Civilian Investigation Team

The headless corpse of the White Zombie lay slumped in the corner of the room, blood trickling out, and the air filled with a mixed scent of burning and stench.

Fang Gang flicked the cold, dirty blood from his hands. His dark gold skin shimmered with a metallic luster under the stark white lights of the morgue.

53 evolution points lay quietly on the system panel.

[Host: Fang Gang]
[Realm: Tendon Transformation Realm (Early)]
[Strength: 8000 (Mighty Elephant Upholding Heaven)]
[Physique: 1200 (Indestructible Golden Body)]
[Agility: 650 (Chasing Stars and Pursuing Moons)]
[Skills: True Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill (Mastered), True Vajra Indestructible Body (Mastered), True Nine Yang Divine Skill (Novice 0/100)]
[Available Evolution Points: 53!]

"Enhance," Fang Gang willed, locking his intention onto the realm selection. The 53 evolution points instantly vanished!

A torrent of power, purer than that of breaking through to the early Tendon Transformation Realm, surged through his entire body!

The newly formed sinews and fascia, nourished by the mid-stage Tendon Transformation Realm's power, felt like billions of alloy strings being reforged, becoming even tougher and more explosive!

Strength! It was like a slumbering behemoth awakening, roaring as it shattered limits, directly reaching 10,000 points! Physique! The Indestructible Golden Body deepened further, its dark gold luster becoming more contained, pushing defense and vitality to new heights! Agility!

Tendon Transformation Realm (Mid-Stage)! The body's potential was further unleashed!

Fang Gang clenched his fists, and the air was squeezed into dull explosions in his palms!

He clearly felt the surging torrent of power within him, more vigorous and immense than before!

The deep black Grudge Pupil brand on his left arm seemed to have partially healed under the suppression of his mid-stage blood and qi, but the icy chill emanating from the cracks had become more solid.

"The flute..." Fang Gang's eyes turned cold. The source of the flute melody that controlled the White Zombie's desperate attack just moments ago was on the ground of the crematorium!

He hefted the Bronze Battle Halberd, turned, and walked towards the outside of the morgue. This time, he was determined to root out that rat!

As soon as he stepped out of the damaged doorway of the morgue, a crisp, cold female voice suddenly came from the dark corridor ahead, carrying a tone of scrutiny:

"Halt."

Fang Gang's footsteps paused, his icy gaze piercing like a blade.

At the end of the corridor, at the boundary between shadow and stark white light, stood a woman.

She was tall and slender, wearing a sharply tailored black trench coat that accentuated her upright posture.

Her hair was like ink, tied back with a simple wooden hairpin, revealing a smooth forehead and a pair of eyes as clear and cold as a deep, still pool.

Her face was beautiful, but conveyed a sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance.

What drew the most attention were her hands. Her fingers were long and slender, her nails trimmed clean and neat, yet the pads of her fingers and the base of her thumb bore distinct, thin calluses – clear traces left from habitually gripping something.

She radiated no powerful energy fluctuations, yet possessed a serene, deep-as-an-abyss aura that was completely out of place in this eerie environment.

"Someone from the Special Affairs Bureau?" Fang Gang asked, his voice flat, tinged with the impatience of being disturbed. The Bronze Battle Halberd on his shoulder vibrated slightly, its killing intent contained.

"Ling Shuang." The woman stated her name, her voice still crisp and cold. Her gaze swept over Fang Gang's dark gold bald head, the ancient halberd on his shoulder, and the imposing, mountain-like aura surrounding him that hinted at explosive power, finally resting on his unharmed body.

"Civilian Investigation Division."

"Not interested." Fang Gang moved his feet again, his target clear – upstairs, to find the source of the flute sound!

"The external surveillance around the crematorium was interfered with."

Ling Shuang remained stationary, her voice clearly reaching Fang Gang's ears. "Three minutes before you made your move, the ground-level electrical room experienced a short circuit. The backup power activated, and the surveillance footage went black. The controller was very cautious and left no trace."

Fang Gang's footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly, but he didn't stop.

"The bone claws of that White Zombie," Ling Shuang's gaze seemed to penetrate the walls, seeing the scene inside the morgue, "the tips of the claws were greenish, possessing the 'Yin Erosion' characteristic. It's a common refining technique used by the 'Blood Sacrifice Priest' lineage of the Nightmare Holy Cult."

Nightmare Holy Cult! Blood Sacrifice Priest!

Fang Gang stopped abruptly and turned around! A chilling killing intent, like a tangible cold current, instantly locked onto Ling Shuang! The killing intent on the Bronze Battle Halberd subtly surfaced!

"You know?!" His voice had a metallic grinding quality.

Facing this terrifying killing intent, which could suffocate ordinary cultivators, Ling Shuang's eyes remained completely unfazed. Her cool gaze met Fang Gang's: "I know a little. Blood Sacrifice Priests are skilled at controlling Corpse Puppets, sacrificing the vital essence and resentful souls of living beings to enhance the ferocity of zombies. The Yin Erosion on those bone claws is a characteristic of their refinement, specifically designed to break through protective qi and the defense of magical artifacts."

Her words confirmed Fang Gang's earlier feelings. The sinister aura of those bone claws was indeed extraordinary.

"Where are they?" Fang Gang pressed, his killing intent intensifying.

This Holy Cult, and the brand on his arm, both made him extremely uncomfortable.

"Their whereabouts are elusive."

Ling Shuang shook her head slightly. "But since they've targeted this place, they won't give up easily. You've disrupted their plans, and they will definitely come for you."

"I wish they would." Fang Gang sneered, a fierce glint in his eyes. Come for him? That would save him the trouble of looking for them!

"You are very special."

Ling Shuang's gaze swept over Fang Gang's dark gold skin again, her tone carrying a hint of inquiry. "Pure physical strength, able to withstand the Yin Erosion bone claws without damage... The Indestructible Golden Body? No, it seems even more domineering."

Fang Gang didn't reply; he had no interest in exposing his abilities.

Ling Shuang didn't seem to mind his silence, her tone shifting. "The Nightmare Holy Cult is ruthless and vengeful. You're strong, but alone, you're bound to slip up."

"What are you trying to say?" Fang Gang was getting impatient. this woman was beating around the bush.

Ling Shuang didn't answer directly. Instead, she took out a palm-sized, oilcloth-wrapped square from her inner coat pocket. She tossed it casually to Fang Gang.

Fang Gang caught it steadily with one hand. It felt heavy. Through the oilcloth, he could tell it was some kind of leather-bound or hard-covered booklet.

A faint scent, a mixture of dust and cheap cinnabar, drifted up.

"A small gift," Ling Shuang said calmly. "Perhaps useful to you."

Fang Gang tore open a corner of the oilcloth, revealing the cover of the booklet.

The cover was made of faded yellow cardboard, with no fancy decorations. Only a few large, crooked characters written in thick ink:

Vajra Indestructible Divine Art

Below it was a smaller line of text: Incomplete (Note: Not orthodox Shaolin, practice with caution!).

A smell, stronger than that of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, a mix of mildew and charlatanism, wafted towards him.

Pirated copies! Another pirated copy! And it was marked as incomplete!

Fang Gang's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He had extremely complicated feelings about the word "pirated" right now.

"This thing," Ling Shuang's voice sounded at the opportune moment, with a hint of undisguised mockery. "I 'bought' it from an old swindler who called himself the 'Shaolin Sweeping Monk.' Cost me two hundred yuan. He swore it was authentic and that practicing it would make you impervious to blades and spears. I saw you... you seem pretty tough?"

Fang Gang looked up at Ling Shuang. In her clear, cool eyes, there seemed to be a faint trace of amusement, as if she were watching a good show.

"Thanks," Fang Gang said, tucking the oilcloth-wrapped booklet casually into his coat pocket, his tone unreadable. Impervious to blades and spears? He had the system; he could actually become impervious! This incomplete copy came at the perfect time!

"You're welcome," Ling Shuang nodded slightly. "Consider it... building good karma. I'll keep an eye out for the Nightmare Holy Cult for you. I'll notify you if I get any news."

With that, she didn't linger. She turned and walked into the shadows of the corridor, her figure melting into the darkness like ink in water. With a few blurs, she disappeared, as if she had never been there.

"Civilian Investigation Unit... Ling Shuang..." Fang Gang murmured the name softly.

This woman was not simple.

Mysterious, powerful, and... did she have some ulterior motive regarding him? However, as long as the information she provided was useful, he didn't mind being used.

He wasted no more time, hoisted his halberd, and strode up the stairs leading to the ground floor! His speed was even faster than when he had arrived!

Bursting out of the main door of the crematorium, the cold night wind hit him. Fang Gang's sharp gaze swept like a searchlight across the empty parking lot and the surrounding wasteland.

No one.

In the air, only a residual, extremely faint, chilling aura remained, left by the flute! But the source had vanished without a trace.

Fang Gang walked to the edge of the crematorium wall, the direction where the flute's sound had been strongest last. He squatted down, his fingers brushing over the cold ground.

His fingertips came away with a tiny drop of dark red liquid, not yet fully solidified.

It wasn't blood.

It carried a sticky, nauseatingly sweet and fishy odor, along with a trace of residual mental pollution.

Next to the liquid was a black fragment, about the size of a fingernail, neither fabric nor skin. It looked like it had been torn from clothing, with scorched edges.

"Injured?" Fang Gang's eyes grew colder as he looked at the drop of dark red liquid on his fingertip.

Good, the next time we meet, it will be your death day! He carefully collected the fragment.

[Ding! Detected an unknown tissue fragment containing residual special Yin energy! Do you want to spend 1 Evolution Point for preliminary analysis?]

"Analyze!" Fang Gang said without hesitation.

[Evolution Point -1!]

[Analyzing...]

[Conclusion: The tissue fragment contains mixed energy characteristics of "Blood Grudge" and "Soul Control," highly consistent with the power profile of the Nightmare Holy Cult's "Blood Sacrifice Priest" (73.8%). The material is a blend of "Ghost Spider Silk," originating from the depths of the Southern Border Black Mire Swamp, commonly used in priestly robes.]

Blood Sacrifice Priest! Southern Border Black Mire Swamp!

Fang Gang committed these two key pieces of information to memory. The Grudge Pupil brand on his arm seemed to throb slightly as this information was confirmed.

He didn't linger any longer, carrying his halberd, and strode away from this desolate place.

Back at the apartment building, Old Zhao poked his head out again, holding another package.

"Little Fang! Another one for you! Quite a few deliveries today, huh?" Old Zhao's voice was a little shaky as he looked at the ancient halberd on Fang Gang's shoulder, its killing intent contained.

Fang Gang took the package, glanced at the sender information, which was still the familiar blank. He tore open the seal, and a thin booklet slid out.

Cover: Two Forms Push Hand (Ancient Manual True Transmission)

A small line of text next to it: Includes Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds practical combat tutorial (CD version)!

Fang Gang expressionlessly put the booklet away and carried his halberd upstairs.

Closing the door, he leaned the Bronze Battle Halberd against the wall, then took out Ling Shuang's oilcloth-wrapped package and the newly arrived Two Forms Push Hand. The two pirated martial arts manuals, exuding a cheap aura, lay side-by-side on the hardboard bed.

"System, scan the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art (Incomplete)!"

[Ding! Detected low-quality paper carrier (worm-eaten), key content missing (approx. 40%) and multiple fabricated sections…]

[Energy Reaction: Weak (negligible)]

[Threat Level: None]

[Spend 1 Evolution Point to convert this into the introductory basic technique "True Vajra Indestructible Divine Art" (Complete Remnant Edition)?]

"Convert!"

[Evolution Point -1!]

[Converting... Completing core defense circulation path... Correcting qi flow nodes... Supplementing missing body tempering methods...]

[Conversion complete! Acquired basic technique: "True Vajra Indestructible Divine Art" (Complete Remnant Edition) (Introductory 0/100)!]

A fragmented method for more deeply tempering the skin, membranes, tendons, and bones, and strengthening defense, flooded Fang Gang's mind. Though incomplete, it was more refined and had a clearer direction than the previous solo "Vajra Indestructible Body"!

A sharp glint flashed in Fang Gang's eyes. Defense! This was exactly what he needed!

Combined with his existing perfected Vajra Body, his defense would become even more monstrous! Without hesitation, he immediately began circulating his qi and blood according to this new method.

At the same time, he picked up the "Two Forms Push Hand":

"System, scan."

[Ding! Detected low-quality carrier...]

[Spend 1 Evolution Point to convert this into "True Two Forms Push Hand" (Introductory)?]

"Convert!"

[Evolution Point -1!]

[Conversion complete!]

A basic method of guiding, deflecting force, and using the opponent's strength against them flooded into his mind.

Fang Gang felt the qi and blood circulating within him along the new path, continuously strengthening his skin, membranes, tendons, and bones. He then experienced the newly born soft-force techniques in his mind, finally touching his cold, hard, and seemingly darker bald head, which pulsed with the circulation of the Vajra skill.

He looked out at the deep night outside the window, flames burning in his eyes.

His defense was stronger.

His offensive methods had also increased.

Nightmare Holy Cult?

Blood Sacrifice Priest?

Bring it on!

Let's see whose ritualistic evil arts are more formidable, or if my constantly evolving bones and this bald head... are harder!

His phone screen lit up with new logistics information:

"Your purchased 'Dugu Nine Swords (Illustrated Explanation Edition)' has been shipped..."