"Damn, what the hell is going on? Good thing I ran fast." Wang Linchi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Feeling the ground shake, he knew something big had happened in Lang City.

Just last night, he received a severe warning from the Thought Mirror. The Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit Egg Blessing's score in the Soul Shadow· Book of Records plummeted drastically, falling straight from 100 to 30 points, a loss of 70 points.

He immediately packed his things and ran away under the cover of darkness.

Now it was dawn. Looking from afar at Lang City, it was occupied by countless bone-like branches.

Of course, he recognized what they were: branches of the Tree of Immortality.

However, these branches were slightly different from the ones he had seen before, as they had no leaves or fruit and were completely bare, giving off a very creepy vibe.

He did not know what had happened, but he was certain that he had escaped death.

So I've been treating my 'Turn misfortune into blessing' as 'Danger Intuition'.

Good thing I'm self-aware, or I might have thought this was an opportunity. Wang Linchi felt that even if it were an opportunity, he wouldn't go there.

The terrifying scene was just too horrific.

He was only observing from afar. If he got closer to the core area, he might be immobilized. Just these bone-like branches were surely on par with Morning Star level Awakeners.

Who knows who's stirring things up, actually drawing out a Longevity Tree Branch.

Don't tell me Xuan Spirit Heaven is not only chaotic but has also started to affect the various Secret Realms? Wang Linchi couldn't help but speculate.

Otherwise, Lang City had been very peaceful. How could something like this happen?

Given the massacre in Yuan City not long ago, Wang Linchi wouldn't believe it if there were no connection.

To hell with it, I'll run first. I still have eight months.

Wang Linchi had never thought about saving the situation; his meager abilities wouldn't even be enough to make a difference.

Once I have amassed four Legendary Level Soul Kinds, and add in my Guardian Spirit, then I will... have the power to protect myself.

Going on a killing spree is out of the question. Wang Linchi was very clear about his own powers; he could at most reliably kill those at the Secret Silver Level.

But the Secret Silver Level was not the strongest in the Dajing Court; there were still tiers above like Elite Gold Level, Morning Star, and so on. He could afford to be more arrogant when he reached the Daylight Level.

I wonder when the Court in this Secret Realm will come to resolve this issue, or are they being held up and unable to solve it?

Wang Linchi quickly thought of the Awakeners who had arrived from the Dajing Court, wondering if they came here for the Tree of Immortality.

This thing could prolong life, and if they could bring it out of the Secret Realm, it would represent a huge benefit, something the Court would be tempted by.

As for the state of this Secret Realm, it had nothing to do with the Dajing Court. They were the invaders, after all.

But if they really do take away the Tree of Immortality, it will concern the common people of the Dajing Court, Wang Linchi commented.

The Tree of Immortality definitely wouldn't be maintained for free; it was quite demanding. Just to attract a piece of a branch, people were needed as incense. To cultivate such a large Tree of Immortality, even more people would be required.

The Royal Family, Great Families, and Sects definitely wouldn't use their own people; they would choose the common folk.

Upon thinking of this, Wang Linchi fell silent.

The Dajing Court has been developing for so many years. The Soul Devices, Soul Kinds, Soul Forging Methods, and other things they need to make sacrifices for wouldn't be limited to just the Tree of Immortality.

The dynasty has stood for an unknown number of ages; how could it not have such things? I just didn't know about them.

Or perhaps, more directly, the Dajing Dynasty might have been breeding a large number of human livestock all along.

HISS. If that's the case, this could lead to serious trouble. Wang Linchi suddenly thought of the Demonic Inheritance Successor. He didn't know how many inheritances there were, but if one fell into the hands of the true nobility—not a family like the Sheng Family, who had lost power due to lacking a Morning Star level member, but one of those Big Aristocratic Families that could genuinely interfere with the Dajing Court's operations...

The consequences would be unimaginable.

No wonder Great View is in chaos.

After that, Wang Linchi sighed. Looking at the now quiet Longevity Tree Branches, he turned and immediately fled.

He continued to walk until dusk, finally reaching a village that appeared to be inhabited.

Before he had taken two steps, another alert from the Thought Mirror emerged, stating that his Blessing had decreased by another 15 strands. This caused his eye to twitch involuntarily.

This whole thing is infuriatingly vague. I have no idea whether it's a warning of danger or a sign of a potential opportunity. Either way, the Blessing is deducted first before any explanation is given.

My guess is that if a substantial amount is deducted, it probably indicates significant danger. If only a small amount is deducted, it might signify a minor opportunity. However, the process involves continuous deduction. It merely allows one to come into contact with an opportunity, and then slowly deducts Blessing as one endeavors to secure it, supposedly to ensure success.

Of course, if all of my Blessing is gone and I haven't obtained anything yet, then I'll be on my own.

What a huge loss, Wang Linchi's heart was bleeding. I don't want any opportunity; this thing is much better for predicting danger! I don't lack opportunities at this stage.

But it was already deducted, leaving only fifteen points. If he turned his back on it now, the deduction would stop, but his previous loss would have been in vain.

Forget it, let's just go in. Wang Linchi sighed. If I can't stop the loss, I might as well try to recoup it.

At the entrance of the village, an old man glanced at him and stood up cautiously. "Young man, where are you from?" he asked.

"I come from Lang City. I encountered a ghost on the road and barely escaped with my life. I've been traveling day and night before reaching your esteemed village," Wang Linchi replied. While he did escape and was in a terrible state, it hadn't actually taken a full day and night; he embellished his travel time to match an ordinary person's walking speed.

The man's alertness seemed to ease somewhat upon hearing Wang Linchi's words.

Most people are members of the "looks-obsessed society." Although Wang Linchi looked ordinary compared to those in the Dajing Court, he was still considered quite handsome in any ancient-themed Secret Realm.

"What kind of ghost? So terrifying?" the old man asked. He knew a bit about the ghost lairs and nests in the vicinity, as he had lived here since he was a child.

"A zombie. A single zombie."

"A young master from some great family in Lang City was bitten to death. At that time, I..." Wang Linchi began to spin his tale.

Upon hearing this, the old man's brow smoothed. This incident was true; it had happened three months ago. He had heard about it when he went to Lang City for the market fair.

"It seems that the Wu Family hasn't dealt with that zombie yet. That young master of the Wu Family was just unlucky. Who goes around provoking zombies in a graveyard?" The old man shook his head.

"Alas, he provoked it, and I ended up... Never mind, let's not talk about that. Sir, it's getting late. Could I stay in the village for the night? Although I fled in a sorry state and lost quite a bit of money, I should still have enough to afford a night's lodging," Wang Linchi said.

On hearing his words, the old man's mood lifted. Money coming his way? That sounds like a good deal!

"Certainly, certainly. I happen to have an old house that's vacant. I'll tidy it up a bit, and you can stay there for the night," the man cheerfully agreed.

"Ah... don't you need to inform the village chief?" Wang Linchi asked.

"No need. I am the village chief," the old man replied with a grin. From Wang Linchi's words, he was also sure the young man wasn't a wrongdoer; otherwise, who would be foolish enough to walk into a trap by seeking out the village chief?

"Alright then. It's not much, but please accept it as a token of goodwill," Wang Linchi said, taking out his money.

Although he said it wasn't much, if he had actually given a small amount, it would have been a different matter. Wang Linchi paid the equivalent of an inn's price.

The village chief beamed upon receiving the money. He would have been satisfied with even half the price of an inn; he hadn't expected Wang Linchi to be so understanding.

He glanced at Wang Linchi's situation. When Wang Linchi took out the money, he indeed didn't have much left; after paying the lodging fee, only half remained.

This small amount wasn't enough to make him harbor ill intentions. Clearly, the young man had fled in such a state that he hadn't had time to grab more money.

"You useless trash! Our Divine Church has been planning to acquire the Tree of Immortality for a long time, and look what you did! Because of the Yuan City affair, you're now on the wanted list!" a man dressed in the robes of a bishop from the Black Dragon branch of the Baylong Religion spoke with an icy tone.

The man beside him was drenched in sweat. He was the Elite Gold Level Awakener whose plans Wang Linchi had thwarted. He had infiltrated the Secret Realm in disguise but was actually a Black Dragon Envoy from the Black Dragon branch of the Baylong Religion.

"I had laid the groundwork in Yuan City, but someone destroyed my setup. I suspect it may have been the work of Yan Ming King!" the Black Dragon Envoy said in a rush.

Only then did the Black Dragon Bishop's harsh tone soften slightly.

"Forget it. Consider your actions in Lang City as an act of atonement," the Black Dragon Bishop said. As a Morning Star Level Awakener, he could easily control the Elite Gold Level Black Dragon Envoy.

"Some of the Longevity Tree Roots and Stems have already been lured out. We need to expand quickly. Before these natives and the Court can react, we must seize them immediately!"

The Black Dragon Bishop continued to instruct.

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