intoxicated to wake up.


    Bai Qi frowned in frustration. "Yang Ming, you grab one, and I''ll take the other. We need to get them out of here."


    They were all investigators from Greenvine City and had faced life-and-death situations together. Leaving their teammates behind wasn''t an option.


    Just as the two were about to lift Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, Xiao Chuxia stepped forward with a sly smile.


    "No need to carry them. Watch this."


    She bent down and shouted into Zhao Hao''s ear, "Luo Qingxin is wearing stockings!"


    Zhao Hao, who had been entirely passed out just moments before, suddenly sprang to his feet like a rocket.


    Despite the fog clouding his mind and the bleary look in his eyes, he immediately blurted out, "What? Where? Where?"


    Yang Ming couldn''t help but grin and give Xiao Chuxia a thumbs up.


    "Impressive!" he said, clearly amused by her unconventional but highly effective tactic.

 Chapter 246: Without Fang Xiu

    Chapter 246: Without Fang Xiu


    "What about Liu Shuai?" someone asked.


    "Easy," Xia Chuxia responded as she strolled over to him. "He''s drunk, then get him puke."


    With a wave of her hand, she used her power on Liu Shuai.


    Liu Shuai, already out cold and not exactly a powerhouse, offered zero resistance. Xia Chuxia''s ability worked like a charm.


    Suddenly, Liu Shuai''s stomach lurched violently. He spewed out a nasty mix of half-digested food and yellow bile, filling the air with a stench that made everyone around gag.


    Not long after, Liu Shuai woke up. He was still a bit tipsy, but at least he could move again.


    As he blinked away his confusion, both he and Zhao Hao started acting like they werepletely sober¡ªmaybe even sharper than usual.


    Normally, just the sight of Specters would freak them out. But now, something had changed.


    Liu Shuai, usually the most cowardly of the group, suddenly turned fearless. He grabbed an assault rifle from a nearby unconscious soldier and began firing at the Snakeworms.To top it off, he was teleporting all over the ce while shooting,ughing like a madman.


    Zhao Hao, still a bit dazed, saw some illusions and, after being single for way too long, somehow found the Specters appealing. Fear? Nah. If anything, it was the Snakeworms that should''ve been scared of him.


    "Good, keep going! Let''s fight our way out!" Xia Chuxia cheered, unleashing her dual powers of fire and ice against the surrounding Specters.


    Yang Ming joined in, efficiently taking them down. Even without Fang Xiu''s leadership, their team wasn''t weak.


    Battles like this were raging all over the headquarters, plunging everything into chaos.


    Snakeworms were everywhere, along with a mix of B-ss and A-ss Specters, and members of the Pokers were also shing with the headquarters'' crew.


    Before long, Xia Chuxia and her team fought their way out of the hall, thinking they''d finally reached safety. But outside, the fight was even more intense. The captains were all engaged in fiercebat.


    Ace of Hearts was up against Luo Qingxin, Ace of Clubs was fighting Li Xiaoru, Ace of Diamonds was shing with Xiong Tianguang, and Joker was locked in battle with Fang Moli.


    On top of that, a terrifying S-ss Specter was tearing through the battlefield.


    The entire area was fractured into powerful domains, with the real world barely holding together.


    Xia Chuxia and the others froze in shock, a flicker of panic crossing their faces.


    But Zhao Hao, always unpredictable, was different. Spotting histest crush, Luo Qingxin, his eyes lit up, and he sprinted toward her.


    "Qingxin! Qingxin! Where are your stockings? When did you take the¡ªmmph!"


    Before he could finish, Yang Ming mped a hand over his mouth and yanked him back.


    "This ce is way worse than inside! Sure, there were more enemies in there, but they were mostly small fry! Out here, it''s all heavy hitters, and we could get killed just from the crossfire. Damn it! Xiu''s not here, and I''ve got no clue what to do!"


    Yang Ming''s eyes darted around, desperately hoping Fang Xiu would show up like a hero to save them. They''d gotten so used to Fang Xiu''s leadership that without his voice guiding them, they felt lost.


    If they could just hear him give onemand, they''d charge forward even if an S-ss Specter was in their way.


    "You guys head back. I''ll find him," Xia Chuxia suddenly said.


    Yang Ming and the others stared at her in disbelief. "You''re going to find him? Alone?"


    Xia Chuxia nodded. "Yeah, alone. If we all go, we''ll be too easy to spot, especially with these two drunks. I''ll move faster on my own. Don''t worry¡ªI can turn invisible."


    "Invisible? I thought you only had two abilities, fire and ice? Since when could you turn invisible?" someone asked, surprised.


    Xia Chuxia replied with a smirk, "I''ve been lying to you all along. I''m not just a dual ability user; I actually have three abilities, and invisibility is one of them."


    As she spoke, she vanished into thin air, shocking everyone around her.


    "She really can turn invisible!" someone eximed in disbelief.


    But Zhao Hao shouted, "That invisibility is fake!"


    Xia Chuxia, hidden from view, paused, thinking her ability had been exposed.


    However, Zhao Hao''s next words made her furious.


    "I saw this in a movie! When people go invisible, their clothes don''t disappear, so they have to take them off first!"


    Before he could finish, Zhao Hao was curled up on the ground, screaming in pain.


    "Are you just pretending to be drunk?" Xia Chuxia''s cold voice came from the empty air.


    "I''m done talking with you guys. I''m going to find Xiu. You all go back to the hall."


    "Big ck, even if you can turn invisible, those domains are indiscriminate in their attacks. What if¡ª"


    "You''re all so clueless," Xia Chuxia interrupted. "Think about it carefully. With Xiu''s abilities, don''t you think he already predicted what''s happening now?"


    Yang Ming hesitated, but then, out of his blind trust in Fang Xiu, he nodded.


    "If he foresaw this, then why didn''t he warn us earlier?"


    "Why?"


    "Because he must have seen that we wouldn''t be in danger. That means whatever we choose to do now is the right choice, so Xiu didn''t need to warn us. It''s like taking an exam¡ªif you''re going to get a perfect score on your own, does Xiu need to give you the answers?"


    Xia Chuxia''s reasoningpletely convinced Yang Ming and the others.


    Although they had no evidence, what she said seemed to make perfect sense. When she spoke the next words, all their doubts disappeared.


    "Do you understand now? Xiu must have already seen the future and that''s why he''s so confident in us. All we need to do now is trust our own judgment!"


    Hearing these familiar words, the group seemed to switch into a thoughtless mode, blindly following her logic.


    Xia Chuxia chuckled to herself, pleased at how easily she could manipte them. She had gained more power from her lies.


    After deceiving everyone, Xia Chuxia immediately set off to find Fang Xiu. She wanted to find him because she knew being near Fang Xiu was the safest ce to be.


    She remembered how Fang Xiu had once shrunk her down to fit in his pocket and how he had pointed out Yan Changshou at the awards ceremony, and she could tell that Fang Xiu was definitely up to something big in this battle.


    He might even be one of the masterminds behind everything. That''s why she believed there was no safer ce than by Fang Xiu''s side.


    As for why she didn''t bring Yang Ming and the others¡ªit wasn''t that she didn''t want to, but she couldn''t.


    Outside the hall, several fourth-tier powerhouses were in a chaotic battle, and an S-ss Specter was rampaging. Even with her versatile lying abilities, there was no way she could lead arge group of people safely through that.


    Besides, Xia Chuxia wasn''t entirely lying about what she said; maybe Fang Xiu really had seen the future.


    After leaving Xiao Zhenhua, Fang Xiu headed straight to where the Specter Gate had opened. He wanted to check if Yan Changshou was dead.


    He had arranged for the Ace and King of Spades to take care of it, but Yan Changshou was, after all, a captain of the headquarters; he had deep and mysterious powers far beyond that of an ordinary fourth-tier psychic.


    Yan Changshou had coveted the Genesis Mask for a long time, and Fang Xiu had also been eyeing Yan Changshou''s body for quite a while.


    If he could turn Yan Changshou into a Specter and then devour his body, Fang Xiu might even break through to the third tier.

 Chapter 247: Ace Of Spades

    Chapter 247: Ace Of Spades


    As Fang Xiu pressed forward, he swallowed Snakeworms.


    They gnawed viciously at his flesh, but he didn''t bother to defend himself. Instead, he grabbed each one and tossed it into Taotie''s Mouth.


    Each time he consumed a Snakeworm, his ravaged flesh would rapidly heal. This cycle of devouring and healing made his body stronger with each step he took.


    Eventually, Fang Xiu arrived at the Specter Gate. There, he spotted Yan Changshou engaged in a fierce battle with Ace of Spades.


    Yan Changshou had sprouted numerous tentacles that coiled around Ace of Spades, lifting him high into the air.


    "Don''t you darepare me to yourself! A titled captain and a mere fourth-tier are worlds apart!"


    With a violent rip, the scarlet tentacles seemed ready to tear the struggling Ace of Spades to shreds.


    Just as things were about to turn fatal, Fang Xiu sprang into action.


    Channeling his Spiritual Energy, he activated the Double Dragon Ring and released one of its domains: Summoner''s Rift.From nowhere, a dark-winged, eerie-faced angel materialized. She pointed toward Ace of Spades.


    "ck Shield!"


    Dark energy surged, and a dark purple shield formed around Ace of Spades, blocking Yan Changshou''s deadly attack.


    Both Yan Changshou and Ace of Spades were immediately drawn to this divine figure that had seemingly descended from the heavens.


    Ace of Spades couldn''t hide his joy.


    Yan Changshou, on the other hand, flew into a rage. His voice dripped with murderous intent as he roared, "Fang Xiu!"


    "Dark Binding!"


    The angel, with a simple gesture, unleashed a force that immobilized Yan Changshou.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Ace of Spades transformed into a shadow, slipping through the air like a stream of water to Fang Xiu''s side.


    "Thank you, sir, for saving my life."


    Fang Xiu, his hands sped behind his back, looked coldly ahead, not even ncing at Ace of Spades.


    "Idiot! Is this how you carry out the tasks I give you?"


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">THUD!</em> Terrified, Ace of Spades dropped to his knees.


    "Sir, I¡­"


    "Get lost! Leave the headquarters immediately and stay as far away as possible. Don''t show up until I''ve calmed down, or I might kill you."


    Hearing Fang Xiu''s icy words, Ace of Spades felt a deep chill run through him, like the shadow of death itself had just brushed past.


    At that moment, he truly believed death was near. Trembling, he hesitated, then, after a brief internal struggle, bowed deeply, his voice shaky with fear and shame.


    "Thank you, sir, for sparing my life!" For a Specterized being, expressing such raw emotions¡ªfear, gratitude, and shame¡ªwas rare.


    With that, Ace of Spades vanished into the shadows.


    Now that Ace of Spades was gone, Fang Xiu could stop worrying about his identity being exposed.


    If he had to battle Yan Changshou with his true power on disy, it wouldn''t have been a simple one-on-one¡ªit would have turned into a fight against both Yan Changshou and Ace of Spades. But with Ace of Spades out of the picture, Fang Xiu could go all out.


    The truth is, Fang Xiu didn''t need to save Ace of Spades. Both Ace of Spades and Yan Changshou were his enemies. But Fang Xiu did it anyway, not out of loyalty orpassion, but because he had deeper ns at y.


    Among the Pokers, Fang Xiu had strategically chosen to rely on only two: the Ace and King of Spades.


    But now, the smarter of the two, the King of Spades, was dead. His dried-up corpsey quietly off to the side¡ªa fortunate turn of events, really.


    If the clever ones lived too long, they might have stumbled upon Fang Xiu''s secrets.


    Now, with only the less sharp Ace of Spades left, Fang Xiu could move on to his next step: seizing control of the Pokers.


    His n was simple yet cunning. If he could help the headquarters eliminate Joker, the Ace of Spades would naturally rise in influence within the now leaderless organization.


    Through him, Fang Xiu could control the entire orgnization.


    By making the Ace of Spades his figurehead, Fang Xiu positioned himself as the critical link between the Pokers and Zhou Qingfeng.


    All of Zhou Qingfeng''s orders would filter through him. And with Zhou Qingfeng mysteriously out of the picture, this meant the entire Poker organization would eventually fall under Fang Xiu''smand.


    Even though the Pokers had taken big hits in their battle against the headquarters, they were still a force to be reckoned with. Their true strength wasn''t in numbers but in their research achievements¡ªspecifically, the research pioneered by Zhou Qingfeng.


    That''s why Fang Xiu saved the Ace of Spades. He needed him as the lever to move the entire Poker organization.


    Just then, Yan Changshou let out a monstrous roar, "Fang Xiu! I''m going to kill you!!"


    His voice was filled with rage, and his countless scarlet tentacles broke free from the Dark Binding.


    Yan Changshou was in a pitiful state, riddled with wounds from the Xuanyuan Sword and his earlier fight with the Ace of Spades. He was severely injured.


    But even in this dire state, a fourth-tier being like Yan Changshou was no pushover.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">BOOM! BOOM!</em>


    Scarlet tentacles erupted from Yan Changshou, burrowing into the ground and making it quake. Suddenly, they burst out from beneath Fang Xiu''s feet.


    "ck Shield!"


    The ck-winged angel behind Fang Xiu immediately deployed her skill, blocking Yan Changshou''s assault. At Fang Xiu''smand, she then spread her wings and charged directly at Yan Changshou.


    More phantom figures appeared: a towering warrior with arge sword and heavy armor; a swordsman in ronin garb wielding a katana; a tiny figure less than a meter tall with a blowgun; and a man dressed like a magician, holding a deck of cards.


    These five game charactersunched a coordinated attack on Yan Changshou, each unleashing their unique abilities.


    "You think you can kill me with Xiong Tianguang''s domain? He couldn''t do it himself, so what makes you think you can?" Yan Changshou roared.


    An unending swarm of tentacles surged from his body, transforming the area into a writhing sea of flesh. Even as the tentacles were cut down, they quickly regenerated.


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly. Yan Changshou''s resilience was disturbingly strong. Despite being severely injured and having fought multiple battles, he still had this much power left. It was clear that bing inhuman had its perks.


    Moreover, his Specterization was clearly more advanced than that of the other Pokers. While they could maintain human form most of the time, Yan Changshou couldn''t stay human for long.


    Given his coboration with the Pokers, it didn''t make sense for him to undergo a wed Specterization. It was evident he had sacrificed stability for greater power.

 Chapter 248: Fighting Yan Changshou

    Chapter 248: Fighting Yan Changshou


    "Come forth, Specters!"


    Yan Changshou''s voice tore through the air,manding the Specters with raw power.


    All around, the sea of Snakeworms seemed to respond immediately. They charged straight for Fang Xiu. Even a handful of ss-B Specters joined the assault.


    "Domain, activate¡ªInfinite Conflict!"


    The ground trembled, and the thunder of hooves echoed in the distance.


    From all directions, an army materialized like magic¡ªsoldiers appearing out of thin air, much like Terracotta Warriorsing to life.


    Generals donned heavy armor and bronze masks, leading the infantry, cavalry, archers, axe-men, siege soldiers, and spear-wielders into battle.


    The scene was one of iron shing against an unending tide of Specters.


    Metal nged, weapons struck flesh, and for a moment, both sides seemed equally matched.Fang Xiu''s frowned slightly. He hadn''t anticipated a half-dead Yan Changshou forcing him to burn through the power of two domains. Even though he still had three domains left, he wasn''t nning to waste them on this guy.


    Without hesitation, Fang Xiu lifted his pale right hand, fingers slightly spread, and dragged them across his face.


    A mask of ck fire formed instantly on his face.


    ck mes engulfed his body, lighting up the battlefield. His short ck hair transformed into long silver strands, and a dark mist swirled around him. His right eye burned with a blood-red glow.


    "The Genesis Mask!" Greed flooded Yan Changshou''s eyes as he locked onto the mask.


    But Fang Xiu was already on the move. With the scalpel appearing in his hand, he disappeared like a shadow, vanishing from sight.


    He cut through the battlefield, leaving a bright trail of silver light beneath the full moon.


    Everywhere he moved, Snakeworms fell in half, cut cleanly as he swept through the horde.


    He stepped over the shattered bodies and limbs, heading straight for Yan Changshou.


    The scalpel sliced through the air, and at the same time, a wave of dark, agonizing energy erupted from Fang Xiu.


    Surrounded by five game characters and an army of soldiers, Yan Changshou''s face twisted in desperation.


    His mouth gaped open as a red, snake-like tentacle shot out, aiming straight for Fang Xiu''s head.


    Fang Xiu didn''t flinch. He flicked his wrist, driving the scalpel directly into the tentacle.


    The power of pain exploded, but then something odd happened.


    The red tentacle writhed and then drained of color, falling lifelessly from Yan Changshou''s mouth.


    And yet, Yan Changshou waspletely unharmed!


    More slimy tentacles zoomed forward from Yan Changshou''s mouth, reaching for Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu frowned again. His long silver hair, entwined with ck fire, whipped through the air, wrapping around the oing tentacles like a swarm of silver serpents.


    ck mes raced along the strands, reaching for Yan Changshou.


    But once again, it had no effect. Instead, pieces of the tentacles began to peel away.


    Seeing this, Fang Xiu finally understood what was happening.


    The process of bing a Specter usually involved merging with just one Specter or organ.


    But Yan Changshou? He wasn''t a single entity¡ªhe was a fusion of countless Specters!


    Using his control over Specters, Yan Changshou had fused with an unimaginable number of Snakeworms and other Specters.


    Normally, someone would be destroyed by the chaos of so much Specter energy inside them. But Yan Changshou was unique. He could control them, avoiding that danger.


    This also exined why Fang Xiu''s pain powers hadn''t worked¡ªYan Changshou was made of many separate entities¡­


    Which meant he had endless lives.


    Fang Xiu finally grasped why Yan Changshou couldn''t hold on to his human form. The constant fusion with Specters, driven by his obsession with power and survival, had stripped him of it.


    "Figured it out, haven''t you?" Yan Changshou sneered, his face contorted with malice, as countless grotesque eyes stared at Fang Xiu.


    "I am immortal! It doesn''t matter if you have the Genesis Mask or control a few domains. What can you do? You''re just a second-tier psychic. The Genesis power? It won''tst. And those domains? They are not even yours, just borrowed power. When they fade, so will you. And then, you''ll die!"


    Fang Xiu stayed calm, unfazed by Yan Changshou''s threats.


    "Is that so? If you''re truly immortal, why did you use a Substitution Doll to escape the Xuanyuan Sword?"


    At that, Yan Changshou''s sneer turned into a snarl of pure rage.


    "The Xuanyuan Sword can kill me, but YOU cannot! Now die!"


    He lunged forward, ignoring the ck mes burning through him, attacking wildly.


    Fang Xiu unleashed everything he had. With the Genesis Mask, the scalpel, Specter Hair, and Specter Eye all active, he fought with everything in his arsenal. But even so, he struggled. Against a fourth-tier psychic like Yan Changshou, it wasn''t enough.


    If it weren''t for the Summoner''s Rift and Infinite Conflict, along with Yan Changshou''s weakened state, Fang Xiu knew he''d be outmatched. He could only hold on for so long before his Spiritual Energy would run dry.


    Realizing this, Fang Xiu made his decision. It was time to call on another domain.


    There were only two ways to end Yan Changshou. One option was overwhelming force, like the Xuanyuan Sword, to obliterate every Specter in his body at once. The other was to keep chipping away with domains, exhausting Yan Changshou''s endless lives until there were none left.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiu made his move.


    "Domain activated, All Equal!"


    The moment All Equal was triggered, Yan Changshou''s tentacles were suppressed by an unseen force. They fell limp, unable to move.


    However, there were just too many. While most were held down, fresh ones sprouted almost immediately, growing faster than the domain could suppress them.


    Undeterred, Fang Xiu activated another domain.


    "Domain activated, Sword Infinity!"


    Thousands of swords materialized, floating in midair and glinting under the cold moonlight. With a deafening rush, they rained down on Yan Changshou, relentlessly piercing his body.


    For a brief moment, the power of four domains came crashing down on him. Tentacle after tentacle was shredded, shrinking rapidly as the relentless assault continued.


    Fang Xiu watched as Yan Changshou struggled under the immense power. Using four domains wasn''t ideal, but he felt no regret. After all, once this battle was over, as the one who had carried the fight, Fang Xiu could count on the other captains to help recharge the Double Dragon Ring.


    But Yan Changshou had proven to be more resilient than expected. It wasn''t just raw power that made him dangerous¡ªit was his near-immortality. If given enough time, Yan Changshou could summon an entire army of Specters. And with so many fused into his very being, killing him seemed nearly impossible.


    Fang Xiu realized that, apart from Fang Moli, none of the captains back at headquarters could truly kill Yan Changshou. They could hold him back, maybe, but eventually, his endurance would oust theirs.


    Just as Fang Xiu thought the fight was finally over, Yan Changshou let out a primal, rage-filled roar.

 Chapter 249: No Worries

    Chapter 249: No Worries


    In an instant, Yan Changshou''s back became a mass of writhing scarlet tentacles, spreading out like the petals of a monstrous flower.


    These tendrilsshed out, capturing nearby Snakeworms and pulling them into his body.


    With each one absorbed, more tentacles regenerated, as if he was using this grotesque process to rejuvenate himself.


    He sneered, his body surrounded by flickering ck mes. "Fang Xiu, you think you can drain my life force? Hah! Keep dreaming! Let''s see whose energy runs out first¡ªmy life or your Spiritual Energy!"


    His wildugh echoed, eyes gleaming with malice, clearly hoping to provoke a reaction.


    But Fang Xiu didn''t flinch. His face stayed calm and collected. "Is that so?" he replied coolly.


    Then, he stretched out his left hand.


    A fierce, gaping maw appeared at the center of his palm. It was the Taotie''s Mouth. The moment it opened, a powerful devouring force surged out, pulling every nearby Snakeworm into its vortex.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">CRUNCH, CRUNCH.</em>The sound of chewing echoed through the battlefield, and Fang Xiu''s Spiritual Energy, which had been nearly drained, suddenly started to surge back.


    Yan Changshou''sughter died in his throat.


    "You... you can devour Specters, too?"


    Fang Xiu smirked, unfazed. "Why not?"


    Yan Changshou''s face twisted with fury. "Damn you! Even if you can devour Specters, it doesn''t matter! You can''t restore domain energy! Once your ring is empty, you''re finished!"


    His strategy shifted¡ªno more reckless attacks. Now, he focused on avoiding Fang Xiu, hoping to drag the battle out until Fang Xiu''s energy reserves were depleted.


    After all, Fang Xiu''s Summoner''s Rift and Infinite Conflict domains were beginning to fade, their power nearly spent.


    Fang Xiu''s expression turned thoughtful.


    The battle seemed to be swinging in Yan Changshou''s favor. Even if he unleashed his final domain, Frozen Zone, it would only buy a little time.


    His Double Dragon Ring could store domains, but it had limits. The domains released through it were never as potent or longsting as those of a genuine fourth-tier.


    In truth, defeating Yan Changshou would be possible under different circumstances. If Fang Moli were here, or if two captains from the headquarters joined the fight, they could wear him down through sheer endurance.


    But the captains were all caught up in other battles, leaving Fang Xiu on his own.


    There was only one path left: he needed to break through to the third tier.


    Reaching that next level would unlock more power from his Genesis Mask, giving him the strength to stand against even fourth-tier enemies. And more than that, a third-tier breakthrough would awaken new abilities.


    Fang Xiu kept devouring Snakeworms, hoping they might help push him past this barrier. But no matter how many he absorbed, it wasn''t enough.


    Moving from the second tier to the third wasn''t just about umting power¡ªit required a fundamental transformation.


    And Snakeworms, as weak creatures from the Other Side, just weren''t enough.


    <em>''Do I really have to start from scratch?'' _Just as this thought crossed his mind, a sudden scream pierced through the chaos.</em>


    <em>"Ah! Xiu, help me!"</em>


    <em>Amid the tangled web of tentacles, Xiao Chuxia had appeared.</em>


    <em>Thick scarlet tentacles coiled around her arms and legs. One even slid eerily across her face, inching toward her mouth.</em>


    <em>Her expression was pale with fear as she fought to free herself, but her Spiritual Energy had beenpletely suppressed¡ªshe couldn''t muster the strength to resist.</em>


    <em>At that moment, a ball of ck fire shot down from above, crashing into the tentacles binding her.</em>


    <em>The mes exploded outward, burning away the tendrils and clearing a path for her escape.</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia rushed behind Fang Xiu, her face pale with fear, but her vanity still kicked in.</em>


    <em>She kept wiping the slime off her face with tiny, frantic motions, trying to regain some sense of dignity.</em>


    <em>She had thought being near Fang Xiu would be her safe haven, but the moment she got close, her Spiritual Energy waspletely suppressed.</em>


    <em>Tentacles immediately closed in from all sides, and the fierce battle between Fang Xiu and Yan Changshou swallowed everything in its path.</em>


    <em>The entire area was a warzone¡ªtentacles writhing everywhere, countless swords embedded in the earth, and a chaotic sh of soldiers battling under a sky scorched by ck mes. Bodies and limbsy scattered in a gruesome mess.</em>


    <em>"That was terrifying! I thought I''d die in the most disgusting way possible!" Xiao Chuxia muttered, still shaken. "I hid so well, and then boom, everything just stopped working when I got here."</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu, without a word, lifted the All Equal effect from her, instantly restoring her energy.</em>


    <em>She blinked, surprised. "Oh, my Spiritual Energy''s back!"</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu''s voice cut through the chaos. "Why are you here?"</em>


    <em>"Well, I was worried about you, of course," she said, trying to sound sincere.</em>


    <em>"Stop lying," Fang Xiu replied tly, clearly not buying it.</em>


    <em>She gave a sheepish smile. "Okay, fine. The headquarters is a disaster right now. I figured sticking by your side would be the safest option."</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu barely nced at her. "Then you can wait here and die."</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia blinked, her smile fading into confusion. "Wait, what? Die? You''re not serious, right? You''re not just going to leave me here! I still have three more years of work to do for you!" she added quickly, trying to make herself seem valuable.</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu shook his head, his tone deadpan. "No need to worry. I''ll die, too."</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia''s face went nk, her mind processing his words. "...Wow. Thanks for the pep talk. That really helps," she said, her voice dripping with disbelief. She was sure that he was joking.</em>


    <em>Except Fang Xiu never joked.</em>


    <em>As if to confirm the grim reality, the five avatars Fang Xiu had summoned to battle Yan Changshou suddenly vanished.</em>


    <em>The Summoner''s Rift had expired. Without its power, the thousands of soldiers Fang Xiu had summoned also began to fade.</em>


    <em>Yan Changshou''s victoriousughter rang out. "Fang Xiu! Two of your four domains are gone! Your death is near!"</em>


    <em>Yan Changshou''s body began to swell grotesquely, bulging with tumors that exploded into flesh and tentacles. He absorbed Snakeworms with a terrifying hunger. His form grewrger, turning into a towering abomination of writhing flesh.</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia''s face drained of color. "Fang Xiu! Do something! Finish him off! He''sing for us!"</em>


    <em>"Next time," Fang Xiu said calmly. "After I break through to the third tier."</em>


    <em>"Next time?! We''re about to die! What do you mean next time?" Panic was rising in her voice. She couldn''t handle the thought of dying in such a horrific way, and Fang Xiu''s cool demeanor was only making it worse.</em>


    <em>Yan Changshou was getting closer, tearing through Sword Infinity and All Equal with sheer brute force.</em>


    <em>The closer he got, the more Xiao Chuxia''s panic spiked. She couldn''t die here, and certainly not in the twisted hands of this monster.</em>


    <em>Suddenly, something clicked in her mind. "Wait, Xiu! What did you just say? Third tier?"</em>


    <em>"Yes," Fang Xiu responded, still unbothered by the chaos around them. "The gap between second and fourth-tier is too wide. But I might be able to close it once I reach the third tier."</em>


    <em>Xiao Chuxia''s eyes widened with sudden hope. "I can help you break through to the third tier!"</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu''s expression changed instantly. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, his calm gaze turning sharp as he studied her face.</em>


    <em>"Didn''t you say earlier that you couldn''t?"</em>


    <em>Her eyes darted away, avoiding his piercing stare. "I-I was lying..."</em>


    <em>Fang Xiu''s right eye glowed a dangerous red, the ck mes around him ring up. "What the hell? Why? Why would you do that?"</em><em>


    </em>

 Chapter 250: The Third Tier

    Chapter 250: The Third Tier


    Xiao Chuxia''s heart raced. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yan Changshou creeping closer, and panic set in. "This isn''t the time! You need to break through to the third-tier first!" she urged.


    While she was clearly distressed, Fang Xiu stayedpletely calm.


    "Remember," he said evenly, "if you lie again, I''ll make sure it''s thest lie you ever tell."


    She nodded hurriedly, and only then did he release her wrist.


    As soon as she was free, Xiao Chuxia tapped into her abilities. "You''re already a third-tier psychic!"


    In that moment, Fang Xiu felt a strange force wash over him. The Spiritual Energy in his body surged, and his mind cleared with an intense sharpness.


    Her voice broke through the stillness. "Quick! You need to trick yourself¡ªconvince yourself you''re a third-tier psychic. That''s the only way this will work."


    "Trick myself?" Fang Xiu muttered under his breath, pulling a small mirror from Xiao Chuxia''s pocket.


    He stared at his reflection for a second before his eyes lit up with a blood-red glow, and the figure in the mirror shed with the same blinding red light."I <em ss="chakra-text css-0">AM</em> a third-tier psychic."


    The red aura intensified, and the Specter''s Spiritual Energy swirled within him. Using his Blood Pupil ability, Fang Xiu hypnotized himself into believing he had already ascended to third-tier.


    As Xiao Chuxia''s deception took hold, Fang Xiu''s rity only grew, and his Spiritual Energy flowed even stronger.


    Suddenly, Xiao Chuxia screamed, "It''sing! It''sing right at us!"


    From the shadows, Yan Changshou¡ªa twisted mass of blood tumors¡ªroared and swung countless crimson tentacles toward Fang Xiu.


    The night sky seemed to disappear behind the writhing tentacles, swallowing the moonlight.


    Fang Xiu wasted no time. He called upon hisst domain power. "Domain activated, Frozen Zone!"


    A bone-chilling cold erupted from his Double Dragon Ring. The world around them froze in an instant, visible even to the naked eye.


    The crimson tentacles were sealed in ice, and Yan Changshou himself was locked within a towering ice sculpture.


    But the ice wasn''t built tost. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, growing fast.


    Luckily, Fang Xiu didn''t need long.


    In that fleeting moment, a massive wave of Spiritual Energy exploded from within him. The sheer force of it ignited ck mes around his body.


    His silver hair whipped wildly in the energy storm, and the blood-red glow in his right eye became so intense it almost looked solid.


    Spiritual Energy Awakening: 40%¡­ 41%! Third-tier!


    The instant Fang Xiu reached third-tier, he felt something shift deep within.


    It was like a shell cracking open inside him, releasing a dark, ancient force he had never known.


    CRACK. CRACK.


    The ice continued to splinter.


    "Fang Xiu!" Yan Changshou''s voice, echoing like a ghost from the depths of hell, shattered the air.


    The ice exploded into shards.


    But Fang Xiu was ready.


    His power, now fully awakened, surged through him. He could feel it coursing in every fiber of his being.


    The blood-red light in his eyes zed even brighter, his twisted grin stretching wider across his face.


    The ck mes around him morphed with his expression, almost as if the demon within wasughing too.


    "Hehehe... What a beautiful power."


    A powerful aura erupted from Fang Xiu, signaling his third-tier breakthrough. The energy of the Specter surged from the Genesis Mask, sending ck mes roaring into the sky.


    The sheer force of it all caught Yan Changshou off guard. He hadn''t expected Fang Xiu to wield such immense power so quickly, and it was bordering on the strength of a fourth-tier psychic.


    "Third-tier or not, you''re still going to die!" Yan Changshou bellowed, his voice dripping with fury as his blood-soaked hand, bristling with tentacles, swung down toward Fang Xiu.


    "Die?" Fang Xiu''s grin was twisted and wild. "Let me show you what real power looks like."


    His power roared to life¡ªManifestation of Pain!


    "Taotie Descends!"


    With a sharp p of his hands, pitch-ck Spiritual Energy exploded outward.


    What unfolded next was something out of a nightmare.


    The sky bled red, the ground cracked open like ss, and the air churned as if it were boiling.


    Slowly, an enormous shadow began to rise from beneath Fang Xiu, growing and growing until it seemed to swallow the sky itself.


    It was an unholy mountain of decaying, ckened flesh, pulsing with twisted veins and squirming muscle.


    At the peak of this grotesque formation sat a rotting head¡ªmassive and horrifying.


    This was the shadow of Taotie, a creature so monstrous that its very existence seemed to crush the souls of all who gazed upon it.


    Its low, incoherent whispers echoed through the battlefield, sending shivers down the spine of everyone within earshot.


    Fang Xiu stood triumphantly on top of the beast''s decaying head, towering over everything below like a dark god.


    This was his new ability after reaching the third-tier: Manifestation of Pain. Though he couldn''t summon the real Taotie yet, even this projection was more than enough to terrify anyone who faced it.


    The moment Taotie''s projection appeared, a deathly silence swept across the battlefield.


    It was as if the very air had been sucked from the world. The only thing left was the oppressive, soul-crushing fear radiating from the beast.


    Everyone¡ªwhether injured or still fighting¡ªfroze in ce. All eyes were glued to the nightmarish figure that loomed over them, their faces painted with terror.


    Even Fang Moli, Joker, and the others who had seen countless battles were stunned beyond words. The shock in their eyes was unmistakable.


    "What is that monster? An S-ss? No... A hundred S-ss beings couldn''te close to this horror!"


    "Is the world about to end?" someone screamed, their voice trembling with fear, as others felt the same dread creeping up their backs.


    Yan Changshou, who stood directly in front of Taotie, was paralyzed with terror. His attack faltered, and his body refused to move.


    Taotie''s size alone dwarfed him a hundred times over, but it wasn''t just the creature''s sheer mass. The horrifying energy pouring from the projection seemed to suffocate Yan Changshou, freezing him to his core.


    The whispersing from the beast sent shockwaves through his body, threatening to tear him apart from the inside.


    The Specters that made up Yan Changshou''s very being were unraveling under the pressure. He could feel himself falling apart just by standing in Taotie''s presence.


    "W-What is this thing?!" he screamed, eyes wide with disbelief, like a mortal staring into the abyss, meeting a demon from the depths of hell.


    Fang Xiu stood tall atop the decaying beast, looking down at Yan Changshou with the detached amusement of a god mocking a bug.


    His voice dripped with dark satisfaction. "You should be honored, Yan Changshou. Few ever get the chance to experience the same pain I''ve lived through."


    Yan Changshou''s mind broke under the weight of what he was witnessing. "No! This can''t be real! My powermands Specters! How could you possibly summon something like this? It''s... It''s impossible!"


    "Pathetic!" Fang Xiu''sughter rang out, cold and cruel, echoing across the battlefield. "Take your confusion with you... to hell!"

 Chapter 251: The Real Fight

    Chapter 251: The Real Fight


    In the blink of an eye, a massive arm, like a decaying mountain of flesh, came crashing down from the sky.


    "No!"


    Yan Changshou''s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he screamed in pure desperation. His twisted body used itsst ounce of strength, but against such a monstrous force, it didn''t stand a chance.


    Taotie grabbed him effortlessly, hurling him straight into its gaping, abyss-like mouth.


    His scream was abruptly cut off. One bite, and Yan Changshou ceased to exist.


    To Taotie, Yan Changshou''s many lives were nothing more than a cruel joke.


    Then, Taotie''s projection shattered like a fragile bubble.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu slowly came down from the sky. The ck mes that wrapped around him allowed him a brief moment of flight. That was a small benefit of having reached the third tier and unlocking more of the Genesis Mask''s powers.


    He touched down gently. In the same breath, the dark mes forming the mask vanished, leaving his face pale and drained.His body wobbled, nearly copsing under the strain.


    But before he could fall, countless silver threads sprang out, attaching themselves to his joints and keeping him upright.


    "Summoning Taotie right now¡­ is too much," Fang Xiu muttered under his breath. "Even though it was just a projection, barely a fraction of its real strength, it''s still beyond what I can handle."


    He looked utterly spent, his Spiritual Energy all but gone.


    The Manifestation of Pain was powerful, but calling forth such strong entities demanded a solid base of power. Without the Genesis Mask, summoning even a sliver of Taotie would''ve been impossible.


    "Xiu, are you okay?" Xiao Chuxia''s voice came from a distance as she ran toward him, still shaken by Taotie''s monstrous sight.


    "I''m fine."


    "What was that thing?" she asked, eyes wide with confusion.


    Fang Xiu shot her a cold nce. "You don''t need to know. Just understand this¡ªlie to me again, and you''ll join Yan Changshou in hell."


    Xiao Chuxia''s face paled, and she frantically shook her head. "I swear, I won''t. Never again!"


    "You''d better not. Now, let''s go."


    "Go? Where?" she asked, still bewildered.


    Fang Xiu had already started moving toward the arena.


    "The fight isn''t finished yet. In fact, the real battle is just beginning."


    Xiao Chuxia scrambled to catch up.


    She was right to be confused. Yan Changshou''s death hadn''t settled anything. The true challenge stilly ahead with Joker.


    As long as Joker remained undefeated, Fang Xiu couldn''t im victory over the Pokers.


    And though he had little strength left forbat, Fang Xiu knew not all battles were fought with fists. Some, you win with words.


    Sure, Taotie''s projection looked fierce and overwhelming, but it was just smoke and mirrors¡ªenough to crush someone like Yan Changshou, who relied more on tricks than raw strength. But against Joker? Fang Xiu doubted that illusion would work.


    Given that Yan Changshou had his hidden cards, Joker likely had even more.


    As Fang Xiu made his way back toward the arena, he activated Taotie''s Mouth, devouring the nearby Snakeworms to restore some of his drained Spiritual Energy.


    By the time he arrived, he had regained about half his power.


    The arena was nothing more than rubble now, with the ss-S Specter Yan Changshou had unleashed running wild. Its rampage knew no bounds, ughtering anyone in its path¡ªwhether they were from the Pokers or the headquarters.


    The Specter had a ghastly body, corpse-like in appearance, and sprouted massive, blood-red wings behind it.


    They resembled butterfly wings, but instead of beautiful colors, they wereyered with scales.


    Every p sent waves of deadly, foul-smelling wind across the battlefield.


    The air itself seemed to rot from its touch, corroding anything caught within its gusts.


    Standing firm against this horror was Xiao Zhenhua, recently returned and fighting for his life.


    Fang Xiu, meanwhile, watched the chaos from a safe distance, casually snacking on smaller Specter creatures.


    The sight of him feeding was so unsettling that Xiao Chuxia had fled far away, unable to handle the horror.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the scene.


    Xiao Zhenhua was fighting hard, but it was clear he was no match for the ss-S Specter. His All Equal ability, while strong, was barely enough to keep the creature at bay. He waspletely on the defensive, doing all he could just to stall for time.


    Fang Xiu''s gaze shifted to the other battles raging nearby. The captains were locked in an intense struggle, their abilities shing with no clear victor emerging.


    They were all at the peak of the fourth tier¡ªtough and skilled enough to keep from being overrun easily, though none of them had a decisive edge.


    But Fang Xiu''s attention soon turned to the heart of the battle¡ªFang Moli and Joker.


    At first nce, it seemed Fang Moli was winning. He had Joker pinned down, trapped in a vortex of shing sword strikes, leaving no room for escape.


    "Die!" Fang Moli shouted, unleashing a powerful sh with the Xuanyuan Sword. A brilliant arc of golden sword energy lit up the sky.


    Joker''s body was split in two, falling apart as if he''d been in.


    But the next moment¡ª


    PUFF!


    Joker''s body exploded, not in blood, but in pieces of wood. They were broken puppets.


    Fang Moli''s face paled. "A Specter Gadget substitution? That can''t be!"


    He stared in disbelief. All this time, the Joker he had fought wasn''t real¡ªit was nothing but a clone!


    Somehow, Joker had infused his power into a Specter Gadget, creating an eerily lifelike copy.


    It wasn''t the clone that scared Fang Moli¡ªit was how strong it had been. If Joker''s fake body could stand up to him for so long, how powerful was the real one?


    "How could a fourth-tier expert be this strong? Unless¡­" A disturbing thought crossed Fang Moli''s mind.


    "Could Joker be a fifth-tier? No¡­ now''s not the time to think about that. Where is his real body?"


    Fang Moli''s grip tightened around his sword, his eyes darting around the battlefield. He was on high alert, ready for a sneak attack.


    But nothing happened. Silence stretched on.


    Then, a scream shattered the air.


    It was Xiao Zhenhua''s voice.


    Fang Moli whipped his head around, only to see Joker standing behind Xiao Zhenhua.


    No one had noticed Joker sneak up on him. His arm was buried deep in Xiao Zhenhua''s chest, holding his still-beating heart in his hand.


    With a casual squeeze, the heart burst, blood sttering across the battlefield.


    Xiao Zhenhua''s eyes went wide, frozen in shock and regret as life left his body.


    No one had seen iting. Instead of striking Fang Moli, Joker had gone for the unexpected, ambushing Xiao Zhenhua in cold blood.


    Xiao Zhenhua was no pushover, but he was trapped in an impossible situation. He had to deal with the relentless ss-S Specter while also defending against Joker, who might very well be a fifth-tier powerhouse.


    Caught between these two forces, even someone as strong as Fang Moli might have fallen. Xiao Zhenhua didn''t stand a chance.


    And so, he died. Despite arrivingter than the others, he was the first to fall.


    With Xiao Zhenhua gone, the ss-S Specter was unleashed in full force. No longer restrained, it tore through the remaining headquarters members, leaving death in its wake.


    Bodies littered the battlefield as it rampaged on, killing anyone in sight.


    Watching the horror unfold, Fang Moli''s blood boiled. Rage consumed him.


    His eyes red with fury, and in a burst of raw emotion, he charged toward the scene, determined to end the ughter.


    But Joker was waiting. He sneered, his voice oozing with cruel satisfaction. "Fang Moli, my clone forced you to draw the Xuanyuan Sword again," he taunted. "If I''m right, you''ve only got one strike left in you. So, what''s it going to be? Will you use that final blow on me¡ªor on the ss-S Specter?"


    Joker''s words hung in the air like a noose tightening around Fang Moli''s neck. He was forced into a nightmare of a choice.

 Chapter 252: Youre All Weaklings

    Chapter 252: You''re All Weaklings


    Fang Moli didn''t say a word. His face went pale as he lifted the Xuanyuan Sword and charged straight at Joker.


    "Out of everyone here, you picked me?" Joker chuckled, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "I''m ttered."


    Before Fang Moli could get close, Joker''s body transformed into lightning. In a blink, he was gone, zipping away like a sh of electricity, leaving a wide gap between them.


    "Hahaha¡­ I won''t fight you unless you use your ultimate move!" Joker shouted. "So, you''ve got two options, Fang Moli. Chase me and watch the ss-S Specter wipe out your headquarters, or use your ultimate move on that specter. What''s it gonna be?"


    Fang Moli''s expression darkened as his eyes shifted between Joker and the ss-S Specter.


    If he went after Joker, it would be pointless¡ªthe guy would just turn into lightning again, impossible to catch. Meanwhile, the ss-S Specter would be free to wreak havoc on the headquarters. All of their top fighters were locked in battle, leaving nobody else strong enough to stand against it.


    The ss-S Specter was a true monster. If left unchecked, it couldpletely destroy the entire base in no time.


    But if he took down the specter, Joker would get what he wanted.


    With no one left to stand in his way, Joker could unleash chaos easily.Fang Moli had serious doubts about whether anyone else at the headquarters could even slow Joker down, and he didn''t have much time to weigh his options.


    The ss-S Specter lunged at the remaining captains. Fang Moli''s eyes red red. If the captains died, their chances of pulling off aeback would disappear.


    In a split second, he made his choice.


    Gripping the Xuanyuan Sword, Fang Moli bolted toward the ss-S Specter.


    Joker''s eyes sparkled, a smug smile creeping across his face as he watched Fang Moli''s decision y out.


    From a distance, Fang Xiu shook his head.


    "What a foolish choice," he muttered under his breath.


    At first nce, the ss-S Specter seemed like the greater danger, but the real threat was Joker. If they ignored the specter, sure, people would die, but ignoring Joker would be catastrophic.


    Joker wasn''t just aiming to destroy the base; he was after something much darker. He wanted to turn everyone in the world into Specters.


    And if that happened, it wouldn''t just be the base at risk¡ªthe entire country, maybe even the whole world, would be in danger.


    Fang Moli wasn''t seeing the bigger picture. He was letting the enemy call the shots. If he thought it through, he''d realize the Pokers'' real target wasn''t the headquarters¡ªit was him.


    As long as he held the Xuanyuan Sword, the Pokers couldn''t operate freely. The smarter y would''ve been to retreat, find a ce to recover, and strike backter when the timing was right.


    As long as Fang Moli lived, the Pokers would never feel safe. His presence, lurking in the shadows, would be far more effective than any direct attack. The base could be rebuilt. But if he died, everything would crumble.


    Fang Moli needed to survive to rebuild the headquarters.


    But now, he had fallen right into Joker''s trap. By trying to save others, he was handing Joker exactly what he wanted.


    Fang Xiu didn''t need to die again to see what wasing next. They had already lost the battle for the headquarters.


    On the battlefield, a burst of light erupted from Fang Moli''s sword, illuminating the world in a blinding sh.


    A massive gash sliced through the sky as the ss-S Specter was cleaved in two, its body disintegrating into nothing.


    The power of Fang Moli''s strike was unimaginable¡ªone blow from the Xuanyuan Sword killed the ss-S Specter in an instant. This was the true might of an ancient divine weapon.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu finally understood why Joker feared the sword so much. Its power wasn''t something that could be matched by human strength.


    From the start, Joker only sent his clones to battle Fang Moli. And even after those were wiped out, Joker never risked getting close, always keeping his distance. His fear of the Xuanyuan Sword was clear.


    But with the ss-S Specter defeated, the strength seemed to drain out of Fang Moli. He dropped to one knee, using the sword to keep himself from copsing.


    "Hahaha!" Joker''s wildughter filled the battlefield.


    "The Xuanyuan Sword is as powerful as the legends say. But what a shame¡ªno matter how great a weapon is, it''s wasted in the hands of someone like you. It''s nothing more than a rusty old relic."


    Joker''s footsteps echoed as he walked toward Fang Moli, each step heavy with confidence. His gaze was filled with mockery as he towered over the exhausted warrior.


    "Now that you''ve wasted yourst attack, what will you do? How do you n to stop me?"


    Fang Moli''s icy eyes flickered with determination. Leaning on the sword, he slowly forced himself up, his voice shaky but defiant.


    "Even without the Xuanyuan Sword, I can still kill you!"


    Joker burst intoughter, the sound echoing across the field as if he''d heard the most ridiculous joke. But hisughter abruptly stopped, and his eyes narrowed, brimming with lethal intent as they locked onto Fang Moli.


    "Do you seriously think you''re that powerful? Without that sword, you''re a piece of trash."


    Fang Moli didn''t flinch. "Enough talk. Let''s end this with strength."


    Joker shook his head, clearly amused. "Still so stubborn. Fine. Let me show you what real power looks like¡ªthe power of a FifthTier!"


    BOOM!


    A terrifying energy exploded from Joker, surging outward like a massive tidal wave, crashing against everything in its path. The sheer force of it was overwhelming.


    Fang Moli''s face twisted in shock as he drove the Xuanyuan Sword into the ground, gripping it with both hands. But even then, the sheer power pushed him back several meters, his sword carving a deep trench into the earth as he fought to remain standing.


    A dark, sinister red glow began to envelop Joker, the unmistakable energy of a Specter. As it spread, the air grew thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.


    The captains, still locked in battle nearby, felt the crushing weight of Joker''s power.


    Fear took over their faces. Meanwhile, the Pokers were riding high on the surge of power.


    "Joker is unstoppable!" someone shouted from the Poker ranks.


    Joker, eyes gleaming with arrogance,ughed wildly, taking in the chaos around him.


    "Below the fifth tier are all weaklings!" he shouted, his voice brimming with pride.


    Fang Moli could only stare in disbelief.


    "This can''t be possible¡­ How could anyone reach the fifth tier in this world, at this time?"


    Joker smirked, slipping into a viinous monologue as if relishing the moment.


    "Don''t you darepare me to weaklings like you. You cling to a powerful weapon like a crutch. But the strong don''t just adapt to the world¡ªthey change it! You''re nothing but a small-minded fool, Fang Moli. With or without that sword, we are leagues apart."


    Fang Moli''s pupils contracted. For the first time, true despair gripped his heart. He used to think that reaching the fifth tier was impossible, but now, Joker had shattered that belief.


    Just as Joker prepared to bask further in his triumph, the sound of heavy footsteps began to echo in the distance.

 Chapter 253: "The Wife"

    Chapter 253: "The Wife"


    Fang Moli and Joker both tensed up at the sound of approaching footsteps.


    It was the kind of situation where no one expected anyone to show up, let alone walk in so casually.


    They turned and saw Fang Xiu, strolling into the scene like he owned the ce.


    "Fang Xiu, the Foreseer!" Joker''s eyes lit up with interest, almost like he''d found a new toy.


    "Fang Xiu, I wasn''t even looking for you, but here you are, walking into your own death sentence. Let me guess, that Taotie from earlier? Just a projection, right? You really think you can fool me with cheap tricks?"


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t fazed. He locked eyes with Joker, who was exuding an aura that could make anyone freeze up. Calmly, Fang Xiu said, "I''m done listening to your nonsense. You like to say the weak adapt while the strong change the game? Please. The human world can''t even produce a fifth-tier being. You ran off to the Other Side to reach your level. That''s not changing anything, that''s just running away. I get it now¡ªno wonder you hide behind that mask. Too embarrassed to show your face, huh?"


    Joker''s gaze turned deadly in an instant.


    Fang Moli, standing nearby, was caught off guard but pieced it together quickly. It made sense. No one in the human world could hit the fifth tier, but the Other Side had no such rules.


    Entering that ce was next to impossible for most people, and surviving there was a whole other story. But Joker? He was different. After getting Specterized, he could go back and forth, living there without breaking a sweat.So, Joker''s so-called strength wasn''t about breaking limits. It was about running to a ce with no limits to begin with.


    Fang Moli couldn''t believe it. Joker''s whole act of being all-powerful was just smoke and mirrors, much like his own.


    "Fang Xiu, you go to hell!" Joker''s shout was full of fury from humiliation. In the blink of an eye, his body became a streak of lightning as he darted toward Fang Moli.


    Fang Moli, bewildered, thought,_ ''Wait, what? Fang Xiu insulted him, but now I''m the target?''_


    BOOM!


    Fang Moli was knocked flying, blood spilling from his wounds. The impact tore up the ground, leaving a long trail from where he slid.


    If he hadn''t thrown up his Xuanyuan Sword at thest second to block the blow, he would''ve been dead on the spot.


    Joker sneered, "You think I don''t see what you''re up to, Fang Xiu? You''re just trying to give Fang Moli time to recharge."


    Fang Xiu only shook his head. "You''re giving yourself too much credit. I just wanted to see what else you''re hiding."


    He wasn''t lying either¡ªthere was no point in stalling. If things got messy, he could always reset the game.


    The real reason he had shown up was because Fang Moli had pushed Joker to the brink, but hadn''t managed to dig deep enough into his abilities. Fang Xiu decided it was time to take over.


    Since a restart was always on the table, why not gather as much intel as possible?


    "Manifestation of Pain!" Fang Xiu called out, tapping into his power once again. But this time, instead of bringing forth Taotie, he summoned his "wife."


    Taotie had devoured a ton of Snakeworms earlier, but it was still in rough shape¡ªlike someone who had been starving for days and needed more time to recover.


    In Fang Xiu''s current state, summoning Taotie''s projection again was out of the question.


    So, his "wife" was the choice.


    Her strength had always been an enigma. Fang Xiu knew she was powerful, but exactly how powerful remained unclear.


    She wasn''t on Taotie''s level¡ªTaotie''s mere existence could break minds, leaving weaker psychics dead in its wake with its terrifying whispers. No, his "wife" didn''t possess that kind of overwhelming presence.


    As he started summoning her, though, something made Fang Xiu''s brow tighten.


    Deep in the unseen reaches of the universe, something ancient stirred, as if a terrifying presence had just opened its eyes.


    Its gaze traveled across endless miles, piercing through the veil that separated worlds, locking directly onto Fang Xiu.


    For a split second, time itself seemed to freeze.


    Then, as quickly as it hade, the strange sensation vanished, leaving everything seemingly normal again.


    Fang Xiu was momentarily disoriented. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''What was that? An illusion? No... with my current power, it shouldn''t be so easy to get lost in a hallucination. It felt like... something was watching me.''</em>


    Before he could dwell on it, a graceful figure appeared, materializing in front of him.


    She stood barefoot, her long, elegant legs glowing faintly in the dim light.


    Dressed simply in a white dress, her cool, pale skin seemed to shimmer. Her long, ck hair flowed down her back, and her delicate, wless face radiated a soft, gentle beauty.


    It was his "wife."


    But even as this beautiful figure emerged, Fang Xiu''s mind erupted into chaos.


    A cold, murderous intent surged through him. This was just a projection, not the real her, yet the mere sight of her filled him with rage.


    Taotie had killed him over and over, hundreds of times. But none of those deathspared to the hatred he felt toward his "wife."


    Taotie''s endless cycle of death had warped his perception of it, making him numb. But the first time he ever died? That was at her hands.


    It was like a deep-rooted trauma. Like when people encounter something terrifying as kids¡ªit sticks with them, no matter how tough they getter on. The things they experience as adults might be worse, but it''s never as frightening as that first encounter.


    "Kill him," Fang Xiumanded coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth.


    The moment his "wife" heard his order, she began to change.


    Her once-perfect skin cracked, like a fine porcin doll breaking apart. ck lines spiderwebbed across her body, and from these cracks, the sound of rushing water echoed out. Dark red blood began to seep from the openings, wriggling like tiny, living creatures.


    Her once-silky ck hair came to life, writhing and twisting like a nest of ck snakes.


    Her small, delicate mouth stretched unnaturally wide, splitting all the way back to her ears, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.


    And deep within her gaping maw, another mouth could be seen, as if ready to devour anything in its path.


    Joker''s eyes narrowed in response. Without saying a word, he made the first move.


    A bolt of lightning appeared in his hand, crackling with energy. The blood that swirled around him merged with the lightning, turning it into a sinister, crimson hue.


    BOOM!


    He unleashed the blood-infused lightning straight at Fang Xiu''s "wife."


    She didn''t even flinch. Hovering just above the ground, her body moved like a ghost drifting through the air.


    The crimson lightning mmed into her, but instead of reacting, something eerie happened. The bolt passed right through her, as if she were nothing more than a shadow.


    Joker''s eyes widened in shock.


    "Impossible! What kind of Specter is this? She''s ignoring my lightning, even with Mindre power?"


    Fang Xiu''s mind raced at Joker''s words. _''Mindre? So this is the ability of a fifth-tier being?'' _He studied the blood aura swirling around Joker, suspecting that it was indeed connected to this Mindre power.


    Determined, Joker refused to ept what had just happened. He continued hurling bolts of blood lightning, one after another, bombarding Fang Xiu''s "wife" relentlessly.


    Fang Xiu''s "wife" floated through the air as if she were nothing more than a figment, entirely unaffected by the blood lightning raining down on her.


    It was as though she existed on a ne outside of reality itself, beyond the reach of Joker''s attacks.


    Then, without warning, she appeared directly in front of Joker. Her pale, slender arms rose gently, moving with a soft grace that almost seemed out of ce in the midst of battle.


    She reached out delicately, as if merely brushing the air, her expression serene, movements tender¡ªlike she was tracing the face of someone she cherished.


    But in that gentle motion, something invisible, something far more dangerous, rippled through the air.


    SWISH!


    An unseen force cut through the space between them.


    Joker''s eyes widened in shock. A sudden, sharp pain, like needles piercing his neck, hit him.


    It wasn''t an obvious blow, but he felt it deep, an attack that didn''t follow the usual rules ofbat.


    Reacting instantly, Joker summoned his blood energy, causing it to re into a deep, menacing crimson.


    The energy surrounded him, pulsating. It formed a shield of blood meant to protect him from whatever mysterious force Fang Xiu''s "wife" had unleashed.


    But the look on Joker''s face showed that he knew something was wrong. For the first time, he wasn''t so sure if his defenses would hold.

 Chapter 254: The End of the World

    Chapter 254: The End of the World


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">CLANG!</em>


    The sharp sound of metal shing rang out, slicing through the tense air.


    For a split second, the blood around Joker''s neck seemed to vanish, like it had been wiped clean by some unseen force.


    But that moment was brief.


    The blood quickly surged back, filling the empty space.


    A deep, crimson line formed across his neck. The cut was so deep, you could almost catch a glimpse of the bone beneath.


    In just one move, Fang Xiu¡¯s "wife" had managed to wound Joker.


    For an ordinary person, that sh would¡¯ve been the end of them, but Joker had barely flinched. His body repaired itself in the blink of an eye.


    While the physical wound vanished, however, the shock from the "wife¡¯s" attack lingered.Joker¡¯s face tightened, his eyes wide with both fear and disbelief as he stared at Fang Xiu''s "wife." She looked less like a person and more like a vengeful spirit.


    ¡°What kind of power is this?¡± he muttered. ¡°It broke through my Mindre! That¡¯s impossible! Mindre blocks every ability. How did she break it?¡±


    Fang Xiu''s eyes flickered with thought. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Mindre can resist any ability?''</em> He had already seen Joker¡¯s shock when the ¡°wife¡± brushed off his blood lightning like it was nothing.


    Now, with his seemingly invincible Mindre shattered, Joker lookedpletely rattled.


    Fang Xiu guessed that Mindre had to be some kind of defense mechanism¡ªprobably designed to negate or counter abilities. That¡¯s why Joker was losing it.


    And what made it even more interesting was that this wasn¡¯t even the real "wife" in action. She was just a projection, a shadow of her true self, with only a fraction of her real power.


    The ¡°wife¡± attacked again. Her long, pale fingers curled into ws as she shed at the air.


    Joker, eyes wide, moved to dodge. But it didn¡¯t matter. The moment her hand lifted, her attack somehow ignored the space between them and struck him directly.


    *SLASH! *


    It was as if the very air cut him. Blood around Joker¡¯s chest seemed to disappear, like it had been erased by some invisible de. Five jagged w marks tore across his body, so deep that Fang Xiu could see his heart pounding beneath the flesh.


    ¡°That power again!¡± Joker¡¯s voice cracked with terror.


    Without wasting a second, he transformed into a bolt of lightning, zipping far from the ¡°wife¡± to create some distance. His face twisted in frustration as tiny tendrils of muscle and skin began to stitch his chest back together.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''What is going on?</em> *Joker''s thoughts raced. The wounds aren¡¯t that bad, but this attack keeps getting through my Mindre! Is she holding back? Or is this her true strength?'' *Confusion clouded his mind as he struggled to make sense of it all.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu watched in awe. His "wife''s" power was unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen. Untouchable. Unstoppable. <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''What kind of force is this?''</em>


    ¡°If I can¡¯t deal with her, I¡¯ll deal with you first!¡± Joker¡¯s voice echoed from a distance, filled with fury.


    He had clearly made a decision. If he couldn¡¯t handle the ¡°wife,¡± he¡¯d go for Fang Xiu instead. To him, Fang Xiu was the one controlling this dangerous Spector. Take him out, and she¡¯d likely vanish.


    *BOOM! *


    A crack of lightning tore across the sky as Joker unleashed a powerful attack. Blood-red thunder split the night, roaring through the air, heading straight for Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t even try to dodge. The attack came too fast, and even though he had recently leveled up to the third tier, he wasn¡¯t strong enough to withstand an all-out hit from a fifth-tier opponent.


    The blood-red lightning struck him like a hammer.


    *BOOM! *


    Flesh exploded, bones shattered.


    In an instant, Fang Xiu was a gruesome sight. His body was torn apart, looking like he had been caught in the st of a grenade.


    Exposed bones glistened under the moonlight, and blood and chunks of flesh scattered across the ground.


    There were even pieces of his organsy strewn around him.


    Joker¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied grin, thinking his enemy had finally been crushed.


    But that grin quickly vanished.


    The "wife" was still there, and even more shocking¡ªFang Xiu was still standing.


    "Impossible!" Joker''s voice cracked. ¡°You¡¯re just third-tier! How could you survive my attack?!¡± He was losing it¡ªIf his Mindre couldn¡¯t take down the "wife" and now couldn¡¯t even kill Fang Xiu, what did that say about his own strength?


    Just then, Fang Xiu moved. Slowly, he bent down, pushing his exposed intestines back into his body as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience. His voice was chillingly calm.


    ¡°Die? From a little wound like this?¡±


    Suddenly, a strange shift rippled through the air.


    Fang Xiu activated his ability to absorb pain, and his ravaged body began to knit itself back together.


    It was as if time itself reversed¡ªhis skin, muscles, and bones healing before Joker¡¯s disbelieving eyes.


    In just a few seconds, Fang Xiu stood there,pletely unharmed, without a scratch on him.


    But that healing came at a cost¡ªhis Spiritual Energy was nearly tapped out.


    Since breaking into the third tier, Fang Xiu had experienced a massive boost in power.


    Not only had he grown stronger physically, but the Specters bound to him¡ªNightmare, Taotie¡¯s Mouth, and the others¡ªhad also be more powerful.


    Nightmare¡¯s power, in particr, now allowed Fang Xiu to protect his consciousness. As long as his mind stayed intact, his body could be pulverized, but he wouldn¡¯t die.


    And with his ability to absorb pain, he could regenerate, though it drained him quickly.


    The real problem was the "wife." Summoning her had cost a huge amount of energy, limiting how many times Fang Xiu could heal himself.


    Joker stood there, speechless. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s regeneration ability seemed even more potent than his own Specterized body.


    In front of him stood two unbeatable foes¡ªone who couldn¡¯t die and another who couldn¡¯t be touched. He cursed silently, realizing just how dire his situation was.


    ¡°Fang Moli,¡± Fang Xiu called out suddenly, his voice steady, ¡°have you rested enough?¡±


    Amid the rubble, Fang Moli stirred. Using the Xuanyuan Sword to prop himself up, he rose slowly to his feet.


    Though bloodied, with his hair a mess and his clothes in tatters, Fang Moli still maintained a sense of calm dignity.


    ¡°To handle him?¡± Fang Moli replied, voice steady, ¡°I¡¯m more than enough.¡±


    With those words, Fang Moli¡¯s battered figure blurred and vanished, turning into a brilliant streak of sword light that shot straight toward Joker.


    In an instant, golden light and blood-red lightning shed in mid-air, filling the sky with a series of deafening booms.


    Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the night as Fang Moli¡¯s sword and Joker¡¯s lightning battled ferociously, neither side giving an inch.


    Meanwhile, the projection of Fang Xiu¡¯s "wife" joined the fray. Her attacks ignored all of Joker¡¯s defenses, slipping through his guard like a nightmaree to life. Every now and then, she would strike, throwing Joker off bnce.


    Then, after just a few seconds¡ª


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">BANG!</em>


    A brilliant golden light crashed from the sky, mming into the earth and forming a crater shaped like a human figure.


    It was Fang Moli.


    At this moment, Fang Moli looked like he was barely hanging on. Blood soaked his torn clothes, and the number of broken bones inside his body was anyone¡¯s guess. His breathing had grown shallow, each gasp a struggle.


    "Is this what you meant by ''more than enough?''" Fang Xiu nced at him, his tone calm, almost indifferent.


    Fang Moli tried to speak, but only blood and bits of flesh spilled from his mouth, no words managing to escape.


    ¡°It seems we¡¯ll need to start over,¡± Fang Xiu muttered quietly.


    Joker¡¯s manicughter erupted, echoing across the battlefield. ¡°Fang Moli is already one foot in the grave, and as for you, Fang Xiu, I¡¯ve finally figured out your game. That Specter of yours has some freakish powers, sure, but it can¡¯t really harm me. And you¡ªwell, you love to brag about seeing the future, don¡¯t you? So tell me, where¡¯s your precious future now? Oh wait, I forgot¡ªyou don¡¯t have one anymore, because you¡¯re about to die.¡±


    Joker stood tall, radiating confidence, his arrogance at its peak. But Fang Xiu? He didn¡¯t flinch. His expression remained eerily calm, almost as if he found Joker¡¯s taunts amusing, like he was watching a performer desperately try to entertain a bored audience.


    ¡°Shall I show you a real performance?¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s voice cut through the tension, his words steady andposed.


    Joker paused, momentarily caught off guard by Fang Xiu''s sudden boldness. Then he scoffed. "Oh? What now? nning to beg for your life?¡±


    A faint smile crossed Fang Xiu''s face as he lifted his hand, pointing upward toward the sky.


    "Have you ever seen the end of the world?¡± he asked, his voice as calm as ever.

 Chapter 255: The Angel

    Chapter 255: The Angel


    ¡°The end of the world?¡± Joker nced up at the empty sky, an inexplicable chill creeping over him.


    ¡°Show yourself¡­¡±


    ¡°Come forth, the Angel,¡± Fang Xiu said calmly, his eyes glowing crimson as he stared into the void above. His gaze pierced the darkness, locking onto the immense presence of the Angel.


    Time seemed to freeze as they connected.


    The Angel had always watched humanity, never intervening¡ªuntil a mortal dared to meet its gaze.


    The Angel had descended, for none could look a god in the eye!


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">BOOM!</em>


    Suddenly, the world lost all color and sound; the dark sky lit up as if it were day.


    Divine light cascaded down like a heavenly radiance.Strange whispers filled the air, echoing like countless worshippers singing hymns.


    Around the globe, people felt a strange heartbeat, as if something tightened around their hearts.


    They instinctively looked up, disbelief etched on their faces as they beheld the sacred light.


    Amidst the brilliance, the Angel descended slowly. It was six wings on a massive, blood-red eye. The wings were pure and untainted, threaded with pulsating lines like veins.


    The great eye exuded an indifferent, divine essence, enormous like a sun lowering to the earth, apanied by iprehensible, maddening whispers.


    Anyone who dared meet its gaze fell into madness, blood streaming from their eyes, murmuring strange sybles.


    On the battlefield in the headquarters, all fighting ceased. Those beneath the fourth tier had no strength to resist, their faces twisted in madness as they muttered.


    The fourth-tier psychics, horrified, desperately channeled their Domain power for protection, momentarily escaping insanity.


    However, under the divine light, their strength dwindled, their faces paling. Many covered their ears, trying to block the invasive whispers.


    Gradually, the murmurs grew louder, merging into waves of sound.


    Fang Xiu, empowered by Taotie, deciphered the strange whispers: ¡°Praise the Angel!¡±


    Meanwhile, the once-mighty Joker fell into a daze, unable to cry out or flee. His heart felt still, his eyes locked in terror.


    ¡°Heaven... the Angel?¡±


    Suddenly, Joker jolted back to reality, trembling violently. He looked at theposed Fang Xiu, fear nearly spilling from his gaze.


    In that moment, he finally understood "the end of the world" Fang Xiu had spoken of.


    ¡°Who... what are you? How can you summon the true Specter God?¡±


    *¡®Specter God?¡¯ *Fang Xiu mused, realizing the Angel transcended the ordinary Specter level, truly deserving the title of God.


    ¡°You''re not worthy to know. Say your final words.¡±


    At this moment, the crowd''s panic escted.


    Under the holy light, they recoiled from their own filth, one by one taking knives to gut themselves, desperately pulling out their insides.


    Those without des wed at their skin, digging into their bellies with bare nails.


    Despite being a fifth-tier psychic, Joker felt his spiritual energy disintegrating beneath the holy radiance. Fear tightened its grip.


    Even President Zhou Qingfeng, powerful as he was, trembled before the Angel and the Wedding God. So Joker knew he had no hope.


    ¡°Please... don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m a Specter too! I¡¯m one of you!¡±


    With a thud, Joker fell to his knees, begging like a frightened dog. He was now convinced Fang Xiu had summoned the Angel.


    ¡°It¡¯s pathetic to see a fifth-tier psychic grovel like amoner,¡± Fang Xiu remarked. He shook his head, dismissing the dying man.


    He gazed up at the Angel, which was also watching him.


    The whispers flooded his mind with chaotic thoughts.


    The Angel seemingly focused on Fang Xiu, probably because he was the reason of the descendance.


    ¡°Do you want me to praise you too?¡± Fang Xiu asked softly, knowing the Angel could hear him.


    The hymns surged, growing louder in response.


    Suddenly, Fang Xiuughed, his smile twisted and fierce, his eyes aze with fury.


    ¡°Do you think you deserve it?¡±


    His mockingughter sliced through the devout murmurs, resonating ominously.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">BOOM!</em>


    The ground shook violently¡ªthe Angel¡¯s wrath. ''Gods cannot be desecrated!''


    A brilliant light shot from the Angel''s immense eye, piercing time and space, striking Fang Xiu with the force of a nuclear explosion.


    The entire headquarters was engulfed in blinding light.


    ...


    Fang Xiu''s death triggered a reset.


    This time, he returned to the headquarters just as the chaos erupted.


    ¡°Xiao Chuxia,e with me.¡± He grabbed her. Since she could help him break through to the third tier, he didn¡¯t have to waste time with Yan Changshou this time.


    With Xiao Zhenhua''s escort, Fang Xiu quickly left the venue.


    Outside, he headed straight for Yan Changshou.


    Like a rey of history, he saved Ace of Spades, then sent him away.


    ¡°Fang Xiu! Go to hell!¡± Yan Changshou bellowed, viewing Fang Xiu as his enemy.


    ¡°Frozen Zone, activate! All Equal, activate!¡±


    In an instant, Yan Changshou became an ice sculpture, his power severely curtailed.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">BOOM!</em>


    The ice shattered. Yan Changshou''s body began to swell grotesquely, lumps forming and countless tentacles emerging, devouring nearby Specters and absorbing them.


    He grewrger, transforming into a small mountain of flesh.


    The two Domains remained active, but against Yan Changshou¡¯s grotesque form, they only slowed his approach. He advanced steadily toward Fang Xiu.


    ¡°Xiu, hurry up and deal with him! He¡¯sing!¡± Xiao Chuxia screamed, paning her voice.


    Fang Xiu remained unfazed. ¡°What you said about not being able to help me break through to the third tier was a lie, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s eyes shed with confusion. Still anxious, she replied, ¡°What are you talking about, Xiu? I could never lie to you. This isn¡¯t the time to discuss that¡­¡±


    ¡°If you can only tell one truth in your life, I hope it¡¯s this one,¡± Fang Xiu calmly interrupted.

 Chapter 256 - Foreseer Fang Xiu Saves the Day

    For reasons she couldn''t fully grasp, Xiao Chuxia felt a chill creep up her spine as she stared into Fang Xiu¡¯s calm, unblinking eyes. Something about him made her uneasy, especially with Yan Changshou closing in fast.


    In a moment of pure panic, the truth spilled out of her.


    ¡°Xiu, I lied to you earlier. I admit it. But how did you figure it out?¡±


    ¡°I saw the future.¡±


    That single sentence silenced all of Xiao Chuxia¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°If you want to make it out of this alive, you¡¯ll help me break through to the third tier.¡±


    ¡°You think reaching the third tier is enough to take down that monster?¡± Xiao Chuxia couldn¡¯t hide her doubt. She was already at the third tier herself, and she didn¡¯t believe that a psychic at that level could match Yan Changshou.


    ¡°Ah! What are you doing?!¡±


    Xiao Chuxia screamed suddenly as Fang Xiu yanked her in front of him, positioning her directly between himself and the oing Yan Changshou.


    Her heart pounded wildly as Fang Xiu whispered in her ear, his voice chillingly steady.


    ¡°Never question my orders.¡±


    Terrified, she nodded frantically. ¡°O-Okay! I¡¯ll help you break through.¡±


    History seemed to repeat itself as Fang Xiu ascended to the third tier once again.


    Wielding Taotie¡¯s power withplete control, he turned the tide of battle in an instant. With almost no effort, he crushed Yan Changshou like a bug.


    This time, Fang Xiu didn¡¯t summon his ¡°wife,¡± despite she required a lot less psychic energy. The reason was simple: Taotie was far stronger.


    Although his ¡°wife¡± had once hurt Joker, that victory wasn¡¯t due to raw power. Instead, it was some strange quality in her attacks, akin to Nightmare¡¯s ability to blur the lines between reality and illusion.


    ¡°Wife¡± had a unique advantage¡ªher strikes couldn¡¯t be countered or defended against¡ªbut theycked the raw force needed against someone like Yan Changshou, whose defense came from his freakish vitality, not physical barriers. Against an opponent like him, her power just wasn¡¯t enough.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±


    With Yan Changshou dealt with, Fang Xiu turned away and began walking back toward the heart of the battlefield. The difference this time? He had defeated Yan Changshou much faster.


    That speed advantage was key, giving him the extra time he needed to assess the other captains¡¯ situations.


    Rather than going straight after Joker or Fang Moli, Fang Xiu decided to gather strength from the other captains.


    He spent the next few minutes watching their fights unfold, all while Xiao Chuxia trailed behind him, utterly confused.


    She had no idea what Fang Xiu¡¯s next move was.


    Eventually, Fang Moli fell. Joker, now a fifth-tier powerhouse, stood tall in the center of the battlefield, hisughter echoing ominously.


    ¡°Hahaha... From here on, I reign as the strongest in the world!¡±


    With that, he began mercilessly cutting down the remaining captains.


    Fang Xiu silently observed as one captain after another was ughtered. The headquarters was on the brink of total copse.


    Finally, Joker¡¯s gaze fell upon Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia, who had been quietly standing on the sidelines, watching the carnage.


    ¡°Fang Xiu,¡± Joker sneered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one chance. Kneel and beg for mercy, and I might just let you live.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia, pale as a ghost, was moments away from fainting. Facing a fifth-tier psychic like Joker was more than her nerves could handle, especially since she had already lost control of her dder earlier from fear.


    ¡°Xiu, what do we do?¡± Her voice trembled.


    Fang Xiu, unfazed, nced up at the sky and murmured, ¡°This time... let¡¯s call upon a different god.¡±


    No one understood his words, but it didn¡¯t seem to matter. The world was on the verge of destruction anyway.


    Then¡ª


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The Wedding God descended.


    An eerie sound filled the air, like the sound of <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Suona* echoing through the battlefield. It was a strange, unsettling noise that made everyone begin tough.


    But this wasn¡¯tughter of joy¡ªit was twisted, unnatural, as if their very expressions had been hijacked by terror disguised as celebration.


    The weaker ones had it worst. Their lips stretched so wide in forced smiles that the corners of their mouths tore, leaving grotesque wounds that ripped up to their ears.


    Theyughed hysterically, their bodies wracked with violent coughing fits.


    At first, they spat out blood, but it quickly escted into something far more grotesque.


    Internal organs were hacked up with each desperate cough, and some even managed to spit out their hearts, as if some twisted force was pulling them out.


    It made no sense, but under the power of the Specter, theirrge, pulsing hearts were forced out through their throats.


    Once again, Joker crumbled to his knees, pleading for mercy. His words were identical to before,cking even a shred of originality.


    "Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me! Sir, I¡¯m a Specter too! One of you! Since I was a child, all I¡¯ve ever wanted was to be a part of the Other Side!"


    Momentster, under the overwhelming power of the Wedding God, Fang Xiu died. But his death wasn¡¯t the end¡ªlike before, it triggered a death reset.


    ...


    ...


    Revived, Fang Xiu resumed where he left off. He didn¡¯t immediately act. Instead, he observed, meticulously watching each captain¡¯s battle, taking in every detail, every move, leaving nothing to chance.


    Before long, Joker¡¯s wild, maniacalughter rang out once again.


    ¡°Hahaha... From now on, I reign as the strongest in the world!¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Suddenly, a giant, pitch-ck Buddha head descended from the sky. His face was solemn, yet covered in grotesque, fleshy tumors.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">THUD.


    Joker fell to his knees, desperately pleading for his life again.


    ¡°Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me! Sir, I¡¯m a Specter too! One of you! Ever since I was young, my dream was to be part of the Other Side!¡±


    ...


    ...


    Fang Xiu called upon another god and continued observing.


    Joker¡¯s crazedughter echoed again.


    ¡°Hahaha... From now on, I reign as the strongest in the world!¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    And yet again, Joker begged for mercy.


    ¡°Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me! Sir, I¡¯m a Specter too! I¡¯m one of you! Ever since I was young, my dream has been to be a part of the Other Side!¡±


    ...


    ...


    Fang Xiu switched gods once more, continuing to watch.


    Joker¡¯sugh, now almost routine, filled the air.


    ¡°Hahaha... From now on, I reign as the strongest in the world!¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    He dropped to his knees once more, pleading with the same pitiful words.


    ¡°Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me! Sir, I¡¯m a Specter too! One of you! Ever since I was young, my dream has been to be a part of the Other Side!¡±


    This eerie cycle repeated itself again and again.


    Finally, Fang Xiu stopped observing. He had seen enough¡ªevery move, every variationmitted to memory.


    The time hade.


    And so, the Foreseer Fang Xiu... entered the fray.


    Fang Xiu made his way to the battlefield where Luo Qingxin was locked inbat.


    Standing across from her was the Ace of Diamonds.


    "Harvesting Day!"


    With a low, chilling chant, Ace of Diamonds¡¯ body began to change.


    His flesh and blood vanished, reced by dry, brittle strands of straw.


    In an instant, he had be a scarecrow. But it didn¡¯t stop there¡ªthe straw from his body rapidly burrowed into the ground and spread out in all directions.


    What happened next was nothing short of surreal. Thend within several miles transformed into a sprawling field, as countless strands of dry straw sprouted from the earth.


    Within moments, they grew taller than a person and intertwined to form more scarecrows. Each one had blood-red eyes beneath straw hats, staring ahead with an ominous presence.


    Luo Qingxin¡¯s expression turned serious. She unleashed her Domain, cold energy surging outward in waves, intending to freeze the scarecrows solid.


    But something bizarre urred.


    The scarecrows¡¯ crimson eyes flickered with a strange, blood-red me.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The blood-red mes, like tears, dripped from their eyes onto their straw bodies.


    In an instant, a sea of fire erupted. The ze roared across the field, using the inferno to push back against Luo Qingxin¡¯s Frozen Zone.


    Ace of Diamonds grinned, his voice filled with dark satisfaction. ¡°The Pokers knows all about your captains and your abilities. We¡¯ve been preparing for this for a long time. You, on the other hand, know nothing about us. So, I suggest you surrender quietly.¡±

 Chapter 257 - Fang Xius Terrifying Power

    Luo Qingxin stood silently, her expression cold as ice.


    Without a word, she raised her hand, unleashing the power of her Domain. In an instant, the air grew frigid, forming a huge ice phoenix.


    The phoenix let out a sharp screech as it charged toward the talking scarecrow.


    Although the blood-red mes managed to melt parts of the ice, the ice phoenix was too massive to be fully destroyed in an instant.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The phoenix mmed into the scarecrow, shattering its body into a heap of frozen straw.


    "Hahaha..." A different scarecrow erupted inughter. "You think that¡¯s enough? That was just one of my clones. You can break through my mes with your Domain, sure, but can you figure out which one of us is real? You could try taking us out one by one, but how many more hits like that can you even handle?"


    Luo Qingxin¡¯s face darkened, her frustration building.


    Just then, footsteps echoed from behind her.


    She snapped to attention, turning to see Fang Xiu approaching.


    "Fang Xiu? What are you doing here? This ce is too¡ª"


    "Second row, second from the left, hit that scarecrow," Fang Xiu said, cutting her off in a calm voice.


    Luo Qingxin didn''t need more exnation. She knew Fang Xiu could predict the future. Without wasting a second, sheunched an attack exactly where he said.


    The scarecrow in question went pale, its form flickering as it hurriedly switched ces with another.


    Seeing this, Luo Qingxin knew Fang Xiu had been right.


    "Third row, fourth from the right," Fang Xiu called out again.


    "What?!" Ace of Diamonds yelled, startled that Fang Xiu had once more pinpointed his true location.


    Before Luo Qingxin couldnd another blow, Ace of Diamonds quickly swapped positions again, managing to escape.


    Having his true form revealed twice in a row made Ace of Diamonds feel a twisted sense of pride.


    "The Foreseer, Fang Xiu," Ace sneered. "You really live up to the hype. But what''s the point in knowing where I am? The time it takes for you to tell her is enough for me to move. You''re just giving me a heads-up!"


    Fang Xiu shook his head, almost amused. "I¡¯m starting to wonder if all you Pokers have had your brains scrambled by Specter power. If you had any sense, you¡¯d realize you¡¯re already done for."


    He gestured to Luo Qingxin, motioning her toe closer. "Come here."


    Luo Qingxin''s eyes widened in understanding. She hurried over to Fang Xiu, pulling back her long hair to reveal her pale, delicate ear.


    Then she leaned in so his hair was nearly brushing Fang Xiu''s lips.


    She knew Ace of Diamonds, as a fourth-tier Psychic, had heightened senses. The only way to make sure he couldn¡¯t overhear their conversation was for her to listen this closely to Fang Xiu.


    As Fang Xiu¡¯s breath gently warmed her ear, Luo Qingxin felt a strange, unfamiliar sensation. She had never been this close to any man before.


    Meanwhile, Ace of Diamonds¡¯ smug expression twisted into panic. If he couldn¡¯t hear Fang Xiu¡¯s instructions, he¡¯d have no time to dodge. Luo Qingxin¡¯s next strike couldnd straight on his real body.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''No! I can¡¯t just sit here and wait to die!'' Ace of Diamonds thought frantically.


    He quickly teleported to a new spot, hiding in the shadows. But even there, he didn¡¯t feel secure.


    Then it hit him¡ªFang Xiu¡¯s power wasn¡¯t ordinary. It was foresight. If Fang Xiu could see the future, he might have already predicted that Ace would hide here.


    Panic spread through him. He switched positions again. And again. Three times in rapid session.


    But with each move, his unease only grew stronger. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''What if this spot was predicted too? What if Fang Xiu knows where I¡¯ll be after every jump? Damn it! Should I keep moving, or stop? Maybe no matter how much I change, Fang Xiu¡¯s foresight will always find me!''


    Suddenly, a thought sparked in Ace of Diamonds'' mind. His eyes lit up as he considered a new n¡ªkeep moving nonstop. If he never stayed in one ce, Fang Xiu couldn¡¯t pin him down.


    Yes, it would drain his energy, but it was his best shot at survival.


    Determined, he began to teleport continuously, switching positions faster than ever.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu leaned in and whispered softly into Luo Qingxin¡¯s ear.


    Her expression shifted as she felt his breath near her ear, cheeks flushing slightly. But it wasn¡¯t just his closeness.


    As she absorbed his words, her body stiffened, eyes widening in shock and disbelief.


    Without hesitation, Luo Qingxin moved. Her Domain energy swirled around her, and in her palm, a delicate, shimmering ice lotus began to form.


    The chilling power radiating from it was immense, freezing the air around her.


    Even at a nce, it was clear that this ice lotus held terrifying, destructive potential.


    Ace of Diamonds'' heart raced as he caught sight of it.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''This must be one of her ultimate techniques,'' he realized. If it hit him, there¡¯d be no escape. No surviving.


    He doubled down, changing spots even faster. He swapped ces with the scarecrows scattered around the battlefield, making it nearly impossible to tell where he was at any given moment.


    Luo Qingxin remained still, holding the ice lotus, not moving for ten full seconds.


    Ace of Diamonds grinned smugly to himself. ¡°So what if Fang Xiu can see the future? Let¡¯s see him predict this! I¡¯m changing positions eight times a second¡ªthere¡¯s no way he can track me!¡±


    A minute passed. Ace¡¯s grin began to falter. He could feel his spiritual energy draining rapidly.


    He nced at Luo Qingxin, who still hadn¡¯t moved, ice lotus in hand, and then at Fang Xiu, who stood calmly,pletely unbothered.


    A sinking feeling began to grow in Ace¡¯s chest. They were both watching him. Like he was... a joke.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± he cursed under his breath. ¡°They¡¯re ying me. This whole time they¡¯ve just been stalling, making me waste my energy!¡±


    His mind raced. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''But... wait. What if this is all part of Fang Xiu¡¯s n? If I stop, Luo Qingxin might hit me directly. But if I don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll run out of energy and die anyway. Damn it! This is terrifying. Fang Xiu didn¡¯t have to lift a finger¡ªjust one prediction, and I¡¯m cornered.''


    Desperate, Ace of Diamonds made a decision. He couldn¡¯t keep up his intense teleportation pace. So, he slowed down, cutting his movements from eight jumps per second to just four.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''95, 96, 97, 98...'' Luo Qingxin counted silently in her mind, her grip tightening on the ice lotus.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''99... 100!''


    The moment she reached one hundred, she moved without hesitation. The ice lotus flew from her hand, aimed directly at the third scarecrow in the second row from the left.


    And right at that instant, Ace of Diamonds moved into that exact spot.


    "No!!" he screamed, but it was toote.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The ice lotus exploded in a blinding sh, unleashing a fierce surge of cold energy.


    The st transformed into thousands of ice spikes, tearing through Ace of Diamonds'' body, turning him into nothing more than a frozen, shattered pile of straw.


    As the dust settled, Luo Qingxin stood still, her expression nk, as if the scene ying out before her eyes wasn¡¯t real.


    She had just killed Ace of Diamonds, one of the formidable Pokers.


    In her daze, Fang Xiu¡¯s instructions was still echoing in her mind:


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Use your strongest attack. Count silently to one hundred. After one hundred seconds, strike the third scarecrow in the second row from the left.''


    Everything had yed out exactly as Fang Xiu had said. His foresight wasn¡¯t just urate¡ªit was pinpoint precise, right down to the second. The shock of it hit her like a wave.


    And then the realization sank in: Fang Xiu hadn¡¯t just predicted what would happen a hundred secondster. He could have told her to strike in the very first second, ending the fight quickly. But instead, he waited.


    He let Ace of Diamonds teleport, run, and wear himself out for a full hundred seconds before delivering the killing blow.


    It was all intentional. Fang Xiu had used those one hundred seconds to sap Ace of Diamonds¡¯ strength, knowing he would be too drained to escape the final attack.


    Even the fact that Ace of Diamonds slowing his movement, and the second row being closest for a faster strike¡ªall of it had been part of Fang Xiu¡¯s n.


    This wasn¡¯t just foresight. It was a masterful understanding of human behavior and battlefield control.


    "Let¡¯s go. Time for the next one," Fang Xiu¡¯s calm voice brought Luo Qingxin back to reality. She shook off her daze, realizing just how terrifyingly brilliant Fang Xiu¡¯s strategy had been.

 Chapter 258 - Fighting the Fifth-Tier Opponent

    Luo Qingxin followed Fang Xiu closely as they moved toward the next battlefield.


    Xiao Chuxia had been lurking nearby. She quickly joined them, yet keeping a safe distance.


    Fang Xiu had boldly engaged in fourth-tier battles despite his third-tier status, but Xiao Chuxia wasn¡¯t eager to dive into the danger zone. She preferred staying out of harm¡¯s way.


    Soon, they arrived at a new fight.


    Li Xiaoru was locked in a fierce battle against Ace of Clubs.


    Their Domains shed wildly, transforming the area into a chaotic warzone.


    Tens of thousands of soldiers, conjured by their Domains, swarmed the battlefield.


    All these soldiers seemed to have one target: Ace of Clubs, who was casually swigging from a bottle of Moutai.


    Strangely, any soldier that approached Ace of Clubs either stumbled, copsed, or lost their mind entirely. Some even started attacking their ownrades, unable to tell friend from foe.


    In the middle of this chaos, Li Xiaoru, ever the hothead, charged headfirst at Ace of Clubs with his Heavenly Spear, trying tond a decisive blow.


    Ace of Clubs had no weapon in his hand and seemed utterly drunk. His bnce wavered, and he stumbled around.


    Yet, somehow, he dodged every one of Li Xiaoru¡¯s strikes with bizarre, almost impossible movements, like someone caught in a drunken dance of survival.


    ¡°Hahaha... What a fine wine! Hic!¡± Ace of Clubsughed carelessly, raising his bottle for another swig. His carefree attitude was a stark contrast to the brutal fight unraveling around him.


    Fang Xiu was watching from the edge of the battlefield. He nodded to himself.<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''I need to keep him alive.''


    Killing all the Pokers wasn¡¯t part of his n. Some of them, however, were meant to be his subordinates.


    Ace of Clubs, with his drunk and carefree manner, was an ideal candidate to spare. His dependency on alcohol made him easy to manipte, unlike the more dangerous and clear-headed members of the group.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help Li Xiaoru!¡± Luo Qingxin said, ready to join the fray.


    Fang Xiu raised a hand, stopping her. ¡°No need. Save your strength¡ªthe real fight is still ahead.¡±


    Without another word, Fang Xiu walked calmly onto the battlefield.


    Li Xiaoru, noticing him, frowned. ¡°Fang Xiu? Didn¡¯t you leave with Xiao Zhenhua? Why are you back? Did something go wrong? And... Luo Qingxin, you¡¯re here too?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll exinter. For now, just follow my lead,¡± Fang Xiu interrupted quickly.


    Luo Qingxin chimed in, ¡°Trust Fang Xiu! I just defeated Ace of Diamonds thanks to his foresight!¡±


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s expression hardened. He knew now wasn¡¯t the time for questions. He would have to trust Fang Xiu¡¯s judgment.


    ¡°Go for his legs,¡± Fang Xiumanded.


    Li Xiaoru didn¡¯t hesitate. His Heavenly Spear swept low in a wide arc, aiming for Ace of Clubs¡¯ legs.


    In response, Ace of Clubs rolled on the ground, looking more like a clumsy donkey than a skilled fighter, barely dodging the strike.


    But Fang Xiu¡¯s orders didn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°Left side, under the ribs. Throat. Right leg. Left arm¡­¡±


    Everymand came swiftly, and Li Xiaoru followed without pause.


    The result was almost unbelievable¡ªFang Xiu¡¯s precise instructions turned the tide of the battle.


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s attacks now seemed to predict Ace of Clubs¡¯ movements perfectly,nding blow after blow.


    Ace of Clubs, who had been fighting with an unpredictable drunken style, now seemed exposed.


    His once-unreadable movements wereid bare under Fang Xiu¡¯s careful direction.


    Each strike from the Heavenly Spear chipped away at his defenses, leaving him bleeding and battered.


    With growing fear, Ace of Clubs stared at Fang Xiu, his drunken state fading as the realization hit him¡ªhe was losing, and fast.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SWISH!


    Li Xiaoru spun his Heavenly Spear, sending it slicing through the air in a brilliant arc.


    Guided by Fang Xiu¡¯s instructions, the de of the spear found its target, severing Ace of Clubs¡¯ right arm in one clean stroke.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">CRASH!


    Ace of Clubs'' Moutai dropped from his hand and shattered on the ground, spilling the precious liquor across the battlefield.


    ¡°Ah! My Moutai!¡± Ace of Clubs wailed, his eyes fixed on the spilled liquor rather than his severed arm.


    He didn¡¯t care about the missing limb¡ªafter all, an arm could regenerate, but the lost bottle of Moutai? That was priceless!


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ That was amazing!¡± Li Xiaoru roared withughter, feeling a rush of satisfaction.


    After spending so long battling the slippery Ace of Clubs, he¡¯d finallynded a meaningful blow.


    Ace¡¯s drunken, erratic style had driven him mad, dodging every strike with ridiculous ease, like a loach slipping through his fingers.


    To make matters worse, Ace of Clubs never fought seriously. He¡¯d just drag things out, sipping his wine and reciting poetry like he was at some high-ss party.


    It infuriated Li Xiaoru to no end. Not only was his opponent hard to hit, but the guy also had the nerve to show off his intellect, spouting poems Li Xiaoru had never even heard of.


    There were two types of people Li Xiaoru despised most: those who unted their smarts in front of him, and those who didn¡¯t let him show off his own. Ace of Clubs had the audacity to do both.


    Now that Li Xiaoru had drawn blood, he was eager to finish the job, pressing the attack and forcing Ace into a desperate corner.


    Just as Ace of Clubs was on the verge of being overwhelmed, Fang Xiu¡¯s voice cut through the chaos. ¡°Ace of Clubs, stop this pointless struggle. Your best bet now is to escape.¡±


    Ace of Clubs'' face hardened. ¡°In my vocabry, there¡¯s only death in battle, no retreat!¡± he dered, still unwilling to flee.


    But Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t fazed. ¡°If you die, you¡¯ll never get to taste the rare vintage stored in the Royal Winery¡¯s Cer No. 28.¡±


    At those words, Ace of Clubs froze. His expression shifted in an instant, from defiant to rmed.


    With a powerful punch, he struck the Heavenly Spear. He used the force tounch himself backward, retreating over a hundred meters in a blink.


    Clutching his remaining hand in a respectful fist, he gave a formal nod. ¡°I bid you farewell!¡±


    Without another word, he turned and bolted, heading straight for the Royal Winery.


    ¡°Stop, you thief!¡± Li Xiaoru shouted, ready to chase him down. But Fang Xiu raised a hand, stopping him.


    ¡°Let him go. The real priority now is Joker.¡±


    Li Xiaoru looked fired up, his face red, probably from inhaling too much alcohol during the fight.


    As a fourth-tier expert, he hadn¡¯t been fully controlled by Ace¡¯s drunken Domain, but he hadn¡¯t escaped its effects entirely either. His behavior was like someone who¡¯d had one drink too many, brimming with false courage.


    ¡°Fang Moli can handle Joker. He¡¯s got the Xuanyuan Sword, there¡¯s no way Joker can cause trouble,¡± Li Xiaoru said confidently.


    ¡°And what if Joker¡¯s already reached the fifth tier?¡± Fang Xiu asked calmly.


    ¡°The fifth tier?¡±


    Li Xiaoru and Luo Qingxin¡¯s shock was evident.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Luo Qingxin eximed. ¡°The strongest Psychics in the world are at the fourth tier. No one¡¯s reached the fifth!¡±


    Li Xiaoru, still buzzing with adrenaline, shouted, ¡°So what if it¡¯s the fifth tier? I¡¯ll fight him if I have to!¡±


    Fang Xiu shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on finding the other captains first.¡±


    They hurried toward another battlefield, where they found Xiong Tianguang in a brutal struggle against Ace of Hearts.


    Xiong Tianguang¡¯s body was riddled with deep wounds, some cutting down to the bone.


    The battle scene was disorienting. The sky and ground had been inverted, with Xiong Tianguang standing upside down on what seemed like the sky, as if the entire world had been flipped.


    ¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± Xiong Tianguang warned, his voice strained. ¡°His Domain is the Inverted World! It messes with your sense of direction¡ªup bes down, left bes right! Anyone who steps in here will be turned upside down!¡±


    Now the group understood why Xiong Tianguang, despite his powerful strength, was struggling so much.


    Xiong Tianguang¡¯s power to summon game heroes made him incredibly versatile, able to adapt to almost any battle scenario.


    But in this warped environment, his skills were practically useless. It was like ying a game where all the controls were reversed¡ªforward made you move backward, left became right.


    Even a seasoned pro would feel like aplete noob, helpless as they fumbled through basic maneuvers.

 Chapter 259 - I Predicted Your Prediction

    Li Xiaoru sent a squad of soldiers charging toward Ace of Hearts, but what unfolded was bizarre.


    To everyone watching, the soldiers appeared to be moving backward, getting farther from Ace with every step, even though they were supposed to be advancing.


    Seeing this, Ace of Hearts let out an ecstaticugh. ¡°Hahaha¡­ You¡¯re all here! Which means my dear teammates are all dead! Wonderful!¡±


    Xiao Chuxia, taken aback by his maniacalughter, whispered, ¡°This guy seems a little... off. His teammates are dead, and he¡¯s celebrating?¡±


    Ace of Hearts, catching her words with sharp ears, sneered, ¡°Little girl, you don¡¯t get it. The position of ck Joker has always been vacant in the Pokers. Joker said that whoever contributes the most in this battle will be ck Joker. Now that all my teammates are gone, guess who¡¯s the new ck Joker?¡±


    Fang Xiu had heard this speech from Ace of Hearts before, and each time, it amused him.


    Ace of Hearts wasn¡¯t a traditional fighter¡ªhe survived through wits and maniption.


    Fang Xiu had no ns to kill him. A guy like Ace of Hearts, who constantly spilled inconvenient truths and thrived on chaos, could be a valuable toolter.


    ¡°You? ck Joker? More like ck Sh*t!¡± Li Xiaoru snapped back with an insult.


    Ace of Hearts immediately flew into a rage. ¡°Old fool! Just you wait! Once I finish off this shut-in, you¡¯re next!¡±


    ¡°Hmph! You''ve got some nerve boasting such nonsense!¡± Li Xiaoru spat back, half-drunk and fully heated.


    ¡°Bah! Old fool, you have no idea what¡¯sing!¡±


    Just as it seemed the fight would devolve into a pointless shouting match, Fang Xiu stepped in to stop them. He didn¡¯t have time for their bickering.


    ¡°Xiong Tianguang, summon a game hero. Have them charge backward and attack from the left,¡± Fang Xiu instructed, his voice calm but firm.


    Xiong Tianguang hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s no use. Even if you realize the world is inverted, there¡¯s still a reaction dy. Your body instinctively reacts to normal direction for a split second before you can correct it. That dy is enough to get you killed. I can¡¯tnd a hit on Ace of Hearts with this setup.¡±


    Fang Xiu remained steady. ¡°I don¡¯t need to react¡ªI see the future. Just follow my instructions, no questions.¡±


    Luo Qingxin backed him up immediately. ¡°Exactly! Fang Xiu helped us take down Ace of Diamonds earlier. His foresight is perfect.¡±


    Li Xiaoru, still riled up, added his own take. ¡°Xiong Tianguang, you stubborn fool! You think Fang Xiu¡¯s some game nerd like you? He¡¯s the Foreseer! Stop second-guessing the right answer when it¡¯s right in front of you!¡±


    With both captains pushing him to trust Fang Xiu, Xiong Tianguang sighed and relented. He might not have enjoyed being berated by Li Xiaoru, but he knew he had little choice.


    ¡°Tch!¡± Ace of Hearts scoffed, clearly unimpressed. ¡°The Foreseer, huh? What¡¯s he gonna do¡ªbeat me with just words?¡±


    ¡°Dark Binding, attack at ten o¡¯clock behind you,¡± Fang Xiu said, his voice calm and precise.


    Without hesitation, a st of dark energy shot toward the ten o¡¯clock position behind Xiong Tianguang.


    Though he was a bit of a shut-in, Xiong Tianguang¡¯s reflexes were sharp¡ªhoned from countless hours in the video game.


    He was a master of strategy, capable of thinking fast and executing even faster. Following Fang Xiu¡¯s instructions was second nature for someone of his caliber.


    As Dark Binding shot out, something bizarre urred.


    Though Xiong Tianguang had aimed the attack behind him, it manifested in front of him instead.


    The reverse world had shifted once again, flipping directions so that the 10 o¡¯clock position was now in line with Ace of Hearts'' current location.


    Ace of Hearts smirked, dodging the attack effortlessly, then he charged toward Xiong Tianguang, intending to finish him off.


    ¡°Release Wind Wall at 3 o¡¯clock behind you. Send a warrior to charge toward 5 o¡¯clock, and ce a Distortion Field 15 meters ahead,¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s instructions flowed effortlessly, his voice calm and precise.


    Xiong Tianguang acted without hesitation. Years of gaming had given him lightning-fast reflexes, and he managed to control five game characters simultaneously, executing attacks and defenses as Fang Xiu directed.


    What happened next was astonishing.


    A Wind Wall materialized right in front of Ace of Hearts just as he was speeding forward. His sharp reflexes saved him from being decapitated by the energy des embedded in the wall.


    He dodged to the right, only to find himself caught in a Distortion Field that warped the very space around him.


    Forced to retreat, he was immediately pursued by a massive warrior wielding a giant sword, aiming for a lethal blow.


    Now frantically dodging, Ace of Hearts'' mind raced in shock and disbelief.


    ¡°Damn it! This is the power of the Foreseer? He¡¯s predicting every move I make! No wonder my teammates are all dead. If this keeps up, I¡¯m finished. But¡­ wait!¡±


    A realization struck him like lightning.


    If Fang Xiu was giving Xiong Tianguang these orders based on his foresight, then Ace could hear those orders too. If he knew what Fang Xiu was foreseeing, he could anticipate Xiong¡¯s moves before they happened¡ªessentially turning the tables by predicting Fang Xiu¡¯s predictions.


    Eager to test his theory, he grinned as Fang Xiu called out anothermand.


    ¡°Celestial Zone, 3 o¡¯clock, 15 meters. Silence him.¡±


    Ace of Hearts quickly sidestepped out of range, easily avoiding the silencing field. His excitement grew. He believed he had found Fang Xiu¡¯s weakness.


    ¡°Steel Tempest, 7 o¡¯clock, 10 meters,¡± Fang Xiu called next.


    Ace of Hearts smirked. ¡°7 o¡¯clock, 10 meters? Easy. I¡¯m at 8 o¡¯clock, so I don¡¯t even need to move. Xiong won¡¯t hit me. Fang Xiu¡¯s foresight must be off¡ªhe¡¯s just a fraud!¡±


    Feeling triumphant, Ace of Hearts stayed still, confident he had outsmarted Fang Xiu. But he failed to notice that in his smugness, he had turned his back on Fang Xiu.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH!


    Suddenly, strands of silver hair, like writhing serpents, shot out from Fang Xiu, wrapping tightly around Ace of Hearts.


    ¡°What the¡ª!?¡±


    His eyes widened in panic. He looked over his shoulder to see Fang Xiu staring at him calmly.


    It finally dawned on him¡ªFang Xiu had led him into a trap. The false prediction had baited him into standing still, with his back wide open.


    Everything before had been a setup.


    Fang Xiu had manipted Ace of Hearts, guiding him to reposition just enough to expose a fatal opening, then pounced when the moment was right.


    It was like a master chess yer, anticipating moves far in advance, luring his opponent into checkmate.


    Ace of Hearts struggled fiercely. He was, after all, a fourth-tier fighter, and Fang Xiu¡¯s silver hair wasn¡¯t enough to hold him for long. But in high-levelbat, even a split-second dy could be deadly.


    The strands of silver hair began to fray, and it looked like Ace of Hearts might break free. But just as he was about to escape, Fang Xiu¡¯s cold, calcted voice echoed once more, sealing his fate.


    ¡°Void Banishment, 8 o¡¯clock.¡±


    In an instant, a swirling ck hole materialized right where Ace of Hearts stood, warping and distorting his body as it pulled him in.


    ¡°No! Fang Xiu! You¡¯re a coward! Ambushing me in a one-on-one fight! I swear I¡¯ll¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the ck hole fully enveloped him, swallowing him whole. His words were cut off, his body vanishing into the void, leaving his fate a mystery.

 Chapter 260 - Flipping the Script

    Li Xiaoru burst outughing, "Hahaha¡­ you little punk! Who said anything about ying fair? Of course, I ambushed you!"


    Xiong Tianguang stood there, scratching his head, a bit lost in thought.


    "Fang Xiu, why¡¯d you make me use Void Banishment instead of just letting me kill Ace of Hearts? I could''ve taken him out easily. What gives?"


    Up until now, Xiong Tianguang had followed Fang Xiu''s every order like clockwork. No second-guessing, no hesitation¡ªjust pure action. But now, for the first time, it hit him. His final move didn¡¯t kill Ace of Hearts; it just sent him packing to another dimension.


    Fang Xiu, ever the calm and collected leader, replied coolly, "In the future I saw, Ace of Hearts still has onest trick up his sleeve. If you killed him, we¡¯d be stuck in a drawn-out mess. But right now, Fang Moli is about to lose the fight, and we can''t waste time dealing with a small fry when the big picture¡¯s at stake."


    The group around them nodded, no questions asked¡ªWhen you¡¯ve got a guy who can see the future, you don¡¯t bother with doubts.


    Yet, Xiao Chuxia wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. Her eyes narrowed slightly, sneaking suspicious nces at Fang Xiu, sensing something just didn¡¯t add up.


    "Everyone, follow me immediately!" Fang Xiumanded, setting off with the other captains.


    Even though these were captains of great power and authority, none of them felt that following Fang Xiu''s orders was strange at all. Maybe it was because, after defeating so many enemies under his guidance, they had be ustomed to Fang Xiu¡¯s leadership.


    ¡­


    Fang Moli swung his sword, unleashing a vast wave of sword energy thatpletely enveloped Joker, blocking off any chance of escape.


    "Die!" Fang Moli roared, preparing to strike Joker down with the Xuanyuan Sword.


    At that moment, a calm voice suddenly interrupted, "Stop. That¡¯s just a clone."


    Fang Moli froze in ce, then lifted his head to look.


    In the distance, several figures emerged from the shadows under the cold moonlight, walking towards him.


    The leading one was someone he''d only met briefly before¡ªFang Xiu, the Foreseer!


    Fang Xiu walked at the front with aposed expression. Behind him followed Xiong Tianguang, Luo Qingxin, Li Xiaoru, and, barely worth mentioning, Xiao Chuxia.


    Seeing this, Fang Moli¡¯s first reaction wasn¡¯t surprise¡ªit was envy.


    Once, he had imagined this very scene: a hopeless battlefield, shrouded in darkness. Under the cold light of the moon, several figures stride in like saviors. And he, Fang Moli, would be the one leading them, with captains following in his wake, looking as cool as ever.


    But in reality, despite being the strongest psychic in Asia, none of the other captains really listened to him.


    Luo Qingxin ignored him, Xiong Tianguang admired only those who could outy him in games, and Li Xiaoru was too vulgar to care about such things. This made Fang Moli''s life far less glorious than he had once imagined.


    Now, the scene he had dreamed of was happening, but the one at the forefront wasn¡¯t him.


    "Fang Xiu, the Foreseer! You even saw through my clone?" Joker¡¯s face darkened as his energy surged, making him look like a vicious demon.


    But this didn¡¯t scare Fang Xiu; in fact, it made him want tough a little. It wasn¡¯t that Joker wasn¡¯t serious enough¡ªit was just that Fang Xiu had seen him die too many times.


    Almost every time, it ended with Joker begging for mercy.


    It had be so repetitive that Fang Xiu could almost hear Joker¡¯s pleading in his head like a recurring background soundtrack.


    Every time he encountered Joker, that familiar speech would start ying:


    "Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me! Sir, I¡¯m a Specter too! One of you! Ever since I was young, my dream has been to be a part of the Other Side!"


    Fang Xiu ignored him. Instead, he turned to the captains behind him and gave a simplemand: "Proceed as nned."


    Luo Qingxin and the others nodded. In an instant, the three of them became blurs of motion, darting toward Joker''s clone from three different directions.


    "Fang Moli, go immediately to support Xiao Zhenhua. Joker''s true body is nning to ambush him. If you don''t get him in time, he¡¯ll die," Fang Xiu said.


    Fang Moli''s expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he transformed into a streak of sword light and shot off in the direction of Xiao Zhenhua.


    Joker''s clone was both shocked and furious. He had never imagined that Fang Xiu could predict not only the location of his real body but also his next move.


    But what bothered him even more was a troubling question: Why were these captains able toe here? How were they free to follow Fang Xiu and, even more puzzling, why were they obeying his orders?


    Before the war started, the Pokers had thoroughly studied each of the title captains. While they might not be able to outmatch the captains in raw power one-on-one, the Pokers had designed strategies to exploit the captains'' weaknesses, ensuring they could keep them upied.


    But now, all the captains were here. That meant Joker''s subordinates were all dead.


    Joker wasn¡¯t a fool. He quickly realized that the person responsible for all of this was Fang Xiu.


    The Foreseer!


    With just his own power, Fang Xiu had single-handedly turned the tide of battle at the headquarters.


    But soon, something even more shocking happened. Joker found himself being overpowered by the three captains.


    Even though he was just a clone, he was still the clone of a fifth-tier powerhouse, crafted with great care. Otherwise, there was no way it could have held off someone as strong as Fang Moli for so long.


    Yet here he was, beingpletely suppressed by three fourth-tier captains.


    What frustrated Joker the most was how perfectly coordinated their attacks were. It was as if they could read his every move, countering him effortlessly. Their teamwork flowed seamlessly, like they were one mind in three bodies.


    ¡®How is this possible? Could it be...¡¯ Joker suddenly realized something. He snapped his head toward Fang Xiu, who stood calmly to the side, his expression asposed as ever.

 Chapter 261 - Easy Fight

    "It''s you controlling them!" Joker eximed in sudden realization.


    In that moment, he noticed something subtle but crucial: faint, silver threads connecting Luo Qingxin and the others.


    These threads were almost invisible in the darkness, but now that Joker had seen them, he could trace their source directly back to Fang Xiu.


    Joker believed he had figured everything out: Fang Xiu, with his ability to foresee the future, had anticipated all of his moves. Then, by using these silver threads, he was controlling the three captains, making them fight like puppets on strings.


    So, from the beginning, the three captains were just puppets, and Fang Xiu was the one truly fighting him.


    A faint, almost imperceptible smirk curled at the corner of Joker¡¯s mouth.


    Now that he had uncovered Fang Xiu¡¯s trick, everything seemed simple. All he had to do was sever those threads and break Fang Xiu¡¯s control over the captains.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''A team¡¯s external brain, huh? Heh¡­ I''ll just cut off the connection between the brain and the body,'' Joker thought to himself.


    Although defeating the three captains was beyond him, cutting the silver threads in the middle of a fight was well within his abilities.


    Suddenly, he unleashed a blinding surge of lightning from his body, forcing the captains to retreat momentarily.


    Without hesitation, he aimed an attack at the air behind them¡ªright where the silver threads connected.


    To him, these threads seemed fragile, incapable of withstanding his strike.


    However, what Joker didn¡¯t realize was that, as heunched his attack, all three captains exchanged cold smirks, though their voices rang out in anxious protest.


    "Stop!"


    "You won¡¯t seed!"


    All three of them struck back in unison. Li Xiaoru¡¯s general shot a flurry of arrows, Luo Qingxin unleashed a barrage of ice shards, and Xiong Tianguang sent forth a flying mantis, its scythe-like arms slicing through the air toward Joker.


    Seeing their apparent desperation only solidified Joker¡¯s belief that he was on the right track. He scoffed inwardly, determined to cut the silver threads even if it meant exhausting more of his clone¡¯s power. Ignoring their attacks, he pressed forward.


    Finally, after relentless effort, Joker seeded. The silver threads were severed.


    "Hmph, without Fang Xiu¡¯s control, let¡¯s see how you handle me now," Joker sneered, certain he had gained the upper hand.


    Little did he know, this was exactly what Fang Xiu had nned all along.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± The faces of the three captains darkened, and they began to attack frantically, as if they had truly lost their advantage.


    In reality, they were simply worried they wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain the act for much longer.


    Watching them panic only fueled Joker¡¯s confidence. Lightning shed in his hands as he continuously unleashed his power, even forming a thunder sword to strike wildly at the captains.


    Without Fang Xiu¡¯s "guidance," the captains appeared disorganized, no longer as synchronized or sharp as before. Their movements were clumsy, full of mistakes and openings.


    "Three seconds from now, Xiong Tianguang will deliberately create an opening. Everyone else, be ready to act," Fang Xiu¡¯s calm voice echoed in the minds of the three captains.


    Their expressions didn¡¯t change, and they continued fighting as if they hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Yet exactly three secondster, a crucial mistake urred.


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s general, wielding twin axes, moved in to strike Joker, but Xiong Tianguang¡¯s warrior, carrying a massive sword, rushed forward at the same time.


    The two soldiers blocked each other¡¯s paths, creating a small gap in their formation.


    Joker was, after all, a fifth-tier powerhouse. Even though it was just his clone fighting, his keen eyesight and battle instincts were still fully intact. He immediately seized the opening in the captains'' coordination. In a sh of lightning, he broke free from the encirclement and rushed straight at Xiong Tianguang.


    Xiong Tianguang''s face paled in shock, and he hurriedly summoned his game avatars to defend. But once a mistake is made inbat, it''s not easy to recover.


    A sinister grin spread across Joker''s face. He didn¡¯t suspect this was a trap at all. After all, without Fang Xiu¡¯s direction, it was perfectly reasonable for them to fumble their coordination. It was like in a game when teammates identally ovep their crowd-control skills¡ªit happens.


    Battle is far more chaotic than any game, and perfect coordination is hard to achieve for anyone.


    Joker had chosen Xiong Tianguang as his breakthrough point for a reason.


    Of the three captains, Xiong Tianguang was the trickiest to deal with due to his varied and unpredictable abilities. His skills, while shy, could be confusing and createplications in battle.


    At the same time, Xiong Tianguang was also the weakest in close-quartersbat. Being a hardcore gamer, he possessed the physical strength of a fourth-tier powerhouse, but he hadn¡¯t done much actualbat training. His "training" was mostly limited to fighting games in front of a screen.


    In an instant, the lightning Joker transformed into closed in on Xiong Tianguang, and arge, electrified hand shot out, aiming to pierce his heart.


    But just as the strikended, Joker''s expression shifted¡ªthe sensation was wrong.


    A momentter, Xiong Tianguang¡¯s figure slowly faded away.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''An illusion!?'' Joker immediately realized something was off, but it was already toote.


    A massive purple mantis appeared out of thin air at his side, its scythe-like forelimbs slicing into his body with a brutal sh.


    The strike hit its mark, instantly restricting Joker¡¯s movements. Before he could react, Luo Qingxin and Li Xiaoru''s attacks followed up seamlessly.


    Ice rapidly encased his body, freezing him solid, while Li Xiaoru¡¯s Heavenly Spear smashed through his head with brutal force.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BANG!


    Joker¡¯s body exploded into fragments, leaving behind nothing more than a tattered wooden puppet.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally over. I didn¡¯t expect a mere clone to be this difficult,¡± Xiong Tianguang said, appearing from the shadows nearby, a touch of amazement in his voice.


    ¡°Thankfully, Fang Xiu was using telepathy to secretly direct us the whole time. He even used the silver threads to mislead Joker. Without him, this fight would¡¯ve been much harder to win so quickly,¡± Luo Qingxin said, her eyes reflecting a gleam of admiration as she nced at Fang Xiu.


    No matter how many times they fought under Fang Xiu¡¯s guidance, the feeling of him having the future under control never ceased to amaze them.


    The other captains nodded in agreement.


    Li Xiaoru let out a heartyugh, ¡°I¡¯ve never fought such an easy battle in my entire life. It¡¯s like cheating on a test with all the answers in front of you¡ªso satisfying!¡±


    Telepathy was a new ability Fang Xiu had gained after breaking through to the third tier, because of Nightmare.


    Nightmare had always been able to connect to dreams, and dreams were merely a manifestation of the mind. This ability allowed Fang Xiu tomunicate directly with the captains, rying precise instructions to them during the battle.


    He had refrained from using this ability earlier to better deceive Ace of Heart and the others. But Joker was far more intelligent than Ace of Heart, so Fang Xiu had adjusted his strategy ordingly.


    "Let¡¯s go. We need to find Joker''s true body," Fang Xiu said, standing up once again, ignoring the praise of his teammates.


    The battle wouldn¡¯t be truly over until they defeated Joker¡¯s real body. That was the only way to secure victory in this war.


    And after all, Joker wasn¡¯t just any opponent¡ªhe was a fifth-tier powerhouse.

 Chapter 262 - Thunder Retribution

    When everyone arrived, Fang Moli and Xiao Zhenhua were already locked inbat with Joker.


    The S-tier Specter they had been fightingy dead, reduced to nothing but ashes by the overwhelming energy of the Xuanyuan Sword.


    It was clear Fang Moli had sessfully prevented Xiao Zhenhua''s death and had even managed to kill the S-tier Specter once again.


    This time, the situation was much better than before.


    Last time, none of the captains had been able to break away from their battles to assist, leading to Xiao Zhenhua''s tragic death. Fang Moli had used hisst ounce of strength to y Joker¡¯s clone and then the Specter, leaving him exhausted and on the verge of copse, unable to continue fighting.


    But now, thanks to Fang Xiu¡¯s careful nning, the entire battle had shifted in their favor.


    The tide had turned. Not only did Fang Moli still have enough energy for one final strike, but there were also four other captains at his side.


    Joker red at the approaching Fang Xiu and the other captains, his expression darkening.


    "Fang Xiu! I never imagined my entire n would be ruined by you!" Joker¡¯s eyes zed with cold fury, his killing intent radiating off him in waves.


    At this point, Joker harbored an intense hatred for Fang Xiu.


    His n had seemed foolproof. ording to his calctions, Fang Moli should have already been ambushed and killed by Yan Changshou. Then, with the Pokers and Yan Changshou''s forces joining together, they would have easily overrun the headquarters.


    But now, because of Fang Xiu¡¯s interference, Fang Moli was still alive, Yan Changshou was dead, and Joker''s key subordinates had all gone silent. Especially Ace of Spades¡ªJoker hadn¡¯t seen or heard from him at all, and he had no idea whether the man was dead or alive.


    Even his n to lure out Fang Moli¡¯s final strike using a clone had been foiled by Fang Xiu.


    Joker had gone from being on the verge of victory to now standing utterly alone, all because of Fang Xiu.


    Surrounded by the captains, Joker''s expression grew as dark as a storm.


    Li Xiaoru, slightly tipsy from the adrenaline of battle, burst intoughter. "So, you''re Joker, huh? Your name suits you¡ªnow you''re just a clown all by yourself! Scared yet?"


    ¡°Scared?¡± Joker scoffed coldly. ¡°Ever since I became fifth tier, there has been nothing in this world that I fear!¡±


    Seeing Joker¡¯s arrogant demeanor, Fang Xiu couldn¡¯t help but think of the many other foes he had faced before¡ªthe Angel, the Wedding God, and so on.


    It was always the same. People believed they were invincible until they encountered something truly terrifying.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Joker¡¯s power surged as he unleashed the full force of his fifth-tier energy. His body glowed with a blood-red light, shining brilliantly in the darkness.


    ¡°Even if my n has failed, so what? As long as I¡¯m still standing, the Pokers will never lose!¡±


    Li Xiaoru and the other captains tensed up. Now that they were truly feeling the power of a fifth-tier opponent, they finally realized the vast gap between them.


    "You guys just need to hold him down, and I''ll finish him off with my final strike," Fang Moli said, sensing the strength in numbers on their side.


    His voice carried a subtle hint of arrogance as if he was already envisioning himself as the hero of the battle.


    However, none of the captains paid him any attention. Instead, they all turned to look at Fang Xiu.


    ¡°Fang Xiu, what¡¯s the n for this fight?¡± Li Xiaoru asked.


    Xiong Tianguang chimed in directly, ¡°Xiu, I¡¯m waiting for yourmand.¡±


    Luo Qingxin didn¡¯t speak, but her eyes were fixed on Fang Xiu, clearly awaiting his instructions as well.


    Fang Moli stood there, speechless. It felt like, once again, his moment of glory had been stolen from him.


    But then, Fang Xiu said something that left everyone confused.


    ¡°You guys fight however you want for now. This is my first time going through this part of the story.¡±


    The entire group froze, puzzled by what he meant. None of them had the faintest idea what Fang Xiu was talking about.


    But they didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it, because Joker had alreadyunched his attack.


    In truth, Fang Xiu hadn¡¯t experienced this moment before. He had yet to die at this specific point, so he couldn¡¯t foresee every oue.


    Still, Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t worried about causing any confusion with his cryptic words. After all, he knew he would eventually reset the timeline if things went south.


    ¡­


    Joker struck first, his body shing with lightning as he charged toward the captains, his fifth-tier power making the air crackle with energy.


    Li Xiaoru, Xiong Tianguang, and Luo Qingxin immediately sprang into action, each unleashing their own abilities in response.


    Arrows rained down from Li Xiaoru¡¯s summoned generals, Xiong Tianguang¡¯s mantis-warrior dashed forward with blinding speed, and Luo Qingxin conjured freezing winds that sought to encase Joker in ice.


    The battlefield exploded into chaos as the two sides shed, but even in the middle of the fiercebat, Fang Xiu remained calm, observing everything with a measured eye.


    He knew he didn¡¯t have perfect foresight at this moment, but he also knew his team was capable. They had faced tougher challenges before, and Joker, though powerful, was not invincible.


    *''Just hold out for a bit longer,''*Fang Xiu thought to himself, his mind already turning over potential strategies for the fight ahead.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The deafening sounds of battle echoed through the skies.


    Joker was fighting alone, holding off the four captains and Xiao Zhenhua all by himself.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu had wisely kept his distance, watching the battle unfold from afar.


    Even though Fang Xiu had mentally prepared himself, the power of a fifth-tier opponent still took him by surprise.


    Despite being outnumbered five to one, Joker held the upper hand. In fact, if he wasn¡¯t constantly wary of Fang Moli¡¯s Xuanyuan Sword, their group would have been utterly crushed by now.


    As Fang Xiu observed the fight, he gained a deeper understanding of the unique abilities that came with reaching the fifth tier. Just like how fourth-tier psychics had Domains, the fifth tier came with something far more terrifying: Mindre.


    Mindre seemed to have the ability topletely ignore the powers of other psychics. It possessed both immense offensive and defensive capabilities.


    Luo Qingxin¡¯s countless ice shards shattered harmlessly against the blood-red glow of Joker''s Mindre, not even scratching his physical body.


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s Heavenly Spear strikes were no better¡ªevery sh was blocked by that unyielding blood-colored barrier, as though it were an imprable wall of light.


    Even Xiong Tianguang¡¯s Dark Binding and Xiao Zhenhua¡¯s All Equal were useless against Joker.


    The Mindre negated everything thrown at him, making him nearly invincible, like a character in a game with both magic and physical immunity.


    The only thing capable of piercing Mindre was Fang Moli¡¯s Xuanyuan Sword. But without absolute certainty of sess, Fang Moli didn¡¯t dare activate the sword¡¯s full power. A single missed strike would mean their inevitable defeat.


    Suddenly, Joker shouted, "Domain Activated, Thunder Retribution!"


    At hismand, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and countless lightning bolts, like writhing dragons, roiled within the clouds.


    With a sharp downward thrust of his hand, Joker unleashed his next move.


    "Dragon Bolt!"


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    A massive lightning dragon descended from the heavens, crashing down toward the captains.


    Fang Moli and the others immediately activated their own Domains, desperately trying to fend off the attack.


    But just as they were about to withstand it, Joker¡¯s body erupted with blood-red energy, which fused with the lightning dragon, turning its color a deep, ominous crimson.


    The attack''s power surged, overwhelming their defenses.


    In a single moment, the fivebined Domains were shattered, and Fang Moli and hisrades were sent flying, bloodied and wounded.


    "We can''t drag this out any longer. I have to use my final strike now, or we¡¯ll never get another chance," Fang Moli said gravely, his face set with determination.


    The others exchanged nces, then, without hesitation, charged at Joker together.


    Their goal was clear: to hold him down and create an opportunity for Fang Moli¡¯s final blow.


    Watching this unfold, Fang Xiu shook his head. He could already see the oue¡ªthey were going to lose again.


    If they couldn¡¯t seize their chance early in the fight, what hope did they have now, injured and battered?


    It seemed like relying on the captains of the headquarters was futile. In the end, Fang Xiu would have to reset everything.


    Sure enough, Fang Moli eventually unleashed his final strike.


    The cost was devastating.


    Luo Qingxin sacrificed herself, transforming into pure ice to freeze half of Joker¡¯s body.


    Xiao Zhenhua¡¯s heart was pierced, but with his dying breath, he used both arms to hold Joker¡¯s legs in ce, pushing his ability to its absolute limit to restrict Joker¡¯s movements.


    As for Li Xiaoru and Xiong Tianguang, they had already died earlier in the battle.


    Even with these sacrifices, Fang Moli¡¯s final strike was off target.


    The two fourth-tier captains had given their lives to buy only a brief moment of restraint.


    Joker''s Mindre was simply too powerful¡ªtoo resilient for them to ovee.


    In the critical moment, Joker managed to dodge, and Fang Moli¡¯s sword only severed his arm.


    Joker lost an arm, but his life was never truly in danger.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">THUD!


    Fang Moli fell to his knees, his expression utterly defeated. He used the Xuanyuan Sword to prop himself up, his forehead dripping blood onto the ground.


    "Did we... lose?" he muttered to himself in despair.


    Meanwhile, Joker, though missing an arm, was consumed with wild, uncontrobleughter. The severed limb, unable to regenerate due to the power of the Xuanyuan Sword, was a minor inconvenience to him. He could always graft a new er.


    What mattered most was that he had won.


    "Hahaha... From now on, I reign as the strongest in the world!" Joker dered triumphantly.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu, who had been silent up until now, spoke calmly from his position.


    "So, is that the only line you know how to say?"


    The mocking words cut through Joker¡¯sughter, causing him to pause and re at Fang Xiu with venomous hatred.


    "You think you¡¯re funny, don¡¯t you?" Joker growled, his eyes narrowing. But Fang Xiu¡¯s expression remained unreadable, his face as calm as ever.


    Deep down, Joker couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling Fang Xiu¡¯s words stirred. But before he could act on that instinct, Fang Xiu was already preparing to reset the game once again.


    After all, it was just another failed run. There was no need to worry¡ªhe would simply start over and win the next time.

 Chapter 263 - He Knows I Know Hell Do Nothing

    Fang Xiu walked calmly into the battlefield, as if strolling through a peaceful garden. He casually stepped over the bodies of Li Xiaoru and the others, his expressionpletely unbothered.


    "Hmph! Fang Xiu, all of your helpers are dead! I¡¯d like to see what else you can rely on to fight me!" Joker sneered, brimming with arrogance.


    Fang Xiu sighed, shaking his head in mild exasperation, then summoned the Angel.


    And just like clockwork, the scene unfolded in a familiar way.


    "Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me! Sir, I¡¯m a Specter too! One of you! Ever since I was young, my dream¡­"


    "Your dream has been to be a part of the Other Side?" Fang Xiu interrupted calmly.


    Joker froze, shocked for a moment before nodding furiously. "Sir, you''re brilliant! I didn¡¯t expect you to know even my dreams!"


    "Yeah. I¡¯ve heard it enough times already. Now, die."


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The entire headquarters was obliterated as the Angel leveled everything to the ground.


    Fang Xiu had summoned the Angel again for a very specific reason¡ªhe wanted to repeat the same method he used when learning Taotie¡¯s abilities.


    He was curious if he could gain new skills by repeatedly dying and resetting while in the Angel''s presence.


    But so far, it didn¡¯t seem promising.


    The Angel was different from Taotie. The Angel attacked proactively, killing instantly.


    Taotie, on the other hand, didn¡¯t attack at all¡ªit merely consumed, and there was a brief window of time inside its belly to survive, which provided Fang Xiu the crucial opportunity to learn something.


    ¡­


    "Fang Moli, do not engage. Keep your distance and circle around Joker. Stay behind him at all times," Fang Xiu¡¯s calm voice echoed in Fang Moli¡¯s mind.


    Then, he gave specific orders to the other captains, instructing them on their roles in the battle.


    For a moment, Fang Xiu¡¯s mind worked in five different directions as he simultaneously controlled the actions of five people.


    To ensure wless execution, he even utilized his Nightmare ability, splitting his consciousness into five parts. He wrapped each piece in a separate dream, directing Fang Moli and the others remotely with pinpoint precision.


    He had to envelop his consciousness in the dreams; otherwise, the fragments of his mind would automatically try to rbine.


    Under Fang Xiu¡¯s control, the tide of the battle shifted drasticallypared to the first run. The fight now bordered on absurdity in its effectiveness.


    Fang Moli maintained a safe distance from Joker, endlessly circling around him. No matter what Joker did, Fang Moli stubbornly ensured he was always behind him, out of sight.


    This created an almostedic scene¡ªFang Moli was drawing circles, while Joker was spinning in ce, trying to keep Fang Moli within his line of sight.


    Joker could not afford to let Fang Moli out of his vision for even a second, because the threat of the Xuanyuan Sword was too great.


    Even though Joker wasn¡¯t entirely convinced Fang Moli wouldnd a hit, a deep sense of unease gnawed at him, forcing him to keep Fang Moli in view.


    So, the bizarre spectacle continued: Fang Moli ran in circles, and Joker was forced to spin around, trying to keep up with him.


    Meanwhile, the other four captains followed Fang Xiu¡¯s instructions to the letter,unching a relentless assault on Joker.


    Their teamwork was wless, their attacks flowing together like a well-rehearsed routine. It was as if they could anticipate Joker¡¯s every move before he even made it.


    Joker was feeling utterly stifled.


    While spinning in circles to keep Fang Moli in sight, he also had to fend off the coordinated attacks of the other four captains.


    Every time he moved to dodge one attack, another captain would strike from a different angle, perfectly timed to hit him as soon as hended.


    He tried multiple times to break through the encirclement, aiming to take out the captains one by one.


    But every time he made a move to attack, Fang Moli, who had been diligently running circles, would suddenly lift the Xuanyuan Sword, ready to strike at Joker''s blind spot.


    Joker¡¯s heart raced as Fang Moli suddenly lifted the Xuanyuan Sword.


    Fearing the worst, Joker quickly halted his own attack, only to see Fang Moli casually scratch his head with the hilt of the sword.


    "Fang Xiu!!" Joker roared in frustration. He knew all of this was Fang Xiu¡¯s doing¡ªhe was the one pulling the strings, orchestrating the entire battle. It wasn¡¯t really a fight against Fang Moli and the others, it was a duel with Fang Xiu himself.


    Fang Xiu was like a puppet master, controlling all five of his teammates with calcted precision.


    Joker realized he couldn¡¯t go on like this.


    Fang Moli¡¯s strange circling and sudden, meaningless gestures were making Joker so paranoid that he was stuck in a defensive posture, unable to attack.


    He knew the old saying: "If you defend too long, you will eventually lose the game." And with Fang Xiu watching his every move, Joker knew that the moment he slipped, Fang Xiu would surelymand Fang Moli to strike, and that strike would be fatal.


    His only chance was to eliminate Fang Xiu¡ªthe team¡¯s external brain. Without Fang Xiu, the entire strategy would copse.


    Using the corner of his eye, Joker nced in Fang Xiu¡¯s direction.


    His heart leapt when he noticed the distance. From this range, an attack could very well reach Fang Xiu.


    But then, a chilling thought hit him: <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">¡®Wait a second! He¡¯s the Foreseer! Could he really not foresee my attack? Why would he position himself at a distance where I could easily strike him? Unless¡­ this is a trap!¡¯


    Joker¡¯s mind raced, and he took a sharp breath.<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Damn it, I almost fell for it. That Foreseer is truly devious. He¡¯s the biggest threat to me right now. As long as he¡¯s alive, I¡¯m stuck ying by his rules¡­ But wait!''


    Suddenly, a new realization dawned on him.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">¡®What if¡­ What if Fang Xiu has already foreseen that I would figure out he¡¯s predicting my move? What if he knows that I¡¯m aware of his foresight and that I won¡¯t dare to attack him? Maybe that¡¯s why he¡¯s standing there so confidently¡ªbecause in the future he¡¯s seen, I hesitate! That would exin why he¡¯sfortable at this distance, calmly observing the battlefield and giving orders. And it makes sense¡ªFang Xiu is clearly using some sort of psychic method to control the others, and such a technique likely has a limited range. But damn it, which future is he predicting?! Should I attack or not?!¡¯


    Joker was spiraling into a state of madness. He now fully understood what Ace of Heart and the others must have felt when fighting against Fang Xiu.


    They had been paralyzed by constant overthinking, never sure of their own actions, always second-guessing themselves.


    The more they thought about Fang Xiu¡¯s predictions, the more hesitant they became, trapped in a web of indecision.


    Because how could they ever be sure? How could Joker be certain that the future Fang Xiu had foreseen wasn¡¯t the one where he chose to attack? Or maybe the future Fang Xiu had predicted was the one where he didn¡¯t attack, and thus, by standing there, Fang Xiu waspletely safe.


    It was maddening¡ªthe kind of loop that made a person doubt every choice they could possibly make.


    Humans like to believe that the future is in their hands, that they can control their actions. For instance, someone might habitually go to bed at midnight. One night, he or she decide to stay up until 1 AM instead. Does that count as changing the future? But what if, in the grand scheme of things, the future always ounted for them staying up that night?


    It was a paradox¡ªa question of whether one¡¯s choices were truly their own or if fate had already written the script. And now, Joker was caught in this very paradox.


    He began questioning everything. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''What if the future I¡¯m imagining right now is the exact one Fang Xiu has already seen? What if my hesitation to strike is part of the future he predicted? Is this choice even mine, or is it just a trapid out by fate¡ªor worse, by the Foreseer?''


    For the first time in his life, Joker found himself paralyzed by indecision.


    Every instinct told him to attack, yet every thought warned him that doing so would y right into Fang Xiu¡¯s hands.

 Chapter 264 - A Win, But Not the Whole Package

    In the end, Joker couldn''t help himself. He went straight for Fang Xiu, even though a part of him knew he was probably stepping right into Fang Xiu''s trap. But standing around and doing nothing didn¡¯t sit well with him either.


    The Thunder Sword in his grip suddenly ignited, bursting with a blinding light. Its de became engulfed in a sinister blood-red glow, thanks to the power of Mindre. He aimed it squarely at Fang Xiu.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    What happened next was downright bizarre. The Thunder Sword, originally just over a meter long, stretched out like something out of a nightmare, expanding to over forty meters in an instant. It lunged forward like a spear aimed straight at Fang Xiu, intending to skewer him.


    Fang Xiu, however, was prepared. He had seen thising from a mile away. The second Joker made his move, Fang Xiu mmed his hands together with force, and a tidal wave of pitch-ck Spiritual Energy exploded from him, like a volcano erupting in the middle of the battlefield.


    Suddenly, an eerie, otherworldly chant filled the air.


    For a brief moment, it was like the world hit the pause button. Silence hung heavy over the battlefield, save for the haunting chant that echoed in the distance.


    Then Joker saw something he knew he''d never forget. Even though he¡¯d faced it countless times across different timelines, it still hit him like a ton of bricks.


    Descending from above, like a permanent eclipse, the Angel made his appearance. his massive, shadowy silhouette blocked out the sky, radiating an overwhelming energy that smothered the entire area.


    This time, Joker didn¡¯t crumble like before. He realized this wasn¡¯t the Angel¡¯s true form, just a projection¡ªsimr to that Taotie image he''d dealt with earlier.


    Still, it shook him to his core.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''How''s Fang Xiu able to keep pulling out these god-tier projections, one after another?''


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The Angel¡¯s enormous, glowing eyes unleashed a holy light that tore through the night sky, bright as aet. It collided head-on with Joker¡¯s colossal Thunder Sword.


    The sh was intense. Holy light and blood-red lightning fought fiercely, and the crimson glow of the Mindre started to fade, almost like it was being eaten away.


    In the end, despite being just a projection, the Angel''s power still overwhelmed the Mindre.


    Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t shocked by this oue. He¡¯d run through this scenario more times than he could count.


    Just like ¡°wife¡± had the ability to bypass the Mindre and harm Joker directly, these high-tier entities, even in their weakened, projected forms, still carried enough weight to crush anything lower-tiered with ease.


    It was the same asparing modern firearms to swords¡ªold-school weapons might be deadly, but against a gun, they didn¡¯t stand a chance.


    A soldier surrounded by a hundred regr fighters might not be able to take down a single enemy. But give that soldier a gun, even with just one bullet, and suddenly he¡¯s a major threat, no matter how many surround him.


    Under the searing st of the Angel¡¯s holy light, Joker¡¯s Thunder Sword shattered into pieces, and the Mindre that protected his body cracked, leaving him vulnerable.


    The holy light punched straight through his chest.


    But that was it.


    Joker came away with just a light wound¡ªan inconvenient hole in his chest, but nothing he couldn¡¯t handle in his Specter form. It was more of an annoyance than anything else.


    The Angel¡¯s projection faded away, his energy nearly drained. He had been strong enough to give Fang Xiu a third-tier boost, letting him break through Joker¡¯s fifth-tier Mindre, but beyond that, his power was running on fumes, leaving him unable to deal any more significant damage.


    Still, it had done enough to rattle Joker. In his mind, anything below fifth tier was about as threatening as a gnat. He always thought that unless his Mindre was totally spent, there wasn¡¯t a single thing that could harm him, except maybe the legendary Xuanyuan Sword.


    Now, the sharp, burning pain in his chest had slowed him down.


    And Fang Xiu, who had rehearsed for this moment a thousand times over, wasn¡¯t about to let it slip through his fingers. Without wasting a second, he called out to Fang Moli and the others to take their shot.


    Luo Qingxin didn¡¯t waste a second. She channeled everyst drop of her Spiritual Energy, her lips parting just enough to release a breath so cold it felt like it could freeze everyone''s soul.


    Joker was instantly caught in its icy grip. Frost began to coat his body inyers, but his Mindre held strong, shielding him from any real damage.


    That didn¡¯t matter to Luo Qingxin, though. She wasn¡¯t aiming to hurt him¡ªjust stop him. Even for a single second would be enough.


    And it worked. At the cost of draining herselfpletely, Joker¡¯s movements were frozen in ce for a brief moment, enough time for the other captains to unleash their coordinated attack.


    Joker¡¯s eyes widened in horror as the realization hit him¡ªhe had underestimated the situation and was now trapped in Fang Xiu¡¯s carefullyid n.


    ¡°No!¡± Joker shouted, his face twisting in panic. But it wasn¡¯t the onught of attacks that terrified him¡ªit was Fang Moli, standing tall with the radiating Xuanyuan Sword raised high.


    This time, there was no hesitation. Fang Moli¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly, his expression as stoic as stone. ¡°This is the end¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cut the dramatics and just finish it already!¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s sharp voice echoed in Fang Moli¡¯s mind, shutting him down mid-sentence.


    It wasn¡¯t that Fang Xiu was impatient or couldn¡¯t handle Fang Moli¡¯s theatrics; they had literally died before from drawing things out too long. They weren¡¯t about to make the same mistake twice.


    The sudden interruption left Fang Moli looking like he¡¯d been pped across the face, but it didn¡¯t stop him from acting.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">WHOOSH!


    The golden energy of the Xuanyuan Sword red to life as he swung it forward.


    *¡®It¡¯s game over, Joker,¡¯*Fang Moli thought, his mind quiet as the sword¡¯s energy struck.


    The Mindre around Joker shattered like ss,pletely disintegrating under the force of the blow.


    A massive gash opened across Joker¡¯s chest, and the power of the Xuanyuan Sword clung to the wound, preventing it from healing.


    Joker¡¯s life force drained away rapidly. He crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud, unable to get up. The look on his face said it all¡ªhe knew it was over.


    Fang Xiu, watching the once-feared Joker now lying helpless, felt a wave of relief. After countless death resets and endless practice, the fight had finally gone exactly how he nned.


    With Joker down, Fang Moli started gearing up for his victory speech.


    "No one walks away after being struck by the Xuanyuan Sword. You¡¯re no differe¡ª"


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you all with me to the grave if it¡¯s thest thing I do!¡± Joker¡¯s voice, filled with hate and desperation, interrupted Fang Moli¡¯s grand speech yet again. His face twisted with fury as he used thest bit of strength he had to ignite his Mindre.


    Joker¡¯s body began to swell grotesquely, his skin bulging like it was filled with bubbling tumors.


    The blood-red Mindre around him flickered like a dying lightbulb, sparking and crackling as it built up power.


    ¡°Crap! He¡¯s gonna blow!¡± someone yelled.


    Panic spread like wildfire as everyone tried to get the hell out of there.


    But they didn¡¯t have enough time. No one had ounted for the terrifying scale of a fifth-tier being¡¯s self-destruction¡ªor, more urately, the catastrophic destruction caused by exploding Mindre.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    A blinding red light erupted from Joker¡¯s body, like a nuke going off. In the blink of an eye, everything within a ten-thousand-meter radius was consumed by the red glow, swallowed up in its fiery destruction.


    Fang Moli and the others tried to throw up their Domains for protection, but they were running on empty after the battle. And against a fifth-tier Mindre explosion? A Domain might as well have been a paper shield.


    As expected, they didn¡¯t stand a chance. Everyone was wiped out. Fang Xiu included.


    After all, when a fifth-tier powerhouse explodes, releasing every bit of their Mindre at once, nothing can survive¡ªnot in the st radius.


    Well, nothing except the Xuanyuan Sword.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Once again, Fang Xiu resurrected, his brow furrowed in frustration. Joker¡¯s self-destruction had caught himpletely off guard. What was supposed to be a hard-won victory felt tainted. It was, at best, a draw¡ªmutual destruction.


    In his experience, fourth-tier psychics and below didn¡¯t possess the ability to self-destruct.


    Psychics were still human, not living bombs.


    Sure, they could push their Domain power to its limits, but the worst that could happen was burning out their bodies, not blowing up. It was simr to overexerting muscles to the point of injury¡ªnot instant death.


    But Joker? He was different. Right before his final breath, hepressed his Mindre to the absolute limit and then¡ª<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM¡ªinstant explosion.

 Chapter 265 - In the Name of the Foreseer

    Fang Xiu sat deep in thought.


    *''How the hell do I stop Joker from blowing himself up?''*He mulled it over.


    At present, the Xuanyuan Sword was the only thing capable of killing Joker, but with Joker¡¯s Specterized body, his life force was absurdly resilient. Even a killing blow from the Xuanyuan Sword left Joker with just enough time to trigger that devastating self-destruction.


    After a few minutes of pondering, Fang Xiu decided he needed to run more tests. His n was to attack immediately after the Xuanyuan Sword struck, hopefully preventing Joker from having that final moment to blow himself up.


    So, the scenario yed out again.


    Joker, falling right into Fang Xiu''s traps once more, was struck by the Xuanyuan Sword. The de cut deep, bringing him down.


    He hit the ground hard, rage burning in his eyes.


    ¡°I will die, but I¡¯ll take all of you dow¡ª¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Before Joker could finish his threat, Fang Xiu unleashed everything he had left. Hemanded the team to push through their exhaustion and deliver onest full-force attack.


    Joker was bombarded by theirbined strikes. But even then, it wasn¡¯t enough to stop him. His Mindre hadn¡¯t been fully drained, and despite his impending death, as long as some remained, he could fend off the attacks and then detonate.


    Fang Xiu ran through the sequence several more times. No matter how much he tweaked the strategy, the oue never changed. Joker always managed to self-destruct, bringing everyone down with him.


    It felt like an impossible cycle, as if fate had cemented the result in stone.


    For a split second, Fang Xiu genuinely believed he was stuck in a no-win situation, caught in a never-ending reset loop.


    With each failure, Fang Xiu''s frustration deepened. He had always wondered if he¡¯d one day encounter a true deadlock¡ªa scenario where no amount of resets could lead to victory.


    He had imagined running into a Specter so powerful that it would trap him in its twisted Domain, leaving him no escape or chance of sess.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to face such a challenge so soon, and not in the way he thought. This wasn¡¯t a situation where he couldn¡¯t defeat the enemy. He could take Joker down¡ªhe had already done it multiple times. But the problem was stopping Joker from detonating afterward. It wasn¡¯t a deadlock in the traditional sense.


    There WAS a way out. He could always just run.


    He could leave Joker to the captains, turn tail, and flee while the rest of them kept Joker upied.


    But that wasn¡¯t an option Fang Xiu liked. Running would mean throwing away everything he had fought for. All the death resets, all the pain, would be for nothing.


    He¡¯d lose the trust and support of the Pokers and the headquarters. They¡¯d never follow someone who abandoned them when things got tough.


    But if he DID seed? He¡¯d gain their loyalty and support, solidifying his influence with both the Pokers and the headquarters. His voice would carry weight¡ªpeople would have to listen.


    Not that any of that was what drove him¡ªFang Xiu had never cared about power, control, or prestige. No, what he cared about was making everyst Specter in the world suffer.


    Everything he did was for that one purpose¡ªto exact revenge, to release his rage upon the world, and most importantly, for his "wife!"


    ¡°I can die here ten thousand times, but I will never run away, not even once,¡± Fang Xiu murmured, almost as if talking to himself. His silver hair hung low, casting shadows over his face, but in that darkness, one of his eyes glowed faintly with the eerie red light.


    ¡°Xiu¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Chuxia asked, her voice shaky, an inexplicable chill creeping down her spine.


    Something about Fang Xiu¡¯s presence felt different¡ªunnerving.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied calmly, his expression shifting back to normal so smoothly, it was as if the brief moment of unease had never existed.


    This level of control over his emotions had be second nature to him over time.


    After all, if he couldn¡¯t handle his emotions, his "wife" wouldn¡¯t have let him step foot outside their home.


    ¡°Hey, Xiu, where are you going? We¡¯re supposed to head to the meeting, aren¡¯t we?¡± Xiao Chuxia asked, confused as she noticed him suddenly changing direction.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to find something that¡¯ll break this stalemate.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia stared, baffled, but she chose not to press further. She followed closely behind him as they wandered aimlessly through the headquarters.


    Xiao Chuxia had no clue what Fang Xiu was looking for, and truthfully, neither did Fang Xiu himself.


    All he knew was that continuing down the same path would only lead to the same oue. He needed to introduce something new into the equation, something unpredictable. But what? He had no idea just yet.


    As time passed, the chaotic battle resumed without Fang Xiu¡¯s involvement. Joker¡¯s manicughter rang through the air, echoing ominously.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ from now on¡­¡± Joker¡¯s voice boomed.


    But Fang Xiu remained unphased, still focused on his search.


    Xiao Chuxia, on the other hand, was pale with fear, clinging to Fang Xiu''s arm. ¡°Xiu, what are we gonna do? The headquarters is about to fall. Is there even a chance I can still join the Pokers?¡± she asked, her voice trembling, clearly scared out of her mind.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t answer, his attention fixed elsewhere.


    Growing more frantic, Xiao Chuxia whispered, ¡°Xiu, I heard the Pokers are all half-human, half-Specter. They¡¯re insane! If they capture me¡­ I don¡¯t even want to think about what they¡¯d do to me. We should just run, okay?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t get the chance to run,¡± a cold voice suddenly interrupted.


    It was Joker.


    Fresh off his victory, Joker stood tall, his confidence brimming. His minions gathered around him as he slowly began to encircle Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia.


    Joker hadn¡¯t forgotten about Fang Xiu¡¯s involvement in exposing his ns. If not for Fang Xiu, the headquarters would have been ashes long ago.


    ¡°We¡¯re done for! We¡¯repletely doomed!¡± Xiao Chuxia¡¯s voice cracked, her body trembling uncontrobly as she clung even tighter to Fang Xiu.


    ¡°The great Foreseer, Fang Xiu¡­ you can either submit or die,¡± Joker sneered, looking down at Fang Xiu like a predator eyeing its cornered prey.


    Fang Xiu acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard a word. His eyes were scanning their surroundings, his mind still racing for a way to break this frustrating cycle.


    The Pokers had already won. Without the captains, the headquarters¡¯ defenses were crumbling fast.


    Joker¡¯s forces were ughtering what little remained of the defenders with savage brutality. No one was spared¡ªeven those passed out from the alcohol fumes were yanked up by their hair and beheaded without mercy.


    Fang Xiu frowned slightly. Not because of the bloodshed, but because Xiao Chuxia¡¯s tears were now soaking into his back as she cried softly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± she whimpered, her voice barely a whisper.


    The carnage unfolding around them was overwhelming, with bodies piling up, and each second only added to the death toll.


    Seeing Fang Xiu ignore him, Joker¡¯s smug grin faded, reced by a dark scowl.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve chosen death after all? Very well. Kill them both!¡± Joker ordered. Several of his people stepped forward, weapons drawn, their expressions twisted with sadistic glee.


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s trembling voice broke through Fang Xiu¡¯s thoughts, her head buried in his side as she muttered over and over, ¡°Just sleep¡­ sleep, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    She was trying to convince herself that falling into unconsciousness¡ªlike the lifeless bodies scattered around them¡ªwould spare her from the pain and terror of dying.


    But those words triggered something in Fang Xiu¡¯s mind.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Sleep¡­ that¡¯s it!''


    The variable he had been searching for was right in front of him the whole time¡ª<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">sleep.


    Specifically, the dream world.


    Ace of Clubs had already plunged most of the headquarters¡¯ forces into a deep, drunken sleep earlier.


    These weren¡¯t just ordinary people either; they were seasoned soldiers and psychics, individuals with mental resilience so strong that, ironically, it made them perfect targets for deeper deceptions.


    The stronger their minds, the greater the potential for maniption.


    And the more someone could be deceived, the more power of lie could be harvested from them.


    That was the breakthrough. The power of those lies¡ªharvested from deep within their dreams¡ªwould be the key to finally breaking through this endless deadlock.


    It wasn¡¯t just about fighting anymore. The battlefield had to move to a different realm entirely: the dreamscape.


    A n began to form in Fang Xiu¡¯s mind. He would tap into the collective dream energy of the headquarters, use the very fear and deception from their minds to create a weapon. One that could destroy Joker before he ever had the chance to self-destruct.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">In the name of the Foreseer, I will harvest the lies and forge my victory.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s mind raced, piecing together how it would all work.


    With the right conditions, he could harness enough lie energy from those trapped in their dreams, bending reality in his favor within the dream world and using that energy to end the battle for good.


    This was the best shot he had. If this didn¡¯t work, his only other option was to continue dying, again and again, hoping to gather enough power from different Specter Gods along the way to somehow change the oue.

 Chapter 266 - An Indecent

    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Fang Xiu summoned the projection of the Angel once again.


    ¡°Sir please, don¡¯t kill me¡­ I am¡­¡± Joker stammered, his voice trembling in fear.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SLAP!


    Fang Xiu¡¯s hand cut through the air,nding hard across Joker¡¯s face, stopping him mid-sentence. He had no patience left for Joker¡¯s pathetic excuses anymore. The same groveling words again and again had worn thin.


    Joker, already paralyzed by fear, didn¡¯t dare resist. He epted the p in silence, too terrified to even flinch.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Chuxia stood frozen like a statue, her eyes wide in sheer terror as she stared at the Angel¡¯s overwhelming presence. It was as if her soul had fled her body, leaving herpletely immobilized.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The sound of the Specter¡¯s hymns roared in the background, shaking the very earth as the entire headquarters crumbled into ruin once again.


    As Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia walked through the debris, Fang Xiu asked abruptly, ¡°Xiao Chuxia, what¡¯s the maximum amount of lie energy you can absorb at once?¡±


    She blinked, startled by the question. ¡°Xiu¡­ why are you asking me that?¡±


    ¡°Just answer.¡±


    After a moment of thought, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure¡­ but I¡¯ve never hit my limit before, no matter how much I¡¯ve absorbed.¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded, deep in thought. ¡°Good. Come and sleep with me.¡±


    Suddenly, Xiao Chuxia¡¯s eyes lit up with a strange excitement. ¡°Xiu, are you¡­ going to let me experience what it¡¯s like to bepletely filled?¡±


    As soon as the words left her mouth, her face turned bright red. ¡°I-I mean with lie energy! Don¡¯t get the wrong idea!¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Fang Xiu muttered, his patience wearing thin. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear anything that isn¡¯t rted to the battle. Now,e here and lie down.¡±


    ¡°W-What?!¡± Xiao Chuxia gasped, her face now a mix of shock and embarrassment. ¡°First, you say you didn¡¯t misunderstand, and now you¡¯re saying that? How is lying down rted to the battle?!¡±


    Fang Xiu ignored her protests. His attention was focused on the chaos around them¡ªthe Specters running rampant, the twisted figures of the Pokers closing in, taking full advantage of the destruction to wreak havoc.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Thousands of ethereal swords appeared in the sky, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!


    Like a deadly downpour, the swords rained down on both Specters and the Pokers alike.


    In an instant, the battlefield became a graveyard of mangled bodies, severed limbs, and cold steel buried deep in the blood-soaked ground.


    Fang Xiu scanned the area, ensuring they were rtively safe, at least for now.


    To be certain, he activated several more abilities stored in his ring, summoning tens of thousands of soldiers who formed an unbreakable human wall around the perimeter.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said firmly, ¡°Lie down here. Sleep with me.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s face twisted in horror. ¡°Xiu, I get that you¡¯re in a hurry, but seriously?! Shouldn¡¯t our priority be helping with the battle, not¡­ this? And besides, this ce is way too exposed!¡±


    ¡°Fighting is pointless,¡± Fang Xiu replied, walking toward her with steady determination. ¡°Right now, you just need to follow my orders.¡±


    Panic flooded Xiao Chuxia¡¯s mind, but then something clicked. ¡°Wait¡­ you said fighting is pointless. Does that mean you¡¯ve seen the future? Are we going to lose to the Pokers?¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded.


    Her face paled even more. She knew that if Fang Xiu¡¯s foresight was telling him they were doomed, there was no hope left for them. He had never been wrong before. If the headquarters fell, they¡¯d be facing nothing but death and destruction.


    Suddenly, Xiao Chuxia thought she understood. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Is Fang Xiu seekingfort in life¡¯s final pleasures?''


    If the future was sealed, she get it that maybe he wanted to make the most of the present, to find some final joy before everything came crashing down.


    And of course, who else would he turn to? She was young, attractive, and they were alone together amidst the ruins.


    It was like one of those stories where people facing death indulged in onest moment of passion.


    Honestly, she couldn¡¯t even me him. She didn¡¯t want to die with regrets either.


    She nced at Fang Xiu¡¯s face, her heart racing. He was strong, handsome¡ªthis wouldn¡¯t be the worst way to spend herst moments.


    Nervously, she bit her lip.


    ¡°Xiu, I¡­ I¡¯ve never done this before,¡± she stammered, her cheeks burning. ¡°But if we¡¯re about to die anyway¡­ I don¡¯t want to die with regrets. So, if you want¡­ you can¡­ you can¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her trembling confession, Fang Xiu reached her.


    She felt his overwhelming presence, the sheer power radiating from him. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with what was about to happen.


    She closed her eyes, bracing herself, and whispered, ¡°Be gentle.¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">THUD!


    In one swift motion, Fang Xiu brought his hand down sharply on the back of her neck, knocking her out cold.


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s bashful expression froze in ce, her eyes rolling back as she fainted on the spot.


    "Such a nuisance," Fang Xiu muttered under his breath, a frown crossing his face.


    Hey down beside her, staring at the sky while contemting her odd behavior.


    He couldn¡¯t help thinking that her artificial personality must have some serious ws. Or how else could someone spin such an absurd narrative in just a few seconds?


    It made him wonder¡ªwhat exactly had Xiao Chuxia based her persona on? He suspected it was heavily influenced by movies and TV shows.


    After all, media was the easiest way to soak up personality traits. Judging by her over-the-top behavior, it seemed highly likely her inspiration hade from the most clich¨¦, brainless soap operas.


    This, in turn, revealed something else: Xiao Chuxia¡¯s real personality couldn¡¯t be too far off from her constructed one. People who gravitated toward shallow dramas usually shared simr traits with the characters they idolized.


    Closing his eyes, Fang Xiu activated Nightmare''s ability, entering Xiao Chuxia¡¯s dream world.


    The moment he stepped in, he was greeted by a scene so... <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">indecent, even Fang Xiu¡ªnormally unbothered by most things¡ªfound himself ufortable.


    Her dream had picked up right where her wild imagination left off, continuing the bizarre storyline she had concocted just moments before being knocked out.


    With a snap of his fingers, Fang Xiu forcefully ended the inappropriate dream.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SNAP!


    Xiao Chuxia jolted awake,nding unceremoniously on her rear, her face filled with confusion as she blinked up at him.


    When her eyes met Fang Xiu¡¯s, she broke into an awkward smile, almost relieved to see him.


    ¡°Why did you run off? Come back over here!¡± she called out, not fully aware of where she was.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SNAP!


    The realization of what she had been dreaming about crashed down on her. Her face turned beet red, and she stared at the ground, too mortified to speak. ¡°Xiu¡­ I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it! I wasn¡¯t trying to¡­ you know! You didn¡¯t exin yourself clearly, and my mind just¡ª¡±


    "Shut your mouth," Fang Xiu cut in, his voice icy. ¡°There¡¯s no time for your filthy thoughts. Dream time may move slower than reality, but we still can¡¯t afford to waste even a second. Stop with your nonsense and focus.¡±


    *''FILTHY?''*Xiao Chuxia froze, utterly floored by the word. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Aren¡¯t guys the ones usually caught thinking indecent thoughts, not the other way around?''


    Before she could muster a protest, the dream world around them began to shift.


    The ground beneath them fell away, and they found themselves floating in the middle of a cosmic expanse, surrounded by a vast array of stars ands.


    Each of thoses represented a dream world, swirling with strange, vivid colors and surreal images.


    ¡°This... this is incredible,¡± Xiao Chuxia gasped, her eyes wide with awe as she took in the new surroundings. ¡°Why is it so different fromst time? Is this because you¡¯ve advanced to the third tier?¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded. "Exactly. Since reaching the third tier, all of my abilities have improved, including Nightmare."


    But Xiao Chuxia didn¡¯t realize that this new dream universe wasn¡¯t just about aesthetics. The real power came from Fang Xiu¡¯s ability to now do something much more impressive: unite every dreamscape into one vast, stable dream world.


    He couldn¡¯t fully replicate the power of the original Nightmare, whose dream world could affect reality, but this level of control was enough for what he had in mind.


    Fang Xiu stretched out his hands and began to slowly bring them together.


    Suddenly, a thunderous rumble shook the dreamscape. The stars ands quivered as, one by one, they collided in the center of the cosmic expanse.


    The boundaries between the dream worlds began to dissolve, merging into a single, unified dream.

 Chapter 267 - Targeted Lies

    An explosion of energy, like the birth of the universe itself, erupted, sending shockwaves rippling outward.


    Everything in their path was engulfed by the massive surge of power, including Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia.


    When Xiao Chuxia finally gathered her senses, she stood there,pletely stunned.


    ¡°This¡­ this is Shangjing?¡± she whispered in disbelief, her eyes wide as she took in the surroundings.


    They were now standing in the middle of a bustling city center, skyscrapers towering above them, cars zipping past, and the familiar hum of city life filling the air.


    Behind her, Fang Xiu¡¯s voice, calm and steady, broke through her confusion.


    ¡°This is a perfect replica of the real world,¡± he said, observing the scenery with a focused gaze.


    ¡°A dream world that looks exactly like reality?¡± Xiao Chuxia repeated, still reeling from the sudden shift. ¡°Xiu, what are you nning to do?¡±


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t answer her right away. His sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, taking in every detail.


    ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± he muttered, more to himself than to her. ¡°The dream¡¯s coverage is still too small, and the headquarters is too isted¡ªtoo few people nearby.¡±


    With a deliberate thought, he began burning all the fear-based emotions he had been collecting.


    The raw energy surged through him as he used it to forcefully expand the Nightmare dreamscape, pushing its boundaries far beyond their natural limits.


    The hyper-realistic dream grew exponentially, spreading outward like a wave, consuming everything in its path.


    Buildings, streets, and lives all became part of the dream.


    Momentster, the expansion reached its peak, covering an area about one-tenth the size of Shangjing, effectively enveloping over a million people within the dreamscape.


    This came at a cost. Fang Xiu knew that Nightmare would be weakened after this, and it would need time to recover from the strain.


    But for him, that didn¡¯t matter. As long as this served his immediate purpose, it was worth it.


    The real world remained unaware of what was happening.


    The headquarters¡¯ remote location kept the battle¡¯s chaos hidden from the eyes of the city¡¯s residents. Had they been fighting in the heart of Shangjing, no one within miles would have been able to sleep tonight.


    ¡°Xiu, what are you nning? You still haven¡¯t answered me,¡± Xiao Chuxia pressed, her curiosity now tinged with a growing sense of unease.


    Fang Xiu turned toward her, his gaze cold and intense. His eyes bore into hers, sending a chill down her spine as if he were seeing right through her.


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s face instantly flushed red as memories from her earlier dream surfaced. The embarrassment was almost unbearable, and she found it impossible to meet his eyes.


    ¡°I have two questions for you,¡± Fang Xiu said, his voice sharp and direct, snapping her out of her awkward thoughts. ¡°First: does the lie energy you absorb have toe from lies you tell yourself?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia blinked, momentarily confused, and then she shook her head. ¡°No, I can attach my Spiritual Energy to someone else who tells lies. As long as they lie, I can absorb the lie energy.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Fang Xiu continued, his mind clearly racing, ¡°if you attach your Spiritual Energy to me, and I deceive others, you¡¯ll still be able to collect the energy?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia nodded again, though now with a bit of nervousness creeping in. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Xiu¡­ you¡¯re not going to start lying just to help me, are you?¡±


    Fang Xiu ignored the question, moving on to his second point. ¡°Second question: how much lie energy would it take to help me break through to the fourth tier?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°The fourth tier?!¡± she gasped. ¡°You just barely reached the third tier, and now you want to aim for the fourth?¡±


    She shook her head frantically. ¡°Xiu, I¡¯d love to help, but no amount of lie energy can make that happen right now. My Spiritual Energy isn¡¯t strong enough to handle it. If I had that much power, I¡¯d be at the fourth tier myself already.¡±


    Fang Xiu fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. ¡°So it¡¯s not the lie energy that¡¯s the issue, but rather the limitations of your Spiritual Energy?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia nodded again, her expression serious. ¡°Exactly. Helping you break through to the third tier was one thing, but advancing to the fourth tier is an entirely different challenge. The power of lies alone isn¡¯t enough for that. Thest time I helped you, you were already at the peak of the second tier. You were just a hair¡¯s breadth away from breaking through to the third.¡±


    ¡°I was able to help you push past that bottleneck, but it wasn¡¯t because of the lie energy alone. Your own Spiritual Energy had already umted enough for the breakthrough,¡± she exined.


    ¡°So, when you helped me reach the third tier, you weren¡¯t increasing my Spiritual Energy with the lie energy,¡± Fang Xiu said, piecing it together. ¡°You were simply helping me ovee the final barrier, but the strength for the advance came from my own umtion.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia nodded, continuing her exnation. "Exactly. Breaking through and growing in strength are twopletely different things. It¡¯s like height¡ªif you¡¯re 1.7 meters and want to appear 1.8 meters tall, you can just wear high heels. But if you¡¯re 1 meter tall and want to reach 1.8 meters, you¡¯ll have to grow naturally. You¡¯ve pulled all these people into the dream world, but if it¡¯s to break through to the fourth tier, it¡¯s impossible. Even if you dragged the entire poption of Shangjing into the dream, my Spiritual Energy wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡±


    Fang Xiu listened closely, realizing his initial n had fallen through. His hopes of using Xiao Chuxia¡¯s ability to boost himself to the fourth tier were dashed.


    Fang Xiu knew his strength was already extraordinary for a third-tier psychic; with his Specter God projections, he could match or even surpass some fourth-tier psychics.


    However, he had been aiming higher, reasoning that if he could achieve the fourth tier, even a weak Domain would allow him to summon far stronger Specter God projections. That would be more than enough to crush Joker.


    But now, with his n rendered impossible, he had to switch gears.


    ¡°What about helping a peak fourth-tier psychic break through to the fifth tier?¡± Fang Xiu asked, thinking ahead.


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s face grew conflicted. ¡°Breaking through from the fourth to the fifth tier is still just a bottleneck issue, but¡­ while breaking from the second to third tier is like smashing through a windowpane, breaking from the fourth to the fifth is more like shattering bulletproof ss.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So, can it be done? Would the lie energy from a million people be enough?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia hesitated, but she nodded slightly. ¡°If it¡¯s just to break the bottleneck, my Spiritual Energy might handle it. The lie energy from a million people would be close. But remember, we¡¯re in a dream world. Here, the gathering rate is ten to one. To get the equivalent of a million people¡¯s lie energy, we¡¯d need at least ten million people in the dream. That¡¯s nearly impossible.¡±


    Fang Xiu considered this carefully. ¡°Bringing ten million people into the dream world is definitely unrealistic,¡± he agreed. ¡°But you mentioned that stronger minds generate more lie energy. The headquarters has elite soldiers and several psychics. The lie energy from them should be much more potent than from ordinary people.¡±


    ¡°True, but not enough,¡± Xiao Chuxia replied. ¡°The people who¡¯ve fallen asleep so far are mostly soldiers or low-tier psychics. The higher-tier psychics¡ªthird tier and above¡ªare still awake. At most, we¡¯ve gathered the equivalent of a million people¡¯s worth of lie energy. We¡¯re still short by nine million.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s brow furrowed. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Is this approach another dead end? Are we really out of options? Now I can only die repeatedly and hoping for some miraculous breakthrough?''


    Just as he began to resign himself to that grim solution, Xiao Chuxia¡¯s face brightened with excitement. "Wait! I think there¡¯s a way to reduce the number of people we need!"


    Fang Xiu¡¯s eyes locked onto hers, intrigued. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Targeted lies!¡± she dered, her voice full of enthusiasm.


    Fang Xiu tilted his head, unfamiliar with the term. ¡°Precise lies?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes! If we can¡¯t increase the quantity of lie energy, we can boost its quality. The more specific and intense the lie, the stronger the energy we can harvest from it. You want to help a fourth-tier psychic break through to the fifth, right? Then we craft a specific, powerful lie around that idea. If we can convince people to believe deeply that you have the ability to help a fourth-tier psychic reach the fifth tier, the lie energy generated will be much more potent. That way, we won¡¯t need as many people!¡±

 Chapter 268 - Call Me the Foreseer

    A spark of realization shed in Fang Xiu¡¯s eyes. Seemed like he wouldn¡¯t have to go through endless cycles of death to rack up experience anymore.


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s was right: using targeted lies could help them a lot in this battle.


    Lies are everywhere, every single day¡ªpeople throw them around without a second thought. But most of the time, they¡¯re so scattered they don¡¯t really change anything.


    However, when lies are concentrated and aimed in the right direction, they can actually influence reality.


    That old saying "a lie told a thousand times bes the truth"? Yeah, turns out, it¡¯s not just a figure of speech.


    Think about it like this: people lie all the time, about all sorts of things, but it doesn¡¯t shift the world on its axis. Now, if you took 10 million people and got them to all push the same lie¡ªsay, tro is toxic"¡ªthen before long,tro would be seen as deadly. And even if scientists came out swinging with evidence that it¡¯s safe, people would still be suspicious. That¡¯s the power of a focused lie.


    By funneling the force of multiple lies into a single point, you can actually warp the way people perceive the world.


    "I get it now," Fang Xiu said, determination in his voice. "Let¡¯s get moving. Attach your Spiritual Energy to me and get ready to absorb the power of these lies."


    Xiao Chuxia still wasn¡¯t sure what Fang Xiu had in mind, but she went with it. She linked her Spiritual Energy to him as instructed.


    And then, the magic happened.


    In the dream world, every single screen flickered to life with Fang Xiu¡¯s face on it. TVs,puter monitors, phones, and even the huge digital billboards in the city center¡ªall of them broadcasted Fang Xiu¡¯s image.


    This dream world was practically a mirror of reality, so the two million people inside it were going about their daily routines as if nothing was out of the ordinary. They were working, studying, shopping¡ªliving life as usual.


    But that was all part of Fang Xiu¡¯s n. He needed them to believe they were still in the real world for his trick tond. A lie only works when people don¡¯t catch on. If even one person figured out it was a hoax, everything would unravel.


    As Fang Xiu¡¯s face popped up on every device, people couldn¡¯t help but take notice.


    ¡°What the heck is this?¡±


    ¡°Did my phone get hacked?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s this guy?¡±


    Confusion rippled through the masses, as they quickly realized something bigger was going on¡ªevery single screen in the city was showing the exact same thing. Whether it was in their hand or on a massive outdoor screen, Fang Xiu was everywhere.


    The weirdness of it all cranked up the chatter among the people.


    Then, Fang Xiu spoke.


    "You can call me the Foreseer."


    That single line sent shockwaves through the crowd.


    ¡°The Foreseer? Is this some kind of prank?¡±


    ¡°I thought the government hijacked the airwaves for an emergency or something, but instead we get this wannabe prophet?¡±


    ¡°Haha, this is gold! What¡¯s next, he¡¯s ying Werewolf and trying to find the bad guy? ¡®Cause I¡¯m the Alpha Wolf, baby!¡±


    Fang Xiu could hear their reactions clear as day, but he wasn¡¯t phased. He pressed on, ¡°Specters are real. To fight them, the world¡¯s governments formed the Global Specter Incident Joint Investigation and Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Support Bureau, AKA the Investigation Bureau.¡±


    The crowd¡¯s confusion only grew louder.


    ¡°Specters? Man, the only thing haunting me is my 12-hour workday. No ghost could be scarier than that.¡±


    "That bureau¡¯s name is so long it sounds like my grandpa trying to remember his grocery list!"


    ¡°This guy¡¯s definitely some kind of hacker. Where are the cops when you need ''em?¡±


    On the screen, Fang Xiu remained perfectlyposed as he continued, ¡°The Investigation Bureau isposed of psychics¡ªindividuals with abilities that go beyond what normal humans canprehend. Only psychics have the power to fight Specters. I happen to be one of them. My ability? I can foresee the future.


    ¡°Today, the Bureau has seized control of the entire nationalwork to deliver a critical prophecy. Using my foresight, I have seen that in exactly ten minutes, the Specter Gate will fully open. When that happens, Specters will flood into our world and humanity will face its doom.


    ¡°I¡¯m urging everyone to seek shelter immediately at the Investigation Bureau headquarters. The address is disyed below.¡±


    With that, the broadcast cut off, and everyone¡¯s devices returned to normal. But the people? Far from it. The city of Shangjing erupted into pure chaos.


    ¡°The end of the world? Specters will destroy us in ten minutes?¡±


    Most of the poption dismissed Fang Xiu¡¯s message as nothing more than a hoax. However, a few more cautious individuals weren¡¯t so quick to ignore it.


    They figured that whoever could hijack the nationalwork probably had some authority, and if there was even a shred of truth in what was said, it was worth being prepared.


    Those folks started making their way to the headquarters, just in case.


    As expected, the reactions from the dream inhabitants were all over the ce, but Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t surprised.


    People¡¯s responses reflected their personalities, shaped by their life experiences.


    This dream, after all, was a replica of reality, formed while these people slept, so their reactions were likely what they¡¯d do in the real world if faced with the same scenario.


    In this dream world, logic wasn¡¯t king. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">What Fang Xiu said wouldn¡¯t hold up under a close, rational look¡ªbut that didn¡¯t matter here.* Dreams thrive on the illogical, and that was the beauty of it. In other words, lies and dreams made the perfect pair.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t need airtight logic. All he had to do was nt seeds in their minds¡ªthoughts of Specters, psychics, and most importantly, the Foreseer. That was his endgame.


    As chaos ensued, Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia stood silently on a bustling street.


    Strangely, no one seemed to notice them at all. It was like they didn¡¯t exist¡ªpeople passed through them as if they were ghosts.


    Xiao Chuxia, puzzled, approached Fang Xiu. ¡°Xiu, what are you doing? Not many people seem to be buying your story. And why direct them to the headquarters?¡±


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t exin much. He simply smiled and said, ¡°Just watch.¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SNAP!


    He snapped his fingers.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Suddenly, the sky darkened as ominous clouds rolled in. Thunder roared and lightning streaked across the heavens.


    A bloody moon slowly began to rise, casting an eerie glow over the city.


    The shift in the sky threw everyone into a frenzy. The sudden change triggered something in their minds¡ªthe prophecy from the Foreseer.


    Then, with millions of eyes locked onto the sky, something truly terrifying appeared.


    A pitch-ck gate materialized within the red moon, its surface covered with horrifying, demonic figures, twisting and writhing as if alive.


    The gate radiated an aura of pure dread.


    This vision had been inspired by Yan Changshou.


    ¡°Look! Up there! What the hell is that?!¡±


    ¡°Is that the Specter Gate the Foreseer warned us about?¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    With a thunderous creak, the ck gate slowly began to open.


    From the other side, an army of grotesque, snake-like Specters poured out, slithering through the sky like a gue of locusts.


    In moments, they descended upon Shangjing, swarming the streets, and engulfing the city in chaos.


    ¡°Specters! They¡¯re real! Run for your lives!¡±


    ¡°The Foreseer was right! We¡¯re all gonna die!¡±


    Panic took hold as people ran for their lives. Whether in the dream or reality, witnessing such monstrous horrors would terrify any ordinary person to their core.


    Under Fang Xiu¡¯smand, the snake-like Specters wreaked havoc, tearing through the poption mercilessly.


    In just a few moments, the once-bustling city was reduced to a scene of carnage¡ªbodies strewn across the streets, blood everywhere, chaos reigning supreme.


    It was like a cutscene straight out of a horror video game, all orchestrated effortlessly by Fang Xiu¡¯s power.


    As fear spread like wildfire, Fang Xiu absorbed it all, using the collective terror to stretch the boundaries of the dream and pull more and more people into this nightmarish world.


    But the fear was just a tool. Fang Xiu¡¯s real goal wasn¡¯t to feed off terror¡ªit was to set the stage for his targeted lies.


    When the people¡¯s terror reached its boiling point, that would be the moment for the Foreseer¡ªFang Xiu himself¡ªto reappear as the savior they so desperately needed.

 Chapter 269 - Way To The Fifth Tier

    ¡°The fear isn¡¯t enough yet.¡±


    With a quick snap of his fingers, Fang Xiu set off something that pushed everyone¡¯s panic over the edge.


    A haunting hymn of the Specter began to fill the air. The music wasced with madness and chaos, echoing through the sky and earth, sending shivers straight to the souls of those who heard it.


    As if some invisible force pulled them, everyone looked up to see something they¡¯d remember forever.


    A radiant Angel came down from heaven. He''s brighter than the sun, with eyes that seemed uncaring and cold. His six bloody white wings spread wide, covering nearly the entire sky.


    The sheer size of the being struck deep fear into their hearts.


    As the Angel appeared, waves of terror surged toward Fang Xiu, like an unstoppable tide.


    Even Xiao Chuxia, standing nearby and knowing it was all just a dream, couldn¡¯t stop the chill running down her spine. She dared not look directly at the Angel.


    What made it so terrifying was that Fang Xiu had tapped into his ability to make pain real in the dream, crafting a vivid illusion of the Angel.


    Though this Angel held no real power, his presence¡ªa thing seemingly from another dimension¡ªwas enough to terrify everyone.


    Most of the people in the dream were ordinary folks who had never encountered a Specter, let alone a godlike one.


    Many were so terrified they wetted their pants. And in the dream world, what happened had... well, effects on the real world too.


    ¡°Uh, Xiu... don¡¯t you think this is a bit much? You¡¯re gonna scare them to death,¡± Xiao Chuxia muttered nervously.


    Fang Xiu, watching the crowd drown in fear, gave a satisfied nod. ¡°The fear is just right. Rx, no one dies in my controlled dream. They¡¯re just... excellent nourishment.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s unease deepened.


    It reminded her of a dark joke she¡¯d read online once. It was about someone suggesting that instead of killing pigs for their meat, we could just cut off small pieces and let the pig heal before taking moreter. This way, humans could have endless pork, and the pig wouldn¡¯t have to die. Seemed like a win-win, right?


    Fang Xiu¡¯s methods made her think of that joke.


    ¡°Won¡¯t this mess with them psychologically?¡± she asked, still unsure.


    Fang Xiu nced at her coldly. ¡°They¡¯re saving the world. For Specters, the only things normal people can give are fear and lies, so they might as well give more of it. Do you think only psychics should fight and sacrifice themselves while the ordinary people hide? Have you ever thought that maybe they want to contribute?¡±


    Xiao Chuxia didn¡¯t say anything. She just thought,<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''You¡¯re the boss. Whatever you say.''


    ¡°The time¡¯s about right.¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SNAP!


    With another snap, the dream world shifted.


    The once terrified crowd found themselves suddenly inside a safe refuge, located at headquarters.


    How they escaped the Specters and ended up here didn¡¯t matter¡ªthe dream blurred the details, making everything seem natural.


    The refuge was enormous, filled with millions of people. No one questioned the space, their focus entirely on the stage and what was about to happen.


    Fang Xiu walked up slowly, eyes heavy as he took in the massive crowd before him.


    Millions of faces stared back, their minds still reeling from the horror they¡¯d witnessed. The name The Foreseer Fang Xiu was now burned into their very souls.


    "The current situation is dire. The entire world has fallen, and nations have established shelters. Humanity''s civilization stands on the brink of copse."


    Fang Xiu¡¯s opening words hit the crowd like a cold wave, stirring fresh fear in their hearts.


    "But fear not," he continued, his tone calm but strong. "I have seen the future. In this war, humanity will prevail!"


    The crowd wasn¡¯t just made up of ordinary people. Unconscious psychics and soldiers from headquarters, also caught up in Fang Xiu¡¯s dream realm, moved as if they were truly part of the scene.


    Even fabricated figures like Fang Moli, crafted by Fang Xiu¡¯s maniption, stood beside him on stage.


    After those few brief but powerful words, Fang Xiu motioned to Fang Moli and the others, who began teaching the crowd.


    They exined how people could awaken as psychics and broke down the various levels of psychic power.


    While this happened, Fang Xiu worked subtly in the background. He made sure a few psychics emerged from the millions of dreamers.


    His n was clear: to root the concept of psychics deeply in their minds. Without that foundation, hisrger scheme¡ªconvincing them that it was possible to break through from the fourth to the fifth tier¡ªwould never take hold.


    Once the crowd fully grasped what psychics were, Fang Xiu staged a series of Specter invasions, each battle showcasing his incredible foresight. The dream was so vivid and lifelike that the line between fantasy and reality blurred even further.


    And then, with everything perfectly set up, the main event began¡ªthe Pokers'' invasion of the headquarters¡¯ refuge!


    This part was easy for Fang Xiu to create, based on real-world events he had witnessed. He tweaked and enhanced the details to fit the context of his dream, adjusting things as needed for dramatic effect.


    Before long, chaos engulfed the headquarters under Fang Xiu¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Hahahaha! From today on¡­¡± Joker¡¯s wildughter echoed through the air, his entire form glowing with a blood-red light.


    The crowd was frozen in fear.


    ¡°The fifth tier?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s really a fifth-tier psychic? That¡¯s impossible!¡±


    People dropped like flies under Joker¡¯s relentless attacks, and the terror of facing a fifth-tier psychic became seared into everyone¡¯s minds.


    Even the strongestmanders fought desperately, but they couldn¡¯t hold back the tide. Slowly but surely, they were pushed further and further back.


    The battles, the characters, and every twist in the plot felt so real to those experiencing it. No one doubted the reality of what they were witnessing. No one realized they were trapped in a dream.


    Then, at the crucial moment, Fang Xiu, the Foreseer, made his entrance.


    His footsteps echoed through the war-torn battlefield, and the masses parted as if by instinct, making a clear path for him.


    All eyes turned to him, filled with hope and desperate belief. This was the man who had saved them time and time again. He was the one they trusted to lead them to victory.


    And Fang Xiu didn¡¯t let them down. His voice was steady, confident. "I have seen the future. In this battle, we will win!"


    "We will win!" the crowd shouted back, some cheering, others crying in relief.


    But Joker sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Win? The only thing that can beat a fifth-tier psychic is another fifth-tier psychic. Your vague prophecies won¡¯t save you."


    His words cast a shadow over the crowd¡¯s joy. They had seen firsthand the overwhelming power of the fifth tier. Joker was right¡ªit was beyond anything they could fight against.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Fang Xiu¡¯s chuckle broke the silence. "What if I told you I¡¯ve seen a way to break through the fifth tier? How would you respond to that?"


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Trantor''s note: If "people can reach the fifth tier" is a solid lie which Xiao Chuxia can make use of, then "nobody can get to the fifth tier" should be a solid truth in the real world, right? In that way, there''s no way that Fang Xiu can get to the fifth tier, isn''t it? If he seeds, doesn''t that mean "people can reach the fifth tier" is actually not a lie? Then how can Xiao Chuxia absorb energy from it?

 Chapter 270 - I Found The Way

    As Fang Xiu finished speaking, he made sure to manipte Joker into an over-the-top disy of shock and disbelief. In dreams like this, the more dramatic the reaction, the more it stuck with the crowd.


    Joker¡¯s whole body trembled as he clutched his mask, pointing a shaking finger at Fang Xiu. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! There¡¯s no way to break through the fifth tier in the real world!"


    Fang Xiu responded with a cold, knowingugh. "You¡¯re wrong, Joker. Not only does it exist, but I will reveal the method to break through the fifth tier for all to know. Soon, anyone will be able to reach that power."


    At those words, a mystical light flickered in Fang Xiu¡¯s eyes¡ªa silver gleam, like the essence of order itself. It was as if the Flow of Time hade alive in his gaze, vast and iprehensible.


    His robes began to flutter, though no wind was blowing, moving as if touched by some invisible force.


    And then, something miraculous happened.


    The sound of rushing water filled the air, a powerful, awe-inspiring roar that echoed across the battlefield.


    A breathtaking sight unfolded before everyone¡ªa river stretching across time itself, flowing from the past to the future, its presence radiating an overwhelming sense of power and eternity.


    It was like a cosmic stream, a river that defied all limits.


    Joker¡¯s eyes widened in horror. "That¡¯s... the Flow of Time!"


    Panic surged through him as he screamed, "Stop him! Stop him now! He¡¯s going to find the way to break through the fifth tier from the future!"


    In response, waves of the Pokers charged toward Fang Xiu like an unstoppable tide.


    Countless enemies swarmed, ready to strike him down.


    But just as they closed in, the injured captains of the headquarters pushed forward, standing between Fang Xiu and the advancing horde.


    "Protect the Foreseer!" one shouted.


    "As long as he foresees the way to break through the fifth tier, we¡¯ll win!" another yelled.


    Their passionate cries lit a fire in the dream¡¯s inhabitants, and soon, everyone in the crowd was swept up in the fight. They knew now that the key to victory was the Foreseer and his ability to unlock the path to the fifth tier.


    Fang Xiu watched this unfold with satisfaction. In the midst of such chaos, no one had time to question whether the fifth tier breakthrough was real. The more frantic and desperate their enemies became, the more deeply the crowd believed.


    The battle raged on, louder and more intense, as the Flow of Time roared through the scene.


    Joker, still in his role, continued to shout in terror from the sidelines. "Stop him before hepletes the prophecy! We can¡¯t let him reveal the method!"


    The captains held their ground, refusing to let Joker have thest word. "You¡¯ll never stop us! The Foreseer will reveal the way, and the fifth tier will belong to humanity!"


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Explosions ripped through the battlefield, shaking the ground and splitting the sky. It was a perfect disy of rising tension¡ªa ssic story structure, where the viins seem to win, only for the hero to pull off a miraculouseback.


    When the captains were finally defeated, left groaning on the ground, Fang Xiu stepped forward.


    His eyes glowed once again with that silver light of order, as cold and distant as the gaze of a god.


    Reaching into the Flow of Time, he scooped up a single droplet of water¡ªclear and pure, shimmering with power.


    He held the droplet high above his head, and suddenly, it burst into a radiant light so bright it covered the entire battlefield.


    People froze in ce, stunned by the sheer brilliance of the sight.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s voice cut through the silence, calm and confident. "I have found the method to break through the fifth tier from the future."


    As those words echoed across the scene, a deathly stillness fell over the battlefield.


    Everyone¡ªfriend, foe, and the injured captains¡ªstared at the glowing droplet of water in his hand, their faces filled with awe and disbelief.


    Xiao Chuxia stared at Fang Xiu, still shaken by what she had just witnessed.


    For the first time, she truly understood the sheer power that lies could hold. It wasn¡¯t just any lie¡ªthis was a masterpiece of deception, an borate, carefully woven illusion that made her feel as if endless streams of shimmering, deceitful energy were surging into her.


    The amount of power was staggering, but what really took her breath away was the quality of it.


    This wasn¡¯t like casually lying about a name or a simple fact. No, this was different¡ªan entire world had been deceived, countless minds trapped in a grand story, believing every word.


    None of them would ever doubt the existence of the method to break through the fifth tier. It was truth to them now.


    Fang Xiu had been building this for months, meticulouslyying the foundation for his grand lie. He had nted the seeds early, making everyone believe in his foresight and the reality of fifth-tier psychics.


    He had orchestrated the attacks, crafting a scenario where the enemy seemed determined to stop him from revealing the breakthrough.


    Every detail had been ced perfectly, until it all culminated in this moment.


    The crowd, still swept up in the dream, shouted in pure joy.


    ¡°This is it! We¡¯re going to win!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Foreseer!¡±


    Joker, furious, screamed at his soldiers. "No! We can¡¯t let him reveal the method! Kill him! Kill him now!"


    "Kill!" The enemies surged forward like a tidal wave, rushing toward Fang Xiu.


    But Fang Xiu simply raised the water droplet, his eyes gleaming with control.


    With a firm squeeze, he crushed it, and it exploded into rays of divine light that bathed him in brilliance.


    For a moment, he looked like a god among mortals, his voice ringing out with authority:


    "Everyone, listen carefully. The method to break through the fifth tier is¡­"


    The entire crowd leaned in, hanging on his every word, desperate to hear the secret.


    Their minds were consumed by this one thought, this overwhelming desire to know the truth.


    And just as the power of lies reached its peak¡ªeverything froze.


    The dream shattered into pieces, dissolving as Fang Xiu and Xiao Chuxia returned to the real world.


    Fang Xiu turned to her, his gaze cool and measured. "How did it go?"


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s face was still flushed with excitement, her cheeks glowing. "I¡¯ve never seen so much power from lies in my life. It¡¯s... unbelievable!"


    "Focus," Fang Xiu cut in, his voice sharp. "Is it enough to help you push a fourth-tier psychic through to the fifth tier?"


    Her enthusiasm faltered. She hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Well¡­ probably... maybe¡­ I think it could be enough."


    Fang Xiu¡¯s expression darkened immediately, his eyes narrowing. "I want a definite answer."


    Xiao Chuxia swallowed nervously. "Xiu, you know I¡¯ve never done this before. I¡¯m not even at the fourth tier myself, so it¡¯s hard to say for sure. But based on my calctions, it should be enough. Still, if we could gather a little more power, it¡¯d be safer."


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SWISH!


    In a sh, Fang Xiu pressed the Scalpel against her neck, the de cold and sharp against her skin.


    Xiao Chuxia stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. Her heart raced, and all her muscles tensed as she stared at him, wide-eyed.


    "I hope you¡¯re not lying to keep some of the power for yourself," Fang Xiu said quietly, his tone dangerous and calm.


    A wave of frustration rose inside Xiao Chuxia. "You think I''d do that? Exactly how cheap I am in your view?"


    "Cheaper than you can imagine," Fang Xiu replied coldly.


    Xiao Chuxia bit her tongue, swallowing the sharp retort burning in her mind.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,'' she thought. <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''All we did was work together in a dream, and this is how you treat me?''


    Of course, she kept those thoughts firmly to herself.

 Chapter 271 - Fang Xius Plan

    "I swear, I''m not lying! If you don''t believe me, I''ll vow right now¡ªif I''m deceiving you, Fang Xiu, let me stay a virgin for life!"


    Fang Xiu slowly withdrew the scalpel. He decided to trust her, at least for the moment.


    Given Xiao Chuxia''s behavior in the dream realm, that vow seemed serious enough.


    ¡°To make sure everything goes ording to n, we need to gather more lie energy,¡± Fang Xiu said, his voice calm and measured.


    Xiao Chuxia rubbed her neck, feeling a slight shiver.


    ¡°How do we collect more? We''ve already get most of it in the dream realm. A person can¡¯t just produce endless lie power. If that were the case, I¡¯d be a fifth-tier psychic by now from lying over and over to just one fool!¡±


    ¡°Plenty of psychics are awake at headquarters, aren¡¯t there? Some might even be fourth- or fifth-tier,¡± Fang Xiu replied with a calcting look.


    Xiao Chuxia''s eyes widened in shock. "Are you suggesting we deceive Joker and Fang Moli? This isn¡¯t the dream realm anymore¡ªthey won¡¯t fall for tricks so easily."


    "Just stick to the n as I exined," Fang Xiu said, unfazed.


    ¡­


    The story shifted back to the main plotline. As nned, Fang Xiu sessfully saved Luo Qingxin, Li Xiaoru, and Xiong Tianguang, and they joined forces to defeat Joker''s clone.


    "You three, go assist Fang Moli with the real Joker," Fang Xiu instructed.


    ustomed to Fang Xiu¡¯s incredible foresight, the trio hesitated briefly, surprised. Xiong Tianguang, in particr, was reluctant to leave behind Fang Xiu''s almost invincible presence. ¡°Xiu, aren¡¯t youing?¡±


    Fang Xiu shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve got other matters to handle. Time is short¡ªgo, quickly.¡±


    Seeing his resolve, they couldn¡¯t argue. When the Foreseer said something was crucial, it always was.


    With a nod, they left.


    Fang Xiu turned toward Xiao Chuxia. ¡°You remember the n?¡±


    Nervously, Xiao Chuxia nodded. ¡°I do¡­ but what if they catch me? Will I die? I¡¯ve never tried lying to a fifth-tier psychic before.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t die. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    There was something reassuring in Fang Xiu¡¯s calm tone. Despite her nerves, Xiao Chuxia felt herself rx. She wasn¡¯t sure how he intended to protect her from a psychic of that level, but she trusted him. His confidence was unmistakable.


    And he wasn¡¯t lying. Xiao Chuxia was vital to his n. If she died, he¡¯d simply start over. In that sense, she wouldn¡¯t really die.


    ¡­


    Back on the battlefield¡­


    Fang Moli and the others were struggling against Joker. Without Fang Xiu¡¯s support, their situation was growing desperate.


    The four fourth-tier psychics were clearly outmatched by Joker, a fifth-tier psychic.


    The power gap wasn¡¯t something sheer numbers could ovee.


    ¡°Hahaha! Is this the best the mighty captains of headquarters can do?¡± Joker¡¯sugh was wild and menacing as he looked at the five bloodied figures before him.


    He felt that he was getting closer to destroying headquarters and realizing Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s ultimate vision.


    ¡°Fang Moli, so what if you have the Xuanyuan Sword? Only a fifth-tier psychic can defeat another fifth-tier psychic!¡±


    The group remained silent, but their faces were grim. Beneath their calm exteriors, despair was creeping in.


    "Is this really it? Is headquarters about to fall?"


    Only those who had battled a fifth-tier psychic could understand the vast gap between the fourth and fifth tiers. That gap was so much more daunting than the one between the third and fourth tiers.


    Their once-mighty Domain abilities seemed useless against Joker¡¯s overwhelming power.


    Seeing the group''s grim expressions, Joker¡¯sughter grew even more maniacal.


    "Where¡¯s your precious Foreseer now, huh? You all did so well against my clone, but now that you¡¯re facing the real me, Fang Xiu¡¯s nowhere to be seen! Hahaha... Looks like he¡¯s already foreseen your headquarters'' downfall and ran off to save himself!"


    His mocking words hit hard, nting seeds of doubt in the group''s minds. The uncertainty showed on their faces.


    "Yeah, where is Fang Xiu?"


    "He said he had something important to do, but seriously, what could be more important than this?"


    "Could Joker be right? Did Fang Xiu foresee our defeat and bail on us?"


    "Maybe he just helped us earlier to buy himself time to escape?"


    Just as the doubt began to take root, a desperate scream echoed through the battlefield.


    "Boss, save me!"


    A figure, dark and shadowy, was speeding toward them¡ªAce of Spades!


    But he looked nothing like his usual self. His shadowy form was shredded, full of holes, and he was barely holding himself together. He was on the verge of copse, clearly teetering on the edge of death.


    Joker¡¯s smug expression shifted into a frown as confusion set in.


    Before anyone could process what was happening, a wave of disturbing, mind-bending whispers filled the air.


    The voices spoke in strange, chaotic tones, bringing with them a sense of madness and fear.


    A suffocating energy nketed the battlefield.


    In horror, all eyes turned toward the source of the eerie whispers, and there, behind Ace of Spades, stood a massive creature¡ªa grotesque mountain of writhing flesh.


    It was Taotie.


    The sheer presence of the creature made it hard to breathe. Atop the monstrosity''s head, Fang Xiu stood tall, his expression unbothered.


    "Ace of Spades, prepare to die!" Fang Xiu¡¯s voice boomed. Obviously, he was the one controlling Taotie.


    Taotie¡¯s gigantic hand, massive enough to darken the sky, swung down with terrifying force, aiming directly for Ace of Spades.


    Panic overtook Ace of Spades¡ªhis pale face and frantic scramble for survival showed just how terrified he was.


    Watching this scene unfold, Fang Xiu couldn¡¯t help but admire the spectacle.


    Xiao Chuxia, disguised as Ace of Spades, had fully embraced the role. Her trembling and fearful reaction were nearly wless, a testament to her talent for deception. She was, after all, a natural liar.


    Still, Fang Xiu smirked to himself. Ace of Spades¡ªor rather, Xiao Chuxia¡ªwas so convincing that he wondered if she was even acting at all.


    If she knew what he was thinking, she would probably yell, "Maybe because... I¡¯m ACTUALLY scared?"


    Joker, seeing one of his top lieutenants being hunted down, couldn¡¯t just stand by. The fate of his remaining forces was uncertain, and he had no room for hesitation.


    He knew the Taotie before him was just a projection¡ªhe¡¯d seen Fang Xiu use the same trick before during his battle with Yan Changshou.


    In a sh, Joker¡¯s expression hardened. With a single thought, he summoned a blood-red lightning bolt infused with his Mindre power, crackling as it roared through the air.


    The bolt shot directly at Taotie¡¯s massive hand, striking with explosive force.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Trantor''s note: Is Xiu on the fifth tier now?

 Chapter 272 - Deceiving A Fifth-Tier

    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Taotie''s projection was abruptly blocked, freezing its attack. Ace of Spades didn¡¯t waste a second and darted toward Joker, seizing the moment to escape.


    As soon as he reached Joker¡¯s side, Ace of Spades, spoke with rapid urgency, blurted out like a machine gun: "Boss! Now! Kill Fang Xiu! He¡¯s found a way to break through the fifth tier from the future!"


    "What?" Joker¡¯s expression shifted instantly. The shock of the statement was so overwhelming, he didn¡¯t even notice that the person in front of him wasn¡¯t the real Ace of Spades, but Xiao Chuxia in disguise.


    The news sent a ripple through the crowd. Even Fang Moli and the others stared wide-eyed at Fang Xiu, who was calmly walking toward them from the distance.


    "Impossible! No one can break through the fifth tier in this world!" Joker¡¯s disbelief was clear. It went against everything he knew.


    Ace of Spades, sensing Joker¡¯s doubt, pushed on, though his voice started to falter. "Boss, I swear it¡¯s true. Earlier, when you told us to create chaos, I was worried Yan Changshou might struggle to open the Specter Gate, so I went to help him."


    Hearing this, Joker¡¯s suspicion eased a bit. He had noticed Ace of Spades was missing earlier, and this exnation clicked¡ªhe had been aiding Yan Changshou. That made sense.


    Joker even found a bit of respect for him. At least Ace of Spades had enough foresight to ensure the Specter Gate¡¯s sess.


    "When I got there," Ace of Spades continued, "Fang Xiu was already fighting Yan Changshou. At first, Yan didn¡¯t take him seriously since he was only a second-tier psychic. But Fang Xiu used his ability to glimpse the future and discovered a way to break the bottleneck. Right there, on the battlefield, he advanced from the second tier to the third and even gained the power to summon Specters. That¡¯s how Yan Changshou died!"


    "A method to break through from the future?" Joker¡¯s suspicion deepened as he nced toward Fang Xiu, who was closing in.


    Joker had always kept an eye on Fang Xiu¡¯s progress. He knew exactly how powerful he was. Fang Xiu had been a second-tier psychic not long ago, and now he was suddenly third-tier?


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Does the future really hold the key to breaking the psychic bottlenecks? Or is there something else going on?'' Joker wondered.


    Suddenly, Ace of Spades began coughing violently, copsing to his knees. He was barely holding on to life.


    The sound snapped Joker out of his thoughts. He quickly caught him before he fellpletely.


    "Even if there is a way to break through the fifth tier, the conditions must be extreme. How could a third-tier psychic like him do that?" Joker demanded, still skeptical, his voice sharp.


    Ace of Spades, now barely able to speak, managed to rasp, "The ma¡­ ma¡­"


    "Ma?" Joker leaned in, frowning as he strained to hear. "What are you trying to say?"


    "Mask¡­"


    With that final word, Ace of Spades¡¯ body went limp, life slipping away.


    The word "mask" left Joker frozen in ce for a moment. Then, as realization dawned, a tremor of shock ran through him.


    A mask?


    The Genesis Mask!


    Joker had only halfway believed Ace of Spades¡¯ wild story. But now, connecting it to the Genesis Mask, it began to make a strange kind of sense.


    The Genesis Mask was created by Zhou Qingfeng, a figure Joker deeply admired. Zhou was a legend, and anything he made was bound to have extraordinary power.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Could it be... Fang Xiu used the power of the Genesis Mask to break through the bottleneck?'' Once this thought entered Joker¡¯s mind, it spread like wildfire, consuming his doubts.


    Xiao Chuxia, lying on the ground, could feel the rush of deception power flowing from Joker.


    A wave of relief washed over her, mixed with a quiet sense of triumph¡ªit seemed her performance had been convincing enough to fool a fifth-tier powerhouse with ease.


    However, her sess wasn¡¯t because of her acting alone. The true mastermind behind this borate trick was Fang Xiu, whose n had wlessly led Joker into a well-constructed trap.


    The first part of the n involved having Xiao Chuxia pose as the severely injured Ace of Spades. The real Ace of Spades was a fourth-tier psychic, and there was no way a third-tier psychic could perfectly mimic his strength. But by making it seem like Ace of Spades was gravely wounded, any gap in power would be easier to overlook.


    Next, Fang Xiu used a series of shocking revtions to distract Joker, preventing him from noticing anything out of ce.


    The final stroke of brilliance came with the mention of the "mask." That single word triggered Joker¡¯s mind to jump to Zhou Qingfeng and the legendary Genesis Mask.


    The genius of the n rested in this connection. Zhou Qingfeng was a revered figure, someone whose influence stretched far and wide.


    The Pokers, as well as many others in the asylum, saw him almost like a god. Linking the oundish idea of breaking through the fifth tier to Zhou Qingfeng made something impossible suddenly seem usible.


    If it had been anyone else, Joker might have doubted the story. But with Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s name attached? It made the impossible seem achievable.


    For people who had been steeped in Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s legend, like Joker, he was the only person who could possibly help a fourth-tier psychic ascend to the fifth tier.


    Fang Xiu had yed his cards perfectly by having Xiao Chuxia mention the mask, tying the idea of breaking the psychic bottleneck to Zhou Qingfeng''s legendary reputation. This clever move was the key to fooling Joker.


    Without allowing Joker any time to reconsider, Fang Xiu raised his pale right hand and swiped it across his face.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    ck mes surged from the void, forming a mask on Fang Xiu¡¯s face.


    The mes intensified, quickly enveloping his entire body. His long, silver hair shimmered under the eerie glow of the fire.


    ¡°Fang Moli,¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s voice rang out, calm and authoritative. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the path to the fifth tier from the future. Now, I will help you break through.¡±


    With that, Fang Xiuunched himself from Taotie¡¯s projection, his body engulfed in ck fire as he sped toward Fang Moli.


    In that instant, Taotie¡¯s projection vanished.


    Joker, witnessing this, didn¡¯t have time to question whether it was all real or just another trick. He had to act.


    If Fang Xiu was telling the truth, and Fang Moli truly ascended to the fifth tier, Joker would be in serious danger.


    As a fourth-tier psychic wielding the powerful Xuanyuan Sword, Fang Moli was already someone Joker had to approach with caution. If Fang Moli became a fifth-tier psychic, Joker wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.


    Joker¡¯s immediate move to interfere set off a chain reaction.


    Because he believed so deeply in Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s legend, Joker was convinced that the Genesis Mask had the power to help someone break through the fifth tier.


    Fang Moli, however, hadn¡¯t been influenced by Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s reputation in the same way. But the moment Joker moved to stop Fang Xiu, it sent a clear signal¡ªif Joker thought it was real enough to intervene, then maybe it really was!


    Xiao Chuxia, still lying on the ground, felt another surge of deception power flood into her. The web of lies she had spun was growing stronger.


    In just a short time, the amount of deception power she had gathered was significant. There weren¡¯t many people involved, but those who were¡ªJoker, a fifth-tier psychic, and the captains of the headquarters¡ªwere among the most powerful figures in the world.


    As the captains joined in, attempting to stop Fang Xiu, Joker¡¯s belief in the lie deepened, which only reinforced the deception.


    It became a perfect, self-sustaining cycle of lies.


    It was like someone putting a pile of counterfeit money on a table and telling a group, ¡°It¡¯s all yours, take as much as you want.¡± At first, people might be cautious, thinking it was fake. But the moment one person rushed forward to grab it, everyone else would follow, no longer questioning its authenticity.


    Trantor''s note: LOL¡­ And just like that, Fang Xiu managed to deceive both his enemies and his allies in a single stroke.


    Trantor''s note: LOL¡­ And just like that, Fang Xiu managed to deceive both his enemies and his allies in a single stroke.

 Chapter 273 - The Fifth Tier Achieved

    "Fang Moli, now! We¡¯ll hold him off!"


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s voice rang out in fury as he charged at Joker with a fierce army behind him. His eyes were zing with determination.


    Luo Qingxin and Xiong Tianguang followed without hesitation, their faces hardened with resolve. They sprinted alongside Li Xiaoru, not a word exchanged, focused solely on the task at hand.


    "Out of my way!" Joker roared, his voice filled with rage. He could see Fang Moli and Fang Xiu drawing closer, their hands nearly touching.


    Panic gripped him.


    "Thunderous Hell!"


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    Dark clouds churned overhead, thunder boomed, and blood-red lightning poured from the sky in a violent storm, as if the world itself was ending.


    Luo Qingxin, Li Xiaoru, and Xiong Tianguang found themselves in the center of the storm, eyes wide with shock. But not a single one of them stepped back.


    Summoning every ounce of their power, the three captains unleashed their full strength to hold off the lightning storm. But even together, they managed to withstand it for only a second.


    In the blink of an eye, they were overwhelmed, crashing to the ground, unconscious.


    Fang Moli¡¯s eyes red with anger, his face contorted in rage as he saw hisrades fall. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Fang Xiu, and instead of attacking, he used everyst bit of his strength to make a final dash toward him.


    Fang Xiu, now fully consumed by ck mes, looked almost divine. His silver hair swirled wildly in the wind, and his robes fluttered violently around him. From a distance, he seemed like a god descending, about to unleash heavenly fire upon the earth.


    But Joker was closing in fast.


    Fang Moli made his move.


    "Sword Infinity!"


    A wave of tens of thousands of swords materialized, streaking toward Joker in a blinding storm of steel.


    Crimson lightning shed with the iing swords, shattering them one after another.


    Despite the relentless barrage of des, Joker pushed forward, enduring the pain as he hacked his way through.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu and Fang Moli were mere inches apart, their hands just about to meet.


    "Not a chance!" Joker bellowed, fury echoing in his voice. A brilliant sh of light exploded from his hands, and the Thunder Sword materialized.


    In the next instant, the sword expanded, growing impossiblyrge, as Joker swung it down with lethal force.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">SLASH!


    Fang Xiu, still mid-air, was split cleanly in half. His body began to drift apart, severed at the waist, and the once-roaring ck mes around him began to fade, flickering as they slowly died.


    Time seemed to freeze.


    "No!"


    Fang Moli¡¯s voice tore through the air, filled with anguish as he watched in horror. His eyes were wild with disbelief.


    Fang Xiu had been cut down right before his eyes, and with him, theirst hope for victory was snuffed out.


    Not far away, Luo Qingxin and the othersy battered on the ground. Their faces mirrored the despair they felt deep inside. The hopelessness in their eyes was clear as if thest bit of strength had left them, their bodies heavy and worn.


    Joker, seeing his strikend, felt a wicked grin creep across his face. His lips curled in triumph, convinced he had finally won.


    But then, something unexpected happened. A faint whisper slipped from Fang Xiu¡¯s lips, barely audible.


    "Pain... absorption..."


    And then the unthinkable.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s body, which had been cleanly severed, began to mend itself. His upper and lower halves, which had started drifting apart, were pulled back together by an unseen force, healingpletely in a matter of seconds.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    A surge of ck fire erupted from Fang Xiu¡¯s body, shooting up into the sky once again.


    Fang Xiu... hade back to life!


    "What?" Joker stood frozen, disbelief flooding his mind. He was unable toprehend what had just happened.


    Fang Moli, standing just a few feet away, could only gape, his mouth hanging open in shock.


    Even Luo Qingxin and the others, who had been teetering on the edge of despair, now felt a flicker of hope return to their eyes.


    Fang Xiu, still cloaked in ck mes, extended his hand toward Fang Moli and ced it firmly on top of his head.


    Everyone watched, stunned, as his calm, emotionless voice echoed across the battlefield:


    "In the name of the Foreseer, the fifth tier... achieved!"


    A violent explosion of ck mes erupted, engulfing Fang Molipletely.


    The spectacle unfolded like a grand performance, with dramatic effects meant to sell the illusion in the most theatrical way possible.


    As this unfolded, Xiao Chuxia, who had been lying on the ground pretending to be dead, heard the secret signal loud and clear.


    Without hesitation, she activated her ability.


    "You are now a fifth-tier psychic!"


    "You are now a fifth-tier psychic!"


    Fang Moli¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as a sudden surge of power flooded his body. He felt his strength skyrocket beyond anything he had ever imagined. His gaze shot to Fang Xiu, who stood tall, masked in ck mes.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s mismatched eyes¡ªone ck, one red¡ªstared calmly at Fang Moli, as if peering deep into the cosmos. His steady gaze was unwavering, filled with purpose.


    A powerful, swirling energy erupted from Fang Moli, sending waves of energy rippling across the battlefield.


    Joker¡¯s face twisted in fury as he took in the scene. The terrifying energy that radiated from Fang Moli left no doubt¡ªhe was rapidly advancing to the fifth tier.


    Joker no longer questioned the validity of Fang Xiu¡¯s method. His mind raced with only one desperate thought:<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ''Stop Fang Moli before it¡¯s toote!''


    With a sh of light, Joker transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot forward. He charged toward Fang Xiu and Fang Moli, ready to put an end to their ascension.


    But Fang Xiu was prepared for this exact moment. He had nned for this, weaving his schemes and faking countless scenes to get here. There was no way he would let Joker stop them now.


    Though Fang Xiu didn¡¯t have the power to block Joker¡¯s charge, someone else did.


    His eyes flickered, and he whispered, almost tenderly, "Come forth, my ''wife''."


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">WHOOSH!


    A graceful, ethereal figure materialized in the air. Her skin was pale, her face soft and serene, framed by a flowing white dress. She was none other than his "wife."


    She glided silently toward Joker, her ghostly feet barely touching the air as she floated.


    "Out of my way!" Joker bellowed, fury ripping through his voice as he swung his Thunder Sword at her.


    The de crackled with electricity as it sliced straight through the air. It cut cleanly through "wife''s" forehead, tracing down to her chest as though to split her in half.


    But instead of resistance, the de met only air. "Wife" remained unscathed,pletely untouched by Joker¡¯s attack.


    "An illusion?!"


    Joker froze for a moment, his mind struggling to grasp what had just happened. "Is she just a distraction?"


    He prepared to charge through her, dismissing her as a mere trick. But before he could move, a sudden, icy chill brushed against his neck.


    "Wife¡¯s" delicate hand had sliced through the air, and a thin red line appeared across Joker¡¯s throat.


    rmed, Joker instinctively leaped back, putting distance between himself and the ghostly figure.


    This was "the first time" Joker had encountered "wife" and experienced her chilling, otherworldly attack.


    Despite his strong Mindre, her strike had slipped right through, rattling him in ways he hadn¡¯t expected. Her attack, though not lethal, left him visibly shaken.


    While her abilities were eerie and unpredictable, it quickly became clear to Joker that her strikes were more psychological than physically dangerous.


    But in the seconds that Joker hesitated, "wife" had already done her job. The precious moments she dyed him were all that was needed.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    A massive surge of power exploded from Fang Moli, his body radiating with overwhelming energy that engulfed the battlefield like a tidal wave.


    A brilliant white light poured from his body, growing brighter and brighter until it enveloped himpletely.


    It was the Mindre, signaling the arrival of the fifth tier.


    ¡­


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Trantor¡¯s note: Wait¡­ I thought Fang Xiu was trying to ascend to the fifth tier himself? Now he¡¯s helping Fang Moli instead?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 274 - The Great Mentor

    The moment Fang Moli ascended to the fifth tier, a powerful energy engulfed the battlefield, bringing everything to a sudden halt.


    Joker¡¯s expression froze, his face locked in a mix of shock and disbelief.


    For a brief moment, everyone seemed to forget how to breathe. Their eyes were glued not to Fang Moli, the one who had just broken through, but to Fang Xiu. He was wreathed in ck mes, silver hair flowing like a divine being.


    That image was seared into their minds.


    The fact that Fang Moli had ascended to the fifth tier was astonishing in itself. But what truly left everyone reeling was the reality that Fang Xiu had made it happen.


    The idea that someone could help a peak fourth-tier psychic cross into the mythical fifth tier was unthinkable.


    If Fang Moli had done this on his own, it would have been seen as a feat of remarkable talent. But Fang Xiu orchestrating the breakthrough? That left everyone in stunned disbelief.


    And then, a new thought crept into the minds of those watching: <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''If Fang Xiu can help Fang Moli, could he help us too?''


    Fang Xiu was no longer just a Foreseer; in their eyes, he had ascended to something greater¡ªa Master of the Fifth Tier, someone with the power to guide others to this almost unreachable level.


    After confirming Fang Moli¡¯s sessful breakthrough, Fang Xiu quietly dismissed the projection of his "wife." His part in the n was over, and now it was Fang Moli¡¯s time to shine.


    Fang Moli, now fully immersed in his new power, stood tall.


    He adjusted his clothes, wiping away the emotions of shock and despair that had clouded him earlier, recing them with a mask of pride and calm indifference.


    He lifted the Xuanyuan Sword in his hand, its gleaming de catching the light as he pointed it directly at Joker.


    For the first time, Joker felt a true sense of danger. The now fifth-tier Fang Moli, wielding the Xuanyuan Sword, was not someone to take lightly.


    With deliberate slowness, Fang Moli spoke, his voice low, carrying an air of authority and newfound power:


    "Now that I¡¯ve reached the fifth tier, I see everything clearly. Joker, before, when you were a tier above me, we were still evenly matched. But now, we¡¯re on the same level. There¡¯s no need for a battle anymore. You... can end this by taking your own life."


    Fang Moli delivered the words with confidence, savoring the feeling of standing above it all.


    For the first time, he was in the spotlight,manding the attention and respect of his peers.


    He couldn¡¯t resist a quick nce at the crowd, eagerly awaiting their reactions to his disy of strength and dominance.


    But what he saw almost made him choke.


    Luo Qingxin, Li Xiaoru, and the others had already gotten up from the ground,pletely ignoring him. They were all rushing past him, heading straight for Fang Xiu.


    The most eager of them, Li Xiaoru, was bleeding heavily but didn¡¯t seem to care. He stumbled toward Fang Xiu, desperation etched across his face.


    "Xiu! Fang Moli won¡¯t stand a chance against Joker on his own. Please, help me break through to the fifth tier too! I¡¯ll help him!"


    Li Xiaoru had abandoned all dignity, practically begging Fang Xiu, who was at least a decade younger than him. His pitiful disy left no doubt¡ªhe was desperate for Fang Xiu¡¯s help.


    Fang Moli¡¯s jaw clenched in frustration. He had just ascended to the fifth tier, put on a grand show, and yet no one seemed to care. And now they were openly doubting his ability to handle Joker? He nced at Joker, hoping for some recognition of his newfound strength.


    But Joker¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t on Fang Moli at all.


    Joker¡¯s face was twisted in fury, his eyes locked on Fang Xiu, burning with rage.


    "Fang Xiu!" Joker¡¯s voice dripped with venom. "How dare you defile President Zhou¡¯s Genesis Mask like this! I swear, I will kill you for this!"


    To Joker, this was personal. The Genesis Mask wasn¡¯t just a tool or artifact¡ªit was sacred.


    Created by the legendary Zhou Qingfeng, it was meant to perfectly integrate Specters into the human psyche. But Fang Xiu had twisted its use, bending its power to help psychics break through to the fifth tier.


    For Joker, a devout follower of Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s teachings, this wasn¡¯t just a betrayal¡ªit was an insult to his ultimate belief.


    Fang Moli was at a loss for words.<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ¡®Are you kidding me? I¡¯ve just be a fifth-tier powerhouse, and no one cares? You didn¡¯t even listen to my grand speech that I worked so hard toe up with!¡¯


    Fang Moli was seething with frustration. Since no one seemed to appreciate his newfound power, he turned all his pent-up anger toward the one person he could still take it out on¡ªJoker.


    "Joker, go to hell!"


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    In a sh, Fang Moli transformed into a brilliant streak of sword light, charging at Joker with fury.


    Two zing Mindre streaks¡ªone red, one white¡ªshed violently in midair, their blows shaking the battlefield with every strike.


    The shockwaves sent tremors through the ground, the sheer force of their battle echoing across the field.


    But even as Fang Moli¡¯s attacks lit up the sky, no one seemed to pay him any attention. Instead, all eyes remained locked on Fang Xiu.


    It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t care about the battle¡ªit was just that they saw it as a done deal.


    Fang Moli was now a fifth-tier psychic wielding the legendary Xuanyuan Sword. There was no way that Joker would stand any chance. To everyone watching, the oue was certain.


    Rather than watching what seemed like a predictable fight, they all figured it was better to focus on Fang Xiu.


    Thet figured that, if he could help Fang Moli break through to the fifth tier, maybe he could do the same for them. And that was the real opportunity here.


    Some were even secretly hoping that Fang Moli would face a little difficulty against Joker¡ªjust to have more reason to beg Fang Xiu for their own breakthroughs.


    But, of course, that wasn¡¯t going to happen.


    The fight between Fang Moli and Joker quickly turned one-sided. With Fang Moli now at the fifth tier, the power of the Xuanyuan Sword was far beyond anything Joker could handle.


    Each strike pushed Joker further back, his once-defiant stance crumbling under the onught.


    Shocked and enraged, Joker shouted in frustration, "Fang Moli! Using the Xuanyuan Sword to fight me¡ªwhat kind of hero are you? Be a man, put down the sword and face me! I¡¯ll crush you with my bare hands!"


    Fang Moli, full of confidence and drunk on his newfound power, sneered at Joker.


    "Even without the Xuanyuan Sword, you¡¯ve never been worth my time. I, Fang Moli, am not weaker than anyone at my level!"


    He was about to put the sword away, eager to prove his strength without relying on it. Just then, however, Fang Xiu¡¯s calm voice rang out across the battlefield.


    "Abandon the sword, and I¡¯ll take back your fifth-tier power."


    Fang Moli froze mid-motion, his arrogant expression turning into one of shock.


    Without hesitation, he tightened his grip on the Xuanyuan Sword and resumed his furious assault on Joker, shing wildly with renewed vigor.


    "Joker, you''re so dead today!"


    The truth? Fang Xiu didn¡¯t actually have the power to revoke Fang Moli¡¯s fifth-tier strength. It was aplete bluff. But Fang Moli wasn¡¯t about to risk it.


    Besides, Fang Moli wasn¡¯t an ungrateful person. Fang Xiu had helped him achieve this breakthrough, and while he didn¡¯t express his gratitude outright, the respect was there.


    Meanwhile, Li Xiaoru, barely able to contain his excitement, sidled up to Fang Xiu with a pleading expression stered across his face.


    "Xiu, Xiu! That kid Fang Moli is too reckless! No hair on his lip, and he¡¯s already letting it get to his head! Help me break through to the fifth tier, and I¡¯ll finish off Joker in no time!"


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s desperation was so obvious, he was practically draped over Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu, looking mildly irritated, pushed him away.


    "Do you really think breaking through to the fifth tier is that easy? Helping Fang Moli drained a significant amount of my power. You¡¯ll have to wait before I can help anyone else."


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s face immediately fell, disappointment clouding his features. But as quickly as it came, it faded. He perked up again, shing a shameless grin and sidling closer once more.


    "Alright, alright. But make me the next one, okay?"

 Chapter 275 - The Great Foreseer

    ¡°Why should you be the one to break through?¡± Xiong Tianguang snapped, ring at Li Xiaoru. ¡°You¡¯re just a brute. If anyone deserves the help, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Luo Qingxin, who had been standing quietly, remained conflicted. It was clear she wanted to break through to the fifth tier as well, but her aloof nature made it hard for her to voice such a request. After a moment, though, she spoke up.


    ¡°Xi... Xiu,¡± she murmured softly, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. It wasn¡¯t just the tone that caught everyone off guard¡ªit was hearing such tenderness from someone as cold and distant as Luo Qingxin.


    But Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t moved.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± he snapped, his gaze icy as it swept over the three captains. There was no respect in his voice, no care for their rank or standing. ¡°The battle isn¡¯t over yet. If you¡¯ve recovered, go kill the enemy.¡±


    The three captains fell silent, stunned into submission by the harshmand of a mere third-tier psychic. None of them dared speak another word.


    ¡°Die, Joker!¡±


    Fang Moli¡¯s shout rang out as his Xuanyuan Sword shed through the air, unleashing a wave of golden energy that illuminated the night sky and cut through the surrounding darkness.


    ¡°Noooo!¡±


    Joker¡¯s voice was filled with desperation as he unleashed his full Mindre in a frantic attempt to block the oing strike.


    But it was no use. Fang Moli¡¯s newfound fifth-tier power,bined with the overwhelming force of the Xuanyuan Sword, was far too much for Joker to withstand. His Mindre defenses crumbled like paper under the weight of the attack.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">BOOM!


    The golden energy exploded on impact, engulfing Joker in a blinding light. In an instant, his body was reduced to nothing more than fragments of flesh, scattered across the battlefield.


    There was no time for a final stand, no chance for Joker to self-destruct¡ªhe was utterly destroyed.


    With Joker¡¯s death, the brutal battle that had raged for so long finally began to reach its end.


    Under Fang Moli¡¯smand, the headquarters forcesunched a decisive counterattack. The remaining Specters and members of the Pokers were quickly overwhelmed in a one-sided ughter. Victory was inevitable.


    Meanwhile, Fang Xiu, who had endured countless deaths and resets, stood watching the battlefield with quiet satisfaction.


    Throughout the conflict, he had schemed, deceived, and even manipted the powers of the Specter Gods. He had broken through to the third tier during the fight and yed every card he had, using every trick in his arsenal.


    And now, he had won the war.


    For Fang Xiu, all the pain, death, and lies had been worth it. He was no stranger to suffering, no stranger to dying over and over again. The rewards he gained from this battle were enormous.


    First and foremost, Fang Xiu had reached the third tier and awakened the ability to manifest pain. To most, it seemed like a weak and useless ability. But for him, it was a godlike power.


    With this ability, he could endlessly summon Specter Gods. He could endure the pain they inflicted, then manifest them and borrow their powers.


    This meant that even though he was only a third-tier psychic, Fang Xiu now had ess to a limitless arsenal of abilities. Every Specter God, every powerful Specter he encountered, had unique powers¡ªand now, all of those powers could be his.


    Through Pain Manifestation, Fang Xiu had even managed to bypass the formidable Mindre barrier, allowing him to injure fifth-tier psychics. Although he couldn¡¯t yet kill one outright, the fact that he could even wound them was terrifying in itself.


    The captains of the headquarters, all peak fourth-tier psychics, had been unable to break through Joker¡¯s Mindre. But Fang Xiu, as a mere third-tier psychic, had done the impossible.


    Beyond his own personal growth, Fang Xiu had discovered an unexpected asset in Xiao Chuxia. Though her character came across as a cliche¡ªa Mary Sue heroine or even the kind of protagonist you¡¯d find in some bizarre adult-rated fiction¡ªher usefulness was undeniable.


    Whenbined with Nightmare and Fang Xiu¡¯s reputation as the Foreseer, Xiao Chuxia¡¯s lies were nearly indistinguishable from reality itself. Her lies were bing a version of reality-bending truth, something that Fang Xiu could wield like a weapon.


    And then, there was the influence he had gained.


    Though the full extent of his newfound power over the Pokers and the headquarters had yet to materialize, Fang Xiu knew that with careful maniption, he could soon control two of the most powerful forces in the world.


    ¡­


    Three days had passed since the great battle, and the headquarters was finally beginning to clean up the aftermath.


    Destroyed buildings were being rebuilt, and the dead wereid to rest.


    Though the headquarters had won, the victory came at a great cost. Many psychics had fallen, andrge sections of the base were left in ruins.


    The most rming consequence of the battle, however, wasn¡¯t just the physical damage.


    While most of the Specters released from the Specter Gate had been eliminated, a few managed to escape into the world. Worse still, the headquarters had been holding several powerful and dangerous Specters for research.


    During the chaos, many of those Specters had also broken free, disappearing into nearby cities.


    They were now hidden threats, and the psychics of the headquarters would have their hands full in theing days.


    On this day, the headquarters convened its first meeting since the battle.


    The Director sat grim-faced at the head of the conference table. Beside him were the four captains: Fang Moli, Luo Qingxin, Xiong Tianguang, and Li Xiaoru.


    Where Yan Changshou once sat was now upied by Fang Xiu.


    Despite being only a third-tier psychic, Fang Xiu¡¯s presence among the captains signified the huge respect he had earned. It was a distinction that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by anyone.


    Around the table, there were many of the headquarters'' top psychics, including elite third-tier psychics and a few who had broken through to the fourth tier during the battle.


    This gathering represented the highest-ranking members of the headquarters, the ones who would shape its future.


    The room was filled with somber faces as the Director began to speak.


    ¡°Comrades, this battle has cost us dearly,¡± his voice echoed through the conference hall. The microphone carried his words with a weight that pressed on the hearts of everyone in attendance.


    Many of the psychics looked down, grief etched into their expressions. The loss of so manyrades was a heavy burden to bear, and no one could escape the sorrow of those who had fallen.


    "The Pokers had been nning this for a long time,¡± the Director continued. ¡°And they seeded in turning one of our own, Captain Yan Changshou. His betrayal,bined with their attack, caught us off guard. However, thanks to Foreseer Fang Xiu, who foresaw their ns, we were able to stop them before they could fully seed!¡±


    At the mention of Fang Xiu¡¯s name, the entire room turned their eyes toward him.


    Their gazes held a mixture of awe and respect. The battle might have been won by Fang Moli on the surface, but everyone knew the real mastermind behind the victory was Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu, sitting calmly, didn¡¯t react to the attention. His expression remainedposed, almost detached, as if he was merely a witness to the events rather than the one who had shaped them.


    He didn¡¯t enjoy meetings, but this one was unavoidable. It would set the tone for his future position within the headquarters.


    The Director, noticing the focus on Fang Xiu, nodded in his direction, his admiration evident.


    ¡°Fang Xiu yed a pivotal role in our victory.¡±


    For the Director to use such high praise emphasized just how much the leadership valued Fang Xiu''s contributions. And no one in the room dared to disagree.


    People nodded in silent agreement as the Director¡¯s words resonated with respect.


    ¡°He foresaw the future and uncovered the Pokers¡¯ plot before they could destroy us. On the battlefield, with only the power of a third-tier psychic, he defeated Yan Changshou, a traitor and a fourth-tier psychic. He moved between battle zones, risking his life and depleting his Spiritual Energy to guide us, predicting enemy movements and helping our captains secure victory.¡±


    The Director¡¯s voice grew stronger, his words ringing through the room.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Trantor''s note: So is Fang Xiu going to be the new captain?

 Chapter 276 - Captain Fang Xiu

    As each one of Fang Xiu¡¯s achievements was announced, the looks of disbelief around the room only grew.


    Most people hadn¡¯t been aware of all Fang Xiu had done.


    During that chaotic battle, Specters had been swarming everywhere, and just surviving had felt like a miracle. No one had the time¡ªor even the mental bandwidth¡ªto pay attention to anyone else¡¯s heroics.


    But now, hearing the full list of his aplishmentsid out, it was like listening to a story ripped straight from legend.


    Everyone knew that Fang Xiu had somehow foreseen the Pokers'' entire plot¡ªmany had witnessed that firsthand. But the fact that a mere third-tier psychic had managed to bring down a fourth-tier powerhouse, and not just any fourth-tier but one of the peak captains from headquarters, seemed surreal. Almost like a tall tale.


    What most people didn¡¯t realize was that Fang Xiu hadn¡¯t managed this feat purely by strength alone. He¡¯d had a couple of major advantages.


    He was able to project the terrifying form of Taotie, and also, Yan Changshou had already been seriously weakened¡ªFirst, he¡¯d suffered a nasty injury from the Xuanyuan Sword, and then he¡¯d shed fiercely with the Ace of Spades.


    If Yan Changshou had been at his peak, no one except Fang Moli in all of headquarters could have taken him on. Even then, Fang Moli had only defeated him thanks to the Xuanyuan Sword.


    Without that powerful weapon, the debate over Asia''s top psychic would still be wide open.


    Yan Changshou¡¯s Specter Gate ability was nothing short of a nightmare. Given enough time, he could summon an endless swarm of Specters to fight at his side. Plus, the man had pushed his limits far beyond human capacity, making it impossible to truly gauge his strength.


    So, for those who understood just how powerful Yan Changshou had been, the idea that Fang Xiu had bested him was almost too incredible to believe. But with these feats confirmed by the Director himself, even the skeptics had no choice but to ept the truth.


    Of course, some people didn¡¯t need convincing¡ªthose who¡¯d been close enough to see Fang Xiu battle Yan Changshou themselves. Others, who were stationed farther off, had only seen Taotie¡¯s appearance and missed the main event.


    Some hadn¡¯t even realized it was Fang Xiu who had summoned Taotie. But those within range had seen it all: Taotie¡¯s descent, Yan Changshou¡¯s defeat. They had no doubts left.


    And hearing how Fang Xiu had supported the other captains and predicted enemy attacks so urately? It finally hit the crowd just how versatile and powerful the ability to foresee the future could be.


    To most, future-sight had always seemed like some mystical gimmick, something vague and impractical, like fortune-telling. But Fang Xiu¡¯s foresight was razor-sharp and effective in the heat of battle.


    This meant he could anticipate every move his enemies were going to make before they made it. It was like having an in-game cheat code that let him see through every tactic¡ªan actual foresight hack!


    There was no doubt left in anyone¡¯s mind that this was the ultimate support ability.


    As the crowd stood there, shocked into silence, the Director scanned their faces with satisfaction. He¡¯d shared these details not only to give Fang Xiu the credit he deserved but also to build up his status.


    For Fang Xiu to rise in the ranks as a hero, especially as a mere third-tier psychic, he needed a strong reputation to silence any future critics.


    The Director¡¯s voice boomed again, filling the space with even greater gravity. ¡°And finally, here¡¯s the most crucial piece. When headquarters was at its lowest, when Joker had us retreating repeatedly, Fang Xiu did something unimaginable. He found a path forward to the fifth tier, guiding Fang Moli through the breakthrough and turning the battle back in our favor.¡±


    This final announcement sent a shockwave through the room. The entire crowd exploded in gasps and murmurs, unable to contain their awe.


    "The fifth tier! The legendary fifth tier!"


    Those who hadn''t been clued in on the details werepletely floored, staring at Fang Xiu like he was some kind of otherworldly force.


    Even the ones who knew about his deeds felt that same awe again¡ªno matter how many times they heard it, it still sounded almost mythical.


    ¡°To be able to find a way to reach the fifth tier... from the future... What kind of divine talent is that?¡±


    In a world where breaking through to the fifth tier felt like an unattainable dream, Fang Xiu had pushed someone through that barrier, and had redefined the limits of their era.


    It was the perfect embodiment of that saying: ¡°The weak adapt to their environment; the strong reshape it.¡±


    For three days straight, those in the know¡ªespecially Li Xiaoru¡¯s circle¡ªhad been buzzing about Fang Xiu¡¯s feat. And they hadn¡¯t held back with new titles for him either. Beyond just ¡°The Foreseer,¡± he was now dubbed ¡°The Master of the Fifth Tier!¡±


    Now, every eye in the room was locked on Fang Xiu, the crowd¡¯s stares practically glowing with admiration.


    This wasn¡¯t just some rank they were talking about¡ªthis was the fifth tier, the peak of power everyone aspired to reach.


    Fourth-tier psychics, especially, looked at Fang Xiu with burning ambition. But even the third-tiers felt the pull of excitement.


    Sure, Fang Xiu hadn¡¯t yet helped any third-tier advance to fourth, but they weren¡¯t foolish. They figured,<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ''If he can help someone push through to the fifth tier¡ªthat ultimate wall¡ªthen helping a third-tier break into the fourth should be a piece of cake!''


    Everyone began to think the same thing: if they could just get in Fang Xiu¡¯s good graces, maybe their journey to the higher tiers could be smoother, maybe even all the way up to the fifth one day.


    The timing couldn¡¯t have been better. The Director noted the crowd¡¯s enthusiasm and sensed it was time.


    With a voice that carried power and gravity, he went on, ¡°In this battle that seemed hopeless, Fang Xiu alone turned the tides, leading headquarters to ultimate victory.¡±


    This was the highest praise possible: to dere that a single person had saved ALL of headquarters.


    And yet, no one felt it was an exaggeration. Fang Moli and everyone else who had faced the fifth-tier Joker nodded in agreement. They understoodpletely¡ªwithout Fang Xiu, headquarters would have had no hope, no future. Fang Xiu WAS their future.


    Riding the momentum of the crowd¡¯s admiration, the Director proceeded to the real reason for this announcement.


    ¡°Therefore, after thorough consideration, headquarters has decided to promote Fang Xiu to the position of Captain, filling the vacancy left by the traitor Yan Changshou. Does anyone have an objection?¡±


    The room fell into a stunned silence.


    The Director¡¯s words had been so unexpected. No one had foreseen him announcing Fang Xiu¡¯s promotion to Captain then and there.


    This was truly unheard of in headquarters¡¯ history¡ªa third-tier psychic stepping into a Captain¡¯s role.


    But despite the surprise, no one dared to object. Fang Xiu¡¯s aplishments spoke louder than any words, and beyond that, his ability to help others break through to the fifth tier left everyone speechless.


    Nobody wanted to get on Fang Xiu¡¯s bad side; they all understood that someday, they might be the ones needing his help.


    A few fourth-tier psychics who had had their eyes on the open Captain position were forced to keep quiet, their ambitions checked by Fang Xiu¡¯s feats and potential. They didn¡¯t want to risk alienating him in public, knowing they¡¯d need his support down the road.


    Seeing no objections, the Director smiled, clearly satisfied.


    Byying out Fang Xiu¡¯s aplishments and opening the floor for objections, he¡¯d ensured that even those with private ambitions wouldn¡¯t dare to speak up against him.


    ¡°Very well. Since there are no objections, then¡ª¡±


    ¡°I object.¡±


    A voice rang out, shattering the silence like a crack of thunder.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Trantor''s note: So who''d be the new enemy?

 Chapter 277 - I Am the Future

    A calm voice interrupted the Director mid-sentence.


    Everyone froze, thrownpletely off-guard.<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ''Who would have the audacity to oppose the Director, especially at a moment like this?''


    But when they looked in the direction of the voice, their shock only deepened¡ªit was Fang Xiu himself.


    Ambitious fourth-tier psychics in the crowd perked up, feeling a surge of hope. They figured Fang Xiu must¡¯ve decided he didn¡¯t have the confidence tomand, and that he was turning down the Captain position. Maybe they had a chance after all.


    The Director¡¯s expression initially darkened when he heard the objection. But as he recognized the source, his face softened, even breaking into a warm, approving smile. ¡°Fang Xiu, why do you object?¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s voice remained steady as he replied, ¡°With my achievements, I can''t ept the position of Captain of headquarters.¡±


    A hush fell over the crowd, and Fang Xiu¡¯s reputation only grew in their minds.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''He¡¯s the real deal,'' they thought.<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ''Not driven by titles or power.''


    Here was the hero who¡¯d saved headquarters, standing before an offer of rank and respect, and choosing to turn it down. Few people would refuse such an honor with so much support behind them.


    The Director¡¯s gaze grew even more approving, his resolve strengthening to make Fang Xiu a Captain.


    ¡°Fang Xiu, don¡¯t be so humble. I know you may feel that, as a third-tier psychic, the position of Captain isn¡¯t fitting. But we¡¯ve all seen what you¡¯re capable of. Without you, headquarters might not even be standing. This position is yours by right, and no one else¡ª¡±


    ¡°I think you misunderstand,¡± Fang Xiu interrupted, his tone unchanging.


    ¡°What I mean is, with my achievements, I deserve more than that. I should be¡­ the Chief Commander.¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">CLINK!


    The Director¡¯s pen slipped from his fingers, ttering against the table and echoing throughout the room.


    The smile vanished from his face, reced by a stunned silence.


    Everyone else was equally floored, staring at Fang Xiu as if he¡¯d just imed to rule the world. They even began to wonder if they¡¯d heard him correctly.


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Did he actually just say¡­ Chief Commander?''


    "Is he serious? A third-tier psychic, pushing straight for the highestmand?"


    ¡°Fa¡­ Fang Xiu, I¡¯m not sure I heard you correctly. Could you repeat that?¡± the Director stammered, trying to wrap his mind around Fang Xiu¡¯s words.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I said, with my achievements, I should be the Chief Commander.¡±


    The room dropped into dead silence. Shock ran through everyone like a chill, shattering the modest image they¡¯d held of him.


    It turned out, he hadn¡¯t rejected the Captain position out of modesty¡ªhe simply didn¡¯t want it. He was after the very top.


    Fang Xiu was, in fact, an entirely confident, even audacious figure, ready to stake his im on what he felt he¡¯d earned.


    ¡°Um¡­ Fang Xiu,¡± the Director finally said, forcing a polite, strained smile, ¡°you¡¯re still young, and this is your first time at headquarters. You¡¯re not fully acquainted with all of our operations¡­¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s calm reply sliced through the Director¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that without me, headquarters wouldn¡¯t be standing right now? So if I saved headquarters, isn¡¯t it only fair for me to take the role of Chief Commander?¡±


    The Director was momentarily stunned, left with no immediate response.


    Inside, he was cursing himself.<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ''Why did I say all that? I practically handed him the perfect argument!''


    "That''s true, I can¡¯t deny your achievements," the Director replied, doing his best to sound both encouraging and reasonable. "With merits like yours, bing Chief Commander isn¡¯t impossible. But it¡¯s too early for that. Start as a Captain, gain experience, and when the time¡¯s right, we can revisit the discussion about you taking on Chief Commander.¡±


    The Director¡¯s words were sincere; he wasn¡¯t trying to hold the role back for someone else. In his eyes, Fang Xiu, while incredibly skilled, was just too new. This was Fang Xiu¡¯s first time even setting foot in headquarters¡ªhe hadn¡¯t led even a single division of the city Investigation Bureaus, much less held a leadership role here, let alone the mantle of Chief Commander.


    After all, Chief Commander wasn¡¯t just a title; it was a position that demanded exceptional judgment and strategic vision.


    The Chief Commander was the mastermind behind the Investigation Bureau, guiding it on a national level, making high-stakes decisions in the heat of critical situations.


    Without years of experience, even someone as powerful as Fang Xiu would struggle.


    The Director had, in fact, considered that Fang Xiu might someday grow into the role. With his future-sight ability, he had the potential to be an unmatched leader¡ªbut not yet. He needed time.


    But seeing the Director¡¯s hesitation, Fang Xiu decided it was time to raise the stakes.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m incapable of being Chief Commander?¡± Fang Xiu asked, his tone firm.


    The Director looked slightly ufortable, choosing his words carefully. He didn¡¯t want to risk offending the hero of headquarters. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of capability,¡± he replied diplomatically. ¡°I just believe you need more experience, more familiarity with headquarters¡­¡±


    ¡°No need to go on,¡± Fang Xiu interrupted, his voice calm yet brimming with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ve already seen the future.¡±


    Silence fell over the hall, tension thickening in the air.


    ¡°In the future, only if I am Chief Commander can headquarters defeat the Specters and bring peace back to the world.¡±


    Everyone in the room stared, stunned by his bold words. For the first time, they felt the true weight of his phrase,<span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx"> ''I¡¯ve already seen the future.''


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">''Wait, future-sight can be used like this?'' the crowd wondered, exchanging tense nces. No one knew if Fang Xiu was bluffing.


    If he was lying, it was a brilliant move¡ªa calcted way to leverage his foresight for power. But if he was telling the truth¡­


    The Director, caught in a difficult position, remained silent, weighing his options. Even with his years of wisdom, he couldn¡¯t tell if Fang Xiu¡¯s vision was genuine or a clever way to im the top spot.


    After a long, loaded pause, he spoke atst, his tone serious. ¡°Fang Xiu, are you saying that you¡¯ve seen a future where only you as Chief Commander can lead headquarters to defeat the Specters?¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s expression didn¡¯t flinch. He scanned the faces of everyone in the room, his calm gaze unwavering. And with every eye locked on him, he replied in a steady, resolute voice:


    ¡°My foresight has never been wrong. I¡­ am the future.¡±


    <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">Trantor''s note: And how convenient is that!

 Chapter 278 - I Support Him

    Silence. Complete silence.


    The conference hall fell into an eerie stillness, each person frozen, afraid to break the moment.


    If Fang Xiu had said something like this before the recent battle, it would have been brushed off as arrogance. But now, after everything he had done, his words held an prophetic weight.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s calm voice cut through the stillness. ¡°If I am to be Chief Commander, does anyone have an objection?¡±


    People exchanged uncertain nces, reluctant to speak but unable to look away. And then, finally, a steady voice sliced through the tension.


    ¡°I''m OK with it.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s heads whipped around in surprise. The speaker was, surprisingly, Fang Moli, the person everyone assumed was next in line for Chief Commander.


    Even Fang Xiu raised an eyebrow. He¡¯d been certain that Fang Moli would be his biggest rival for the role. After all,mon sense dictated that the most powerful psychic, the only one at the fifth tier, should be the top candidate.


    The truth was, Fang Moli HAD been interested in the position. It wasn¡¯t about the power, but the prestige¡ªthe opportunity to stand in the spotlight, to be recognized as the strongest.


    This time, however, hispetition wasn¡¯t just anyone; it was Fang Xiu, the person responsible for saving his life and elevating his power.


    Fang Moli wasn¡¯t about to repay that by undermining him.


    Without Fang Xiu, he wouldn¡¯t even be alive, let alone vying for Chief Commander.


    Besides, as a fifth-tier psychic, Fang Moli knew he¡¯d still have plenty of fame and glory, title or no title.


    With Fang Moli¡¯s support, the other Captains quickly followed suit.


    Li Xiaoru, Xiong Tianguang, and Luo Qingxin didn¡¯t hesitate. In fact, Li Xiaoru and Xiong Tianguang exchanged a look, eachpeting to be the first to voice their support.


    ¡°I support him too!¡± they said in near unison.


    Even Luo Qingxin quietly raised her hand in agreement.


    In a matter of moments, every Captain in headquarters had endorsed Fang Xiu.


    The sheer speed with which the room rallied behind him left everyone stunned. Few could have anticipated that Fang Xiu would gain this level of respect so quickly.


    With the Captains setting the example, several newly promoted fourth-tier psychics also chimed in.


    The logic was simple: they weren¡¯tpeting for Chief Commander, but with Fang Xiu¡¯s promotion, a Captain role would likely open up¡ªsomething very much within their grasp.


    ¡°I support him.¡±


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    One by one, voices of approval echoed through the room.


    Of course, there were some who hesitated, still ufortable with someone as young as Fang Xiu in such a high position.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he a bit too young to be Chief Commander?¡± someone whispered.


    ¡°And he¡¯s only third-tier,¡± another muttered, ¡°that doesn¡¯t seem right¡­¡±


    ¡°But he can foresee the future,¡± one person replied. ¡°If the Foreseer himself isn¡¯t fit to lead us, who is?¡±


    ¡°You think he¡¯s a spy?¡± scoffed another. ¡°If he wanted headquarters destroyed, he¡¯d have done it already. Look at what he¡¯s aplished!¡±


    As more and more people raised their hands in agreement, a few skeptics softened. Fang Xiu¡¯s foresight, his actions, his bravery¡ªit all spoke for itself.


    The Director watched this overwhelming support unfold, taking it all in. Then he hesitated, clearing his throat.


    ¡°Fang Xiu, with your aplishments, you indeed qualify for the role of Chief Commander,¡± he said slowly. ¡°However, this is a significant decision. Allow me to consult with the higher authorities before we finalize anything. Would that be eptable to you?¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded, calm and collected. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±


    He understood that decisions like these involvedyers of protocol, a process that took time and consideration.


    ¡°By tomorrow,¡± the Director assured him. ¡°You¡¯ll have an answer by tomorrow.¡±


    The matter of appointing the Chief Commander was temporarily set aside. The Director then began assigning tasks for post-battle reconstruction and Specter elimination.


    "Sir," one staff member reported, tely, there have been numerous sightings of Specters in Shangjing. Some of these encounters have even led to casualties. Online, there¡¯s been a flood of posts about Specters, and some people are live-streaming their ''Specter hunts.'' People are spreading stories, some real, some fake. Public opinion... it''s bing increasingly hard to contain."


    The Director¡¯s expression grew somber. "I knew this day woulde. With the frequency of Specter attacks increasing, it was only a matter of time before news about Specters and psychics started slipping out. I just didn¡¯t think it would happen so soon."


    "So, what should we do?" someone asked. "Do we continue to cover it up, or do we go public with the truth?"


    Before the Director could respond, Li Xiaoru interjected, ¡°Of course, we keep it hidden! Do you want to throw the whole country into chaos? And remember, some Specters feed on negative emotions. The Nightmare incident in Greenvine showed us how dangerous that can be. If widespread panic spreads, and another Specter like Nightmare appears, the whole nation could be at risk!¡±


    ¡°I disagree,¡± Fang Moli countered.


    "Suppressing information only creates more fear. If we keep people in the dark, they¡¯ll start to specte wildly, and conspiracy theories will spread. Without guidance from headquarters, public fear could spiral out of control."


    The Director gave Fang Moli an approving look. He hadn¡¯t expected such insight from him. It seemed that after reaching the fifth tier, Fang Moli had gained a new level of maturity, now able to see things from a broader perspective.


    But with Fang Moli''s next words, the Director''s expression immediately darkened.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I think we shouldunch a nationwide broadcast, make sure every major video tform and TV channel is streaming it live. I¡¯ll go on camera myself to represent headquarters and reveal the truth to the public!¡±


    ''So that¡¯s his real motivation,'' some of the others thought, shaking their heads.


    Those who knew Fang Moli¡¯s personality well were no longer surprised. He had only presented his ¡°insightful¡± opinion as a pretext to get on TV and grab the spotlight.


    Truly, he¡¯d gone to great lengths just to secure his chance to shine.


    "I will take your suggestion into consideration," the Director replied, his face visibly strained. He couldn''t reprimand Fang Moli in front of everyone, so he kept hisposure. "But this is a decision that requires thorough nning. Now, moving on to the next agenda item."


    ...


    After the meeting, Fang Xiu returned to his temporary quarters to rest. Even though it was still daytime, he needed to sleep.


    Nightmare had expended a significant amount of energy in the recent battle. Fang Xiu¡¯s aggressive expansion of the dream realm had strained it to the limit, nearly to the point of permanent damage.


    Since Nightmare¡¯s abilities were essential, Fang Xiu had been spending most of his downtime in his room, sleeping as much as possible to help Nightmare recover and absorb fear.


    He had only justid down when¡ªKNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK¡ªa loud knocking came from the door.


    "Xiu, Xiu! I heard you¡¯re going to be the Chief Commander!" Xiao Chuxia¡¯s excited voice came from outside.


    ¡°Xiu, open up! You¡¯re all over the Global Specter Forum!¡± Zhao Hao¡¯s enthusiastic voice joined in.


    Sighing, Fang Xiu reluctantly pulled himself out of his half-asleep state and opened the door.


    Standing in the hallway were Xiao Chuxia, Zhao Hao, Yang Ming, and several others. Each of them bore bandages and bruises from the recent battle, but none appeared to be seriously injured.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s sharp gaze scanned over his friends, noticing that despite their injuries, each of them carried a new intensity in their demeanor.


    It was clear that the battle had strengthened them considerably.


    Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai, in particr, caught his attention¡ªthey had both broken through to the second tier.

 Chapter 279 - Acting Chief Commander

    ¡°Xiu, I heard you¡¯re about to be the Chief Commander! When you get the position, don¡¯t forget about me. Make me a captain too, okay?¡± Xiao Chuxia said in a syrupy sweet voice, her enthusiasm barely contained.


    Fang Xiu shot her a t look. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Xiu, check this out! You¡¯re trending on the Global Specter Forum!¡± Zhao Hao eximed, practically shoving his phone into Fang Xiu¡¯s face.


    Fang Xiu nced at the screen and saw sensational headlines: ¡°The First Fifth-Tier Psychic: Thanks to That Man!¡±


    ¡°Behind the Fifth Tier Powerhouse.¡±


    ¡°World¡¯s Top Ability Belongs to a Third Tier Psychic.¡±


    ¡°A Single Man Can Match Three Legions.¡±


    The outrageous exaggerations almost made himugh.


    ¡°Can you believe it? They¡¯re saying you¡¯re strong enough to take on three legions!¡± Zhao Hao said, eyes wide with excitement.


    ¡°You know how to tter,¡± Yang Ming chimed in, giving Zhao Hao a mock thumbs up.


    Fang Xiu maintained a nk expression. ¡°Do you have anything else to do? If not, please leave; I need to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Xiu, aren¡¯t you even a little excited? Your achievements are known worldwide! There¡¯s a vote for the world¡¯s number one psychic, and you¡¯re at the top! Fang Moli is only second!¡±


    Yang Ming scoffed. ¡°Fang Moli? He only hit the fifth tier because of Xiu¡¯s help. It¡¯s obvious who truly deserves to be first.¡±


    ¡°Xiu,¡± Yang Ming said, shing a grin reminiscent of Li Xiaoru¡¯s. ¡°Since we¡¯re friends, can you help me break through too? Just to the fourth tier¡ªno need for fifth tier. I¡¯m not greedy.¡±


    ¡°Get away from me,¡± Fang Xiu said, pushing the door closed.


    ¡°Xiu, don¡¯t listen to him! You just helped Fang Moli break through to the fifth tier. Helping Yang Ming to the fourth would drain you! But the second to third tier is way easier, right? How about helping me first?¡± Zhao Hao added.


    BANG!


    Fang Xiu shut the door, cutting off their eager faces.


    ¡°Xiu! The forum is going wild, saying you can help psychics break through levels! The Investigation Bureaus from different countries are sending us invitations. You have to help me break through first! I want to be ahead of those foreign guys!¡± Yang Ming shouted from outside.


    Once he dismissed the group, Fang Xiu returned to bed. Despite the chaos on the forum, he feltpletely unfazed.


    The next day, headquarters convened again, a serious air filling the room.


    The Director took his ce at the head table, ready to address the gathering. ¡°I believe you all know the purpose of today¡¯s meeting. The Chief Commander position is still undecided, but after careful consideration, we have decided to appoint Fang Xiu as¡­¡±


    ¡°Acting Chief Commander, right?¡± Fang Xiu calmly interrupted, cutting in before the Director could finish.


    The Director blinked in surprise. ¡°Did you foresee this?¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded slightly, scanning the room and the faces around him. ¡°I will be appointed as the Acting Chief Commander for a one-year probation period. If I don¡¯t make any major mistakes and prove my capability to lead the psychics at headquarters within that year, I will be promoted to a permanent position.¡±


    ¡°You even foresaw what I was going to say at the meeting?¡± The Director lookedpletely stunned. He knew this was confidential info that hadn¡¯t leaked, which meant Fang Xiu must have truly seen it.


    ¡°I foresaw my appointment as Acting Chief Commander, and I also predicted that your uing speech wouldst an hour. To save time, let me take over,¡± Fang Xiu interjected smoothly.


    The Director was momentarily at a loss for words, while the others in the room stifledughter at his flustered expression. They were all too familiar with the Director''s lengthy speeches, often testing the patience of everyone present.


    ¡°Sir, the next agenda item is for me to speak, right? Let¡¯s move on to that,¡± Fang Xiu said, confidently taking the microphone from in front of the Director.


    Just then, Xiao Zhenhua, who had been standing behind the Director, couldn''t hold back any longer. He prided himself on maintaining discipline above all else.


    ¡°Fang Xiu! Don¡¯t go too far! You¡ª¡±


    Before Xiao Zhenhua could finish his thought, Fang Xiu cut him off. ¡°You¡¯re being arrogant. Just because you¡¯ve been appointed as Acting Chief Commander, you think you can disrupt the meeting? Sir, Fang Xiu is young and impulsive; I suggest we keep an eye on him.¡±


    Xiao Zhenhua was taken aback. ''That¡¯s my line!'' he thought, momentarily speechless.


    Fang Xiu then pulled out a small notebook and waved it in front of the room. ¡°This notebook contains what you are all going to say during this meeting. I predicted it in advance and wrote it down. My intention is clear¡ªI need to establish authority. I know some of you doubt my ability to be Acting Chief Commander, but that¡¯s irrelevant. The future will prove everything.¡±


    Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t shy about his intentions; he aimed to assert his dominance and build credibility at headquarters. Power didn¡¯t juste from the top; it came from below. Just like an emperor, it wasn¡¯t the title thatmanded respect, but respect that granted the title.


    In the same way, being Chief Commander didn¡¯t mean he couldmand everyone; he had to earn their trust. If everyone believed in him, he would truly be the Chief Commander.


    While respect could be built over time, Fang Xiu didn¡¯t want to wait. With the Specter invasion escting, he had no time for power struggles.


    He nned to use the simplest and most direct method to intimidate everyone, quickly taking control of headquarters and establishing his own authority.


    His words sent the room into an uproar.


    Amid the noise, Fang Xiu opened the notebook and revealed the first page, showcasing a written statement.


    Xiao Zhenhua: ¡°You¡¯re being arrogant. Just because you¡¯ve been appointed as Acting Chief Commander, you think you can disrupt the meeting? Sir, Fang Xiu is young and impulsive; I suggest we keep an eye on him.¡±


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± Lin Tianhe eximed loudly from the crowd. He was the only fourth-tier among the trainees and one of the few who had been frozen into an ice sculpture by Luo Qingxin.


    Among those present, only a few captains, like Fang Moli, had witnessed Fang Xiu''s precise predictions firsthand. Others knew he could predict the future but had never seen it done with such uracy.


    Their understanding of foresight had always been shaped by movies and TV shows, filled with cryptic prophecies and vague images of future events.


    But Fang Xiu¡¯s disy was nothing like that. There were no riddles or ambiguities; it was pure precision.


    Fang Xiu calmly dered, ¡°Nothing is impossible. Everything reflects the future. The Foreseer... can see the future.¡±


    Trantor''s note: Power didn¡¯t juste from the top; it came from below. Just like an emperor, it wasn¡¯t the title thatmanded respect, but respect that granted the title. ¡ªWell I say it''s not necessarily so.

 Chapter 280 - First Order

    As he finished speaking, Fang Xiu flipped open the second page, revealing the words:


    Lin Tianhe: "How is this possible?"


    A collective gasp filled the room as everyone turned their eyes to Fang Xiu, staring at him like he was some zoo animal.


    "What the hell! Is he for real?"


    Fang Xiu continued to flip through the pages, and the next line read: "What the hell! Is he for real?"


    "Something''s wrong with the book. Like, is it recording what we say in real-time? Because if not, this prophecy is way over the top. It feels like we¡¯re in some movie where he¡¯s got a remote, fast-forwarding and rewinding, capturing everything," one person spected, skepticism dripping from their voice.


    Fang Xiu continued flipping through the book, and to everyone¡¯s shock, the words lined up perfectly with the previous speaker¡¯s doubts.


    Then he passed the book to the Director.


    "Simple. I''ll just let the Director take a look for himself."


    The Director, intrigued, began to skim through the pages, quickly noticing that nearly every page had pre-written words, not just recorded responses to what had been said.


    When he turned to the next page, it boldly proimed: I want to drink a pool of liquor tonight.


    The Director frowned, perplexed. ''What kind of absurdity is this?''


    But just then, a psychic jumped up, announcing loudly, "I want to drink a pool of liquor tonight!"


    The intent was clear: he was deliberately steering the conversation to an unrted topic to deflect suspicion.


    As soon as he finished, all eyes shifted back to the Director, whose face reflected deep shock.


    Fang Moli and the others sitting nearby leaned in, their expressions mirroring disbelief as they stared at the little book.


    No matter how many times they experienced this extraordinary ability to predict the future, it left them in constant awe.


    "What you just said is exactly what¡¯s written here," the Director stammered, his astonishment evident as he disyed the page to the group.


    A few skeptical psychics racked their brains, trying to conjure up obscure phrases, even tossing in some othernguages.


    But each of their utterances was already inscribed in the book.


    Now, everyone was utterly stunned, struck by a wave of confusion and a creeping sense of dread.


    It felt like an unseen force had grabbed their hearts.


    They had believed they were in control of their destinies, but now it seemed their futures were preordained, meticulously recorded, even down to their spoken words.


    This realization made them question whether they were merely puppets dancing on the strings of fate.


    Their expressions shifted from shock to sheer horror as they gazed at Fang Xiu.


    In their eyes, he had transformed into a figure from the future, a being who knew every move and word of the attendees. No matter how desperately they tried to alter their paths, it was all futile.


    Their destinies had already been inscribed on the pages.


    As the crowd stood in stunned silence, Fang Xiu finally broke the tension.


    "What I¡¯m doing isn¡¯t about showcasing my power. I¡¯m here to show you that while the future may feel unpredictable and enigmatic to you, to me, it¡¯s just a stage I can observe and manipte at will. If I choose, I can even foresee your deaths and warn you beforehand. I can sift through endless possibilities and select a path that allows you to survive, thus saving you from your fate."


    As his words resonated in the air, a flicker of fervor mingled with the crowd¡¯s shock. ¡°Avoiding death!? What incredible power!¡±


    In that instant, they grasped Fang Xiu''s true worth: he wasn¡¯t just a guide to the future or a key to breaking through to the fifth tier¡ªhis ultimate valuey in his ability to avert death!


    ¡°I believe some of you have already figured out my purpose. Yes, I am establishing my authority. I intend to intimidate you first and then offer you hope¡ªcarrot and stick. I¡¯m not shy about this, nor do I fear you recognizing my intentions, because the future I speak of is one you can¡¯t afford to ignore.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯sposed words ignited a whirlwind of emotions in the hearts of his audience. No one dared to challenge him; they felt cornered, with no alternative.


    In truth, they began to realize that only Fang Xiu could rightfully be Chief Commander.


    After all, no one could lead them better than this foreseer. Under the guidance of the Foreseer, the headquarters would surely find the right path ahead.


    ¡°Now, the intimidation phase is done. Let mey down my rule. In simple terms, I have just onemand: never question my orders, and carry them out without hesitation.¡±


    At that moment, Fang Xiu assumed the role of a dictator, permitting no dissent within the headquarters.


    Oddly enough, faced with such authoritarian derations, the crowd felt it was entirely reasonable¡ªjust how it should be.


    ¡°No matter how absurd or outrageous the orders might seem, even if you can¡¯tprehend them, don¡¯t let your foolish minds question. I will not make mistakes. I have already seen the future. I am the Foreseer, and I will always stand on the side of what lies ahead.¡±


    His calm derations echoed in their minds and left them momentarily speechless.


    This meeting would be forever etched in their memories. Fang Xiu was destined to be the most unforgettable Chief Commander in their lives.


    With the prowess of a third-tier psychic, he had imed the role from a fifth-tier without facing any objection.


    Fang Xiu surveyed the stunned crowd with satisfaction. He had to die numerous times to get what he needed for this meeting, and now it felt justified.


    A few more demonstrations of his foresight, and the crowd became even more entranced. His words engraved his concept into their minds.


    Fang Xiu was still waiting for the right time. He knew that when that moment arrived, even if hemanded the psychics to march to their doom, they would do so without a second thought.


    As Zhao Hao had previously stated, ¡°If Xiu ever tells me to die, it must be because there''s a worse fate waiting for me.¡±


    The psychics of the headquarters would inevitablye to share this belief someday.


    Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t after power; he aimed for everyone to ce their unconditional trust in his words. Only then could he unlock Xiao Chuxia''s full potential.


    It could transform lies into reality. The synergy of the Foreseer¡¯s title with Xiao Chuxia¡¯s deception was perhaps the most perfect pairing imaginable.

 Chapter 281 - One Day As the Chief Commander

    It had been a day since Fang Xiu took on the role of Acting Chief Commander, and now he was officially in charge.


    Sitting calmly at hisrge desk, Fang Xiu was framed by the warm glow of golden sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His tall figure was supported by a sleek leather chair.


    On his desk were several leather folders filled with documents, all neatly organized. To his right, a beautiful rosewood teacup rested quietly.


    A striking woman in a tailored outfit prepared tea nearby. She wore ck stockings and high heels, her lips painted a bold red.


    As she poured hot spring water over the fragrant tea leaves, steam swirled into the air, filling the room with a lovely aroma.


    Once the tea was ready, she gently lifted the teacup, blowing softly on the surface. The scent mingled with her breath, creating a warm vibe.


    ¡°Sir, your tea''s ready,¡± she said with a bright smile.


    Fang Xiu, however, was engrossed in his work. His long fingers gripped a ck pen as he went through the documents.


    Noticing this, the woman pouted and took a sip from the cup.


    ¡°Wow! This tea is fantastic. No wonder it''s exclusive to the higher-ups,¡± she eximed, her eyes lighting up.


    Dropping the pretense, she settled onto a nearby leather couch, crossing her legs and savoring the tea.


    After a few sips, boredom struck, and she pulled out her phone, scrolling through videos andughing freely.


    Fang Xiu frowned at the distraction.


    ¡°Xiao Chuxia, send this document out immediately. Inform everyone that they must adhere strictly to the guidelines for Specter incident reports.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia, still lounging on the couch, rolled her eyes. ¡°Really, Xiu? You actually have work for me to do?*¡±


    ¡°Say one more word, and I¡¯ll dock your sry and bonus for the month.¡±


    Startled, Xiao Chuxia jumped up so quickly that one of her heels slipped off.


    Shended softly on the carpet and scrambled to find her shoe. After slipping it back on, she grabbed the document and shimmied out of the office.


    Fang Xiu watched her leave, his frown deepening.


    Weren''t it for Xiao Chuxia''s vital skills, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen someone so seeminglyzy as his secretary.


    He needed her around for protection. Xiao Chuxia''s a huge liar, and there was a high risk for her to die because of that.


    If she died and Fang Xiu triggered death reset multiple times before he knew, he wouldn''t be able to go a few resetting points back and save her then.


    Honestly, Fang Xiu couldn''t care less if Xiao Chuxia was dead; he just couldn''t afford losing her ability.


    The previous battle had made it clear just how essential her skills were. Without her, Fang Xiu knew he would struggle, no matter how many resets he attempted.


    A short timeter, Xiao Chuxia returned, shimmying back into the office.


    ¡°Xiu, are you sure about this document? Your first order as Chief Commander is to make the psychics standardize their Specter incident reports? Some people areining about it, saying psychics aren¡¯t exactly obedient and that many don¡¯t even write reports themselves¡ªthose are handled by their contacts. Focusing on this kind of small issue feels a bit excessive for a newmander.¡±


    Fang Xiu calmly sipped his expensive mineral water. He wasn''t having the tea since Xiao Chuxia had used that cup.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about what they say. Just follow my order. Also, inform all department heads: anyone who fails to submit reports ormits fraud will face consequences¡ªone offense means a 50% cut in their Spiritual Energy materials, two offenses lead to a full deduction, and three will get them fired.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, understood, you¡¯re the boss here,¡± Xiao Chuxia replied, her tone hinting at resignation.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t borate on his reasoning. Many viewed thismand as unnecessary bureaucracy. After all, who cared about paperwork when they could just deal with the Specters directly?


    But Fang Xiu had a purpose behind it. He needed to prepare for future death resets.


    There were too many psychics at headquarters, and he couldn¡¯t question each about their encounters with Specters. He required detailed reports on the processes, causes, and events after every incident.


    Just then, a knock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    A staff member entered with a serious look on his face.


    ¡°Sir, a Specter incident just urred in the west part of Shangjing. It¡¯s in arge shopping mall. Thousands of people are currently trapped in the Specter Domain. Here are the details.¡±


    ¡°Thousands?¡± Xiao Chuxia gasped at the number. This was a huge incident that could easily lead to social unrest, if not handled carefully.


    Fang Xiu took the report, reading it closely while noting the time, location, and specifics.


    ¡°Send someone at it.¡±


    The staff member hesitated, surprised by Fang Xiu''s calm demeanor.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± asked Fang Xiu.


    ¡°No... nothing else.¡±


    The guy left to make arrangements.


    Before long, another guy entered with news of yet another Specter incident.


    Fang Xiu followed the same pattern: he read the report and simply said, ¡°Send someone at it.¡±


    This continued several times, each report ending with that same response.


    After thest big fight, numerous Specters escaped, leading to multiple incidents in Shangjing within a single day.


    Fang Xiu spent the entire day in his office, listening to the reports.


    As work wrapped up, Xiao Chuxia approached him.


    ¡°Xiu, being Chief Commander seems too easy. I feel like I could do it too.¡±


    Fang Xiu cast her a brief nce but didn¡¯t reply.


    He had no interest in exining; people saw only his apparent ease and ability to predict oues with a few light words. They admired how he managed dangers effortlessly but had no idea how many times he had quietly faced death behind the scenes.


    Trantor''s note: You actually have work for me to do¡ª¡ªI¡¯m quite sure this is part of a very crude Chinese inte ng: "If you have work to do, let your secretary do it; if not, you do your secretary."


    Yeah, that''s very crude and sexist.

 Chapter 282 - A Brilliant Strategy

    The following day, the headquarters felt... off.


    People were looking at Fang Xiu with strange, almost judgmental nces.


    But Fang Xiu? He didn¡¯t flinch. He just kept his focus, calmly flipping through the daily reports like it was any other day.


    Today¡¯s report noted that the Specter incident at the shopping mall had been contained, but at a heavy cost¡ªnearly a thousand lives lost, with several psychics among the fallen.


    He silently jotted down the key details, then proceeded to approve yet another pile of documents without a second thought.


    As the hours went by, the murmurs grew louder. Whispers began to buzz through the hallways.


    Some were saying that the Chief Commander hadn''t done a thing except lock himself away in his office all day with his pretty secretary, going over reports.


    "Is he even reading those reports, or just pretending? I can''t even bring myself to say it aloud!"


    "He doesn¡¯t even care to read the documents properly. He just scribbles ''Read'' and moves on."


    "This is ridiculous! This so-called Foreseer who¡¯s always spouting off about how the future of headquarters relies on his leadership? He''s just using some so-called prophecy as an excuse to grab power!"


    Then, five dayster, Li Xiaoru barged into Fang Xiu''s office.


    His face was twisted with frustration as he stormed over to Fang Xiu''s desk, his voice full of usation.


    "Fang Xiu, what the hell have you been doingtely? All you¡¯ve done is give us some useless orders about report formatting! Is that it? You¡¯re TAHT helpless? The whole headquarters is falling apart, and we¡¯re losing personnel because of yourck of action!"


    Fang Xiu stayedpletely unfazed by her outburst.


    "I don¡¯t remember asking for your opinion," he said, his voice calm and steady.


    Li Xiaoru¡¯s eyes narrowed, her face turning cold.


    "Fang Xiu, I''ve so overestimated you."


    "Xiao Chuxia, show her out," ordered Fang Xiu, coldly.


    "You think you can just¡ª" Li Xiaoru mmed his palm onto the desk, furious.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t even flinch. He met his gaze coolly.


    "Li Xiaoru, I am the Chief Commander."


    "You¡¯ll regret this, Fang Xiu!" Li Xiaoru snapped. He stormed out, his anger seething as he mmed the door behind her.


    It was a tense moment, a moment no one in the headquarters had expected. At a time when Specters were running rampant, the one in charge¡ªthe Chief Commander¡ªwas doing absolutely nothing.


    Two dayster, the Director came to see Fang Xiu.


    His face was a mask of disappointment, the kind that only came after years of umted failure.


    "Fang Xiu, is this really the future you wanted?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight of unspoken sadness.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t answer. It felt like the Director had aged a decade in that instant, the weight of his shoulders sagging as he left the office in silence.


    The office soon returned to its usual rhythm. The evening light filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room, wrapping Fang Xiu in a sense of quiet solitude.


    Xiao Chuxia satzily on the couch, her attention fully absorbed in her phone, scrolling through video clips with a happy smile.


    Everything seemed normal, almost peaceful.


    But only Fang Xiu knew the truth¡ªthings would never be the same again.


    Because he had returned, and with him, the future was about to unfold.


    Without warning, Fang Xiu grabbed the ck pen on his desk and began to write.


    The soft scratching of the pen against paper was the only sound in the room, blending with Xiao Chuxia¡¯s giggles and the distant hum of the short videos on her phone.


    In that quiet, unassuming moment, the wheels of change were set into motion.


    After a long silence, Fang Xiu finally put down his pen. His notes filled two whole sheets of A4 paper, densely packed with his sharp, meticulous writing. Without a second thought, he tore the pages into strips, one by one.


    ¡°Xiao Chuxia, go get some fortune bags.¡±


    Xiao Chuxia looked up from her phone, confused. "Fortune bags? What do you need those for?"


    "I said, Fortune bags."


    Her confusion only deepened. ¡°Why do you need those?"


    "One more dumb question, there goes your bonus for the month."


    The sound of Xiao Chuxia leaping off the couch echoed through the room. Her heels slipped off and tumbled onto the carpet.


    The threat of bonus deductions hit hard. She¡¯d spent a lot of money on new secretary outfits and heels for just this kind of job.


    Without another word, she quickly slid her heels back on and dashed off to get the bags.


    Momentster, Xiao Chuxia returned with the fortune bags.


    Fang Xiu carefully ced each strip of paper into a separate bag, one by one.


    Xiao Chuxia was curious about what was written on the strips, but they were all folded neatly, keeping the contents a mystery.


    ¡°Xiu, what¡¯s written on them?¡±


    ¡°The future.¡±


    That only deepened her curiosity. She inched closer, itching to peek.


    But Fang Xiu¡¯s calm voice cut through her thoughts. "One more nce, and there goes your sry this month."


    Startled, Xiao Chuxia pulled her hand back instantly, pouting. "Fine, I won¡¯t peek. It¡¯s not a big deal anyway."


    Once all the strips were tucked safely inside the bags, Fang Xiu grabbed thendline and dialed a number.


    ¡°Have the group leaders from Groups 1 to 10e to my office.¡±


    A voice, tinged with both respect and a hint of nervousness, replied from the other end.


    ¡°Yes, boss.¡±


    A short timeter, the office was filled with a quiet bustle of people.


    A staff member spoke up with respect. "Sir, the group leaders from Groups 1 to 10 are here."


    Fang Xiu nodded, his gaze scanning over the ten leaders now standing before him.


    Each leader stood quietly, some respectful, others curious, all silently wondering why they had been summoned to Fang Xiu¡¯s office.


    ¡°See the numbers on the fortune bags? Each of you will take the bag that corresponds with your group,¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s steady voice cut through the silence.


    The group leaders exchanged nces, confusion written across their faces, but they stepped forward, each picking up a fortune bag as instructed.


    It was then that the leader of Group 1 spoke up. "Sir, what exactly are these fortune bags for?"


    "They¡¯re your future."


    Fang Xiu¡¯s words hung in the air, quiet but forceful, like a thunderp that echoed through the group.


    "Our future?" For a brief moment, the casual concept of "future" suddenly felt far heavier,den with meaning.


    Some leaders began nervously scratching their heads, their impatience growing. They were eager to open the bags, to reveal what was inside.


    "Do not open the bags yet," Fang Xiu continued, his voice unwavering. "Wait until you face danger, then you may open them."


    Some muttered to themselves, "Danger? What does he mean by that? Is something dangerousing their way?"


    Fang Xiu¡¯s cryptic instructions only fueled the group¡¯s curiosity. The idea of danger made them even more eager to see what awaited them inside the fortune bags.

 Chapter 283 - The Almighty Chief Commander

    Everyone in the room itched to open their fortune bags. Who wouldn¡¯t want to catch a glimpse of their future, after all?


    But Fang Xiu¡¯s next words quickly put a stop to their curiosity.


    ¡°These bags are meant to help you survive when danger strikes. Sure, you can choose to open them early, but doing so could change the future. If you end up dead because of it, don¡¯te crying to me. I¡¯ve warned you.¡±


    The moment those words left his mouth, the group froze in ce.


    No matter how curious they were, not a single person dared to open the bags now. No one was willing to gamble with their life.


    Fang Xiu wasn¡¯t just speaking for drama¡¯s sake¡ªhe was serious.


    The fortune bags had been carefully prepared based on the Specter incident reports they¡¯d all written before the timeline reset.


    These reports detailed everything: how each team handled the Specter events, how many had died, the patterns they¡¯d noticed, and what steps they¡¯d taken to deal with the threats.


    The purpose of the fortune bags was simple: when danger hit, they would show the group the best course of action¡ªlike a walkthrough in a video game.


    However, if anyone looked at their bag too early, they would know what wasing¡ªand that knowledge could alter their choices. If they acted differently, they could change the course of the future.


    ¡°Now, Group One,¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s voice cut through the tension, ¡°take your team to Yida Shopping Mall in the West Area. A Specter Domain is about to appear there.¡±


    The leader of Group One froze, his face drained of color. He knew what this meant¡ªFang Xiu had foreseen the future again.


    He clutched the fortune bag tightly in his hands, as though it were the only thing tethering him to reality.


    Just then, a knock echoed through the office.


    A staff member rushed in, breathless.


    ¡°Sir, a Specter incident just urred in the West Area of Shangjing. It''s in arge shopping mall, and thousands of people are trapped inside the Specter Domain. Here are the details.¡±


    ¡°Mm, put it on the desk,¡± Fang Xiu muttered casually, not even looking up.


    The staff member, now in a state of mild panic, faltered.


    ¡°Sir, please¡ªtake a look at the details! The situation is urgent!¡±


    But as he spoke, he realized that the ten group leaders were all staring at him in stunned silence, as if they had just seen the impossible.


    It was then that the leader of Group One, with a determined look, suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    He turned on his heel and rushed out of the office, heading straight for his team.


    The staff member stood frozen, staring after him in confusion before turning back to Fang Xiu.


    ¡°Sir¡­ you already predicted this?¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded with cool indifference, then shifted his gaze to the other group leaders.


    ¡°Group Two, take your team to Room 501, Building C, Junjing Living Community in the North Area. A Specter will soon break into a resident¡¯s home.¡±


    The leader of Group Two immediately snapped to attention.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    ¡°Group Three, be at 33 Fangxin Road, Yuhua District, at midnight.¡±


    ¡°Group Four, head to Chaoyang Road in the Hexi District at 18:00.¡±


    ¡°Group Five¡­¡±


    As Fang Xiu continued issuingmands, the group leaders jumped into action, their every movement precise and purposeful.


    Meanwhile, the staff member who had entered to report stood rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded.


    He had no idea how he even left the office. His mind was still reeling from the surreal experience.


    When he finally made it back to his own office, his colleagues instantly noticed his odd, dazed expression.


    ¡°Lee, what happened? Why do you look like hell?¡±


    Lee took a long, steadying breath, trying to collect his thoughts before speaking.


    ¡°I... I just saw the future.¡±


    His colleagues leaned in, intrigued by the strange statement.


    ¡°Did Chief Commander Fang predict everything right there in his office?¡±


    ¡°Hurry up, tell us what happened!¡±


    Lee didn¡¯t keep them in suspense. With a mixture of disbelief and awe, he began recounting everything he had witnessed inside Fang Xiu¡¯s office.


    When Lee finished recounting his story, the room fell into stunned silence.


    For a long moment, no one knew what to say. The weight of what they''d just heard hung in the air, too surreal to process.


    Then, the ringing of the phone broke the quiet.


    Lee snapped to attention and quickly grabbed the receiver.


    An urgent voice came through, sharp and frantic.


    ¡°Emergency! A Specter has appeared in the North Area¡¯s Junjing Community!¡±


    Lee was momentarily caught off guard. ¡°Is it in Room 501 of Building C?¡± he asked, his voice oddly calm.


    The person on the other end hesitated, surprised by the question.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s in Building C, but we¡¯re still trying to pinpoint exactly which unit the Specter is in. We need to send someone to investigate. You should notify Chief Commander Fang and have him arrange the response.¡±


    Lee didn¡¯t even bat an eye. His voice remained steady, but there was a certain finality to it.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to notify him. He already knows. The Specter event is happening in Junjing Community, Room 501, Building C, and he¡¯s already dispatched Group Two to handle it. You need to make arrangements on your end to assist and focus on evacuating the civilians.¡±


    The line went quiet for a moment, as if the person on the other end was trying to process the sheer certainty in Lee¡¯s words. But before they could respond, Lee hung up the phone and stood there, his mind racing.


    ¡°Chief Commander Fang... he is truly incredible!¡± Lee muttered to himself, a look of awe and disbelief crossing his face.


    Trantor''s note: If other people reading the note in the bag too early would change the future, then what about Fang Xiu himself? And exactly when will be the right time to read the note?

 Chapter 284 - Not Just a Fortune Bag

    The next day, the entire headquarters was electrified with excitement.


    When a psychic came back alive after handling a Specter incident, it was always a big deal, but Fang Xiu¡¯stest trick with the fortune bags? That was on a whole new level.


    The Chief Commander and Foreseer himself had whipped out these ¡°fortune bags,¡±¡ª the mere concept was enough to make people talk.


    He wasn¡¯t just any leader¡ªhe was the one everyone watched. Now, with psychics returning from their missions buzzing about the sess of these little bags, ¡°fortune bag¡± was officially the hottest topic in headquarters.


    Word spread like wildfire. People swapped stories in the halls, each psychic eager to share how the fortune bag hade through in the clutch.


    ¡°Man, Mr. Fang is unreal! Yesterday on my mission, we ran into a Specter that could possess people. It actually wormed its way into our team, walked with us for hours, and tried to lure us deeper into the Specter Domain. I panicked, then remembered the fortune bag Mr. Fang gave me. When I opened it, there was a note with the name of our possessed teammate. Thanks to that, we restrained it just in time and dealt with the Specter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing! Yesterday, I faced off with a memory-warping Specter. It added a new teammate to our squad out of thin air. There were supposed to be six of us, but suddenly, we were seven, and no one could figure out who the extra person was. The Specter had hacked our memories like it was nothing. Then I thought of the fortune bag. When I opened it, the note inside had all the info on our fake ¡®teammate.¡¯ Boom¡ªproblem solved.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Mr. Fang is something else. I never thought fighting Specters could be this simple. Yesterday, I was dealing with this Specter that just wouldn¡¯t go down, no matter what. It was like it was invincible. I pulled out the fortune bag, and it said to smash all the mirrors in the room. I figured, ¡®What the heck, I¡¯ve got nothing to lose.¡¯ So I went to town on the mirrors, and suddenly the Specter¡¯s real form appeared. Turns out it was hiding in the mirrors, and we¡¯d been fighting its illusions the whole time!¡±


    ¡°I knew it¡ªputting the Foreseer in charge was the best decision ever.¡±


    ¡°Pfft, you¡¯re so full of it! I remember in the meeting, you didn¡¯t even raise your hand voting for him. In fact, didn¡¯t you say something like ¡®young and inexperienced, probably unreliable¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Lies! Mr. Fang is a legend¡ªI¡¯d never say that about him!¡±


    These behind-the-scenes conversations only grew louder and bolder with each day.


    Over the next few days, Fang Xiu¡¯s reputation as a visionary continued to soar.


    It wasn¡¯t just about the fortune bags anymore. asionally, he¡¯d even pull out a map of Shangjing, circling locations where Specters would soon appear.


    Every spot he pointed to ended up crawling with Specters. Teams would sweep in to evacuate civilians and set up ambushes, and each time, his predictions hit the mark.


    Within a week, the whole ce was singing Fang Xiu¡¯s praises. They even gave his fortune bags a new name: ¡°Future Bags.¡±


    The hype went from rumor to legend, with people whispering that a Future Bag from Mr. Fang could save people from death, let people see the future, and even change one''s destiny.


    Before long, people believed that with a Future Bag, even a ss-S Specter couldn¡¯t touch them.


    Those who had received a bag, even after using it, couldn¡¯t bear to throw it away. They treated it like a family treasure, some even hanging it around their necks as a charm.


    It was like shing a luxury brand or a fat gold chain¡ªbut way more impressive.


    Everywhere they went, they drew stares of awe and envy.


    They¡¯d proudly say, ¡°What I¡¯m wearing isn¡¯t just a fortune bag¡ªit¡¯s my future!¡±


    ¡­


    CHIEF COMMANDER¡¯S OFFICE


    Li Xiaoru sauntered in, grinning shamelessly. ¡°Hey¡­ Xiu, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to beg for help breaking through the fifth tier. Not at all. I just, you know¡­ wondered if I could get one of those famous fortune bags?¡±


    Before Fang Xiu could respond, Xiao Chuxia stepped forward. She had a smirk on her face as she pulled out a fortune bag from her pocket, like a seasoned salesperson. ¡°Thank you. That¡¯ll be one thousand Spiritual Coins.¡±


    ¡°One thousand? Are you serious? That¡¯s daylight robbery!¡± Li Xiaoru¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head.


    Xiao Chuxia¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Exactly. You catch on quick.¡±


    ¡°You¡­!¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on! What, one of the five captains of headquarters can¡¯t scrape together a measly thousand Spiritual Coins?¡± Xiao Chuxia teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.


    Grumbling under his breath, Li Xiaoru finally caved, reluctantly handing over the coins to buy the fortune bag.


    Just as the banter wound down, the Director stepped into the room. His gaze settled on Fang Xiu with a look of clear admiration,.


    ¡°Fang Xiu, your work has been phenomenal. In a single week, you¡¯ve helped resolve dozens of Specter incidents, saving almost ten thousand lives. The injury rate among our psychics has dropped significantly, too. I had a feeling you were the right choice for Chief Commander, but now there¡¯s no doubt about it.¡±


    Fang Xiu epted the praise calmly, showing the sameposure with which he¡¯d previously endured skepticism and doubt.


    Praise and criticism were equally trivial to him¡ªhis attention was always on his ultimate purpose.


    Now that his reputation had been firmly established, it was time to move forward with the next phase of his n.


    He couldn¡¯t keep leaning on his foresight forever. Shangjing was more stable now, and the Specters that had escaped in thest major outbreak were mostly dealt with. It was time to shift his focus to the bigger mission ahead.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Fang Xiu said evenly, ¡°it¡¯s time.¡±


    The Director paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. ¡°Time for what, exactly?¡±


    Fang Xiu met his gaze, his voice steady. ¡°Time to reveal THE truth to the public.¡±


    The Director¡¯s expression turned grave. ¡°You sure about that?¡±


    He didn¡¯t challenge or question Fang Xiu¡¯s judgment. Fang Xiu¡¯s abilities and foresight had be legendary at headquarters; if he had made up his mind, it was bound to be well-reasoned.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s voice was resolute. ¡°Fang Moli had it right. Hiding the truth only lets rumors spiral out of control. It¡¯s better for headquarters to get ahead of this and make an official statement. Sooner orter, the public will find out¡ªSpecter invasions are only getting more frequent. If things continue on this path, we¡¯ll be dealing with even stronger Specters and the emergence of fifth-tier psychics. The stakes are escting, and the scale of future battles will be unimaginable. The truth has toe out eventually.¡±


    A shadow passed over the Director¡¯s face, and he gave a solemn nod. He understood all too well that theing conflict was inevitable.


    ¡°I support your decision,¡± he said, ¡°but we¡¯ll need to go through the United Bureaus. This decision is bigger than just us; it¡¯s time we gave the world some answers.¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded. As Chief Commander, he was already familiar with the United Bureaus. It was a global organization that officially coordinated with the Investigation Bureaus of various nations, a collective effort to manage Specter threats worldwide.


    However, in practice, the true authorityy with the major powers.


    Within the United Bureaus, a country¡¯s standing depended on two things: its strength as a nation and the power of its psychics.


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Fang Xiu said, ¡°let¡¯s notify the United Bureaus and make it official.¡±

 Chapter 285 - Announcing

    The Director¡¯s expression turned serious, shadows of concern deepening in his eyes.


    "Fang Xiu, you¡¯d better brace yourself. The United Bureaus may not go along with this. They tend to y it safe, and if they can bury the truth, they will.


    "There¡¯s a good chance they¡¯ll outright reject revealing the situation to the public. You¡¯ve heard about how things are run in other countries¡ªit¡¯s not quite like ours. When the truth drops here in our country, Huaxia, sure, there¡¯ll be some unrest, but our people will rally behind headquarters to stand against the Specters.


    "We¡¯ve seen unity in crises before; our history has proved that. For some other countries¡­ well, revealing the truth there could lead to outright chaos.


    "In extreme cases, it could devolve into full-blown anarchy¡ªrioting, looting, violence, every kind of chaos imaginable. That sort of turmoil has happened before, and there¡¯s no need to test it again. They¡¯re likely to oppose this.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s response was as steady as ever. ¡°Sir, you misunderstand. I¡¯m not going to give them a proposal, but rather an announcement.¡±


    The Director blinked, surprised, before breaking into a heartyugh. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Of course. This is about our own country and life; there¡¯s no need to ask anyone else for permission. Whether they agree or not, we¡¯re merely letting them know. Maybe I am getting old¡ªlooks like this world belongs to you young folks now.¡±


    Hisughter faded, and he looked back at Fang Xiu with renewed curiosity. ¡°So, how exactly are you nning to do this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s straightforward,¡± Fang Xiu said. ¡°I¡¯ll make the announcement to the public, exining the existence of the headquarters, managing public perception, and using the Foreseer title to reassure them. My goal is to make them understand that even in a world threatened by Specters, there are still people holding the line¡ªprotecting them, protecting our country.¡±


    The Director nodded thoughtfully but quickly raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°You? You¡¯re going to make the announcement yourself? And Fang Moli¡­ from what I know of him, he won¡¯t take this news lightly. He¡¯d see this as a disaster in the making.¡±


    Despite the Director¡¯s rare attempt at humor, Fang Xiu¡¯s expression stayed calm and unwavering. ¡°Leave Fang Moli to me. As Chief Commander, I¡¯ll handle him. Once the truth is out, I will organize Investigation Bureaus across the country to begin psychic training programs at universities. The current number of psychics is far too low to keep up with the Specters. By letting young people experience controlled encounters with low-risk Specters, we can start building up a new wave of trained psychics. I¡¯m calling it the National Psychic Initiative.¡±


    The Director¡¯s eyes gleamed with approval. ¡°That¡¯s a solid n. I considered something like it before, but at the time, I worried it was too early for younger people to confront the Specters. That¡¯s why it was only put into effect within the military, where soldiers have stronger discipline and survival instincts. But with the current esction in Specter incidents, now¡¯s the time tounch the National Psychic Initiative.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now, how long will it take to connect the nationalwork, major live-streaming tforms, and TV channels for a broadcast to the entire nation?¡±


    The Director paused, calcting. ¡°Give us three days. By then, everything should be coordinated and ready to go.¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Fang Xiu said. ¡°We¡¯ll start the national broadcast exactly three days from now.¡±


    The Director nodded, preparing to take his leave. ¡°I¡¯ll notify the United Bureau. Oh, and Fang Xiu, these just arrived.¡± He held out a small stack of envelopes. ¡°Invitations from various countries. They¡¯re mostly requests for you to visit their Investigation Bureaus¡ªofficially for diplomatic reasons, but really, they¡¯re hoping you can help their psychics break through to the fifth tier. They¡¯re offering all sorts of incentives, and several ambassadors are already waiting outside to speak with you.¡±


    Fang Xiu took one look at the invitations, barely skimming through them before dropping the entire stack straight into the trash can.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be meeting with them.¡±


    The Director hesitated for a moment, his unease palpable. ¡°I get it if you¡¯re not interested in helping them break through, but you should at least meet with them. They¡¯re from the United Bureaus, after all. It¡¯s important to maintain some diplomatic rtions.¡±


    Fang Xiu stood firm, his resolve unshaken. ¡°I¡¯m not here to waste my time with irrelevant people. I won¡¯t meet them.¡±


    The Director¡¯s brows furrowed, but he could see that pressing the matter further would be pointless.


    So, he pivoted to a different concern. ¡°Alright, then. But there¡¯s another issue. You need to start thinking about your personal guard. As Chief Commander, and with your ability to help others break through to the fifth tier, you¡¯ll have countless forces keeping a close eye on you. You¡¯re a target, whether you like it or not. It¡¯s time to assemble a guard to ensure your safety. Also, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been leaving headquarters on your own pretty often. That¡¯s dangerous. You can''t afford to go out alone anymore. You need protection.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s voice remained level, but the calmness in his tone only made his words more chilling. ¡°Sir, I think you¡¯ve forgotten about my abilities. With my foresight, I¡¯ll never run into danger. If there¡¯s ever a truly deadly situation, I¡¯ll see iting and avoid it in time.¡±


    The Director paused, reflecting on Fang Xiu¡¯s words. He realized that he¡¯d been thinking of Fang Xiu as just another third-tier psychic¡ªsomeone who needed protection. But in truth, Fang Xiu¡¯s foresight made him virtually invincible. No ambush or trap would ever catch him off guard.


    ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± the Director said, nodding slowly. ¡°Just¡­ be careful. I¡¯ll handle the ambassadors.¡±


    With that, the Director turned and left, leaving Fang Xiu alone with his thoughts.


    *****


    Later that night¡­


    In a secluded forest on its outskirts, Fang Xiu stood alone, far from the city lights and the prying eyes in Shangjing City.


    His posture was straight, hands sped behind his back, as he gazed into the dense darkness of the trees.


    His face was unreadable, his expression distant as though his mind was somewhere else entirely.


    A rustle in the shadows drew his attention, and a guy materialized from the darkness. It was Ace of Spades, his actions as silent as the night itself.


    When Ace of Spades saw Fang Xiu, his emotions were a confusing blend of reverence, fear, and doubt.


    He wasn¡¯t a fool. While Fang Xiu had let him leave headquarters during thest mission, the events that followed were unclear.


    But the rumors swirling about Fang Xiu¡¯s actions left no room for uncertainty¡ªhe was the world¡¯s top psychic, the one every Investigation Bureau was desperate to recruit.


    And, of course, Ace of Spades had learned the truth about Joker¡¯s death.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Ace of Spades said, his voice tinged with respect, though it faltered when he spoke again. ¡°Why¡­ did you kill Joker?¡±


    Fang Xiu turned to face him, his gaze sharp and emotionless. The pale moonlight cast a cold glow over his face, giving him an almost eerie, yet undeniably captivating presence.


    ¡°Ace of Spades,¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s voice was low, each word carrying an icy weight. ¡°What makes you think I need to exin things to you now?¡±


    The moment those words left his lips, Ace of Spades felt an icy fear rush through him. Before he could even process the situation, his legs buckled, and he found himself kneeling on the ground with a resounding thud.


    ¡°I¡ªsir, I didn¡¯t mean it! I was just¡­ I was anxious. It slipped out! Please, forgive me, sir.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s footsteps were deliberate and light as he approached. The rustle of leaves underfoot was the only sound as he closed the distance between them.


    He stopped right in front of Ace of Spades, looking down at him with an almost clinical detachment.


    ¡°Have I been too lenient with you?¡± Fang Xiu¡¯s tone was colder than ever. ¡°Now a dog starts barking at his master?¡±


    Without warning, Fang Xiu¡¯s left handnded lightly on Ace of Spades¡¯ shoulder. It wasn¡¯t an aggressive gesture, but the simple touch sent a chill racing down Ace of Spades¡¯ spine.


    In that moment, the whispers Ace of Spades had heard from others within the organization¡ªrumors about what happened to those who crossed Fang Xiu¡ªshed through his mind. And the fear in his chest deepened.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 286 - Fooling Ace of Spades

    The rumors about Fang Xiu''s power had spread quickly among the survivors of the battle¡ªthe ones who had managed to escape the deadly sh between the Pokers and the headquarters.


    They had witnessed everything¡ªthe brutal attack on the headquarters, the death of Joker, and the mysterious abilities Fang Xiu had disyed.


    These survivors shared their stories, and each retelling only deepened Ace of Spades¡¯ growing fear and awe for the man before him.


    ording to the rumors, Fang Xiu could use the Genesis Mask with absolute precision. It was said that he had employed the mask¡¯s power to help Fang Moli break through to the fifth tier.


    But it didn¡¯t stop there. There were even whispers that Fang Xiu could summon Specters at will.


    It was reported that during his battle with Yan Changshou, he had summoned the projection of the legendary Taotie¡ªan entity of immense power, a Specter God.


    These rumors shattered everything Ace of Spades thought he knew about Fang Xiu. Now he realized how little he truly understood about the man before him.


    Fang Xiu could help others break through to the fifth tier? That alone was a power few could even dream of wielding.


    And summoning Taotie? That was something entirely different¡ªSpecters of that level were beyondprehension.


    Ace of Spades had once considered himself on equal footing with such Fang Xiu, and they idea seemed like a joke now.


    ¡°Sir, please don''t kill me,¡± Ace of Spades stammered, his voice shaky. ¡°It wasn¡¯t intentional, I swear! I¡¯m just a fool¡ªI didn¡¯t understand your reasoning for killing Joker.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s sneer was cold, his eyes cutting through Ace of Spades like a de. ¡°You¡¯re nowhere near King of Spades'' level. What a shame he¡¯s dead. He would¡¯ve understood my reasoning instantly.¡±


    The mention of King caused a pang of sadness in Ace.


    Those had been the days when life was simpler, when things didn¡¯t require such deep reflection. Back then, he had trusted Kingpletely.


    Now, with the loss of his mentor, everything had be moreplex, and Ace found himself drowning in uncertainty.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts. ¡°Let me ask you something. Whose n matters more, Joker''s life or Zhou Qingfeng''s n?¡±


    Ace of Spades didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Of course, Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s.¡± His voice was firm, and his eyes burned with a fervent passion at the mere mention of Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s name.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s eyes narrowed as he studied Ace of Spades. The fervor in his eyes reminded him of the same blind admiration he had seen in the eyes of many back at headquarters. People who saw only what they wanted to see, not the full picture.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Fang Xiu smirked, a knowing glint in his eyes. ¡°So you understand that Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s n is what matters. Then open your eyes and take a good, long look at this.¡±


    With a swift motion, Fang Xiu tossed the Chief Commander badge¡ªthe one awarded to him by headquarters¡ªonto the ground in front of Ace of Spades.


    The badge was emzoned with the words Chief Commander, its bold letters standing out starkly in the moonlight.


    As Ace of Spades¡¯ gaze fell upon those words, a jolt of realization hit him. His breath caught in his throat, and his mind nked for a moment.


    Suddenly, everything clicked into ce. It all made sense.


    Ace of Spades had known about Fang Xiu¡¯s appointment as Chief Commander, but that wasn¡¯t what had shocked him. He had expected that, in fact.


    Now, however, with the badge before him, he finally understood the true purpose behind Fang Xiu¡¯s actions. The pieces of the puzzle fell into ce.


    ¡°Sir¡­ could it be that you¡­?¡± Ace of Spades looked up at Fang Xiu, his eyes wide with disbelief and awe.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t answer directly. Instead, he simply nodded, his expression as calm and inscrutable as ever.


    The silent confirmation was enough.


    Ace of Spades¡¯ heart raced with excitement. ¡°Sir, this is brilliant. I understand now. The reason you did all this, the reason you killed Joker¡­ it was all to be Chief Commander and take full control of the headquarters¡­¡±


    Fang Xiu gave a slight nod, his gaze still unreadable as he studied Ace of Spades. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Now, tell me¡­ why do you think I wanted to be Chief Commander?¡±


    Ace of Spades swallowed hard, his thoughts spinning. He had always respected Fang Xiu, but now he realized the depth of the man¡¯s ambition.


    Ace of Spades, now fully convinced he had uncovered Fang Xiu''s grand design, spoke with newfound enthusiasm, eager to demonstrate his "insight."


    His voice carried a mix of reverence and urgency, as if he were about to make the most profound revtion.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s all about legitimacy!¡± Ace of Spades began, his words tumbling out in quick session, each more animated than thest. ¡°You want to use the headquarters name to push the Specerization n on a national scale! The Pokers have always been operating from the shadows. Let¡¯s be real, if the headquarters is the legitimate ruling power, then the Pokers are nothing more than rebellious traitors. Even if a traitor somehow takes the throne, they¡¯ll never have the support of the people. Take Cao Cao, for example¡ªthough he controlled the emperor, he still had to raise the banner of justice to maintain power.*¡±


    Ace of Spades paused for a moment, ensuring that Fang Xiu was still listening. His eyes burned with the fervor of someone who believed they had just cracked a monumental secret.


    ¡°If the Pokers try to push the Specterization agenda, the public will see us as an evil, underground organization. Everything we do will be viewed as a threat, and resistance will be inevitable. There¡¯s bound to be uprisings, possibly even rebellions. But, if the headquarters does it, it¡¯s a whole different story. Once the government controls the narrative and convinces the public that Specters are unbeatable¡ªthat the only way to survive is to be a Specter¡ªthe opposition will crumble. The people will follow, and anyone who resists will seem foolish, even dangerous!¡±


    Ace of Spades¡¯ excitement grew as he realized the depth of his own conclusions. ¡°Sir, you are truly a visionary. Although we lost Joker, this was all a calcted move! Now, with you in control of the headquarters, you can manipte both the headquarters in the open and the Pokers in the shadows. Together, you can push the Specterization n with greater efficiency, using your position to shape both the official and underground efforts. It¡¯s the perfect strategy!¡±


    His eyes practically gleamed with admiration as he spoke, intoxicated by his own brilliance in connecting the dots.


    The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was unraveling some deep, cosmic truth. His voice held nothing but awe as he looked at Fang Xiu.


    Fang Xiu, for his part, couldn¡¯t suppress the small, satisfied smile that tugged at the corner of his lips.


    He had known this would happen. Ace of Spades, ever the loyal underling, had just proven that he was exactly what Fang Xiu had hoped for. His insights were astute, but they were also predictable¡ªa consequence of Fang Xiu¡¯s careful orchestration.


    As Ace of Spades continued to bask in the glory of his supposed discovery, he suddenly felt a rush of shame. ''How could I have ever doubted him? How can I not have seen the brilliance of the n earlier?'' His earlier skepticism seemed foolish now.


    In a sh of self-reproach, Ace of Spades raised his hand and began to p himself¡ªhard.


    SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!


    Each p echoed through the night air, sharp and resounding, as if he was punishing himself for every moment he had wasted in doubt.


    ¡°Sir, I am so sorry!¡± he cried, his voice cracking with remorse. ¡°I didn¡¯t see your grand n before, and I even questioned your decisions! I¡¯m truly a fool.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s cold voice sliced through the air, steady and unforgiving. ¡°Remember this, Ace of Spades¡ªnever question me again. Consider this a lesson for you.¡±


    Before Ace of Spades could even respond, a sharp scream of agony escaped him. The reason for his pain wasn¡¯t physical, but something far more terrifying.


    Fang Xiu¡¯s left hand, which had been resting lightly on Ace of Spades¡¯ shoulder, suddenly twisted with an unnatural force.


    A dark, gaping mouth appeared on Fang Xiu¡¯s palm¡ªTaotie¡¯s mouth¡ªand it lunged forward, sinking into Ace of Spades¡¯ shadowy form with an unquenchable hunger.


    ¡°Arhhhh!¡± Ace of Spades screamed, but he didn¡¯t move.


    His body writhed in agony, yet he remained kneeling. He was frozen in ce, as if epting the punishment with the same stoic resolve he had seen others take in moments of supreme authority.


    Even as Taotie feasted on him, he didn¡¯t interfere. He had learned the lesson Fang Xiu intended.


    Fang Xiu allowed the Taotie to feast for a few moments before finally releasing his grip.


    When Ace of Spades dared to nce down, he saw that part of his shoulder¡ªhis shadowy form, that is¡ªwas missing, as though a chunk of his essence had been torn away.


    However, the injury was superficial. His body, made of shadows, would regenerate soon enough.


    However, Ace of Spades hesitated. He knew that healing instantly after such a punishment would be tantamount to defying Fang Xiu¡¯s authority. It would be seen as an act of rebellion, a refusal to acknowledge Fang Xiu¡¯s dominance.


    A mental nod of approval came from Ace of Spades. Since King¡¯s death, he had grown much wiser, more attuned to the unspoken rules of power. He knew how to read situations now, how to act in order to please those in power, and how to keep his position secure.


    As Ace of Spades prepared to heal, Fang Xiu¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°How is the situation within the Pokers?¡± Fang Xiu asked, his tone calm, though it carried an unmistakable edge of authority.


    Ace of Spades quickly answered, ¡°It¡¯s not looking good, sir. With Joker dead, the organization has lost a lot of manpower. There¡¯s no clear leader right now, and we¡¯re seeing signs of internal division. The only thing keeping it together is Zhou Qingfeng¡¯s influence.¡±


    Fang Xiu nodded slightly, acknowledging the situation. But then he dropped a bombshell.


    ¡°You want to take Joker¡¯s ce, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Ace of Spades froze, his eyes widening in shock. Then, a surge of excitement flooded his chest. ''Could this be real?''


    ¡°I¡­ sir, everything is at yourmand,¡± he stammered, his voice trembling with anticipation.


    Fang Xiu didn¡¯t speak, but his steady gaze and slight nod confirmed Ace of Spades¡¯ suspicions.


    It was clear now¡ªFang Xiu had chosen him for a role far more significant than Ace of Spades had ever dreamed.


    Fang Xiu cut through the moment of silence, getting straight to the point. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to help you much in this matter. I¡¯m the Chief Commander now, and this is a confidential issue. The one I trust most within the Pokers is you. No one else can know about this. Do you understand?¡±


    Ace of Spades, now understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, sir! I understand! You can count on me! I¡¯ll make sure no one else finds out.¡±


    And with that, Ace of Spades knew his role was about to change. He was no longer just a pawn in the game¡ªhe had a stake in the future of the organization. And he would do whatever it took to ensure Fang Xiu¡¯s n unfolded exactly as intended.


    Trantor''s note: Cao Cao was a very strategic military leader in Chinese history. He already had the military influence to rule the entire country at the time, but because he was a ¡°subject,¡± he couldn¡¯t directly order other ministers, as it would appear that he was overstepping his status. Therefore, he had no choice but to make the emperor his puppet, issuingmands through him.

 Chapter 287 - The Game of Shadows

    A surge of excitement coursed through Ace of Spades as he processed the incredible feeling of being trusted. ''I''m," the one HE trusts the most out of all the Pokers?''


    That thought hit him like a thunderbolt. His heart raced, and for a moment, everything around him seemed to fade. ''I''ve'' earned it!''


    Filled with passion andmitment, Ace of Spades immediately dered, "Yes! I can do this! Don''t worry, sir. Your secret is safe with me, no matter the cost!"


    Fang Xiu nced at Ace of Spades, who looked like he was ready to throw his life away in his excitement.


    In that instant, Fang Xiu''s mind drifted to the future. He could almost picture it: Ace of Spades, captured, tortured in a grim interrogation room.


    No matter what pain he was subjected to, Ace of Spades would never break. His loyalty was unwavering, and the sparks in his eyes were proof of his resolve.


    But Fang Xiu wasn''t worried. His expression remained cold, and his voice remained even as he said, "I wasn''t asking if you''d die for me. I''m asking if you can actually take Joker''s ce. Don''t worry about keeping your secret¡ªI''ve already taken care of that. You remember the piece of your flesh I got from you just now? Betray me, and you''ll regret it."


    The chill in Fang Xiu''s words struck Ace of Spades like a bolt of ice. The terrifying powers Fang Xiu wielded, the ones he had barely begun to understand, filled him with both fear and awe. There was no doubt in his mind now¡ªbetraying Fang Xiu was not an option.


    "Sir, you can count on me," Ace of Spades responded quickly, his voice trembling with respect, though still tinged with fear. "I''ll make sure everything with the Pokers is handled when I get back."


    Fang Xiu nodded, clearly pleased with the response. "You don''t need to worry about anything about Zhou Qingfeng. I still have control over the new Joker appointment. The Pokers is on you now. You have one month to get everything back together. If you fail, I''ll find someone else to rece you."


    The weight of the responsibility crushed down on Ace of Spades.


    Apparently, Fang Xiu had taken care of almost everything for him, and now it was his turn to handle things below. If he failed, he would probably kill himself out of shame.


    "A month is plenty, sir. If I don''t seed, I''ll bring you my head," Ace of Spades swore, his voice steely with determination.


    Fang Xiu''s eyes gleamed with approval. "Good. Since you''re so loyal, I''ll give you a little help. Cer number 28 of the Royal Winery, go get it."


    Ace of Spades furrowed his brow in confusion. "Sorry, sir, I don''t understand. What does the cer have to do with this?"


    Fang Xiu gave him a piercing, icy look. "That''s where Ace of Club keeps his prized wine collection. The man''s obsessed with it. You know what to do next."


    A sh of understanding crossed Ace of Spades'' face. "Ah, I see, sir! I''ll set a trap in the cer and lure Ace of Club there. Once I take him out, one less rival."


    Fang Xiu''s voice cracked like a whip, sharp and filled with anger. "Idiot! I don''t want you to wipe out all yourpetition. Think. You know how much Ace of Club treasures his collection. Why wouldn''t you use that to your advantage? Make him support you for the position instead."


    Ace of Spades froze, his face flushing with embarrassment. "You''re right, sir. I''ll do as you say."


    "Good. Now go," Fang Xiumanded, his tone dismissive.


    Ace of Spades bowed deeply and disappeared into the shadows, eager to fulfill his orders.


    Once he was gone, Fang Xiu''s expression softened from anger to icy calm. He stood still for a moment, deep in thought. ''In one month, the Pokers will be mine.''


    Turning, he began walking away. His ability to predict the future made personal guards unnecessary¡ªunless, of course, he stayed away for too long.


    As he walked through a dimly lit alley on his way back, a figure caught his attention.


    Leaning casually against a wall, the man was tall, with short braids, wearing loose armor and a sword at his waist.


    A cigarette dangled from his lips, and he radiated an air of rebellion.


    The man noticed Fang Xiu''s approach and flicked the cigarette away before giving a slight bow. "Sir, it''s an honor. I''m Gongben Teng''er from Islnd''s Investigation Bureau. I look forward to working with you."


    Fang Xiu paused, his gaze locking onto the stranger. He studied the man for a moment before coolly muttering, "Leave."


    The polite greeting, offered in the middle of the night in a shadowy alley, felt insincere to Fang Xiu. No matter how cordial the stranger seemed, he knew it was all just a mask.


    A yful, teasing voice rang out from behind Fang Xiu, breaking the stillness of the night.


    "Heehee, Mr. Fang, you seem a little upset. Need some help cooling off?"


    Fang Xiu didn''t flinch; in fact, he didn''t even nce over his shoulder. His posture remained unshaken, his voice smooth and calm, as always.


    "Now that you mention it, it''s been almost a week since I''ve taken someone''s life. Maybe today, I''ll make an exception."


    "Heehee..." A petite woman with a cherubic face and a pink robe stepped out from the shadows, her smile bright like a spring flower as she spoke.


    "Sir, don''t rush. I know you''re in the mood for a fight, but I doubt you''d stand a chance against me. We''re here with good intentions, you know. We''re here to invite you to Islnd as our guest."


    The man standing next to her, with a serious face but a hint of mockery in his voice, added, "We already sent you an invitation and visited your headquarters, but sadly, we didn''t get a response. So, we''ve been waiting here for you. If we''ve been rude, we ask for your forgiveness."


    Fang Xiu turned his head slightly, his voice low butced with icy sarcasm. "Are you done with your little speech?"


    The two of them froze, their eyes meeting in confusion before both burst outughing.


    "Chief Commander Fang, you certainly have a sense of humor," the woman said, still chuckling. "But it seems like you''re not interested in cooperating. That''s fine. However, we were just strolling around and happened to overhear something we shouldn''t have."


    Her smile twisted into something far more dangerous as she continued, "Who would''ve thought that the Chief Commander is secretly a member of the Pokers? Surely, you wouldn''t want Huaxia Investigation Bureau to find out about that, would you?"


    Fang Xiu''s expression remained unreadable, even as theirughter echoed in the alley. A small smile tugged at his lips. It had been a while since anyone had dared provoke him directly. It was almost... refreshing.


    "Do you hear what you''re saying?" Fang Xiu asked, his voice still calm but with a steely edge. "You think that I, the one who saved the headquarters, am some undercover agent for the Pokers?"


    The woman giggled at the sarcasm in his tone,pletely unfazed. "Yes, when we first heard that, we were shocked. But sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction, don''t you think, SIR?"


    Fang Xiu''s lips curled into a cold, cruel smile. "You''re right. I AM an undercover agent for the Pokers. In fact, not just an agent¡ªI''m the leader of the Pokers. Feel free to spread that around."


    Without waiting for their reaction, he turned and began walking away, his pace steady and unhurried.


    The two of them exchanged another confused look, clearly taken aback by his cool response.


    "Sir, there''s no need to bluff," the woman called after him, her voice still light but now edged with suspicion. "I don''t believe for a second that you''re not worried. And by the way, I''ve recorded everything you just said. I''ve got the evidence."


    Fang Xiu didn''t even slow his stride. "You can fake recordings. Next time, try video."


    His words were calm, unbothered¡ªbecause he knew the truth. They didn''t have anything on him. No one would believe them, not with the reputation he had built over thest few months.


    As "the Foreseer," Fang Xiu''s words were gospel.


    Trantor''s note: Looking forward to seeing Fang Xiu traveling around the world.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 288 - One Against Two

    WHOOSH!


    Gongben Teng''er zipped into view, moving so fast it was like he had teleported. In an instant, he stood smack in Fang Xiu''s path, lightning-quick and stone-cold.


    His back stayed casually against the alley wall, one hand lifting his sword. The de stretched across the narrow passage, blocking it offpletely.


    He turned his head just slightly, casting Fang Xiu a look that could kill¡ªor maybe just mock. A sly smirk tugged at his lips.


    "Sorry, road''s close¡ª"


    "Wife?" Fang Xiu muttered.


    BUZZ!


    The air rippled like a disturbed pond as an icy wave of energy radiated out.


    Bathed in the cold moonlight, a pale woman emerged. She was so chillingly beautiful, it felt almost unnatural.


    Gongben Teng''er''s brow furrowed, but only for a second. His confidence didn''t waver. As a fourth-tier psychic, he thought himself leagues ahead of a specter summoned by a third-tier.


    To him, psychic abilities without real power were like cheap magic tricks: shy but useless.


    That smug thought didn''t stop "wife" from gliding closer, her bare feet silent as she hovered like a wraith.


    "Tsk, tsk. Interrupting me before I''m done. ssic Huaxia manners," Gongben Teng''er muttered, shaking his head in mock disappointment.


    With a sharp flick of his thumb, his sword shot free from its sheath. The de gleamed, singing a deadly metallic hum as it tasted the moonlight.


    Dropping into a fighting stance, he moved fluidly, all precision and control.


    As soon as "wife" came within striking distance, he didn''t hesitate.


    SLASH!


    The de sliced cleanly through her ghostly form, splitting her in two like butter.


    Straightening his posture, Gongben Teng''er didn''t even spare "wife" a second nce. He slid the sword back into its sheath, reached into his pocket, and smoothly pulled out a cigarette. A single motion lit it, and he took a drag like a guy who thought he owned the world.


    But then¡ª


    SPLURT!


    "Wife" raised a hand. A sudden, invisible force cut through the air like a knife, grazing Gongben Teng''er''s neck.


    A thin red line appeared on his throat, and then blood sprayed out in a dramatic arc.


    The cigarette tumbled from his lips, hitting the ground with an anticlimactic fizz.


    His eyes widened, the disbelief practically radiating off him. "Wh-what the hell?! How...?" His voice was raspy, trembling as he clutched at his bleeding neck.


    "Domain Activated: Binding Demon Shrine!" amanding voice shattered the tension. It unleashed a wave of immense power that rolled through the alley like a storm.


    The world shifted. Shadows stretched and twisted as the outline of an ancient shrine emerged from nowhere, its ominous presence hanging heavy in the air.


    From the shrine''s ethereal glow, a figure appeared, wrapped head to toe in bandages. The creature''s energy was as unnerving as it was otherworldly, a chilling reminder of something ancient and malevolent.


    With a flick of its arm, the bandaged creature sent a strip of cloth flying toward Gongben''s neck.


    The bandage coiled tightly around the wound, almost like it was alive. Despite Gongben''s earlier gasp for air faltering, the binding seemed to force his body into working order again. He staggered back, wide-eyed, sucking in the air like a drowning man.


    His gaze snapped to "wife." She was still standing there, calm and unnervingly pale.


    "Impressive," a melodic voice chimed, its owner stepping forward with deliberate grace. It was a woman, dressed in flowing robes, herughter as light as wind chimes. "Even as a third-tier, you managed to nick a fourth-tier psychic. Color me impressed."


    She tilted her head with a smirk. "But you won''t get that lucky again. Come on out, Tengu, Wine Guard!"


    As her words rang out, the shrine''s glow darkened, and two figures stepped from its shadowy depths.


    The first was a man with ck, feathery wings stretching from his back. His face was hidden by a dog mask, his sharp de glinting ominously in his hand.


    The second was a demon-like creature with a grotesque, green face, jagged fangs, and a bloated body. He lugged around an oversized gourd like it was a weapon.


    "Man, that was way too close," Gongben Teng''er muttered, his voice shaky butced with humor. He rubbed the back of his head, trying to y it cool.


    But the air around him shifted, his tone hardening as his grip on his sword tightened.


    "Guess ytime''s over," he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a de. "Domain Activated: Shadow Abyss Court!"


    BOOM!


    A violent surge of energy exploded around Gongben Teng''er, whipping his clothes into a frenzy.


    The energy flooded the alley, suffocating and oppressive.


    The air turned red, drenched in the metallic stench of blood. It was so thick that one could almost choke on it.


    The energy coiled around him, morphing into blood-red armor that encased his entire body. The transformation left him looking less like a man and more like a creature forged in carnage.


    Fang Xiu''s voice cut through the heavy tension like a razor. "Why waste time talking?" he muttered, his tone cold and detached.


    His empty eyes rested on his opponents, both of whom were, in his mind, already corpses.


    "Wife" moved, her ghostly figure gliding toward Gongben Teng''er with a grace so unnatural.


    Gongben''s knuckles whitened around his sword hilt, his focus sharpened to a deadly point. He growled through clenched teeth, "Take this!"


    This time, he wasn''t ying around. Thest misstep had been due to underestimating "wife," assuming her to be a simple Specter. Now, with his domain activated and his de infused with concentrated energy, he was sure¡ªthis sh could cut through anything, tangible or not.


    SLASH!


    A zing arc of crimson energy cleaved the air, aimed to kill.


    It didn''t, however, even leave a mark.


    The strike passed through "wife" as though she were a mirage.


    "What?!" Gongben''s eyes widened in shock. Panic gripped him as he leaped backward, retreating with every ounce of speed he could muster.


    Too slow.


    "Wife" raised her delicate, spectral hand. With azy swipe, an invisible force shed through the air.


    A deep gash appeared on Gongben''s arm, blood spraying in a vivid red arc.


    He staggered, clutching the wound, his sword trembling in his grasp. "She can''t be touched... but she can touch me? What kind of nightmare ability is this?"


    This wasn''t just humiliating¡ªit was unfathomable. He, a fourth-tier psychic, was being dismantled by a third-tier.


    Meanwhile, the woman in the flowing robe watched the chaos with narrowed eyes. A flicker of malice crossed her face.


    Without a word, she issued a silentmand. Tengu and the Wine Guard, surged into action, moving with calcted precision to nk Fang Xiu.


    Her power as a summonery in her mastery of spirit familiars¡ªcreatures of immense power. But she also understood the inherent weakness of summoners. If the summoner fell, so did their summons.


    Her n was simple: kill Fang Xiu.


    Tengu dove in from the left, his de glinting with murderous intent. Simultaneously, the Wine Guard lunged from the right, his oversized gourd swinging with enough force to crush bones.


    Fang Xiu stood motionless between them, as if frozen in time. Then, a smirk crept onto his lips¡ªa wicked, chilling smile.


    "How hideous."


    Without moving his body, Fang Xiu raised a single hand and dragged his fingers down his face. ck mes erupted from his form, twisting and writhing like living creatures.


    BOOM!


    The mes surged, forming a massive, demonic energy around him.


    Long, silver hair cascaded down his back, and his right eye ignited with a searing crimson glow.


    In an instant, Fang Xiu transformed. He was no longer human.


    He looked like a Specter God.


    The woman''s confidence wavered, her sneer faltering as fear seeped into her voice. "This... this power... It''s bordering on the fourth tier!"


    Still, she forced herself to scoff. "But don''t think you''ve won. Tengu and Wine Guard aren''t ordinary familiars¡ªthey''re divine beings!"


    Fang Xiu didn''t even flinch. ck mes exploded from his back, forming wings of pure destruction. With a single beat, he lifted into the air, effortlessly dodging both the Tengu''s de and the Wine Guard''s crushing strike.


    Hovering above them, he looked down at the robed woman like a god surveying an insect.


    "Divine beings?" His voice was calm, but dripping with disdain. "Let me show you what real divinity looks like."


    The ck mes around Fang Xiu roared to life, spiraling into a towering inferno. The energy in the air became suffocating, a tidal wave of power that seemed to crush reality itself.


    A haunting chant began to echo from nowhere¡ªmaddening whispers that wormed into the minds of everyone present. The words were iprehensible but filled with a primal, cosmic terror.


    And then, it appeared.


    From the void emerged an unspeakable monstrosity.


    Taotie''s projection showed up.


    BOOM!


    A grotesque mountain of pulsating, rotting flesh materialized, rising high into the heavens. Its endless, coiling form was a writhing mass of corrupted meat and malformed limbs, each piece moving as if alive.


    The air turned cold. The world itself seemed to hold its breath.


    The woman''s bravado evaporated. Her face drained of color as her legs gave out beneath her. She copsed to the ground, trembling uncontrobly, her eyes locked onto the horror above.


    Her voice was barely a whisper. "This... this can''t be real..."


    But it was.


    Taotie loomed, a manifestation of hunger, chaos, and destruction.


    At that moment, the woman understood.


    Her so-called "divine beings" weren''t gods¡ªthey were nothing more than toys in the face of this monstrosity.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 289 - Raven Death

    The woman staggered back, her mind spiraling in chaos as the monstrous shadow of Taotie loomed overhead.


    Her voice trembled with disbelief, tinged with sheer terror. ¡°This is impossible! A mere third-tier psychic¡ªhow can you summon something like this? Even fourth-tiers can''t do that.¡±


    Fang Xiu¡¯s dark chuckle rumbled in response, dripping with condescension. ¡°It''s the kind of you that, low lives like you would never understand.¡± His crimson eye zed brighter, his words as cold as death itself.


    ¡°Devour them, Taotie.¡±


    At hismand, Taotie¡¯s decaying, grotesque hand stretched forth, an overwhelming mass of flesh and corruption that eclipsed the sky. It mmed downward with crushing intent, aiming to kill both Tengu and Wine Guard in one fell swoop.


    The two refused to go down quietly. They unleashed their ultimate abilities in a desperate counterattack.


    "Crowstorm!" Tengu screeched, his cry splitting the air as he unleashed a torrent of ck feathers.


    Each feather transformed into a shadowy crow, the swarm diving toward Taotie¡¯s hand in a chaotic, suicidal frenzy.


    "Gourd Smash!" The Wine Guard roared, his massive body swelling with power as he hurled his colossal gourd like a cannonball.


    The weapon shot through the air, hurtling toward Taotie with immense force.


    Theirbined assault struck Taotie¡¯s hand head-on, shredding chunks of its grotesque flesh and spraying the battlefield with blood and rotting meat.


    For a brief moment, hope flickered. The attacks hadnded.


    But then, the impossible unfolded.


    The energy behind their attacks¡ªthe force, the impact¡ªwas absorbed into Taotie¡¯s hand. The monstrous flesh began to writhe and regenerate, the gaping wounds sealing shut as though they had never existed.


    It was futile.


    Taotie¡¯s form had never relied on defense; its decaying body was weak, a feast for even the lowest specters. But its true powery in its insatiable hunger¡ªit could devour anything, physical or intangible, and use it to fuel itself.


    Ignoring their desperate resistance, Taotie¡¯s massive hand surged forward and clenched around Tengu and Wine Guard. The two thrashed violently in its grip, their struggles growing weaker with each passing second.


    Effortlessly, Taotie lifted them high into the air before hurling them into its abyssal maw.


    CRUNCH. CRUNCH.


    The grotesque sound of grinding teeth echoed through the air, a sickening symphony of destruction.


    Tengu and Wine Guard were no more.


    PFFT!


    The robed woman staggered, coughing up blood as the psychic bacsh from the destruction of her summons ripped through her mind. She trembled violently, barely able to stay upright.


    ¡°This¡­ this is hopeless!¡± she gasped, panic wing at her voice. ¡°We can¡¯t fight him! We need to¡ª¡±


    Her words died in her throat as she realized something horrifying.


    Gongben Teng¡¯er was gone.


    He had vanished without a word, abandoning her entirely. The man had seen the writing on the wall and fled, leaving her to face Fang Xiu and Taotie alone.


    For a brief moment, fury overcame her terror. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. But there was no time for curses or anger¡ªher survival instincts screamed at her to run.


    Without hesitation, she turned and bolted, her feet pounding against the ground as she raced away from the scene of devastation.


    Her mind reeled, unable toprehend the absurdity of what had just happened. Two fourth-tier psychics, elite warriors of Islnd, utterly crushed by a single third-tier psychic. It defied all logic, all reason.


    But to Fang Xiu, it was nothing extraordinary.


    ¡°They¡¯re too weak,¡± he muttered, his toneced with disinterest. To him, these so-called elites were no more than amateurs¡ªfliespared to the monstrous strength of the captains from headquarters.


    Fang Xiu knew his own strength well. While his base power as a third-tier psychic was limited, the abilities he gained from Pain Manifestation and the connection to Specter Gods elevated him far beyond his peers.


    Every death at the hands of the Specter God had honed him, forged him into someone who could transcend his limits. Entities like Taotie weren¡¯t mere tools; they were extensions of the boundless power he could wield.


    Even so, Fang Xiu understood the cost of such strength.


    Summoning a projection of the Specter God consumed an immense amount of Spiritual Energy. He could manage one such summon per battle, and even then, it would only remain temporarily. Beyond that, his reserves would be depleted.


    Moreover, psychic battles weren¡¯t about raw strength alone. Victory often depended on strategy, counters, and exploiting weaknesses. Against truly skilled opponents, even Taotie might struggle.


    But these Islnd psychics? They were four-tiers, but they hadn''t been it for long.


    Fang Xiu spected that the disparity in strength between psychics from Huaxia and Islnd likely stemmed from poption differences. After all, Specters existed to devour humans. The greater the poption density, the greater the number of Specters that would emerge.


    Though Islnd had a high poption density, its overall poption paled inparison to Huaxia. If one Specter were drawn to every ten thousand people, then the number of Specters in Huaxia would be at least ten times that of Islnd.


    And where there were more Specters, psychics inevitably grew stronger, simply by surviving in harsher conditions and facing more powerful enemies.


    As Fang Xiu watched the woman fleeing, he calmly withdrew the projections of "wife" and Taotie with a single thought.


    For now, his strength wasn¡¯t enough to sustain the two entities for long periods. Even in this brief encounter, more than half of his Spiritual Energy had been consumed.


    Still, the remaining energy was more than sufficient to deal with the woman. Without her summons, a summoner was inherently weak.


    As for Gongben Teng¡¯er, Fang Xiu had noted his extraordinary sensitivity to danger. The moment Taotie appeared, Gongben Teng¡¯er had vanished without a trace, fleeing without so much as a word of warning to hispanion.


    The robed woman sprinted across the ground, her face pale with panic, while Fang Xiu soared through the sky, his ck me wings propelling him forward with ease.


    He had gleaned some inspiration from the Tengu¡¯s earlier attack and figured this would be a good opportunity to experiment.


    With a thought, Fang Xiu¡¯s ck me wings red violently. The mes splintered, scattering into tens of thousands of fiery fragments that shot outward. The fragments coalesced into ck me ravens, their bodies wreathed in ghostly fire.


    The flock of me ravens cawed and shrieked, their movements eerily lifelike as they pped their wings and swarmed toward the woman in a chaotic storm.


    The woman nced behind her and, upon seeing the sea of ck ravens descending upon her, her face drained of color. Fear overtook her as she desperately summoned her final familiar¡ªthe bandaged humanoid that had earlier healed Gongben Teng¡¯er.


    The bandaged monster materialized in front of her, positioning itself to block the iing assault. The bandages on its body unraveled and shot out like whips, entangling countless me ravens in an attempt to smother them.


    But the ck me ravens were no ordinary fire. They were imbued with the power of the Genesis Mask, mes that could burn Spiritual Energy itself.


    All abilities, no matter how strange or intricate, ultimately relied on Spiritual Energy. mes that burned Spiritual Energy directly attacked the foundation of all powers.


    Though the bandaged monster was powerful, it was nothing more than a construct born of Spiritual Energy. The moment the ck mestched onto the bandages, they ignited and spread rapidly, consuming the monster¡¯s body in a matter of seconds.


    The creature iled helplessly, engulfed in mes, before disintegrating into ash.


    As the monster perished, the woman suffered the psychic bacsh immediately. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and copsed to the ground, her body trembling as she struggled to move.


    Fang Xiu called back the ck me ravens with a wave of his hand, nodding in satisfaction.


    This technique was proving far more useful than simply spraying mes. The ravens¡¯ ability to dive, turn, and swarm gave them unparalleled flexibility inbat.


    However, the name ¡°Crowstorm¡± felt unworthy of the power the technique disyed. He pondered for a moment before murmuring to himself.


    ¡°Raven Death.¡±


    The name resonated with him. The mes, shaped like ravens, would bring his enemies a death sentence. It was fitting.


    With his decision made, Fang Xiu came down gracefully from the sky. As his feet touched the ground, the ck me wings dissipated in an instant, all the energy flowing back into the Genesis Mask on his face.


    The mask shimmered briefly before vanishing entirely, revealing Fang Xiu¡¯s pale,posed face. His silver hair receded back to its original short, jet-ck style, and his mismatched eyes¡ªone crimson, one ck¡ªreturned to their natural state.


    TAP. TAP. TAP.


    His footsteps echoed as he calmly walked toward the woman, whoy on the ground, grievously wounded.


    Her face was deathly pale, blood soaking the front of her robe. The dark red stain only seemed to entuate her otherwise delicate figure.


    Her chest, in particr, stood out¡ªfull and prominent, an almost jarring contrast to her doll face. The oddbination created an unsettling yet strangely captivating sense of beauty.


    Trantor''s note: New ability gained!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 290 - Cherry Blossoms of Isleland

    The woman''s voice quivered despite the defiance she tried to muster. "Fang Xiu, I''m an ambassador of Islnd. If you kill me, you''ll bring war between our nations!"


    Fang Xiu stared at her, unaffected. His calm gaze bore into her, cold and unwavering.


    "War, you say?" His tone wasced with apathy, as if her words were nothing but noise. Then, his expression twisted¡ªa haunting, monstrous grin spreading across his face.


    "Who do you think you''re to throw threats on ME?"


    SWISH!


    A sh of silver.


    "Arghhhh!" the woman screamed as Fang Xiu''s attack tore into her.


    Fang Xiu leaned in close, his voice venomous and low, dripping with malice. "As a fourth-tier psychic, surely you''ve been familiar with pain¡­ Let me help deepen your understanding."


    The Pain Manifestation ability surged to life, and with it came an overwhelming torrent of agony.


    Invisible waves of torment ripped through her, amplifying every nerve in her body into a thousand screaming voices. Her mind, once a fortress of will, crumbled under the onught.


    Tears streamed down her face, unbidden and uncontroble. For the first time, she experienced a fraction of the torment Fang Xiu carried¡ªa torment that reshaped her understanding of suffering.


    "You''re crying?" Fang Xiu sneered, tilting his head mockingly. His crimson and ck eyes glinted with a twisted amusement. "Finally, you get it. There was a time when I, too, cried like you¡ªcurled up, drowning in despair."


    His voice cracked, raw hatred pouring out like a flood. His face contorted, his voice rising with fury.


    "But SHE didn''t care. That woman¡­ she caused my pain, fed on it, crushed me under her heel again and again!"


    Fang Xiu''s breathing turned ragged, his rage growing louder, more primal.


    "Crying is useless!" he roared, his voice reverberating like a thunderp. "Get up! Fight back! FIGHT BACK AGAINST ME!"


    The intensity of his fury made the air itself seem heavier. The woman quivered beneath him, her lips trembling as she barely managed to whisper, "Pl-please¡­ spare me¡­"


    Her feeble plea seemed to pierce through Fang Xiu''s storm of anger.


    Slowly, his expression shifted, the feral rage draining from his face. His eyes returned to their usual cold indifference, as if nothing had happened.


    "Boring," he muttered, a note of disappointment in his voice. "I liked you better when you had some fight left."


    He stood, the scalpel in his hand vanishing into thin air as though it had never existed. Fang Xiu stared down at her, speaking with detached finality.


    "Beg. Beg for your life. Make it entertaining, and maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªI''ll let you live for a few more minutes."


    The woman, gasping for air, struggled to push herself up. Her once-proud demeanor was shattered, leaving her pale and trembling. Her pride as a fourth-tier psychic, and her arrogance as an envoy, all had been obliterated.


    "Please¡­" she stammered, her voice cracking with desperation. "We didn''te to kill you¡­ We wanted to invite you to Islnd¡­ as a guest¡­"


    Fang Xiu arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Invite me? And you thought ambushing me was the best way to extend the invitation?"


    Her hands trembled as she pleaded. "It wasn''t meant to be like this! Please, I''ll do anything if you let me live! Anything!"


    Her final words spilled out in a desperate rush. "I''m still a virgin!"


    Fang Xiu''s lips curled into a grin, bright and unnerving. Heughed¡ªa cold, humorless sound.


    "Virgin or not," he murmured, leaning down until his face was mere inches from hers, "what does that matter to me?" His voice turned soft, venomous, each word cutting deeper.


    "Even if you were a beast, a god, or something in between¡­ falling into my hands means only one thing."


    His tone suddenly dropped, guttural and monstrous.


    "You. Will. Die."


    SWISH!


    A blur of motion. The scalpel reappeared, its de gleaming like frozen moonlight.


    The woman''s eyes widened in horror, filled with an unwillingness to die and a desperate yearning to live.


    THUD!


    Her body copsed heavily to the ground,nding in a growing pool of blood. The pink robe she wore spread out beneath her, resembling a cherry blossom blooming amidst the crimson stain.


    At that moment, Fang Xiu opened Taotie''s projection mouth, consuming the faint traces of Spiritual Energy that drifted from her dying body into the air.


    The surge of energy coursing through him brought an almost intoxicating sense of pleasure as he exhaled deeply, releasing a long breath.


    With the global rate of Specter invasions increasing rapidly, Fang Xiu knew he had no time to waste. He needed to grow stronger, and faster.


    Being stuck at the third tier was far too limiting.


    His gaze turned distant, his thoughts drifting toward the future. He couldn''t help feeling a flicker of anticipation.


    He wondered what kind of Domain he would have once he advanced to the fourth tier.


    His current abilities at the third tier had already been a pleasant surprise. The next stage could hold even greater potential.


    Shaking himself out of his musings, Fang Xiu retrieved the encrypted phone issued by the Investigation Bureau and dialed.


    "Send someone over. The envoys from Islnd attempted to assassinate me tonight. There were two attackers. One is dead, and the other escaped. The one who fled is named Gongben Teng''er. Issue a nationwide warrant for his capture."


    Without waiting for a response, he hung up. There was no need to specify his location; The Headquarters could track the phone''s GPS signal.


    He wasn''t nning to let Gongben Teng''er get away. After all, if you''re going to kill, it''s best to do it cleanly. Leaving just one alive was bad luck.


    Fang Xiu, however, didn''t consider himself a mindless murderer. He always gave people a chance.


    Take tonight, for instance. When those two dared to block his path in the middle of the night, he had already given them an opportunity¡ªto leave.


    They didn''t take it.


    So, whose fault was it that they ended up dead? Only their own, for ignoring his warning.


    As for whether killing an Islnd envoy would provoke a conflict between countries¡­ Fang Xiu couldn''t care less about such trivial matters.


    If Islnd failed to apologize for their envoy''s actions today, he wouldn''t hesitate to trample them beneath his boots. After all, every mistake has a price, and someone must pay it.


    Trantor''s note: Come on, just admit it, Xiu. You just want to kill them, no excuse.

 Chapter 291 - The Bronze Bell

    Two minutester¡­


    The air around Fang Xiu rippled with spatial distortion. Waves of energy shimmered like water, and three figures appeared out of thin air.


    At the forefront was Liu Shuai, panting heavily as he clutched two headquarters operatives, one in each hand.


    "Xiu¡ªuh," Liu Shuai called out, his voice brimming with excitement. "How was that? Fast enough for you? The moment the headquarters got your call, I teleported here with these guys!"


    Liu Shuai grinned proudly, clearly eager to show off his speed.


    One of the operatives beside him, however, shot him a stern re. "Show some respect! That''s Chief Commander Fang to you!"


    Liu Shuai''s grin instantly turned sour. "Chief Commander, huh? So what? He''s still my bro! Do you know what kind of bond we have? We''ve been through life and death together¡ª"


    Fang Xiu interrupted, his calm voice cutting through the conversation. "You can teleport with others now? That''s new."


    Liu Shuai''s expression brightened again as he rubbed his hands together. "Yup! After reaching the second tier, my teleportation not only got a major distance upgrade, but I can also bring people along now."


    Fang Xiu''s gaze turned thoughtful. It was a surprisingly practical ability. Not just for travel¡ªthis kind of power could prove invaluable for strategic retreats as well.


    "Come on, Xiu," Liu Shuai urged, gesturing enthusiastically. "Leave this mess to them. I''ll take you back to the headquarters. We can even make a quick detour¡ªcatch a breeze and enjoy the night."


    Fang Xiu gave a slight nod, seeing no reason to refuse. Liu Shuai''s teleportation ability was undeniably convenient.


    "Hold onto my arm," Liu Shuai instructed, extending his chubby arm. "I need physical contact to bring someone along."


    Fang Xiu reached out and gripped Liu Shuai''s thick arm.


    He couldn''t help wondering¡ªnot for the first time¡ªif Liu Shuai''s awakening of teleportation powers had things to do with his weight andziness. Perhaps he''d developed the power simply because he was too unwilling to walk.


    "Hold tight, Xiu! Off we go!"


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, both of them vanished from their spot.


    When they reappeared, they were standing in the middle of a wide, empty street.


    "Huff¡­ huff¡­" Liu Shuai wheezed, bending over as if his lungs were about to stage a protest. His face glistened with sweat, and he wiped it away with a quick swipe of his sleeve.


    "I¡­ I can''t teleport straight to the headquarters in one go. Huff... We''re gonna have to do this in short hops," he muttered, gulping air like it was in short supply.


    WHOOSH!


    In an instant, their forms flickered out of sight, reappearing briefly before vanishing again as they zigzagged across Shangjing.


    The teleportation left them like shadowy phantoms¡ªghostly blurs that danced between the folds of reality.


    After what felt like an eternity of jumps, the two finally halted near an old antique market.


    Even at thiste hour, a handful of stubborn vendors still clung to their stalls. One of them, a middle-aged guy with a cigarette dangling precariously from his lips, froze mid-puff the moment Fang Xiu and Liu Shuai materialized out of thin air.


    His face went pale as if he''d just seen a ghost¡ªor worse.


    The stall owner stood stock-still for a beat, then opened his mouth to scream.


    Before he could let loose, Fang Xiu''s eyes glimmered faintly with an eerie crimson hue.


    The scream died in the man''s throat, and his expression softened into an unnatural calm.


    Without a word, he went back to rearranging his trinkets,pletely ignoring the two strangers like they were part of the night itself.


    "Huff¡­ huff¡­"


    Liu Shuai sounded like an old engine sputtering itsst. He bent forward, hands braced on his knees, looking ready to keel over.


    "Xiu¡­ I can''t¡­ I''m tapped out. No more Spiritual Energy. We''re gonna have to hail a cab the rest of the way," Liu Shuai groaned, his shoulders sagging like someone had let all the air out of him.


    Fang Xiu didn''t reply. His attention was locked elsewhere¡ªfixed on something far beyond the tiredints of hispanion.


    At the far end of the market, a crowd had gathered. But this wasn''t your usualte-night bargain hunters.


    They were Specters.


    A mass of grotesque, nightmarish figures huddled together in unsettling silence.


    Fang Xiu saw Specters from the Other Side almost daily, but to see so many gathering here, in the human world? That was bizarre. Stranger still was the way they lingered as if they were attending some kind of cult meeting.


    "Hey! Headquarters is that way. What''re you doing? Don''t tell me you''re actually stopping to shop," Liu Shuai muttered, now slightly recovered. "You know all this antique junk is fake, right? Total scams."


    Ignoring him, Fang Xiu began strolling toward the stalls.


    Seeing this, Liu Shuai reluctantly trudged after him, muttering under his breath.


    As they drew closer to the eerie gathering, the purpose of the Specters'' meeting became apparent.


    They weren''t just gathering¡ªthey were clustered around a single stall.


    The vendor at the center of it all was a balding man slouched in a rickety folding chair. His face was lit by the glow of his phone, where he scrolled through short videos with the dead-eyed boredom of someone desperately trying to stave off sleep.


    He barely nced up as Fang Xiu and Liu Shuai approached.


    "You can look, but don''t touch," he mutteredzily, his eyes flickering back to his screen.


    Fang Xiu ignored the warning and casually picked up a ceramic bowl from the table.


    The stall owner''s demeanor changed in a heartbeat. His face twisted with irritation, and he snapped upright.


    "Hey! Are you deaf? I said no touching! And if you break it, you''re buying it. That''s a genuine Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD, TR''s note) artifact¡ªused by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang himself when he was begging for food. It''s worth 188,000 yuan!"


    Liu Shuai snorted, unable to keep a straight face. "Ming Dynasty? That junk? Please. Even a stray dog wouldn''t bother with that bowl."


    The stall owner scowled, but Fang Xiu paid neither of them any mind. He ced the bowl back and methodically picked up a piece of jade, turning it over in his hand before setting it back down.


    Then his fingers closed around a small bronze bell.


    The moment Fang Xiu lifted the bell, the air shifted.


    The previously motionless Specters suddenly stirred, their attention snapping to the object in his hand.


    Dozens of grotesque heads turned as one, their hollow eyes gleaming with an unnatural hunger.


    Fang Xiu stilled, his eyes narrowing. He moved the bell slightly to the left.


    The Specters'' heads followed in perfect unison.


    Then to the right.


    Again, the Specters mirrored the movement like puppets on invisible strings.


    It was unnerving.


    The Specters'' twisted forms crowded around, their ghastly faces contorted with ravenous desire. To them, the small bronze bell wasn''t just an object¡ªit was prey, a feast they craved with every fiber of their being.


    Fang Xiu studied the bell closely. It was tiny, barely the size of his palm. Its surface was rough and weathered, the green patina suggesting it had been buried for centuries. It looked fragile enough to crumble at the slightest touch.


    After a brief moment of thought, Fang Xiu began channeling his Spiritual Energy into the small bronze bell.


    He focused, his energy flowing like a steady current. But despite his efforts, nothing happened.


    The bell remained silent and inert, its in bronze surface unchanged. No energy flickered to life; no hidden power stirred from within.


    To the untrained eye, it was nothing more than an unremarkable relic¡ªa mundane piece of metal without significance. Yet the very ordinariness of the bell was precisely what made it so peculiar.


    A simple bronze bell couldn''t possibly captivate a horde of Specters. Its allure had to lie in something deeper, something invisible to conventional senses.


    "Hey! You deaf or something? I said no touching unless you''re buying!" The stall owner''s patience finally snapped, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "That bell''s a genuine artifact from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC, TR''s note)! You don''t just wave it around like a toy!"


    Liu Shuai scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Western Zhou? Please. More like made inst week!"


    "I''ll take it," Fang Xiu interrupted, his calm tone cutting through the argument like a de.


    Liu Shuai''s jaw practically hit the floor. "Wait, what? You''re really buying this? Xiu, if you''re into antiques, there are actual shops for that! Ones with walls and air-conditioning, and a legit license!"


    "Hey! Who are you calling illegitimate?" the stall owner snapped back, puffing his chest indignantly. "This stall''s been in my family for three generations! We''ve been dealing with antiques since before you were even born!"


    DING!


    The sudden chime of a phone notification cut through the heated exchange.


    "Bnce update: 10,000 yuan credited to your ount."


    The stall owner froze, his eyes glued to the glowing screen of his phone. For a moment, he looked like a fish out of water, caught between disbelief and tion.


    When he finally looked up at Fang Xiu, the glint of greed in his eyes was unmistakable.


    "Hold on¡ªwait a second! You think 10,000 yuan is enough for an authentic Western Zhou artifact? That bell''s¡ª"


    Before he could finish his protest, Fang Xiu turned back to face him, his eyes glowing with a menacing crimson light.


    The stall owner''s words choked off mid-sentence. His body slumped, and his defiant expression melted into a nk, vacant stare. Slowly, like a puppet on strings, he sank back into his folding chair, his fingers automatically swiping at his phone screen as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.


    Fang Xiu turned and walked away, the bronze bell in hand.


    *****


    The Next Day, at the headquarters¡­


    A silver-haired elderly man stood before Fang Xiu, holding the bronze bell delicately, as though it were a fragile treasure.


    "We''ve conducted a thorough analysis, sir," the man began, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "The bell appears to date back to the Han Dynasty(202 BC ¨C 9 AD, 25¨C220 AD, TR''s note) and was likely used in Taoist rituals. However, it is made of ordinary bronze, with no unique properties or spiritual traces."


    Fang Xiu took the bell from the man''s hands, examining it once more.


    A ritual object from the Han Dynasty, made of nothing but in bronze?


    As an antique, it might hold historical value to humans, but to Specters? No Specter would be drawn to an ordinary, lifeless object, regardless of its age or origin.


    Turning the bell over in his hands, Fang Xiu narrowed his eyes in thought. ''So why were Specters so captivated by this bell? What''s it about this seemingly mundane relic that sparks such hunger, such desperation?''

 Chapter 292 - A Self-proclaimed Spy

    December website update


    Fang Xiu waved his hand dismissively, signaling the experts who had just briefed him to leave his office.


    Left alone, he pondered for a moment before deciding who was best suited to handle the matter at hand.


    Picking up his phone, he made a call. "Tell Yang Ming toe over."


    "Yes, sir."


    A few minutester, Yang Ming entered the office, his eyes immediately wandering around the room.


    "Wow, Xiu, this office of yours screams wealth and power," he teased, clicking his tongue. "This desk¡ªrosewood, right? No, wait¡­ purple sandalwood? ssy."


    Fang Xiu ignored the banter, and tossed the ancient bronze bell to Yang Ming without a word.


    "This is important," Fang Xiu said. "Keep it with you at all times."


    Yang Ming caught the bell midair, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What''s this?"


    "A treasure," Fang Xiu replied curtly. "You don''t need to know more. Just make sure it''s always on you."


    Yang Ming shrugged, pocketing the bell without further questions.


    Over the years, he had grown used to Fang Xiu''s cryptic ways. If Fang Xiu deemed something important, it likely involved one of his foresight abilities.


    With that, Fang Xiu dismissed Yang Ming.


    To Fang Xiu, Yang Ming was the perfect person for this job. When it came to mysterious, unexinable items, no one had better instincts. Yang Ming''s unique talent¡ªGod''s n¡ªmade him naturally drawn to hidden treasures.


    What others overlooked or deemed worthless, Yang Ming had a knack for uncovering their true value.


    Fang Xiu felt certain it wouldn''t be long before Yang Ming uncovered something unexpected about the bell.


    For now, he kept Yang Ming close, stationed at headquarters rather than sending him back to Greenvine.


    As the captain of the Chief Commander''s personal guard, Yang Ming was surrounded by those Fang Xiu trusted most.


    When the Director had suggested assigning a fourth-tier powerhouse to the role, Fang Xiu had refused.


    To him, the difference between a third-tier and a fourth-tier fighter was negligible. In real danger, Fang Xiu doubted they could protect him any better. Instead, he valued one quality above all else for his personal guards: absolute loyalty.


    Following this principle, Fang Xiu had recruited Yang Ming, Bai Qi, and a handful of other dependable allies from Greenvine.


    So far, no one in headquarters was as reliable¡ªor as obedient¡ªas this group.


    *****


    A knock on the door interrupted Fang Xiu''s thoughts.


    "Come in."


    A staff member entered briskly.


    "Sir, we''ve apprehended Gongben Teng''er. He''s in the interrogation room."


    "Any casualties?"


    "No, sir. He didn''t resist. It''s almost like he knew it was pointless. But he''s been shouting non-stop, demanding to see the Director. Says he has critical information to share."


    Fang Xiu smirked slightly, already guessing what Gongben Teng''er''s so-called "critical information" was about.


    "Interesting. Take me there."


    Led by the staff member, Fang Xiu made his way to the interrogation room.


    Inside, Gongben Teng''er sat shackled with soulsteel cuffs, his powers neutralized by suppressant.


    The Director was already there when Fang Xiu entered.


    The moment Gongben Teng''er spotted Fang Xiu, his face twisted with fury.


    "Sir! You must protect me! I am an envoy of Islnd! This man¡ªFang Xiu¡ªis a spy for the Pokers! He''s working with them!"


    The Director turned to Fang Xiu with a raised eyebrow.


    "Care to exin?"


    "He''s right," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    "You see?" Gongben Teng''er shrieked, his voice filled with desperation. "He admitted it! Arrest him now before he silences me!"


    The Director blinked in surprise before bursting intoughter.


    "Alright, enough games."


    But his amusement faded quickly, reced by a more serious tone.


    "Fang Xiu, I''ve heard you killed an Islnd envoy. That was reckless. What''s your n for the fallout?"


    "Simple," Fang Xiu said coldly. "Kill them all."


    The Director''s jaw ckened for a moment.


    "...Excuse me?"


    "He''s trying to kill me! He wants to cover his tracks!" Gongben Teng''er shouted, growing more hysterical. "I have evidence! Recordings! Proof!"


    His screams grew louder, but no one paid him any attention.


    The Director pinched the bridge of his nose.


    "Fang Xiu, you really should reconsider. This could spark a serious conflict between us and Islnd."


    Fang Xiu''s tone was icy as he replied.


    "An Islnd envoy breaking into Huaxia Investigation Bureau headquarters at night to assassinate the Chief Commander? That''s enough to justify anything."


    "That wasn''t an attack! It was an invitation! An invitation for you to visit Islnd!" Gongben Teng''er shouted frantically, his voice trembling as he sensed death looming closer.


    But his words fell on deaf ears.


    The Director mulled things over, then nodded thoughtfully. "Breaking into the headquarters of the Huaxia Investigation Bureau¡ªthis is indeed a severe crime. Since you''ve decided, let''s proceed as nned."


    CLANG! CLANG!


    Gongben Teng''er mmed the table with his cuffed hands, the noise sharp and desperate.


    "Are any of you listening to me? Fang Xiu is a spy! You can''t just take his word for everything!"


    Despair wed at him. He couldn''tprehend the absurdity of his situation. A self-proimed spy had openly confessed, yet no one cared.


    Even worse, the Director had nonchntly agreed to Fang Xiu''s chilling proposal to "deal with" him.


    He wasn''t just some random scapegoat; he was an envoy of Islnd. Killing him would ignite a diplomatic crisis. Gongben Teng''er still believed that they wouldn''t follow through.


    "Take him to my office," Fang Xiu instructed his subordinates with calm authority. "I''ve been working on some experiments. He''ll be useful before he dies."


    "Yes, sir," the staff responded without hesitation.


    Two officers stepped forward, reaching for Gongben Teng''er.


    Panic overtook him, and he scrambled back in his chair.


    "You can''t kill me. Fang Xiu is a spy for THE POKERS! I have evidence!"


    Desperately, he pulled a recording pen from his pocket and raised it like a lifeline. His thumb trembled as he pressed y.


    A calm voice echoed through the room:


    "That''s right. I''m an undercover agent for the Pokers. In fact, I''m more than just an agent¡ªI''m their leader."


    "Did you hear that? He just admitted it!" Gongben Teng''er screamed, gripping the pen like a weapon. "He''s their leader! Arrest him now!"


    The response was a round ofughter from the staff.


    "Do you even hear yourself?" one officer scoffed. "The leader of the Pokers, Joker, was killed thanks to Mr. Fang. Now you''re saying he''s Joker? At least try to make your lies convincing."


    Gongben Teng''er froze, his mind spinning. The way everyone looked at him¡ªdismissive, almost pitying¡ªmade his stomach churn.


    The evidence was ying right in front of them, and they justughed it off.


    "Think for a second!" he barked. "If Fang Xiu weren''t guilty, why would he meet with members of the Pokers in secret at night?"


    The officer crossed his arms and smirked. "To be honest, I don''t think you''re bright enough to understand Mr. Fang''s strategies. What he does is beyond yourprehension."


    Gongben Teng''er was speechless.


    "Meetings with enemy operatives, that''s part of his strategy? How stupid are you?" he roared, his voice cracking. "I saw him! There was a man in an Ace of Spades mask groveling before Fang Xiu. Fang Xiu ordered him to consolidate the Pokers'' forces and hand over their management. He''s nning to control both the Pokers and the Investigation Bureau. And then he said¡ªhe said he''d push for nationwide Specterization. That''s his real n!"


    Trantor''s note: Sorry but it seems this chapter is all fillers¡­

 Chapter 293 - Gongben Tengers Breakdown

    Gongben Tenger''s ount was so vivid and detailed that, for a fleeting moment, doubt flickered across the staff''s faces.


    They nced at each other uneasily, their eyes darting between the Director and Fang Xiu. Uncertainty was beginning to creep in.


    The Director, however, only smiled faintly. "Now that''s starting to sound like an entertaining story."


    Gongben Teng''er was in maddening frustration. He had presented irrefutable evidence, only to have it dismissed outright.


    "Are you people even listening?! Isn''t this obvious enough?" he bellowed. "I''m not making this up! I saw it with my own eyes¡ª"


    "He''s right," Fang Xiu interrupted calmly.


    Gongben Tenger''s face lit up with joy, trembling with relief. His finger shook as he pointed at Fang Xiu. "See?! He admitted it again! You all heard him!"


    Fang Xiu continued with measuredposure.


    "During the headquarters battle, Ace of Spades'' corpse was never recovered. I suspected he might still be alive, so I used my foreseeing ability to gather information. What I saw confirmed my suspicions.


    "Using that knowledge, I tracked down Ace of Spades and gained his trust. My n is to leverage him to infiltrate and take control of the Pokers.


    "With the Investigation Bureau operating in the open and the Pokers in the shadows, I aim to implement a nationwide psychic n to unify humanity andbat the Specterization of this world."


    Gongben Teng''er froze, his jaw hanging open as his brain scrambled to process what he''d just heard. ''Is he using the exact same words I said? Is he just flipping the story? He''s not even trying that hard!''*


    Gongben Teng''er still believed that there''s no way they''ll believe Fang Xiu''s nonsense.


    To his utter horror, however, the Director nodded, his expression serious. "That''s a bold and well-thought-out strategy, Fang Xiu. However, next time, inform me before acting alone. Meeting with the Pokers without backup is too dangerous. Your safety is paramount."


    Gongben Tenger''s face twisted in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. He looked around the room, searching desperately for a shred of sanity.


    "Are you kidding me?" he yelled.


    Fang Xiu just used his words and twisted them, and the director praised him.


    Not only that, but now he was telling Fang Xiu to stay safe. Gongben Teng''er could believe this stupid old moron was the head of the director.


    "No need to worry," Fang Xiu replied calmly. "I''ve already seen the future. There''s no danger. Besides, the Pokers will y a crucial role in what''s toe. That''s why I''ve decided to scale back our investigations into them, avoiding unnecessary conflict between headquarters and their organization."


    "Hey, hey, hey! Did you hear that?" Gongben Teng''er screamed, his voice rising to a hysterical pitch. "He''s openly protecting the Pokers! How can you not see what''s happening?!"


    The Director nodded solemnly to Fang Xiu, his tone matter-of-fact. "Understood. Let''s proceed with your suggestion."


    "AAAAHHH!" Gongben Tenger let out a dramatic scream, mming his fists on the table in a frenzy.


    "You idiots! How can you not see it?! A spy has be the Chief Commander, and now he''s calling off a manhunt for an enemy organization! And you''re all just going along with it? What''s wrong with you people?"


    "Shut it!" one of the staff snapped, punctuating his words with a hard kick to Gongben Tenger''s stomach.


    Gongben Teng''er doubled over in pain, copsing to the floor. His veins bulged as his bloodshot eyes filled with rage and despair.


    The physical agony was nothingpared to the mental torment. It felt like the foundations of his reality had crumbled beneath him. ''How can they all blindly trust Fang Xiu, ignoring such ring evidence?''


    In the end, utterly broken in body and mind, Gongben Tenger was dragged out of the interrogation room.


    *****


    Fang Xiu led the way as Gongben Teng''er, now reduced to a trembling shell of a man, stumbled along behind him like a condemned prisoner.


    The "experiments" Fang Xiu had mentioned earlier? They were nothing but a cover. His true purpose was to consume his Spiritual Energy.


    Though Gongben Teng''er wasn''t particrly powerful, as a fourth-tier psychic, he was still a decent source of energy.


    When the process wasplete, Fang Xiu''s awakened energy had risen from 45% to 48%.


    The increase was smaller than what he had gained from consuming the Islnd woman earlier, but it was still a big help.


    Fang Xiu deduced that advancing further required exponentially greater resources. The further he progressed, the more difficult it became to climb higher.


    This principle, he realized, was precisely why high-level psychics were so rare.


    While this boost wasn''t enough for him to summon two Specter Gods simultaneously, it did extend the time for which he could maintain a single Specter God.


    The next day¡­


    Fang Xiu sat in his office, casually skimming through a diplomatic statement issued by Islnd.


    The wording was sharp and usatory, essentially condemning the Huaxia Investigation Bureau for "killing their envoy without justification."


    The document went on to demand an exnation and threatened severe measures if none were provided, including esction to the United Bureaus to push for sanctions against Huaxia.


    After ncing at the letter for a few seconds, Fang Xiu tossed it into the trash can without hesitation.


    Such empty threats didn''t concern him. Even if it escted to an actual conflict, he wasn''t worried in the slightest.


    He didn''t even need Fang Moli to step in¡ªhe could handle the entire situation by himself. A quick trip to Islnd and a few summoned Specters would easily resolve the matter.


    Next, Fang Xiu picked up another document, this one a reply from the United Bureaus.


    It was written in a very formal and roundabout tone, but the message boiled down to one thing: the United Bureaus would not agree to Huaxia unterally disclosing the truth about the Specter invasion.


    After reading the first few lines, Fang Xiu dropped this document into the trash can as well.


    KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...


    Suddenly, there was a series of hurried knocks on the door.


    "Xiu! You won''t believe what I''ve discovered!" Yang Ming''s excited voice called out from outside.


    "Come in," Fang Xiu replied calmly.


    Yang Ming burst into the room, shutting the door behind him. With an air of mystery, he pulled out the ancient bronze bell.


    Fang Xiu nced over¡ªand his eyes lit up slightly.


    The bronze bell, which had previously been corroded and covered in rust like an archaeological relic, had undergone aplete transformation.


    Now, it gleamed brilliantly, as if freshly forged.


    Its bronze surface was adorned with intricate and densely packed patterns, full of an enigmatic and ancient vibe. The craftsmanship was exquisite, almost mesmerizing to behold.


    Seeing Yang Ming''s thrilled expression, Fang Xiu sighed in relief. As expected, Yang Ming''s ability was as extraordinary as ever.


    In anyone else''s hands, this bell would have been dismissed as worthless junk. But in Yang Ming''s hands, it had been unlocked as a treasure.


    The one favored by God¡­ That was truly terrifying.


    "This is¡­ a Spiritual Gadget?" Fang Xiu murmured, carefully studying the bell.


    The energy emanating from it was simr to what he felt from his Double Dragon Ring¡ªa unique resonance of Spiritual Energy.


    The Double Dragon Ring, which Fang Xiu used daily, wasn''t just for storing items but also for storing Spiritual Energy. He had developed a habit of channeling a portion of his Spiritual Energy into the ring each day, keeping it as a reserve for emergencies.


    During his battle with Gongben Teng''er, he had tapped into some of the Spiritual Energy stored in the Double Dragon Ring to summon both "wife" and Taotie.


    Without the ring, sustaining the two summons simultaneously would have been impossible.


    Fortunately, "wife" consumed very little energy. Otherwise, even if he hadpletely drained the Double Dragon Ring, summoning two Specter Gods at once would have been nearly unachievable.


    In addition to storing Spiritual Energy, Fang Xiu had also started storing Domains in the ring. By "borrowing" a bit of Domain Energy from several team captains, he had managed to keep some in reserve.


    However, the Double Dragon Ring had its limits. It could store a maximum of five Domains, and it was incapable of holding the unique power of Fang Moli''s Xuanyuan Sword Energy or the disruptive energy of Mindre.


    Yang Ming''s voice snapped Fang Xiu out of his thoughts.


    "Huh, Xiu, you didn''t know this was a Spiritual Gadget?" Yang Ming asked, his expression full of disbelief.


    "You were so serious when you gave it to me, saying it was super important. I thought you already knew it was a Spiritual Gadget and gave it to me to use for self-defense!"


    "You''re overthinking it," Fang Xiu said indifferently. "I gave it to you so you could figure out what it''s for."


    Trantor''s note: In the original text, Fang Xiu twisted Gongben''s words in a very smart way, yet the smartness was inevitably lost in trantion.


    Also, he tossed all the docs in the trash¡­ is he nning to go against the whole world?


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