Crosswater Town in Turmoil

In the dim Secret Chamber, faint Firelight illuminated Number One's gaunt face.

His eyes were hollow, as though something had drained all life from within him.

Black Crow stepped out of the shadows, and the two Qi Condensation guardians moved aside.

Black Crow walked up to Number One and, looking at his neither-human-nor-ghost appearance, gave a sinister laugh. "How does it feel? The sensation of wanting to die but being unable to—doesn't feel good, does it?"

Black Crow reached out and patted his cheek. "It'll get even worse in a moment."

He straightened up and waved at the two guardians beside him. "Take them off."

The shackles suppressing Number One's True Essence fell to the ground with a muffled clang.

Number One's body suddenly shuddered. Dark-red True Essence surged from within him and spread along the surface of his skin.

The scene looked as though countless tiny blood snakes were slithering over his body.

His breathing abruptly grew heavier. The hollowness in his eyes was covered by a layer of dark-red light, and a pain that struck both soul and flesh surged through him in an instant.

Number One rolled back and forth across the ground.

Black Crow watched the scene with satisfaction. "Savor this pain. You'll soon be unable to feel anything at all."

"Take him away!"

Crosswater Town.

The sunlight was still sealed away completely, and the sky was as dark as dusk.

Far fewer pedestrians walked the streets than usual. The air was oppressive, and the weather carried the unease of a storm about to break.

Ye An and Lin Wanyue passed the soy-sauce-flavored noodle stall again. Lin Wanyue waved to the stall owner. "Boss, two bowls of noodles."

Not long after the two bowls of noodles were served, Ahe dutifully brought over a plate of side