The Wind Rises, Clouds Surge, the Whole City is Under a Warrant! (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Pale moonlight shone upon the text on the title page.

The gauze-like moonlight gathered increasingly around the book, as if being slowly absorbed by these ritualistic, symbolic characters.

In a trance, Bai Zhou saw a thick and Ill Omen black mist.

Enveloped by the black mist was a blurry, shattered, and strange world.

Looking out, everywhere was a vast ocean of gray sludge, covered in black spots; upon closer inspection, he realized they were living heads bobbing along with the waves.

The eyes of those heads were filled with unspeakable agony, their sunken cheeks weeping in sorrow.

A shattered, curved Blood Moon hung high above this ocean.

Yet, that Blood Moon was not truly a Blood Moon; in a trance, it resembled a human side profile, shifting endlessly.

That was...

--Thousands of distinct, agonizing faces, male and female, human and beast!

A sharp pain pierced Bai Zhou's brain, and frantic singing echoed wildly in his ears—a cacophony of shrill, hoarse female voices and robust tenors, a demonic sound piercing his mind.

The extremely filthy and evil echoes polluted Bai Zhou's spirit, causing his sanity to plummet rapidly.

1+1 equals... what?

My fingers... why are there five?

Dreams... wakefulness... where is the boundary?

Am I a man or a woman... or something else?

A blood vessel on Bai Zhou's right hand bulged on its own, transforming into a wriggling, slimy viper.

It twisted, slowly raising its head as its body began to swell.

--"Not good!"

He cursed inwardly. Amidst the countless frantic echoes, Bai Zhou, his vision spinning, tremblingly raised his left hand to fumble inside his robes.

He pulled out a lollipop.

Then, without hesitation, he placed the lollipop into his mouth.

--Alpaca Lollipop!

["Sanity is the most precious treasure of sentient beings, thus God bestowed the Golden Lacquered Apple as a sign of the grace of wisdom."]

The lollipop melted the moment it touched his tongue.

As the tart apple fragrance exploded in his mouth, a massive wave of unparalleled coolness rushed straight to his brain.

The voices surrounding his ears vanished instantly, and the dizziness disappeared without a trace.

His sanity returned, and all distracting emotions in his heart were suppressed, leaving no possibility of being stirred or provoked.

There was only extreme silence in his ears, and his heart felt as cold as the Crystal Ball of Ya.

"Snap"—

Having lost the frantic emotions that served as Nutrients, the wriggling viper stopped growing and fell off Bai Zhou, landing on the ground.

Then, Bai Zhou picked up his Short Club and struck it dead with all his might.

"Bang!"

With just one strike, The viper twisted a few times on the ground, then, like a punctured balloon, its body rapidly shriveled.

In the end, it turned into a few dry, pitch-black little stones, their material hard and peculiar, marked with sinister patterns.

--Clearly, they were the manifestations of the "distortion," "madness," and "loss of control" that Bai Zhou had just severed.

Now that Bai Zhou had discarded them and killed them with his own hands—

For a moment, he felt his heart grow even clearer and calmer.

"Those voices just now were..."

Those evil, filthy hymns came from an unknown source, possessing immense penetrative power.

They seemed to echo permanently in some strange world, as if he had heard them by accident, yet at times, Bai Zhou felt they were aimed directly at polluting him.

Bai Zhou recalled the knowledge he had learned during his special training.

Those must be the pollution and curses carried by the knowledge of the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves.

High-level extraordinary knowledge often carried similar dangers and peculiarities.

--It was similar to the "taboo" of the half-Ancient Character within his body, though weakened by an unknown margin.

And after eliminating all influence of madness, with his brain left only with cold logic...

The fragments of words hidden within the frantic babbling were organized by Bai Zhou, rearranged, and read in order.

Then, he finally understood what information the text on the title page was trying to convey—

The knowledge within the Dead Sea Scrolls was hidden inside the book, but it was not recorded as text in the ordinary sense.

It is a Forbidden Canon.

It is also a vessel.

Knowledge and inheritance lie within.

Yet, it is not meant to be studied or read by others; rather, it is instilled by the book itself into those who are qualified and meet the conditions.

Ultimately, the person who receives the infusion of all the knowledge within becomes the new owner of the Forbidden Canon, even gaining the qualification to author their own new chapters upon it.

"Forbidden Canon..."

As Bai Zhou expected, the Dead Sea Scrolls is indeed a "Scroll-level" Forbidden Canon.

This is not the first time Bai Zhou has come into contact with a so-called Forbidden Canon.

The highly useful Sacred Oath Slash is merely...

A single torn page from a Scroll-level Forbidden Canon.

--And now, Bai Zhou has obtained an entire volume!

The treasure that the Special Management Department and the Blood Worship Cult have been breaking their heads over, fighting tooth and nail, now lies quietly in Bai Zhou's hands under the moonlight.

However...

Unlocking the Dead Sea Scrolls is by no means an easy task.

Even for just the First Chapter, the conditions required to receive the infusion of knowledge and unlock it are exceptionally harsh.

--It requires the absorption of a massive amount of Undead Death Qi.

As for how massive, it does not specify.

--But just like how the most casual requirements are often the hardest to satisfy, a requirement without specific details is high enough to be even more despair-inducing.

No wonder this Dead Sea Scrolls was buried by its former owner underground at the entrance of the Funeral Home Crematorium.

Indeed, there are few places that receive a fresh influx of Undead Death Qi every single day like this one.

"An undead thief, huh..."

Bai Zhou examined the silent Forbidden Canon in his hands and whispered.

Perhaps the former owner even took it to many mass graves and public cemeteries.

But even so, the progress of the Dead Sea Scrolls in absorbing Undead Death Qi is only...

1%!

Not even that much.

There is simply no visible possibility of meeting the unlocking conditions.

This is an era of peace; Tinghai City has no battlefields, let alone a large number of dead.

Even if one were to venture into the Reflection Ruins Realm, according to Ya, one wouldn't encounter many active undead.

--Undead? Graveyards?

In the Reflection Ruins Realm, those are living resources that everyone fights over!

This "massive amount," whether in terms of quality or quantity, is likely...

A number that would drive any Extraordinary to despair.

It makes one suspect that the last person to successfully unlock the First Chapter must have been some famous warmonger or evil Butcher in history.

However--

Bai Zhou blinked.

Undead Death Qi?

He knows of a place that is not lacking in it.

Not lacking at all.

He saw with his own eyes at least a thousand Skeletons.

There was also a mad Skeleton who styled himself a general.

And there were even more on the battlefield.

--Whether in quantity or quality, it is extremely substantial!

Must he make another trip to the Deep Ruins Realm?

But at the thought of that lunatic Skeleton's inexplicable duels, Bai Zhou felt a shiver of dread.

Unless...

Bai Zhou traced the strange texture of the Dead Sea Scrolls in his hands, lost in thought.

Dead Sea, Undead Death Qi...

How exactly does this book absorb Undead Death Qi?

Is there such a possibility?

Does the Dead Sea Scrolls actually possess a restraining and suppressing effect on skeleton undead?

--It is worth a try.

Even if it doesn't work, it doesn't matter.

As long as he finds a way to bypass the Undead General, simply absorbing the other skeletons should be enough for him to unlock most of the First Chapter...

"Huu..."

Bai Zhou relaxed and took the Alpaca Lollipop out of his mouth.

His eyes regained their emotions, clear and vivid, full of youthful vitality.

Looking at the lollipop that had melted halfway, he felt a pang of heartache.

Perhaps, the Alpaca Lollipop was even more useful than he had imagined.

--Especially in this Mystic World filled with "distortion," "madness," and "loss of control"!

Bai Zhou hurriedly wrapped it in a tissue and tucked it away carefully.

It's fine; the Dead Sea Scrolls have been used, and it can be used again next time.

Although there are less than two lollipops left, as long as he is frugal, one can be made to last like three!

"And this..."

There was one more thing he couldn't forget.

Bai Zhou looked at the strange gravel that the viper had turned into, and adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, he picked them all up.

The moment he touched these stones, Bai Zhou felt agitated once again.

Negative emotions surged higher in his heart, and the familiar feeling gradually returned... until Bai Zhou completely put them away.

Perhaps they could become special materials for certain rituals.

Although he had never seen Crow use any special materials for her rituals.

Her style was all about convenience and high cost-effectiveness.

Bai Zhou was lost in thought.

Or perhaps, they could be crafted into special "bullets"...

"Whoosh--"

The shadow of a bird swept over Bai Zhou's head.

"Pat."

Footsteps approached from afar, sounding faint and indistinct.

Three o'clock in the morning.

At the end of the long street filled with white mist, a hazy figure appeared, walking slowly and leisurely.

Bai Zhou tensed up subconsciously at first, gripping the Pitch Black Short Club in his hand.

When he saw who it was, he relaxed again.

The sword-wielding Maiden had arrived as promised.

So, the bird he hadn't seen clearly just now must have been Crow's crow...

However.

The expression on Crow's face as she walked over from not far away was very strange.

Heaven knows how much effort it took her to find Dongxing Road.

Although she had a map in her hand, she was just like Bai Zhou.

She didn't know north from south in reality either.

Fortunately, the crow in the sky could provide her with an overhead view.

After searching for a long time, she finally arrived at this remote place on Dongxing Road, but Crow didn't find Bai Zhou at the intersection.

Just as she thought something had gone wrong with Bai Zhou, she turned her head and found him standing at the entrance of a shop.

Oh, so he came to eat... did the shop just close?

Just as Crow was thinking this.

The quiet moonlight shone on the shop's sign, and Crow clearly saw its content.

--It was, of course, that sign: "Enjoy eternal peace, we customize the final page of your life."

And Bai Zhou was standing under this sign, holding a book, looking inexplicably well-behaved.

At Bai Zhou's feet, there was a dirt pit that had clearly just been dug, with fresh mud surrounding his feet.

A funeral home, a dirt pit, and a waiting Youth.

--Reiterating.

It is currently three in the morning.

Ya: "?"

(She) suspects that has "seen a ghost."

--What is going on?

In the deep night, iridescent pupils tremble slightly.

Having been apart for only such a short time, the Youth who was just full of courage and curiosity about the new world...

Why has suddenly lost the will to live?

And also...

What is that book in Bai Zhou's arms, the one that looks exactly like a massive tome?

When they parted just now... did Bai Zhou have that with?

Ya's gaze is a little dazed.

Inside the base.

"Click—"

The tightly shut Dormitory door is opened.

"This is Bai Zhou's Dormitory."

The nervous dorm manager leads the Major and a group of other "Big Shots" inside.

The sight of the empty Dormitory, along with the colorful posters covering the walls, leaves everyone stunned.

"Where is the desk? Where are the stools?"

An Officer asks in confusion.

The dorm manager stammers for a long time, unable to answer.

"..."

The Major, wearing sunglasses, looks around and gazes up at the posters on the wall.

(He) first stares silently for a moment at the "Terminator" robot wearing sunglasses on the wall poster.

Then, coldly issues an order:

"Tear all these posters down!"

"Riiip—"

The harsh sound of tearing echoes in everyone's ears.

The posters on the wall are ripped away one by one.

The mottled, weathered marks on the wall come into view.

"This is..."

The expressions of the group change to varying degrees.

There are no stains, no graffiti, and no blank spaces.

Dense, overlapping Blade Marks, some deep and some shallow, cover the wall completely.

It is a scene of utter devastation.

They are not chaotic; looking closely, they follow an inexplicable trajectory that makes one think of the scene just witnessed through the black box [Fragment Echo].

--That Holy Light Slash, condensed to a single point and exploding in an instant.

And between these intersecting Blade Marks, there are dried, unidentifiable bloodstains that have seeped into the wall, dotting it like Stars, connecting into patch after patch.

Furthermore, there are traces of charring and corrosion of unknown origin.

...Everywhere is riddled with pits and holes; the Dormitory is in such a state of disarray that it is simply an eyesore.

--Yet, for some reason, no one can speak.

There is only a deathly silence.

In a trance, they see countless resolute slashes, thrusts, and parries on the wall.

Vaguely, they see a figure who, every late night, practiced, struggled, burned, and tempered (himself) here.

The psychological profiler examines these marks, muttering to (himself) in a low voice, expression becoming increasingly solemn as beads of sweat appear on forehead.

"At the beginning, was likely not as strong as is now."

To see these marks more clearly, the Major slowly removes sunglasses, already cold expression turning even more frigid.

"Perhaps, grew up right under our noses."

"--Could it be that no one heard any unusual sounds?"

Faced with the Major's interrogation, the officers turned their gazes in unison toward the dormitory warden.

"Th-this, this..." The warden trembled uncontrollably.

One of the officers waved his hand.

Immediately, two soldiers stepped forward and dragged the warden away.

"Interesting."

Tracing the carvings on the wall, the Major slowly narrowed his eyes.

Then, under the silent, terrified gaze of everyone present, the Major slowly turned around.

"Bai Zhou, spy for the Blood Worship Cult, gathered intelligence, assisted in the Blood Worship Cult's invasion, murdered a cadre of the Special Management Department, incited a Black Box riot, and absconded with a Black Box. His crimes are heinous, and he is extremely dangerous!"

"In the name of the Special Black Box Control Agency, issue a wanted poster, place Tinghai under martial law, and hunt down Bai Zhou!"

"In my personal name, contact our brothers in the official departments; I hope they can assist in keeping an eye out for any intelligence on this individual."

"In the name of Zijing Company, issue a heavy bounty on the black market—dead or alive."

"Furthermore, in the name of the authorities, order the Public Security Officer department to assist in the search. Once found, do not alert him; report it immediately!"

After issuing a series of orders, the Major finally looked at the stern-faced officers.

At this moment, his expression was exceptionally calm, but he spoke each word with deliberate weight, as if every syllable carried a thousand pounds of force:

"Five days."

"I am giving you five days to find him."

"--And then, kill him."

His voice was indifferent.

"If you cannot do it, I will take action myself."

"And that would mean..."

"I will have no further need for any of you."

The faces of the officers turned deathly pale in an instant.

"--Yes!"

And so, Branch 36 of the Special Management Department stirred many official departments into action late that night.

The entire city of Tinghai was set in motion.

All for a youth who had turned eighteen only a few days prior.