Talent Ascension, the Six-Foot White Sun

Rumble... A deafening roar suddenly echoed in Bai Zhou's ears. A white sun began to climb above the pitch-black Sea of Ignorance. The vast waters churned and boiled as ten thousand fathoms of pure white morning light tore through the eternal night. The entire Fate Principle space trembled. Four ancient glyphs flickered faintly above the Sea of Ignorance, while the five secret art marks upon the sun blazed with dazzling brilliance. This reminded Bai Zhou of Crow's wistful remark after his deeds had last been recorded in history: “If only you could kill one more demon... Because if you are inscribed in history once again, the mystique sublimated through your rising legendary status will definitely push your Fate Principle's talent height past the six-foot threshold.” “From what I know, once it reaches six feet, your Fate Principle can undergo a fundamental metamorphosis.” A qualitative transformation! At this moment, with Bai Zhou's deeds recorded simultaneously into the history of the Ashen Archives and the local gazetteer of Tinghai, the resonance between two historical records gave a massive boost to his legendary status, vastly enhancing the mystique upon him. Fed by this mystique, his White Sun Fate Principle finally met the long-awaited transformation. Bai Zhou's vision was filled entirely by his Fate Principle space. He watched the white sun slowly ascend. It collided with an invisible bottleneck. Then— Boom! The bottleneck shattered! The height of the White Sun Fate Principle finally reached six feet! And it did not stop there... Rumble, rumble! The white sun continued to soar. Having broken through the six-foot barrier, it surged straight up like a whirlwind, not coming to a halt until it reached a height of six feet seven inches. Immediately after, Bai Zhou understood why Crow had said that an Extraordinary's Fate Principle reaching six feet brought a fundamental metamorphosis... His mind grew clearer, his thoughts more nimble, and his soul wiser. He comprehended principles, unlocked philosophies, and could deduce whole truths from a single clue. Countless inspirations blossomed deep within his mind. In an instant, Bai Zhou's comprehension of the Sixth Basic Slash advanced by leaps and bounds. Already a prodigy, Bai Zhou had now become a supreme genius. Furthermore— Rumble! As the White Sun Fate Principle ascended, the Fate Principle space situated below Bai Zhou's navel expanded alongside it. To Bai Zhou, this space had always felt both infinitely small and infinitely vast. It was hard to imagine that inside a human body barely over a meter and a half tall, a space capable of holding a six-foot white sun could be carved out. Yet at this very moment, Bai Zhou clearly sensed it... The Fate Principle space was expanding! It was swelling! Rumble... In a daze, Bai Zhou felt his five senses drifting away from him—a sensation both wondrous and impossible to put into words. For a moment, he felt he was no longer an Extraordinary possessing a Fate Principle, but rather directly merged into one with this White Sun... Finally, when the expansion of the Fate Principle space ceased, Bai Zhou discovered that the White Sun Fate Principle had established a hazy, indistinct connection with the 360 spiritualities within his body, as if they had invisibly become a single whole. “This is...?” Bai Zhou felt a jolt in his heart. When his Fate Principle first awakened, its radiant light had shone across his entire body, kindling the spiritualities within him. Now, however, those spiritualities seemed to have formed a much more direct bond with the White Sun Fate Principle—or rather, beneath those spiritualities, Bai Zhou's own physical body and soul had forged an inseparable link with the white sun! Bai Zhou had experienced a similar sensation once before. That was when he advanced to Level 3, when the spiritualities inside him connected with the external spiritualities to form a circulation, achieving the harmony of heaven and humanity. So now, his Fate Principle had opened a circulation with the world outside the Fate Principle space, reaching a state of “harmony of heaven and humanity” with his entire body? All his spiritualities were like sunflowers turning toward the sun, bathing in the sunlight, active and thriving. As for the concrete effects... Bai Zhou slowly opened his eyes. A blazing white sun faintly rose from the depths of his pupils. As this brilliant sun ascended, Bai Zhou's entire presence subtly shifted. Domineering! Scorching! Divinely solemn! It was as if he had become one with the world. Now, Bai Zhou could project the White Sun Fate Principle through the Fate Principle space and cast it upon any corner of his physical body! Wherever the projection fell, that area would receive a brief, explosive enhancement like a solar burst. Not only that. Bai Zhou even had a premonition. If he could advance further down the Adventurer pathway and construct the Spirit Intent Domain of a Level 6 Titled Extraordinary, he might even be able to manifest the projection of this white sun behind him—directly into reality. Suppressing enemies! Strengthening himself! Like the sun blazing high in the sky! “Your Fate Principle's talent height broke through six feet, didn't it?” “To raise your Fate Principle's talent height beyond six feet before advancing to Titled...” Crow's voice drifted into Bai Zhou's ears. “That is quite a piece of wonderful news.” Bai Zhou looked up. Without him noticing, Crow had already taken a seat in the vehicle. She sat beside Fang Xiaoxia and Gem Witch, directly across from Bai Zhou, looking as leisurely and composed as if lounging on a beanbag chair at home. Everyone acted as though she were completely invisible. Bai Zhou was long accustomed to Crow's elusive habits. Forget appearing inside the vehicle; even if she popped out from beneath the undercarriage, it wouldn't surprise him. Still, when he thought back, he realized that out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to have caught a fleeting glimpse... of Crow wriggling in through the car window? “Six feet is a very special number for a Fate Principle.” Unaware of Bai Zhou's wandering thoughts, Crow spoke in a calm, cool voice: “Ancient texts of the Eastern Federation say, ‘Entrusted with the care of a six-foot orphan, he falters not in great crises,’ and ‘Six feet refers to those under fifteen years of age.’ In the ancient times of the Eastern Federation, Extraordinaries generally believed that six feet and nine feet symbolized the limit heights of youth and adulthood, respectively. For a Fate Principle, reaching six feet means it has matured into a teenager and can take its first steps outside the shelter of the Fate Principle space!” “This is vital, because a Fate Principle of this height can slightly cross the boundary of the Fate Principle space to establish an even tighter bond with your physical body and your soul.” Crow continued, “As for the specific effects, I believe you've already experienced them.” Bai Zhou nodded. As long as he wished, that white sun could cast a projection at any moment onto his fists, palms, legs, or any corner of his body. If the spiritualities inside Bai Zhou were boiling hot oil, then the projection of this sun was the spark that ignited them. If an explosive surge of this scale were stacked with the Nine Basic Slashes... Bai Zhou felt a surge of keen anticipation. “Yet you still don't realize,” Crow's voice lowered, tinged with gravity, “its true significance won't fully reveal itself until you advance to Level 6!” Crow said, “The shape of the Spirit Intent Domain constructed by a Titled Extraordinary is often tied to their Fate Principle, their pathway, and their past experiences. The more orthodox and powerful the pathway, and the higher the talent height of the Fate Principle—the stronger the Spirit Intent Domain will naturally be, and the more divine wonders it will possess. Take those Level 6 Titled Extraordinaries you encountered before, like the painter from the Fine Arts Club or Luo Jiu; their Fate Principle talent was generally low, and their pathways were either standard mass-produced ones or fragmented pathways... Their Spirit Intent Domains could only ever bully those below their level.” “You can't say their Spirit Intent doesn't exist, but...” Crow paused for a moment, searched her mind, and finally squeezed out two words: “Well, passable.” Hearing that, Bai Zhou blinked twice. “However, if your Fate Principle reaches six feet, you can project it into your Spirit Intent Domain, vitalizing the entire domain like dotting the dragon's eyes to bring it to life.” “In the past, the Chosen of the Chen Fate Principle, the Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, once projected his own Fate Principle outward—a great sun hung aloft, boiling rivers, incinerating seas, and leaving countless corpses scorched upon the earth.” Crow added, “That's why I said six feet is crucial. Soon enough, you'll be able to cash in on this talent.” Vitalizing the domain? Dotting the eyes of the dragon? Zhu Yuanzhang? Bai Zhou listened with a thrill of longing, his anticipation for the Level 6 Titled advancement deepening. “So in truth, the Twelve Heavenly Mandate Pathways only truly show their might starting at Level 6.” Crow continued: “Before this point, the gap between those with talent and those without, between the orthodox and the unorthodox, isn't yet wide. But from this watershed onward—they will be separated by an insurmountable chasm!” “Although most of the standardized pathways issued by the authorities and the fragmented pathways held by smaller factions are easy to learn and widely spread... by the time one reaches the Level 6 Titled rank, those pathways basically hit their ceiling.” Crow said, “Some say Level 6 Titled is a peak that ninety percent of Extraordinaries can never touch in their entire lives, and above Level 6 are beings transcending limits. But for Extraordinaries who wield the Twelve Heavenly Mandate Pathways aligned with their true Fate Principles, Level 6 is merely where they begin to exert their true power, pulling away from the Extraordinaries around them and announcing their ascent onto the world stage!” Level 6... Bai Zhou blinked, and the reflection of the white sun deep in his eyes quietly vanished. Within his Fate Principle space, the white sun suspended six feet seven inches above the Sea of Ignorance rested in quiet slumber, the five distinct secret art marks upon it gleaming with splendor. The Level 6 Titled rank—once an unimaginably towering summit, the end of the first grand phase of the Extraordinary pathway, the Level 6 Chosen who unified body, mind, qi, realm, and intent, a destination ninety-nine percent of Extraordinaries could never reach in their lifetime—was, for Bai Zhou, already well within reach. “Yet at the same time,” Crow cautioned solemnly, “this also means that among the opponents you face in the future, those walking ordinary and standardized pathways will become rarer and rarer, while Chosen will appear in ever-greater numbers. This isn't because Chosen have become less rare or precious, but because you have grown stronger. People who aren't Chosen simply won't have the strength to stand before you anymore!” Saying this, Crow closely studied Bai Zhou sitting on the leather seat: “Now that the matter with Major Luo is settled, you will step onto a new stage, arriving at the very center of this city to meet the leadership of various factions and the successors they have painstakingly groomed. But I believe that as an Adventurer Chosen with a six-foot talent height, you won't fall behind anyone, even among a crowd of Chosen!” “Your future performance...” Crow looked at Bai Zhou, her eyes sparkling brightly. She said: “I'm very much looking forward to it!” Perhaps this was the nature of an Extraordinary: advancing relentlessly, only to look back and find they had outpaced countless predecessors, treading over endless skeletons along the way. Yet ahead would always lie new opponents, each carrying their own splendid stories. Still, on one point, Bai Zhou felt Crow was entirely right. Those Extraordinaries who were not Chosen were simply left behind in his wake, losing the right to challenge him. As the bearer of battle intent and as an Adventurer, Bai Zhou never feared having opponents; he only feared having none. It was not that he had crossed thousands of hardships to behold those Chosen; rather, those Chosen had braved eighty-one trials to stand before him. Who was truly the challenger remained to be seen! “Right.” Crow raised an eyebrow, as if suddenly remembering something. “Last time, the boost to your legendary status awakened your innate lightning ability. This time, surely it wasn't just your Fate Principle height that increased?” Hearing that, Bai Zhou blinked twice. Of course it wasn't that simple. It was just that right now wasn't a good time to talk. The three people beside him were all watching him. None of them were ordinary figures; Bai Zhou didn't dare speak aloud in front of them, nor did he dare communicate with Crow via ritual. If they mistook him for being mentally deranged, his situation would become extremely awkward. Fortunately, the three heavyweights from different agencies were fully absorbed in observing the white light radiating from Bai Zhou and the shifting silhouettes of light within it, their attention entirely captivated. “Hiss...” “It really is... really being inscribed into the gazetteer!” Director Qi of the Anomaly Investigation Bureau stared with flickering eyes. “The last time Tinghai inscribed an event into the gazetteer was ten years ago, wasn't it? Back then...” “...” Elder Song of the Special Control Bureau appeared somewhat sullen. He remained silent, his eyes glinting faintly. He simply clutched two black boxes on his left and right, his posture bearing an odd resemblance to Fang Xiaoxia sitting obediently across from him with her two plush dolls. Turning his head, he quietly watched Bai Zhou, who was bathed in light like a descending deity. Those cloudy, experienced eyes reflected the shifting light and shadows around Bai Zhou, as if still savoring the incredible ancient murals from just moments before. “Don't you think this looks rather sacred?” Chief Commander Qin of the FZDC looked at the glowing youth and suddenly chuckled with a strange touch of emotion. “Good thing we're inside a car. If anyone out there saw this, tomorrow we'd have yet another bizarre cult springing up among the public to clean up.” At these words, Gem Witch blinked across the vehicle and couldn't resist nodding. Fang Xiaoxia instinctively nodded as well, but then sensed something off, hastily stopping herself and hugging her dolls tighter. Indeed, Bai Zhou looked remarkably like the image of a deity preached by folk cults right now, glowing all over like a human lightbulb. Even his ragged, battered clothes somehow matched the aesthetic of a descended god saving the mortal world. “The Golden Millet Dream is still holding,” Elder Song said, shaking his head and objectively dismissing the notion. “People's perception is warped. Even if they witnessed an Extraordinary phenomenon right in front of their eyes, they would subconsciously ignore it.” “It was a joke, alright?” Chief Commander Qin rolled her eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you have zero sense of humor, old man?” “Now is hardly the time for humor.” Elder Song's expression turned stern. “Tinghai City is engraving history right before us!” “A young slayer of saints and demons is being recorded into Tinghai's history—at this moment, we are all witnesses to history!” “The chance to witness history with our own eyes is indeed truly precious,” Director Qi nodded from the side. Then, as if remembering something, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly: “Though just a moment ago, you almost blew our young slayer of saints and demons, along with us old bones, straight into the sky.” With that, everyone's gaze inside the vehicle landed simultaneously upon the black boxes in Elder Song's arms. And finally, all those gazes shifted in unison— Onto Elder Song's face. The old man's expression remained perfectly calm. Only the fingers clutching the two black boxes curled inward with slight awkwardness. “It was a necessary precaution. The moment those black boxes opened, I wouldn't have survived either,” Elder Song sighed. “Still, looking at it now, I owe this young man another debt.” “So...” On the leather seat, Bai Zhou turned his head. The white light on his body gradually dimmed. As he returned to normal, his gaze fell upon Elder Song. “Do I still need to wait for you all to verify whether what we said was true or false?” “Certainly not.” Elder Song's mouth twitched, and he hastily shook his head. “The previous steps were standard procedure; without them, we would be failing in our duty to Tinghai. I hope you can understand.” “Now that the city itself has recorded this history, there can be no mistake.” He continued without hesitation, “Even though the murals don't contain any written text, being inscribed into them already proves you are a hero recognized by the land of Tinghai.” Elder Song shook his head with self-deprecating irony. “Who are we to deny a hero certified by countless ancestors of Tinghai?” Beside him, Director Qi and Chief Commander Qin both nodded in agreement. “However, I must say...” Elder Song slowly rose to his feet. Standing before Bai Zhou, his aging frame straightened, and then he bowed deeply and earnestly: “Right now, the whole of Tinghai owes you a favor—and an apology!” *** “Name?” “Bai Zhou.” “Age?” “Eighteen, I guess.” “Eighteen... you guess?” Elder Song looked up at Bai Zhou, while the secretary beside him swiftly jotted down notes, processing the paperwork. “I'm an orphan,” Bai Zhou shrugged from the sofa. “And your gender?” Elder Song asked again. “...” Bai Zhou blinked in confusion. “Do I look like a man or a woman to you?” “Well, you certainly aren't a Night Raider Type-III attack helicopter, are you?” Elder Song's expression turned serious. “We never assume anyone's gender. In the Federation, even if you declare your gender to be a plastic bag, official agencies will treat it with respect.” Bai Zhou felt a surge of awe upon hearing this, thinking that the Federation was truly advanced to such an extent; Wancheng really couldn't compare. Books in Wancheng said gods had no gender; turned out the kingdom of heaven was right here in the Federation. “So... what are we doing right now?” Bai Zhou patted the sofa beneath him. Though made of similar leather, this was no longer the seat inside the tactical vehicle. Bai Zhou had already stepped out of the vehicle at 5:31 AM on September 9th and arrived in the reception hall of the Special Control Bureau headquarters. Warm and enthusiastic young receptionists presented hot towels and fresh flowers to the trio. Their tailored uniforms accentuated their figures, and their pleasant fragrance reminded Bai Zhou of ripe green grapes. Yet Bai Zhou noticed the calluses on their hands and the disciplined precision in their stride. A chill ran through his heart as he realized that being receptionists was merely their side gig; their primary trade was almost certainly holding guns and eliminating targets. Undoubtedly, this was another idea from old man Song. Bai Zhou had seen the old man in the vehicle giving whispered instructions to his secretary with a mysterious smile. “Just a simple registration for bureau records. Many major events are about to unfold across Tinghai, and all of them will require your cooperation,” Elder Song said, gesturing for Bai Zhou to relax. “Rest assured, we're only asking you to stay here for a few days—as you know, this is also for your protection.” “You're free to come and go, but I still recommend staying at the Special Control Bureau for a few days,” Elder Song chuckled. “We cannot rule out the possibility that factions like the Zijing Group or the Fine Arts Club might act out of cornered desperation.” “The Zijing Group?” Bai Zhou looked over, raising an eyebrow. “You're preparing to move against the Zijing Group?” “The Luo family's third young master caused such a catastrophe; someone has to pay the price,” Elder Song said calmly. “The Luo family can't possibly keep their hands clean, but they won't sit by and wait for death either.” “In the days ahead, all of Tinghai will experience a major earthquake and a reshuffling of power...” Elder Song lowered his gaze slightly. “Still, a little turmoil is fine. Once the dust settles, Tinghai will be better off.” “Honestly, that's great news,” Bai Zhou's eyes glinted. “I'll look forward to seeing it.” Just then, a familiar roasted aroma drifted from the side. Elder Song drew several cups of coffee from a machine on a nearby counter, poured them into gold-trimmed white porcelain cups, and carried the tray over to Bai Zhou, Gem Witch, and Fang Xiaoxia. “Flown in from Hawaii in the Western Federation just an hour ago, harvested from the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano... I've been drinking them lately. Quite flavorful, with a lingering aftertaste.” Elder Song sat back down on the sofa with his cup. “A personal habit of mine: having a cup of hot coffee before or after a major event keeps the mind sharp while helping you unwind.” “Would anyone like sugar cubes?” the secretary added helpfully. Gem Witch adjusted her masquerade mask and added a sugar cube to her cup, while a reserved Fang Xiaoxia asked for milk. Seeing everyone drinking, Bai Zhou picked up his cup and took two sips. “Tastes nice.” In truth, Bai Zhou couldn't taste anything special. With a soft clink, he set the saucer back on the table. “Just a bit different from how I usually eat it.” “...Eat?” Elder Song paused. “Chewing coffee beans directly clears the head,” Bai Zhou explained. “After all, there are no coffee machines on life-and-death battlefields.” Hearing this, Elder Song looked at him with newfound respect. “I never expected we would be kindred spirits. If there's a chance, we should talk more about coffee.” “No, no, no,” Bai Zhou waved his hands repeatedly. “I just have a friend who used to do that... though you probably won't ever meet her.” “Won't meet her...” Elder Song froze, then fell silent, pressing his lips together in an apologetic expression, as if he had drawn his own somber conclusion. “?” Bai Zhou looked at Elder Song in bewilderment. Why did this man suddenly go quiet? “Actually, I can see your wariness toward your surroundings...” Elder Song changed the subject, his tone softening. “It seems your impression of the Special Control Bureau is rather poor. You must have been through a great deal at Base 36.” “Yeah,” Bai Zhou didn't shy away from his past experiences. “The layout of the Special Control Bureau is pretty much the same everywhere; this place is just considerably more spacious.” “Luo Tunan...” Elder Song's eyes sharpened. “Rest assured, we will give you a proper answer!” “Whatever compensation you desire, we will do our utmost to provide it!” “Compensation?” Bai Zhou's eyes lit up at first, then he grew thoughtful. “You've got me there. I don't really know what you have.” “Take your time looking, take your time thinking,” Elder Song's manner was exceptionally warm, tinged with a degree of guilt. “If you want to know about anything, you can ask my secretary here anytime.” “Still, you look quite exhausted, so I suggest you get some rest,” Elder Song continued. “Because tonight, Tinghai will host the grandest banquet for you. Every high-ranking figure and elite of Tinghai will attend, including the Director of the Hall of Statutes.” “Medals, rewards, compensation... There are plenty of benefits to attending the banquet, and plenty of terms to negotiate.” Elder Song gave Bai Zhou a knowing wink. “As the guests of honor, the three of you can't be absent.” A banquet... Bai Zhou turned his head to look at Fang Xiaoxia and Gem Witch beside him. The three exchanged glances. *** After dawn broke, the torrential downpour dwindled into a light drizzle, which pattered down the entire day as a gray mist enveloped the whole city. Pedestrians with umbrellas hurried along the streets, people at bus stops scrolled on their phones, and convenience store doors slid open and shut with recorded chimes of welcome... Life carried on as usual, looking no different from any other day. Only Extraordinaries of real consequence knew what kind of behind-the-scenes earthquake Tinghai had endured this day. Yet as dusk approached, all the active high-ranking Extraordinaries set aside their hectic duties in unison. Donning formal attire, fastening badges, and tying their neckties, they converged toward a single location. The Hall of Statutes, the Black Box Special Administration, the FZDC, the Anomaly Investigation Bureau... Faction leaders who usually minded their own business and occasionally banged tables in disputes were, for some reason, gathered together tonight like never before. Bai Zhou stood before the entrance of the banquet hall. A black suit, a white dress shirt, and a necktie that remained slightly crooked even after Crow had instructed him twice on how to tie it. “Bai Zhou!” Wearing a new mask, Gem Witch walked over from a distance in an evening gown, waving at him as she approached. The black gown clung gracefully to her frame, with a ruby pinned at her chest accentuating her delicate collarbone. The skirt was embroidered with an intricate star chart of fine silver thread that flowed like an inverted Milky Way when it swirled, perfectly complementing her slightly raised, proud chin. Beside her, a visibly nervous and flustered Fang Xiaoxia wore a white gown. Its clean lines lacked superfluous embellishment, yet brought out the girl's pure elegance best of all. She looked entirely different from the girl in Bai Zhou's memory—the little sputtering dragon who had worn her mother's ill-fitting dress and made a fool of herself trying to pose as a big shot in a restaurant. It was like an ugly duckling transforming overnight into a white swan. “I picked this out for Xiaoxia. What do you think?” Resting her hands on Fang Xiaoxia's shoulders, Gem Witch nudged the girl forward in front of Bai Zhou. The shy girl kept her head down, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her skirt. “Looks really nice,” Bai Zhou said honestly, always speaking his mind. “It suits Fang Xiaoxia perfectly. I almost didn't recognize her.” Fang Xiaoxia's pretty face flushed bright red in an instant. “Hahaha!” Gem Witch laughed triumphantly, dissolving the awkwardness that had just begun to settle. “You don't look bad yourself, Bai Zhou.” “I thought you wouldn't suit this kind of outfit at all!” In truth, Gem Witch was quite surprised. In her impression, Bai Zhou was an exceptionally... exceptionally grounded, eccentric youth. He had endless tricks up his sleeve, and his identity and origin were shrouded in mystery. Yet he had ridden a rusty tricycle straight through the skies, completely lacking the usual insufferable pretentiousness of Extraordinaries who insisted on wearing a rose on their lapels and having gold filigree on their blades just to get into a brawl. Yet standing here now, Bai Zhou was poised and natural, his attire flawless as if guided by an expert. Not only did the suit fit him without feeling out of place, but he looked... He looked like a brilliant sun. Stunningly striking. Gem Witch blinked twice. Then— Tap! The heel of her high shoes stepped lightly on the floor as the witch stepped forward, her slender, pale fingertips reaching toward Bai Zhou's chin—or rather, his collarbone. “Your tie is crooked.” As Gem Witch leaned in, her soft breath tickled Bai Zhou's neck, and the scent of green apples brushed against the tip of his nose. Pulling back almost immediately, Gem Witch looked at his straightened tie with satisfaction, clapped her hands twice, and chirped cheerfully: “There! Let's go!” And so— The masked witch, the awkward and reserved girl, and the youth in a suit who had just had his tie straightened— Three outsiders who did not belong here walked shoulder to shoulder toward the doors of the banquet hall. At the end of the opulent corridor, two massive engraved bronze doors stood firmly shut. Two rows of attendants stood before the doors, uniformly dressed in black tailcoats and white gloves, holding silver trays at their waists. With lowered eyes and respectful postures, they resembled two lines of silent statues. Seeing the three arrive, the statues sprang into motion, bowing ninety degrees as they pushed open the massive doors before them with a resounding rumble. Rumble... As the attendants swung open the doors, golden light flooded out from the gap like a surge of blazing golden flame. A bright, glittering new world opened its arms to Bai Zhou. Bai Zhou stepped inside alongside his companions. The instant they entered, countless gazes snapped around to focus on them. The youth had stepped onto the stage at the very center of this city. “...” Bai Zhou suddenly stopped, his expression freezing slightly. It was not because the gazes of so many heavyweights were fixed upon him. It was because, as his eyes instinctively scanned the surroundings, he spotted a familiar figure among the densely packed crowd of impeccably dressed figures. A spirited head of silver hair, a delicate, vivid red rose pinned to his chest—it was the white-suited principal! The one who had helped Bai Zhou hold off Picasso, the one who had mysteriously vanished on Zhenlu Mountain... The King of Wicked Desires! Right now, this former principal was blending inconspicuously into the crowd, chatting and laughing amiably with those around him, fitting in so naturally that there was not the slightest hint of discord. After a brief silence, cold sweat broke out on Bai Zhou's back beneath his suit. As if noticing Bai Zhou's gaze, the principal turned his head and met Bai Zhou's eyes. Then, the older man offered a brilliant smile, raised the wine glass in his hand filled with blood-red wine— And gave him a distant toast.