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nAfter listening for a few minutes, Lin Sheng had got a lot of information from their chatter.

n“Okay, everyone, quiet.” The principal knocked on the table again. “Next, the Asterism needs us to send a team over to join the raids.”

n“Have we not just deployed a team there? Why are they requesting for more?” Someone frowned.

n“We’ve received information that the Sect of Thousand Graces has been getting very active recently, as though they are preparing for something. The Asterism is understaffed because of the recent incidents in Olro. So…” said Auldmandiller. One of the top executives of the Asterism was his former disciples. So it was only natural that he put in some good words for him.

n“Is there any inside information? Your disciple?” someone asked.

n“As you know, Thousand Graces and Verity step up their activities because of that.” Auldmandiller shook his head.

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n“Sir, send Swift Graybear. He is the steadiest one of the Suppressor-class.”

n“Why my men when a situation arises every time? You still have the nerve to say that.” The idea displeased the workshop professor of Swift Graybear.

n“What about Rampage? She handled the case neatly last time. It really boosts the image of Baine.”

n“It’s okay to send Rampage but with full remuneration.”

n“Why not ask for her opinion first?”

nEveryone had thus decided on the mission. But what surprised Lin Sheng was that Auldmandiller had pushed for the patrol mission—a night sentry mission in a nearby city.

nAccording to his word, this was only a run-of-the-mill mission that people were using to gain credits. The risk was low. Nothing would happen.

nIn Baine university, a student had to achieve 300 credits to graduate. A patrol mission would earn the student 20 credits. There was nothing easier than this.

n“If you don’t feel like going, you can hire someone else to do the job.” Auldmandiller had considered everything for Lin Sheng.

n“It’s all right, Sir,” said Lin Sheng with a smile after the meeting. “I will consider it as a vacation.”

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n“Be sure that when you are in danger, run if you can’t win. Don’t worry about everything else! The most important thing is to stay alive.” Auldmandiller was showing his extraordinary concern for Lin Sheng.

n“I understand, Sir.” Lin Sheng nodded.

n“Just don’t try to act like a hero,” Auldmandiller added, unconvinced.

n“Sir, is this Sect of Thousand Graces, the one I met last time—”

n“Yes. So you know. The cults are extremely harmful, so you avoid them like a plague,” Auldmandiller cut in before Lin Sheng could finish his sentence.

n“About the previous incident, I wonder how it has turned out,” Lin Sheng whispered.

n“The fella escaped, but we seized many sacrificial items related to the Sect of Thousand Graces. These guys pray to the Divine Scion through the soul sacrifice every day. However, it is just a ruse in their quest to create a distorted vicious monster. Like the Sevenlocks Tower, they are the terrorists who advocate the release of the Ashen World.”

nLin Sheng and Auldmandiller got out of the conference room. They went back via the long tunnel, from which they had come.

n“Do you know why I bring you here?” Auldmandiller asked, changing the conversation.

n“I don’t know.” Lin Sheng knew that this was the main point. Auldmandiller did not bring him here just listening for a bunch of nonsense.

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nAuldmandiller smiled without saying another word. Lin Sheng followed him out from the tunnel and went into a lane on the left. The sloping path ran along a magma lake, and soon they came to a standalone courtyard.

nAuldmandiller pushed the door open and entered the courtyard, where an old bearded man was standing in. The old man was checking the barrel of his rifle.

nAlmost as large as a fist, the barrel seemed too thick at a glance. It was engraved with beautiful patterns, and the bore glowing in silver light. It was no ordinary firearm.

n“Hey, Beardy, what have you got?” Auldmandiller guffawed.

n“It’s good stuff. Just arrived. You’ve come at the right time. Or this is within your calculation?” Beardy put down his rifle.

nBut the head of the workshop of the Soul Fortress was one of his main customers, he did not want to slight him.

n“What do you want this time? Tell me.”

n“My disciple is a little weak in his stamina, give me the Heart of the Damned,” Auldmandiller said.

n“Okay. There are two here. Take all of them?”

n“All of them. Do you have other things? I need to give my disciple a gift.”

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n“There. Pick two from the pile.” Beardy pointed at the corner of the courtyard.

nAuldmandiller motioned Lin Sheng as his eyes and said, “See for yourself. Choose whatever you like.”

nLin Sheng knew that his teacher paid for it out of his pocket. So he hurried up to the corner where mildew had formed on the walls, and the cement layer had peeled off from a large part of the walls.

nOn the dark, dry ground was a pile of everything: mud blocks, stones, branches, metal fragments, old vases, radios, small trumpets, and a few dried flowers. Lin Sheng even saw a key, white and in the size of a palm.

n“These are all from the Ashen World. Don’t ask me if they are of any good. You know they are when they come from that place. Pick whatever you like,” Lin Sheng’s teacher walked up to him and whispered.

nLin Sheng skimmed around and his eyes fell on a relatively fresh bone. The white jade-looking bone looked like a human thigh bone, but with cracks on the surface. He felt a weak sign of vitality in the bone, almost faded away, but he could resuscitate it, he figured.

nThe powerful ritual he got from the Griffin’s Morass could consume soul power to nourish the blood. As long as the blood is alive, he could bring it back to life and grow it.

nLin Sheng first picked up the bone. He then looked around again. Then he saw the second item—a tile. Or so it seemed. Lin Sheng felt a very strong negative air on it. So he took it.

nThe bearded old man had brought what they wanted: two beautiful turquoise hearts, seemingly carved from crystals. “It’s the heart of a dying giant as powerful as an apex Six-winger. It was hit by dark-energy cannons and has sustained some damages. Nevertheless, it still works.” He tossed the two boxes containing the hearts to Auldmandiller.

nThe latter took it. Upon checking its contents, he smiled in satisfaction. “They are in very good condition. Deduct the amount from my account. By the way, have you conducted the test? Is my student okay?”

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n“Checked. There is no problem with the absorption,” Beardy replied.

nAs they carried the items and left the courtyard, Auldmandiller noticed doubt in Lin Sheng’s eyes, so he smiled. “Are you curious why the monster, as powerful as an apex Six-winger, has become our merchandise?”

nLin Sheng nodded. “I guess, maybe one reason is that you are also a Six-winger, Sir. So—”

n“It’s one of the reasons.” Auldmandiller laughed. “It’s also because we are human.” He sighed. “It’s the most powerful dark-energy hot weapon, the Ebonthread Crystal Culverin. It could kill an apex Six-winger from a few kilometers away with just one shot. Don’t forget the many powerful monsters in the Ashen World. We humans are too weak in comparison. But we have no trouble guarding the secret realm. It is because we combine dark energy with technology and apply hot weapons in all aspects.”

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