Zhao Ming sat before the floor-to-ceiling window, turning through the document page by page. Zhao Cheng stood behind him, not daring to breathe too loudly. With each rustle of paper, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
The earlier information was mostly consistent with what he had already learned, until he reached a recent intelligence report and stopped.
The report stated: at the Demon Suppression Bureau's invitation, Lin Jin had participated in a mission to explore a thousand-year-old tomb deep in the Cangnan Mountains.
Mission summary: Lin Jin had slain a peak SS-Rank Corpse Drought in direct combat. An early-stage SS-Rank Flying Jiangshi had also fallen that same day.
Note: the Demon Suppression Bureau assessed Lin Jin's strength as peak Transcendent Level, with the potential to rank fourth on the Heavenly Rankings.
Zhao Ming closed the document and tapped its cover twice.
"Fourth on the Heavenly Rankings." His voice was calm as he turned toward the corner and asked, "Zhao Lie, have you ever fought a peak SS-Rank Eerie?"
Seated on the sofa in the corner, Zhao Lie slowly opened his eyes. A trace of gravity appeared in his deep-set gaze.
"Young master, a peak SS-Rank Eerie is equivalent to a human expert at peak Transcendent Level. Experts of that caliber are almost all on the Heavenly Rankings. If I faced a peak SS-Rank Eerie, I wouldn't have the slightest chance of surviving."
Zhao Ming tapped his fingers. "Then what realm were you at when you were his age?"
Zhao Lie fell silent for several seconds. "Early Domain Realm. I was already among the best of the younger generation then, but I still fell short of you now, young master."
The room fell silent again.
Beyond the window lay a panoramic view of Jiangcheng, its densely packed buildings stretching to