Number Zero had once been a designation used by the Saviors, but Xuan Wen had no fond memories of it.
"Ghosts were far too powerful, and the living lacked any means of keeping them in check. Under Number Zero's leadership, Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals raced down another path. They no longer treated Hanhai as the seed of New World, but turned it into a prison, conducting all kinds of inhumane experiments inside it solely to obtain eternal life and the power of the Ghost God."
"That was also when the Vast Sea Project began to change. Instead of building New World, its goal became seizing absolute control of Hanhai, this Blood City."
"Everything Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals did concerning Hanhai served that goal. Living flesh could not withstand the black fog in the world beyond the door, so they used an Unspeakable's shrine to send people's consciousnesses inside. Stable passages were difficult to establish, so they secretly offered sacrifices to the Yin Spirits of other Blood Cities, seeking their help."
"You can't even imagine the insane things Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals did to achieve their goal."
"After repeated attempts and exploration, they selected ten Candidates from among their many test subjects. All ten met the conditions for becoming the Blood City Lord. Their minds and wills had been ravaged by nightmares, yet they could still remain rational."
"Under the pretext of treating brain disorders, Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals prepared to send the ten Candidates into Hanhai, right here in this private hospital. But many unexpected things happened that night. Three more Candidates were added, and you were one of them."
Xuan Wen quietly watched Gao Ming, helping him recall what had happened. "The school bus you were on crashed in the tunnel. You pushed yourself beyond your limits to save the children, spending your