Open and Hidden

[Appraisal successful]

[Nightingale Lantern: When carried, conceals the holder's aura, scent, and information. Infuse it with Nether Mist to evolve it into a Ghost Lantern. → Read more]

In the restroom, Zhang Ping used Appraisal on the green-glowing lantern. As he saw its properties, he also saw the method for making the hidden lantern.

The lantern was made from the bones of Corpse-Eating Hounds, while the flame inside came from a Mutated Beast known as the Carrion Nightingale.

When a Carrion Nightingale reached adulthood, a special organ formed in its chest to contain ghostfire. This ghostfire required corpse oil as fuel and could evade the detection of predators.

Generally, the more corpses there were in a place, the more Carrion Nightingales there would be.

After reading through the crafting process, Zhang Ping's expression improved slightly.

He had already prepared himself to see some cruel scenes during the appraisal.

Fortunately, this time he had seen the process of handling a Mutated Beast. Following the steps in the vision, he felt that he could make a Nightingale Lantern himself.

"Infusing it with Nether Mist can evolve it?"

Zhang Ping thought for a moment, then infused the Nightingale Lantern with Nether Mist.

He discovered that the Nether Mist and the ghostfire within the lantern underwent some strange chemical reaction. The Nether Mist became new fuel, while the green flame swiftly turned gray.

The entire restroom suddenly lost its color, like an old black-and-white film.

Had it evolved?

Zhang Ping hurriedly used Appraisal Technique on the lantern.

[Appraisal successful]

[Ghost Lantern: While the owner remains within the range of its light, their existence is obscured, blocking most detection and Appraisal abilities. Effective against those below King level.]

What a good thing!

In other words, as long as he carried the Ghost Lantern, even Situ Shibai would not be able to appraise his attributes. And obscuring his existence meant invisibility. This was a more advanced form of invisibility than the Assassination Ring or Nether Mist Nightwalker.

Moreover, the three abilities did not conflict. With them stacked together, if he traveled outside at night, even Prince Yue might not necessarily notice him.

However, the Ghost Lantern's fuel had changed from corpse oil to Nether Mist. That also meant his Nether Mist had gained another major drain.

"If only I could open a haunted house."

Zhang Ping carefully sensed the Ghost Lantern's consumption of Nether Mist before letting out a long sigh.

The Ghost Lantern's consumption was not especially high. The problem was that he had accumulated too little Nether Mist. Last night, the masked man had drawn down lightning, and Zhang Ping had used up some Nether Mist to withstand the impact. Although he later absorbed some back from the red-haired man, it still felt insufficient.

After calculating how long a cluster of Nether Mist could burn, he placed the Ghost Lantern into the Golden Treasury, then took out the copper ring.

He first washed the blood off the copper ring with water before using Appraisal Technique on it.

[Appraisal failed]

[Appraisal failed +1]

[Appraisal failed +10]

[Appraisal failed +100]

[Appraisal successful]

[Crown of Sin: The wearer sinks into sin and becomes immune to spiritual abilities such as purity and purification.]

The next moment, Zhang Ping saw little girls being forced to drink green liquid before dying in agony. An elderly man whose face was covered in sores dismembered them with cruel methods...

Zhang Ping could not bear to watch any longer. He clenched his teeth, wishing he could rush into the vision and kill the old man on the spot, tearing him into pieces.

But the vision continued...

Once it ended, Zhang Ping's gaze dimmed as he stared at the copper ring for a long time.

In his previous life, he had always saved people. Even at the moment of his death, he had never regretted that choice. The people he wanted to save in this life could no longer be saved, but there were still many things he could do.

"Beast taming... the Zhu family, the Heavenly Fox..."

Zhang Ping muttered to himself, then put the copper ring into the Golden Treasury and took out another ring.

This ring had come from the man with telekinesis.

Zhang Ping prepared himself and used Appraisal Technique once more.

[Appraisal successful]

[Strong Will Ring: The wearer's spiritual power will be amplified. Novice Awakened: 50% increase. Intermediate Awakened: 35% increase. High-Level Awakened: 25% increase. Top-Tier Awakened: 10% increase.]

Then, the vision slowly unfolded.

In a large plaza, countless people in black used items to inject their spiritual power into a young girl. Veins bulged all over her body as she let out agonized screams.

Yet no one cared about her pain. They continued transferring spiritual power into her.

Blood flowed from the girl's seven orifices. Just as she was about to die, a longsword pierced her brow. The gem embedded in the sword immediately shone with precious light, and the girl's extremely unstable spirit body was sucked directly into the gem.

"Was that a soul?"

Zhang Ping looked terrible after watching it, but what concerned him even more was the spirit body he had seen at the end.

If souls truly existed in this world, then could all those who had died already have been reincarnated?

"If reincarnation really exists... that would be wonderful."

With mixed feelings, Zhang Ping glanced at the gem on the Strong Will Ring. A tragic soul was sealed within that gem, but he had no idea how to release her.

He put away the ring, thinking that perhaps he could ask Situ Shibai the next time he saw him.

"Zhang Ping, are you taking a dump? Why are you taking so long?" Qiu Qiang's voice came from outside the restroom.

Zhang Ping quickly answered, "Wait a moment, I'm almost done."

As he spoke, he got up and opened the door.

Cleanup Team Headquarters, conference room.

Situ Shibai glanced at the dispirited Jin Bo and said lightly, "Sisi will temporarily serve as the Combat Team leader. Once your injuries heal, you will honestly work as an ordinary combatant for a while. This year's annual salary will be cut in half, and all benefits will be reduced by fifty percent. Any objections?"

"No," Jin Bo replied miserably.

His own injuries were nothing, but he had caused two team members to die in battle. He could not escape the blame.

In fact, that was what pained him the most.

"Captain, I'm afraid I don't have the ability to serve as the Combat Team leader." Liu Sishan, seated to Jin Bo's left, spoke at that moment.

Situ Shibai smiled. "Sisi, you have always been steady and reliable. Mingzhu City is in turmoil right now. Only with you as the Combat Team leader can I rest easy."

"Alright, let's discuss last night's situation. Sisi, you were involved, so tell us what happened first." Without giving Liu Sishan a chance to refuse, he abruptly changed the subject.

Liu Sishan knew Situ Shibai had already made up his mind, so she did not refuse the position of Combat Team leader again. After steadying herself, she said, "At the beginning, Zhang Ping contacted me outside the city. He had discovered someone acting suspiciously near Chen Xueli's residence. So I contacted Manny, but Manny and the others had not detected anyone. That was when I realized this matter was not simple."

"It truly wasn't simple. They clearly had items specifically designed to counter our Barrier Team. That means someone in the Cleanup Team..." Chen Ming said.

Situ Shibai smiled. "Not necessarily a traitor. The Illusory Light Curtain is not perfect."

Every ability had methods to counter it. No ability was absolutely invincible. No matter how powerful the Illusory Light Curtain was, it ultimately had flaws.

Liu Sishan continued. In truth, she did not possess much information either. When she reached the part where Manny sent her into the Black Chamber, she stopped and said, "That is all I know."

"What relation was the girl who was abducted to Chen Xueli?" Chen Ming asked with a frown after hearing her out.

"Judging by her age, she should have been his granddaughter," Liu Sishan answered.

"Huang An."

Situ Shibai looked toward the inconspicuous man beside Chen Ming.

The man was neither fat nor thin. He had an ordinary hairstyle, a square face, and well-proportioned features. There was nothing remarkable about him. As long as he remained silent, his presence was extremely faint, and people easily overlooked him.

Only then did Chen Ming remember Huang An. He looked at him and asked, "Huang An, does Chen Xueli have a granddaughter?"

"He has one granddaughter, but her origins are rather strange. According to our investigation, Chen Xueli's son, Chen Haowen, had no wife. Not only did he have no intention of inheriting Vast Sea Academy, he was instead deeply devoted to being an adventurer. About fourteen years ago, Chen Haowen brought an infant back from outside the city and claimed she was his daughter. Two years later, he died, and Chen Xueli raised the baby from then on," Huang An said unhurriedly.

Chen Ming frowned. "In other words, the baby's origins may have been questionable. She may not have been of the Chen family's bloodline."

"The question is, why did those people abduct her?" Manny asked with a yawn, puzzled.

"Zhang Ping should know more. I'll go find him tonight," Liu Sishan said calmly.

"No. Mingzhu City is extremely dangerous right now. If you enter the city rashly and the Heavenly Fox notices you, no one but the captain will be able to save you," Chen Ming objected.

Situ Shibai smiled. "Although last night did not go perfectly, Zhang Ping's contribution cannot be ignored. How about this, Sisi? Go to the equipment room and choose two pieces of equipment. One for yourself, and the other as a reward for Zhang Ping."

"Understood."

Liu Sishan immediately understood what Situ Shibai meant.

Clearly, Situ Shibai supported her going to find Zhang Ping tonight.

Chen Ming looked at Situ Shibai and was just about to persuade him otherwise when Situ Shibai smiled. "This time, I will personally cover Sisi."

Alright.

With things put that way, Chen Ming had nothing more to say.

Although they all knew Zhang Ping possessed a badge they could use to contact him, no one mentioned contacting him through it. Mainly because they did not know what state Zhang Ping was currently in, or whether it was convenient to contact him.

If Zhang Ping was occupied, contacting him at the wrong time might instead place him in danger.

City Lord's Manor.

Zhu Zeming emerged from the study and casually walked through the corridor. He happened to see a Heavenly Fox eating a person not far away.

He walked over, patted it, and smiled. "Eating?"

"Huang Zeming, what do you want?" The Heavenly Fox spat out a finger bone and asked hoarsely.

Zhu Zeming smiled. "There is someone I hate very much. Could I trouble you to eat him for me?"

"It is dangerous outside right now. His Highness said we are not allowed to leave," the Heavenly Fox said.

Zhu Zeming chuckled. "His Highness is monitoring the entire city right now. How dangerous could it be for you to act beneath his very eyes?"

"That makes sense. Helping you isn't impossible, but what do I get out of it?" The Heavenly Fox's eyes shifted as it began to haggle.

Zhu Zeming took out a tooth. "Have you had a good look?"

"Fine. I'll act tonight!"

The Heavenly Fox reached out, grabbed the tooth from Zhu Zeming's hand, and immediately agreed.

It was a crescent wolf fang. It was useless to humans, but it could enhance a Mutated Beast's "presence."

A Mutated Beast's presence was equivalent to a human's bearing.

Humans could strengthen their bearing by encouraging themselves and reinforcing their convictions. But Mutated Beasts were animals after all. Once they sensed that an opponent was stronger than them, their presence would weaken. They might even lose their courage and flee with their tails between their legs.

Just like how an ordinary Heavenly Fox would instinctively flatten its ears and lower its tail before Prince Yue, not even daring to meet his gaze.

Therefore, aside from fighting and eating meat to raise their levels, Mutated Beasts also needed to increase their presence through various means.

This crescent wolf fang was already enough to make this Heavenly Fox risk everything.