Tai City.
That night, the moon shone bright among sparse stars. Moonlight fell upon the streetlights at the intersection, stretching their shadows long, long across the ground.
Ten o'clock at night.
A figure in a school uniform, carrying a backpack, walked down the empty road.
She was a senior high school girl who had just gotten out of class. The recent courses from the Spirit Nurturing Department had been difficult, and her home was far from school, which was why she was only now making her way home.
The surroundings were deathly silent. The night was like a snarling beast, as though it would swallow her whole the very next second.
"It's so dark. I should walk faster."
The girl shuddered, tightened her grip on her backpack straps, and hurried home.
She arrived before her familiar apartment building. Seeing the faint light upstairs, she let out a slight sigh of relief. Just as she stepped into the corridor—
A hand suddenly pressed down on her shoulder.
"Move!"
Su Qingying's voice rang out in the night.
She yanked the girl behind her and shielded her tightly.
Immediately after that,
Several figures sprang out from behind them. Invisible spirit qi surged forth—every one of them was a cultivator at Divine Axe Seven Stars or above!
In the blink of an eye.
Boom—!
A deafening explosion erupted from the apartment building. Black Mist came pouring out, and grotesque, utterly bizarre Anomalies fled in all directions, trying to turn into Black Mist and escape.
"Trying to run?!"
Su Qingying pulled out a handgun made of special materials and fired three shots directly at the Anomaly in midair. The handgun, specially manufactured by the Equipment Department, had undergone major performance upgrades. It could now harm Anomalies below Divine Axe Sixth Star, while even those above