Hidden Spirit

Since last month, there have been frequent disappearances.

But he never imagined it would happen to someone close to him.

Chen Zilu nodded and sighed, "The police are doing their best to search, but... almost none of the people who have gone missing recently have been found."

Beside her, Li Zhichao frowned, "Could it be that Ancheng is experiencing a Shadow Calamity?"

Chen Zilu shook her head, "If it were a Shadow Calamity, the Shadow Hunter Bureau would have noticed immediately. These disappearances are very likely man-made."

"Man-made?" Jiang Ye was a little surprised.

If it was man-made, why hadn't the police solved it by now?

Chen Zilu asked, "Have you heard of the Hidden Spirit Organization?"

Both Jiang Ye and Li Zhichao shook their heads.

Chen Zilu explained, "The Hidden Spirit Organization is a force formed by a group of rats who worship the Shadow Clan. This force is complex and vast, almost infiltrating the major city networks of the Federation."

"Worship the Shadow Clan?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ye and Li Zhichao were both a little stunned.

There were actually people who worshipped that thing?

"How could anyone worship such a thing?" Jiang Ye couldn't help but ask.

"Naturally, it's because there are benefits."

Chen Zilu shook her head, "Members of the Hidden Spirit Organization can gain some of the Shadow Clan's abilities, and even gain extremely powerful strength in a short period of time."

"There will always be some people who take risks for this kind of power."

She sighed lightly, "These people's whereabouts are mysterious, and they have a strong ability to infect, turning normal people into their own members."

"Hundreds of thousands of disappearances each year are related to this organization."

"Hundreds of thousands of disappearances every year." Jiang Ye held his breath.

This number also indicated that the Hidden Spirit Organization was an extremely massive force.

If all these people were assimilated into their ranks.

After so many years, how many members had this organization accumulated? It was unimaginable.

Jiang Ye couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, can Xia Qing be saved?"

"Difficult."

Chen Zilu shook her head and didn't elaborate on the matter.

Her own student had gone missing, and she was also feeling uneasy.

"In any case, you must be careful. The habits of the Hidden Spirit Organization are similar to the Shadow Clan; they like to be active at night."

Chen Zilu reminded them, "So, be sure not to go to secluded places, avoid going out at night, and don't talk to strangers if they approach you."

"Yes."

Jiang Ye and Li Zhichao responded in low voices.

"Alright, you should go back early. It's getting late," Chen Zilu waved her hand.

Li Zhichao nodded and turned to leave first. He was also a little scared, and his face looked very grim.

Jiang Ye didn't rush to leave.

"What's wrong?" Chen Zilu looked at him.

Jiang Ye took out the bag of prize money and said, "Teacher, the 30,000 yuan you lent me last time, I'll return it to you now."

Chen Zilu was stunned for a moment.

Then, her pretty face turned serious.

"What do you take your teacher for? Do I look like someone who lacks this little money?"

Chen Zilu pushed the money bag back, "I said, you can return it after you graduate."

"Teacher..." Jiang Ye wanted to say more.

Chen Zilu stuffed the money bag back into his hand and glared at him with her beautiful eyes, "Stop talking nonsense, am I still your teacher?"

Jiang Ye finally took it back.

He had actually guessed that she wouldn't accept it.

However, just as his father, Jiang Dahai, had said.

Whether she accepted it or not was a separate matter from whether he expressed his intention.

Expressing it in advance was also a kind of attitude.

Although Chen Zilu's pretty face was stern, there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Jiang Ye's actions made her admire this young man even more.

She didn't continue on this topic and instead said, "Once your cultivation method is perfected, the school will arrange a free Starry Sky Refinement."

"This is a rare opportunity," Chen Zilu said. "So, break through as soon as possible."

"Okay," Jiang Ye nodded.

He was secretly delighted. A free Starry Sky Refinement? It truly was rare.

As far as he knew, before breaking through the first stage, each Starry Sky Refinement cost tens of thousands of yuan.

That was a huge expense.

Speaking of which, he thought of something and immediately asked, "Is there a time limit for the Starry Sky Refinement arranged by the school?"

"Time limit? No."

Chen Zilu shook her head. "It lasts as long as you can endure it."

"However, you experienced the difficulty of Starry Sky Refinement today. The Thunder Fire Trial is a weakened version of Starry Sky Refinement. As for the real Starry Sky Refinement? Imagine it yourself," Chen Zilu said with a smile, looking at him.

Jiang Ye couldn't help but be stunned.

The Thunder Fire Trial was already that agonizing, and it was just a weakened version?

I must train my Martial Will more when I get back.

Jiang Ye clenched his fists secretly.

"Go back and cultivate well," Chen Zilu chuckled. "The assessment at the beginning of the third year of high school is very important. If you can get into the top hundred in your grade, there's a bonus."

Jiang Ye's eyes lit up slightly.

"Teacher, I'm heading back then." He waved to the young woman. Time was precious, and he needed to seize every moment to improve himself.

"Mm, go ahead."

Chen Zilu waved, watching Jiang Ye leave.

She propped up her fair, pointed chin, a hint of anticipation appearing in her eyes. "Starry Sky Refinement?"

Chen Zilu had suffered from a rare illness since childhood, causing her unbearable pain whenever she cultivated.

Despite this flaw, she had astonished everyone during a Starry Sky Refinement.

How far could Jiang Ye endure? She was somewhat expectant.

After leaving school, Jiang Ye walked on the road, unable to help but recall the 'Hidden Spirit Organization' Chen Zilu had mentioned.

His mood grew heavy.

Originally, Jiang Ye should have been overjoyed to get second place in this trial.

But Xia Qing's disappearance had completely swept away his joy.

Although he didn't have any special feelings for this girl, she had brought him water multiple times, so they were considered to have a close relationship.

Now, with her simply vanishing, Jiang Ye felt quite uneasy.

According to his teacher, Xia Qing might be difficult to find again.

If she reappeared, she might have already been assimilated into the Hidden Spirit Organization.

Get stronger. Jiang Ye felt powerless to change the situation. Only by constantly strengthening himself was there a solution.

He quickened his pace, returning home before mealtime.

Taoyang Residential Area, Building 12, Unit 606.

Jiang Ye broke the good news to his parents and handed the 30,000 yuan to Jiang Dahai to buy Martial Arts ingredients.

"You got another 30,000 yuan bonus?"

When Jiang Dahai and his wife heard this, they were both shocked.

It took them more than half a year of work to earn that much money.

But Jiang Ye?

He had earned 30,000 yuan twice in just two months?

When did money become so easy to earn?

"Xiao Ye is amazing." Li Anping's eyes were filled with doting affection.

She knew that Jiang Ye must have put in a lot of unimaginable effort to achieve this.

After all, she often saw Jiang Ye cultivating diligently at one or two in the morning.

"Xiao Ye, don't put too much pressure on yourself. You're already doing very well," Jiang Dahai said.

The couple had always fully supported Jiang Ye's pursuit of Martial Arts.

Now that he was finally achieving something, they were very pleased.

But they also worried that Jiang Ye might be too hasty and develop underlying health problems.

Jiang Ye smiled. "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I know my limits."

He added, "By the way, Dad, are you still working the night shift recently? I heard there have been quite a few disappearances in the city."

"Disappearances?" Jiang Dahai frowned.

Jiang Ye elaborated on the Hidden Spirit Organization that Chen Zilu had mentioned.

"The Hidden Spirit Organization?"

Jiang Dahai's expression tightened. He nodded, "At the Shadow Hunter Bureau, I've heard quite a few people talking about it. It seems this matter is indeed quite significant."

Jiang Ye said with some worry, "Dad, if you're on the night shift, be careful."

"Mm." This concerned his life, so Jiang Dahai didn't take it lightly. He nodded, "Don't worry, I'll stay in the security room during the night shift and won't go anywhere."

Then, he looked at Jiang Ting, who was sitting beside them.

"Tingting, you'll stay at home from now on and don't go anywhere," Jiang Dahai said sternly.

Compared to Jiang Ye, he was more worried about this girl.

If she encountered danger, she would have no ability to protect herself.

Jiang Ting quickly said, "I'll stay by my brother's side and won't go anywhere."

As she spoke, she shifted her body, sat next to Jiang Ye, and hugged his arm.

Seeing the little girl affectionately clinging to him, Jiang Ye chuckled and shook his head.

However, the moment he subconsciously opened his status panel, he was suddenly stunned.