Chapter 168: The Suitable Missionary

Lin Hanning let out a long sigh. There was some sweat on his face and he looked a little tired, but his eyes were bright.

She withdrew her hand, and the white light in her palm slowly dissipated.

"Alright. I've purified the tainted mark at its core. While its essence remains unchanged, it won't harm its holder as long as they don't stare at it for a long time or actively activate its power." She pointed to the box in my hand. "Put it in this to ensure it's completely safe."

I followed his instructions and placed the purified crystal into the box. The moment the lid closed, the profound energy waves vanished completely, as if completely isolated in another time and space. The cool, heavy box in my hands gave me an unprecedented sense of peace.

"Thank you." I looked at Lin Hanning, my gratitude coming from the bottom of my heart. Not only had she solved my urgent problem, she had also shown her sincerity.

"You're welcome. It's nothing." Lin Hanning waved her hand and regained her innocent smile, but a hint of seriousness appeared in her eyes. "Besides, Ji Ling, I think we... might be able to work together."

"Cooperation?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah!" Lin Hanning nodded vigorously, his blue-gray eyes flashing with sincerity.

"You see, I know some ancient information about these 'big guys' and their relics. You have the ability to contact them, even... influence them." She glanced meaningfully at the box containing the crystal, but did not mention that Gali was sleeping.

"If we want to fight against the evil god, it's too difficult to do it alone. We need information, we need strength, and we need to truly understand this world." She looked at me with an unprecedented sincerity in her eyes.

Do you truly understand this world?

That sounds crazy.

She extended her hand towards me, smiling brightly. "So, would you like to consider it? We can share information and support each other when necessary? The goal is... to survive, find out the truth, and then... find a way to make this world less terrible? What do you think?"

Her proposal was straightforward and pragmatic. She didn't make any grand promises and considerately avoided mentioning the secrets between us. She only emphasized common goals and the possibility of mutual assistance.

To be honest, this frankness and pragmatism do make it easier for me to accept.

I looked at her outstretched hand in the moonlight, and then at the box in her hand that isolated the hidden danger.

After a moment, I reached out and held her slightly cold but strong hand.

"Okay, happy cooperation, Lin Hanning."

"But..." I looked at the sky that was about to brighten and said to her, "I have to go back first."

"Ji Ling! How can I contact you?" She called me when I was about to leave.

I took out a makeup mirror from my pocket and threw it to her.

"Inject your power into the mirror and call my name directly. I can hear it. Similarly, if I want to find you, I will also use the mirror."

After saying that, I turned and left.

…

Early morning, Black Dragon Gang stronghold.

I avoided the guards and returned to my room to catch up on some sleep. Although my need for sleep is not as great now and I only need some fragmented sleep to recover, I still keep the habit of sleeping.

This makes me feel human at all times.

I stayed in bed until dawn, then I slowly got up.

Bai Zangding did not require me to abide by the rules he set, but after all, I am now the second-in-command of the Black Dragon Gang, and I cannot be too lax. After resting, I still symbolically took a stroll around the stronghold.

Inside the stronghold, members of the Black Dragon Gang were carrying out their respective tasks in an orderly manner.

Inside the training grounds, Hakuzo was radiant, eager to practice his new abilities.

I went to Zhao Kui's room under the pretext of caring about the former second-in-command.

My goal is still to strengthen the Black Dragon Gang and build faith.

I have already told Bai Zang the method of evolution. He is better than me at strengthening the Black Dragon Gang. At most, I can regularly select a few good ones to train their mental strength to reduce the risk of them losing control during evolution.

But I can't preach to them one by one, and Zhao Kui is an excellent choice.

He is in a bad mental state at the moment. If he continues to be depressed for a long time, the Black Dragon Gang will not be able to continue supporting him.

If I could heal his spirit at this point, he could become a suitable communicator.

The place where Zhao Kui was staying was more like a crude confinement cell than a room. The light was dim, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat, medicine, and an indescribable atmosphere of dejection.

Zhao Kui huddled on a makeshift bed in the corner, his back to the door, his entire body a lifeless mess. The image of the once arrogant, muscular second-in-command was gone, leaving only a shell whose will had been completely shattered by fear.

Aaron said that he has been like this since he woke up, refusing to eat or drink, with empty eyes, and trembling with fear at the slightest noise.

"Zhao Kui." I said calmly.

His body trembled violently like a frightened rabbit, but he did not look back. Instead, he buried his head deeper and a suppressed whimper came out of his throat.

This is exactly the state I need - his mental defenses have completely collapsed, and his mind is in the abyss of being most vulnerable and most eager for redemption.

I closed the door and locked it. The room instantly grew dimmer. I walked to the center of the room, but didn't try to get close to Zhao Kui. I just stood there quietly.

"Look at me, Zhao Kui." My voice had a strange penetrating power. It was not an order, but like a stone thrown into calm water.

Zhao Kui's body trembled again, but this time, perhaps he heard what I said clearly, or perhaps it was driven by a trace of instinct in his desperation, he turned around very slowly, like a rusty machine.

His face appeared swollen and pale in the dim light, his eyes were dull and lifeless, filled with the most primitive fear and confusion.

When his scattered gaze finally focused on me, the fear in his heart instantly magnified several times! He suddenly shrank back, hitting the wall with a dull "bang" sound, and unconsciously let out a "ho ho" sound from his mouth, as if he had seen a being more terrifying than a monster.

"Don't... don't come over..." His voice was hoarse and broken, and he spoke to me almost in a pleading tone.

"Don't be afraid." I smiled faintly, ignoring his plea. At the same time, I quietly expanded the illusion. This time, it wasn't to instill fear, but to construct a divine realm.

Silently, the scene in the room began to fade and distort, and the furnishings in the room also changed into the appearance of a temple.

In this illusory temple, the dark corners were dispelled and the entire space was filled with a soft and vast light.

I had also quietly changed my posture and stood in the center of the halo. My figure became blurred and tall, with bright stardust lingering around me, and my face was shrouded in a hazy but majestic glow - this was the image of "Lord of the Starry Sky".