“You’re amazing, Xiao Yang! It’s only been how long, and you actually found Nannan!”
Lin Zhen slapped Yin Yang’s shoulder repeatedly with a thudding sound, her face filled with pure admiration.
“Tonight’s on me! Tell me, what do you want to eat? Name it!”
Lin Zhen was feeling quite generous, especially since she had just sold a transcendent item not long ago.
Manager Lin, standing nearby, laughed upon hearing this.
“It won't be your turn. Won't Old Huang’s family have to properly thank Xiao Yang tonight?”
Yin Yang waved his hands repeatedly.
“It was only what I should have done. There’s no need for thanks.”
“Meow~”
Just as he finished speaking, a cat’s cry drifted in from the doorway.
Yin Yang turned his head and saw the scarred tabby cat crouching outside the shop, looking up into the room.
“Oh, a little kitty~”
Lin Zhen seemed to love cats; she immediately went to open the shop door, making high-pitched clicking and calling sounds.
Yin Yang also walked over with a smile. He had thought the cat would have been scared off, but he hadn't expected it to have the courage to return.
It seemed the temptation of the female cat was quite significant to it.
“Kitty~ do you want something to eat? I have some snacks here~”
The moment Lin Zhen opened the door, her voice went up several octaves in a cutesy tone, but the tabby cat gracefully bypassed her. It jumped onto the counter and looked Yin Yang directly in the eye.
Yin Yang smiled and nodded, indicating that he hadn't forgotten their agreement.
“Zhen-jie, is there a pet shop around here? One that does grooming and fur care?”
“Yes, there’s one on Yingbin Road in the East District. But they’re quite expensive. Are you going to take him for grooming?”
“Yeah.”
Lin Zhen assumed it was Yin Yang’s cat and leaned in curiously.
“Is this your cat? How many years have you had him? What’s his name?”
Yin Yang silently activated his Communion ability.
‘What is your name?’
‘Canned Food!’
Yin Yang raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that he had expected something more fierce.
“Canned Food.”
“‘Canned Food?’ What a cute name~”
Lin Zhen reached out, wanting to pet the cat’s head. Canned Food actually leaned his head forward proactively, being quite the ‘hospitable’ fellow.
This gesture made Lin Zhen adore him even more. She quickly went to get some snacks, tearing them into small pieces to feed the cat.
Yin Yang activated his 【Communion】 ability again.
‘I’ll take you there after work.’
“Meow~”
Canned Food gave a long, exaggerated stretch.
...
West District.
Liang Family Shoe Repair Shop.
Wang Dong looked at the group photos on the wall and remarked with emotion.
“You really have lived here for over thirty years. You even have a photo with the previous bureau chief.”
“But something isn't right. A Sequence 6 powerhouse wouldn't just be a complete unknown.”
“At the very least, there should be a record in the handover files.”
“Yet why is it that from beginning to end, I’ve never heard of a figure like you in Wang City?”
Wang Dong’s tone was aggressive, but the old man didn't seem to care, continuing to repair a shoe.
“Hah, files are dead things, people are living.”
“For example, your files don't have the Qi family listed either. Do they not have transcendents?”
Wang Dong’s aura gradually grew stronger.
“Let’s not beat around the bush. You exposed yourself for that divinity, didn't you?”
The old man nodded, his hands never stopping their work.
“That’s right.”
“I don't care what you do, but Wang City must not fall into chaos!”
The old man suddenly laughed upon hearing this, his slightly clouded eyes looking straight at Wang Dong.
“Wang City must not fall into chaos?”
“Can you make that decision, or can the Qi family?”
“He proactively emitted the aura of divinity. Wasn't that an invitation to us?”
Wang Dong stood up, the pressure radiating from him becoming increasingly intense.
“I don't care about the Qi family, and I don't want to care.”
“But if you people make a scene, that would be a slap in my face.”
“And I am someone who hates being slapped in the face more than anything!”
The old man gave him a faint glance and smiled freely.
“I don't have many years left to live.”
“Tell me, if I stop suppressing the power inside me and proactively let myself lose control, how many people in Wang City would survive?”
Wang Dong’s fists clenched until they cracked.
“I’m also curious. As a fellow Sequence 6, can I beat you to death with my bare hands!”
The old man’s laugh became even more carefree.
“Since Bureau Chief Wang wants to try, wouldn't I be ungrateful if I didn't accompany you?”
The aura of both men grew stronger, and the items in the room began to tremble. Just as they were about to come to blows, a knock sounded at the door.
Their auras vanished instantly as they both looked outside.
At the doorway stood an old man who looked almost like a dried corpse, quietly observing the room.
“Mr. Xia?”
The shoe-repairing old man’s voice held a hint of surprise. The old man outside slowly pushed the door open.
“Old Liang, my shoes are broken. Do you have a pair that fits?”
“I do.”
Old Liang agreed and pulled a pair of leather shoes from a nearby cabinet.
“These are soft cowhide. Try them and see if they’re comfortable.”
The old man addressed as Mr. Xia sat down, revealing a pair of pitch-black feet, and began trying on the shoes without the slightest concern.
“Are you the new chief of the Security Bureau?”
The old man’s voice was raspy, sounding like two pieces of dry tree bark rubbing together.
“Do you have some advice?”
Despite the other man’s powerful spiritual pressure, Wang Dong remained unfazed.
The reason he could become the chief of the Wang City Security Bureau wasn't because of connections, but because of strength!
“The youth are to be feared,” the old man remarked with emotion. After putting on the shoes, he stood up.
“My name is Xia Zhiqiu.”
Wang Dong’s pupils shrank instantly upon hearing the name.
“The 【Ghost Messenger】 Xia Zhiqiu?”
The old man’s face, which resembled withered bark, squeezed out a smile.
“It seems you’ve heard of me.”
Wang Dong took a step back, his gaze wary.
“Are you also here for that divinity?”
“Why else would I be here?”
“But the 【Corpse Bearer】 pathway only goes up to Sequence 6, and you’re already there!”
Hearing this, Xia Zhiqiu’s eyes grew slightly vacant. He let out a silent sigh.
“Indeed.”
“I’ve traveled to many places in recent years and explored many ruins, yet I haven't found the subsequent pathway for the 【Ghost Messenger】.”
“However, I discovered something very interesting: the transcendent spirituality of many adjacent sequences can be plundered from one another!”
“For instance, as a 【Ward Guard】 sequence, you can plunder the transcendent spirituality of the 【Executioner】 sequence.”
“If that’s the case, does it mean one can also switch to an adjacent pathway?”
“For example, can a Sequence 6 of my 【Corpse Bearer】 pathway transfer to become a Sequence 6 of another pathway, or perhaps even break through directly to Sequence 5?”
This theory left both Old Liang and Wang Dong stunned.
They had never considered such a possibility, but Wang Dong immediately countered.
“Impossible!”
“The abilities after promotion are different for different pathways. If you transfer to another pathway, what happens to your previous abilities?”
Old Liang also frowned.
“He’s right. And even if they are similar pathways, they couldn't possibly merge perfectly. Just like an organ transplant, there would definitely be rejection. How would you handle the rejection reaction then?”
Xia Zhiqiu took a gold note from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“Everything you’ve said has one prerequisite.”
“One must be alive first.”
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