"But, he seems to have gone mad."

Su Youxia said perplexedly, "His mental state is extremely unstable. He keeps telling everyone the Qilin's Wedge isn't in his hands, then asks if you believe him. If you say you don't, he'll fight you to the death. But the problem is, he's been planning this for a full eight years, and even the Ether Association was outmaneuvered by him. How could it not be in his possession?"

Su Youzhu was slightly stunned. She suddenly recalled the experiences in the underground ruins.

The fragment of the Qilin's Wedge might actually not be with Master.

"Because of this, the Si Family's old ancestor has already stepped in to handle the matter. The other board members are all treating this as a dire threat. If possible, you should quickly become a candidate for Dusk Sequence. It'll be safer that way."

Su Youxia said softly, "Besides, the Ether Association is about to launch a full-scale suppression of the Dark World."

Su Youzhu's gaze deepened, her thoughts indeterminate. "Mm, I understand."

"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. Everything's fine on your end, right?"

Su Youxia asked one last time.

Su Youzhu replied, "It's fine. You, too, take care."

Su Youxia hummed in acknowledgment, and the call ended.

In the warm sunlight, Su Youzhu put down her phone and sat in silence on the bed for a long time.

She didn't know when it began, but that boy seemed to have grown up already, and he could even protect her now.

This feeling of being cared for and even protected—she couldn't deny it was incredibly addictive.

But she still felt a little out of place.

"Even though you're younger than me, by order of seniority, you should call me Senior Sister."

To be honest, though, it was mostly worry.

Watching him grow step by step filled Su Youzhu's heart with relief.

But at the same time, she clearly understood one thing.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in reality.

Becoming stronger always comes at a price.

No one is an exception.

As someone who witnessed his growth, Su Youzhu felt more heartache and concern than anything else.

Especially now that she realized that boy had visited her side last night.

It was as if she was transported back to the past nine years, only this time, the roles were reversed.

Su Youzhu experienced what it felt like to be silently protected by him.

For some reason, her heartbeat quickened.

She suddenly wanted to see him.

Supporting her chin with one hand, Su Youzhu stared at the figure on her phone screen before opening WeChat to send a message: "No one's home tonight. Remember to come back for dinner. I'll make pork rib soup for you."

After thinking for a moment, she added another line: "I'll wear black stockings for you."

·

·

With a sudden twist in time and space, Gu Jianlin appeared in the base of Black Cloud City.

That apartment building, which had been destroyed twice consecutively, was profoundly unlucky.

After the last Returning Burial Forest incident, the Ether Association had evidently begun to take the matter extremely seriously. The base was now filled with Demon Hunters from the Judgement Court. Occasionally, nano warriors or investigators passing by would be scanned with crystal balls, likely for some type of specialized divination method.

Even the surveillance cameras in the alleys were rotating at full angles, monitoring every movement in real time.

Of course, this was only the most basic level of screening.

If someone were to be apprehended for a thorough investigation, it certainly wouldn't be this cursory.

Rumor had it that following last night's victory celebration, a special meeting was held at the Black Cloud City base. The details were later leaked onto the Deep Space forum.

The top ten from the first tier of the Omega Sequence had initially uncovered clues about the underground ruins and the fragments of the Qilin's Wedge during their pursuit of the Ancient Ancestors in the Living Burial Area.

The Golden Faction's leader, Ying Changsheng, and the Silver Faction's leader, Mu Qingyou—

The two had nearly managed to exploit dimensional rifts to enter the underground ruins first.

However, Black Iron Faction's leader, Li Hanting, was ambushed, and three of their companions betrayed them on the spot.

Even worse, a batch of nano warriors' lives was used as leverage.

As leaders, the three ultimately decided after deliberation to abandon the pursuit of the Qilin's Wedge fragments.

A portion stayed behind to protect their companions.

While the leading trio focused on eliminating enemies.

The investors cultivated by Master of the You Ying Group were nearly slaughtered to extinction by them.

But in the end, the fragment of the Qilin's Wedge was still lost.

This utterly infuriated the high-ranking members of the Ether Association, especially the Judgement Court.

Everyone knew that one of the nine Saints of the Judgement Court, Li Qingsong, whose life was nearing its final stage, had developed an obsessive desperation for the Qilin Immortal Palace, frantically seeking immortality.

Upon learning the Qilin Wedge fragment was lost, he flew into an uncontrollable rage.

He reportedly collapsed and ended up in the hospital on the spot.

"You won't believe this—Saint Li Qingsong got angrier the more he thought about it after returning last night. He even blew up his seaside villa and was admitted directly to the ICU that very night."

"Now the Judgement Court has issued a full-scale order to investigate traitors. Councilman Zhang uncovered twelve suspects overnight—nine of whom confessed, and two are still under interrogation. Another one resisted arrest and was killed on the spot."

"This is terrifying. I just hope my future teammates are free of traitors."

Heh, even the Judgement Court has moments of panic like this.

How fitting.

That said, even if someone obtained a fragment of the Qilin's Wedge, it wouldn't reveal any secrets of immortality.

All they'd gain would be a Candle Dragon Bone.

Which would, in turn, attract the unrelenting wrath of old monsters.

"B-rank investigator Gu Jianlin, upon receiving this message, proceed immediately to the Black Cloud City command center to collect your mission reward. Director Chen Bojun is waiting for you in his office."