As the elevator descended in the Jiangcheng Branch of the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, Ji Chen's palm was damp with sweat. His taut expression reflected in the metallic walls—his illusion charm had been removed, revealing his true face, now marked by the calm maturity forged through life-and-death trials.
"Nervous?" Su Wan asked softly beside him. She had her hair tied up in a rare high ponytail today, revealing the graceful lines of her neck. There was a crisp sharpness to her look that hadn't been there before.
Ji Chen shook his head, fingers unconsciously rubbing the jade slip imprint on his hand. "Just not used to dealing with the government."
The elevator stopped at Level B5. A blinding white light poured in as the doors opened. At the end of the corridor stood a heavy metal door, next to which a retinal scanner flickered red. Lin Mo was already waiting there, his black uniform making him appear even leaner and more upright.
"You're here," Lin Mo greeted, his eyes sweeping over the two of them. "Looks like your injuries healed well."
Ji Chen instinctively touched his abdomen. The penetrating wound left by the old demon Yinsha had closed, though a faint ache still flared when he circulated his spiritual power. "Thanks to Su Wan's care."
"Cut the small talk," Su Wan interrupted, her gaze locked on the metal door. "What exactly does the Bureau want?"
Lin Mo gave a helpless smile. "No need to be so defensive. After Director Nangong's death, the Bureau restructured Section Seven. I'm the acting chief now, overseeing supernatural incidents in Jiangcheng." He pulled out a magnetic card and swiped it through the lock. "The higher-ups reviewed your battle reports. They're very interested."
Behind the door was a hemispherical operations hall. A 3D projection of Jiangcheng floated at the center, countless dots of light flowing through buildings. Around the room, more than a dozen uniformed agents, dressed like Lin Mo, were stationed at their consoles. When Ji Chen and Su Wan entered, several turned curious eyes their way.
"This is the Spiritual Surveillance Center," Lin Mo explained as they walked through. "It displays real-time spiritual fluctuations across Jiangcheng. Red signals indicate evil cultivators, blue for orthodox cultivators, and white for unregistered freelancers."
Ji Chen noticed several dense clusters of red lights on the map. One of them was—unsurprisingly—the Chuangshi Group's headquarters. Su Wan clearly noticed too. She exchanged a knowing glance with Ji Chen.
Lin Mo led them into a meeting room. At the far end of the long table sat a middle-aged man in gold-rimmed glasses, poring over a document. When he looked up, the sharpness in his gaze was undeniable.
"Ji Chen, Su Wan, this is Deputy Director Zhao Qing," Lin Mo introduced. "He oversees operations in the East China region."
Zhao Qing stood and extended a hand to Ji Chen. The moment their palms touched, Ji Chen sensed a faint thread of spiritual power probing his meridians. He instantly activated the Void Scripture, silently neutralizing it.
"Not bad," Zhao Qing remarked with a glint of surprise, then resumed his calm demeanor. "Please, have a seat."
Three gold-trimmed documents sat on the table. As Ji Chen sat down, Su Wan picked one up and skimmed through it quickly—her brows furrowing deeper with every line.
"'Special Talent Recruitment Agreement'?" she scoffed. "Clause Three demands a soul-binding contract? When did the Bureau start adopting the same methods as evil cultivators?"
Lin Mo's expression tightened slightly, but Zhao Qing remained unfazed. "Miss Su, worthy of the Gusu Su Clan indeed. Sharp eyes. However…" He adjusted his glasses. "These are exceptional times. With the Night Owl Society rampant, we must ensure absolute loyalty from core operatives."
Ji Chen read through the document. It promised cultivation resources, intelligence support, and identity protection—but the cost was a Loyalty Imprint to be planted in the soul. Betrayal would trigger backlash. He looked up at Lin Mo, who avoided eye contact. Clearly, he'd known this clause was coming.
"We refuse," Su Wan said bluntly, snapping the folder shut. "The Void Scripture's heir doesn't need shackles."
The air in the meeting room grew heavy.
Zhao Qing interlaced his fingers and rested them under his chin. "As I understand, you two are currently wanted by the Night Owl Society. Miss Su has also been disowned by her clan. Without the Bureau's protection, how long do you think you can stay hidden?"
Ji Chen sensed Su Wan's spiritual energy starting to fluctuate and quickly placed a hand under the table to still hers. "Director Zhao, we're open to cooperation, but the soul contract is off the table."
"Oh?" Zhao Qing raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you propose?"
"Peripheral members," Ji Chen said firmly. "We'll take on assigned missions, and the Bureau provides support. But you don't interfere with our personal operations or impose control measures."
Zhao Qing was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Smart young man. You're quite the negotiator." He pulled another document from his briefcase. "Take a look at this alternative."
This version omitted the soul-binding clause but added a confidentiality oath and task evaluations. Ji Chen reviewed every detail carefully and, after exchanging a glance with Su Wan, nodded.
"Acceptable." He signed his name, spiritual energy surging into the penstroke—binding the contract with more than just ink.
"Welcome to the Spiritual Taskforce," Zhao Qing said, his tone now far more amiable. "Chief Lin will brief you on your first assignment. Let's just say… Chuangshi Group has been acting suspiciously lately.
After leaving the conference room, Lin Mo led them to the equipment room. As the sensor doors slid open, Ji Chen involuntarily held his breath.
The walls were lined with all kinds of spiritual weapons—from traditional talisman swords and flying blades to futuristic spirit-tech firearms—glimmering in organized rows.
"Pick two that suit you," Lin Mo said, leaning against the doorframe. "Consider it your onboarding gift."
Su Wan walked straight to the corner where the arrow racks stood and selected a quiver of silver arrows etched with spiritual runes. Ji Chen, on the other hand, was drawn to a device shaped like a handgun. The barrel was engraved with intricate formation patterns.
"Spirit Resonator," Lin Mo explained. "It fires spiritual shockwaves. Very effective against dark cultivators. But…" He lowered his voice, "Don't get too dependent on equipment. Zhao Qing doesn't exactly have your best interests at heart."
Ji Chen paused mid-calibration. "What do you mean?"
"There's a hidden clause in that agreement." Lin Mo glanced down the hall to ensure no one was around. "Every time you complete a mission, you'll be subject to a 'loyalty assessment.' Officially, it's a psychological evaluation—but in practice, it's a refined form of soul-probing."
Su Wan gave a cold laugh. "Of course it is."
"Why are you telling us this?" Ji Chen looked Lin Mo straight in the eye.
Lin Mo hesitated, then pulled out a bronze badge from his inner pocket—different from the Bureau's current emblem. The character "Nangong" was engraved in the center.
"I served Director Nangong Xue for twelve years. Her last order before she died... was to protect the bearer of the Void Scripture."
Ji Chen's heart clenched. Nangong Xue had indeed sacrificed herself to shield them during the battle on Mount Qingming.
"First mission briefing?" Su Wan asked crisply.
Lin Mo brought up a tablet. "Seven mysterious coma cases have occurred in Jiangcheng over the past two weeks. No external injuries. Victims were completely drained of spiritual energy—almost like…"
"Victims of the Nine Yin Spirit Convergence Array," Ji Chen cut in, recalling the sinister array Qin Yue had deployed. "But on a smaller scale."
"Exactly." Lin Mo swiped to display the victims' profiles. "All of them participated in offline testing for Chuangshi Group's 'Spiritual Energy Big Data' project before falling comatose."
Ji Chen exchanged a look with Su Wan. That project was being overseen by none other than Zhou Wei.
"Your mission is to infiltrate and investigate." Lin Mo handed them two custom-made ID badges. "Your new identities have been arranged. Remember—Zhou Wei's just a pawn. There's a bigger player behind her."
By the time they left the Bureau, dusk had fallen. Ji Chen stood in the building's shadow, watching the crowd flow through the city streets. The ordinary citizens would never know that a war between light and darkness raged beneath this city's surface.
"We're really going to work there?" Su Wan turned her ID badge over in her fingers. "Seems... suicidal."
Ji Chen holstered the Spirit Resonator. "The most dangerous place is often the safest. Besides…" He gave a faint smile. "Zhou Wei would never expect us to walk right back into her den."
Three days later. Chuangshi Group Headquarters.
Ji Chen entered the data analysis department carrying a cup of coffee. His badge read: Senior Data Analyst – Chen Mo. The illusion charm reshaped his appearance into that of a refined man in his thirties, complete with a calm, composed aura.
"Mr. Chen!" a young colleague greeted him warmly. "The samples for the energy project are already on your system!"
Ji Chen nodded with a polite smile and walked to his workstation. As he passed the director's office, he casually glanced inside—Zhou Wei was on the phone, her expression grim. As if sensing his gaze, she turned abruptly. Her amber eyes locked onto Ji Chen's.
He felt a wave of cold spiritual pressure sweep over him. But he maintained a neutral expression, gave a slight nod, and walked on. Zhou Wei's eyes lingered on his back for a few seconds before she looked away.
"She suspects something," Ji Chen messaged Su Wan through the Heart-Link Pendant.
"Expected." Su Wan replied from her cover role in the marketing department next door. "Golden Core cultivators have sharp instincts. Don't probe her office—there's a formation in place."
Ji Chen opened his computer and accessed the "Spiritual Energy Big Data" project. On the surface, it was a study on urban energy consumption. But beneath the numbers, he detected subtle spiritual codes—something only visible through the Spiritual Eye technique.
"Void Visualization Technique…" he silently activated the scripture. His pupils glowed faintly with golden light. The data reorganized before his eyes, transforming into a spiritual map of Jiangcheng. Seven red nodes flared across the city—the exact locations of the coma cases.
Just as he was about to dig deeper, the screen went black. A line of blood-red text appeared:
"I know who you are."
Ji Chen's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression steady. He banged on the keyboard in mock frustration and sent a quick message to Su Wan: "I've been made. Might be a trap."
The red text shifted and twisted:
"Tonight. 8 p.m. Abandoned Power Plant in East Jiangcheng. Come alone, or your identity goes public."
The text vanished. The screen returned to normal.
Ji Chen sipped his coffee, deep in thought. The fact that they didn't expose him outright meant they wanted something. This could be a chance to turn the investigation around.
After work, Ji Chen and Su Wan met at a nearby café. After hearing the details, Su Wan flatly refused, "It's obviously a trap. Too risky."
"But also an opportunity." Ji Chen rotated the coffee cup in his hands. "If it really is Zhou Wei behind this, we might be able to trace it to whoever's pulling her strings."
"I'm coming with you."
"No. They specifically said I should go alone." Ji Chen held her hand. "You'll stay on the perimeter. Bring the Bureau's emergency beacon."
Su Wan still wanted to object, but when she saw the resolve in his eyes, she gave in. "If I don't hear from you in thirty minutes, I'm going in."
That night. Abandoned Power Plant, East Jiangcheng.
Ji Chen arrived alone. The rusted iron gates were ajar, darkness flooding the derelict facility. He activated the Spiritual Eye, revealing hidden formation nodes scattered across the interior. The air reeked faintly of blood.
"Come out," Ji Chen called, standing at the center of the plant. His voice echoed through the vast, empty chamber. "I'm here, just like you wanted."
A figure stepped from the shadows—not Zhou Wei, but a man in a black trench coat wearing a half-silver mask. His exposed jawline was sharp and angular.
"Ji Chen. Or should I say... Chen Mo." The man's voice was low and hoarse. "A pleasure to finally meet you."
Ji Chen narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"Seventh Enforcer of the Night Owl Society. Codename: Silver Mask." He gestured with an open hand. "I'm here on Lord Nether's behalf... to propose a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"Power. Wealth. Prestige." Silver Mask chuckled. "Hand over the Void Scripture, and whatever the Bureau promised you—we'll offer ten times more."
Ji Chen's expression turned cold. "And if I refuse?"
Silver Mask sighed. "Then that's unfortunate."
In the same instant, he raised a hand and fired a black beam straight at Ji Chen's face!
Ji Chen was ready. The Spiritfang Dagger shimmered with golden light as it slashed through the dark beam. In one smooth motion, he drew the Spirit Resonator Gun and fired three shots.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The spirit-pulse rounds tore through the air, but Silver Mask dissolved into black mist, evading with ghostly agility. His voice echoed all around: "Futile, Ji Chen. This place is already your grave!"
Suddenly, the ground lit up with blood-red runes. Seven desiccated corpses crawled out from the shadows—victims of the coma cases. Hollow-eyed and cloaked in shadow, their movements were unnaturally fast. Within seconds, they had surrounded Ji Chen.
"Corpse Array...?" Sweat formed on Ji Chen's brow. Each of these husks had the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He activated the emergency talisman—but nothing happened.
"The barrier blocks all communication," Silver Mask mocked from above. "One last chance. Hand over the Scripture, or die."
Ji Chen smirked, golden light bursting from his dagger as he lunged at one of the corpses. The blade pierced its chest—but was met with thick, corpse-like resistance. It almost got stuck. Another corpse clawed across his back, drawing a spray of blood.
"Argh!" Ji Chen spun, kicking the creature away. But more claws came slashing in. Blood seeped from multiple wounds as his spiritual power rapidly depleted.
Then—Boom! The rooftop shattered, and a silver arrow streaked through the night, pinning Silver Mask to the wall.
"Su Wan?!" Ji Chen's eyes widened with disbelief—and relief.
"The emergency talisman was jammed, but the Heart-Link Pendant wasn't." Su Wan stood at the gaping rooftop hole, longbow drawn. Three blue-flame arrows shimmered around her. "Next time, remember—we're partners."
Silver Mask roared and ripped the arrow from his shoulder. "You dare?!"
With a flick of his fingers, the corpse puppets redirected and surged toward Su Wan.
"Void Dual Strike!"
Ji Chen and Su Wan moved in perfect sync, their spiritual energies resonating. Her arrows shimmered with golden lightning; his dagger blazed with blue flame.
"Break!"
The arrows and golden light merged, obliterating all seven corpses in a blinding wave.
Silver Mask turned to flee in a shroud of black mist—but a net of lightning dropped from above, cutting off his escape.
The Bureau's strike team had arrived.
Lin Mo led the charge, spirit-tech rifles aimed. "Qin Yue, you're under arrest!"
Silver Mask sneered, removing his half-mask to reveal Qin Yue's face.
"You think you can stop me?" he hissed, crushing a black orb in his palm. Dark mist exploded, blanketing the entire factory. When it cleared—he was gone.
"Damn it," Lin Mo cursed. "Escaped again."
"You okay?" he turned to Ji Chen.
"I'm fine," Ji Chen replied, wiping blood from his mouth. "But the trail's gone cold."
"Not quite." Su Wan held up a piece of silver metal. "He dropped this when I hit him. It's got a spirit imprint—we might be able to track him."
Lin Mo examined it, then frowned deeply. "The imprint's been overwritten... by Bureau tech. We can't trace it."
Ji Chen and Su Wan exchanged a glance.
A terrifying thought rose in both their minds—
Was Deputy Director Zhao Qing working with the Night Owl Society?