"Huayang City Government reminds you not to go out at night casually. If you see suspicious people, please immediately call the Enforcement Hall."
"Additionally, here's an announcement: The college entrance exam will be held in Qinghai City in one day. Please bring your ID card, admission ticket, and other documents, and depart on your own."
Driving her car, Su Jiu looked at the cold, deserted streets while listening to the radio, somewhat melancholically chewing on a lollipop.
It seemed that according to what her old man and the others said, many Ancient God Cult members had appeared that day. They had actually infiltrated the entire government. If it weren't for Old Man arriving in time, this entire small city might have been occupied.
"Beep beep—"
"We've already investigated Si Shen's identity. He's a teacher at Zhiyuan Middle School. When we went to arrest him, we found the place completely empty."
"During the last assessment period, Si Shen didn't show up. I suspect he has backup plans. Handle this mission as you see fit. Old Man's intention is for you to just observe from the sidelines and not get involved."
Glancing at the phone stand, at Youyou's serious expression in the video call, Su Jiu felt a chill down her spine—the opponent was actually so close to her.
After calming down, Su Jiu shared her observations, including the appearance of Ancient God Cult blood sacrifices in nearby villages, which might be Si Shen's backup plan.
Finally, her eyes narrowed as she said, "Sister Youyou, the death lines in those villages all follow the path connecting three cities. I think there's something fishy about this. Should you send people to take over?"
"The possibility is very small, and now Huayang is being watched by multiple parties, even a War King-level guardian has been dispatched."
Youyou smiled. They had received military intelligence about those blood sacrifice villages long ago, indicating it was done privately by some cultists, and the incidents happened so long ago.
Then, Youyou said more seriously, "..."
Su Jiu's eyes drooped. Was it really like that... Since they didn't need her to take on this mission, she wouldn't bother with it.
After awakening, she'd go to Qinghai City, the only nearby place with an airport, and fly to Eagle Country.
After more than ten minutes, Su Jiu stepped into the familiar Adventurer Guild. A sweet-looking receptionist saw Su Jiu's appearance and quickly recognized her, hurriedly asking with a smile, "Are you the demon exterminator—Su Jiu?"
Without refuting, Su Jiu nodded lightly. She noticed the place was bustling with voices, even more lively than when they were recruiting demon exterminators. Curiously, she asked, "Beauty, what's going on here?"
The receptionist blinked, seeming to find it strange that Su Jiu didn't know anything, but didn't say much.
Then she quietly pointed at the electronic reward board above and began explaining, "Isn't everyone panicked by the Ancient God Cult's disturbances? Those parents don't dare drive to Qinghai alone, but hiring someone individually is too expensive, so they come here to form groups and share costs."
"Group cost-sharing? Then why don't they take the train? There are conductors, it should be quite safe, right?" Su Jiu was stunned when she heard this. Could bounties be shared too?
She scanned the interior and found it was indeed as the receptionist said—there were many middle-aged parents inside, and their clothing suggested they weren't very wealthy.
"What a pity~"
Shaking her head, though this had nothing to do with her, she turned to the receptionist and asked, "You have Awakening Stones here, right? I'd like to use an Awakening Stone."
The receptionist looked at Su Jiu with some confusion, pointing the way while asking, "You should have already awakened your bloodline. Even awakening repeatedly wouldn't be useful, right?"
"Just take me there."
Su Jiu smiled without mentioning that she was already War General-level. If this girl started shouting loudly and attracted everyone's attention, that wouldn't be good.
Since she wasn't taking any missions now, she'd keep a low profile.
Su Jiu followed the receptionist to the back of the guild hall, where five elementary Awakening Stones sat on an office desk. Across from them was a white-haired, elderly man playing with his phone, looking completely idle.
The female receptionist whispered to the old man, "Vice President, someone wants to awaken their bloodline."
Su Jiu was about to say she was War General-level awakened.
The Vice President squinted his old eyes, saw Su Jiu's youthful appearance, slowly stood up, rubbed his hands, made a "two" gesture with his fingers, and raised an eyebrow, "You understand the rules, right?"
Re-awakening bloodlines required twenty thousand—this was an unspoken rule everyone understood. After all, each elementary Awakening Stone only had so much energy. If they didn't charge more, wouldn't that be charity?
"Mm."
Su Jiu was somewhat surprised but nodded lightly. Since the other party mentioned old rules.
She wasn't pretentious and transferred two hundred thousand. She remembered that in the novel, Bai Ming's awakening seemed to cost fifty thousand. Why had the price dropped now?
"Young and insufficient Blood Condensation..."
The Vice President glanced at the transfer, his right eyelid twitching—a sign of good fortune—and remained silent.
Though this fortune was two hundred thousand, quite a substantial sum.
He thought Su Jiu was a naive rich girl, while Su Jiu thought he was doing charity. The two reached some strange mutual understanding.
Under the receptionist's guidance, Su Jiu slowly touched the Awakening Stone. At first, she felt a slightly cool sensation, but the next second the feeling disappeared... and that elementary Awakening Stone instantly dimmed.
She looked at the receptionist with confusion and asked, "It doesn't seem to have any effect?"
The Vice President glanced at the darkened Awakening Stone, waved his hand, and explained with a smile, "I have many Awakening Stones here that haven't been used. Try the others yourself. This one probably has no energy left."
It was clear he was in a good mood. Anyway, when Su Jiu later realized and asked for her money back, he'd just play dead... hehe.
"No energy?" Su Jiu didn't think much of it and reached for another stone. Again, that feeling came and then cut off—frustratingly incomplete, leaving her completely annoyed.
Glancing at the unperturbed Vice President, Su Jiu quickly touched another stone, and again that incomplete feeling—
"Damn it, you like playing games, huh?" Su Jiu became furious, her mind flashing to the image of that silly Grand Duke teasing her. She gritted her silver teeth and directly slapped both hands down on two Awakening Stones.
The energy of five elementary Awakening Stones combined together equaled one and a half intermediate Awakening Stones.
At this moment, Su Jiu only felt a massive whale emerging in her mind, then suddenly bursting from a green ocean toward the sky, letting out a clear eagle cry, then transforming into a giant green roc.
With the roc's appearance, Su Jiu unconsciously used her Ice Chi transformation—behind her, "poof," a pair of blue-green small wings appeared, and incomparable life energy surged around her!
Su Jiu snapped back to awareness and quickly restrained her aura, letting only part of it leak out.
The Vice President immediately formed a protective barrier with his energy, blocking the escaping aura. His gaze was somewhat puzzled—such strong aura, S-grade and above, right?
Did someone like this need a second awakening? And there was something that felt off, but what exactly was wrong?
Su Jiu found that only her Ice Chi transformation had been awakened, which was somewhat disappointing. But thinking that awakening one ability for just two hundred thousand seemed normal.
After thanking the Vice President, Su Jiu left the Adventurer Guild and went to the station to buy tickets.
"This girl, she looks familiar. Hasn't she been to our place before?" The Vice President watched Su Jiu's retreating figure, feeling more and more strange. He had clearly made a big profit, yet his heart felt empty.
Then he looked at the Awakening Stones, slowly scanning them. The first one, the second one... Holy shit, how were they all darkened?
At this moment, the female receptionist saw his bewildered expression and quietly reminded him, "She's a registered demon exterminator here..."
"Demon exterminator? Wait!! You mean she was already awakened before!!" The Vice President looked at the five empty Awakening Stones in front of him, his eyes completely red with fury. Damn!
Look at this girl, seeming so innocent and naive, actually scheming against this old man! War General-level coming here to play newbie!?
One elementary Awakening Stone cost five hundred thousand, five stones—a total of two and a half million!!!
...
On the highway to Qinghai, a black, somewhat vintage Ferrari drove at a moderate pace.
Si Shen drove with one hand while gripping the throat of the uniformed man in the passenger seat with the other, smiling as he said, "Those two idiots screwed things up for me, causing the Night Watchmen to investigate me—you better seize this last opportunity."
After speaking, he slowly released his grip, picked up a piece of betel nut to chew, and hummed a little tune. Though he appeared relaxed, his eyes revealed a hint of madness.
"Sir, we can definitely succeed this time. This blood sacrifice array was personally organized by you. As long as we control this essential route to Qinghai, the [Singer] won't dare act rashly."
"I hope so."
Si Shen hummed softly, his gaze mysteriously focused ahead. He no longer hoped for successful negotiations... he just needed to delay the execution.
Ten years ago... America, snowy night.
In a street corner, a little boy in tattered clothes held hot milk and bread, constantly rubbing his hands and breathing on them.
"Little beggar, you have talent... here's some money to go awaken." The woman wasn't tall, wearing red high heels and twin tails, her voice somewhat hoarse.
"I want to work for you." The little boy looked up, his face full of expectation as he gazed at the woman.
"Me? Interesting... then kill the people who drove you out."