Just as Lin Qiye was hesitating, a new prompt suddenly popped up on the MC Interface before his eyes:
[Mission: Join the Night Watchmen organization and establish a deeper connection.]
[Reward: Gain more permissions, unlock new items.]
[Hint: This will help you better understand the rules of this world.]
Lin Qiye's gaze flickered slightly as he fell into contemplation. He recalled how Zhao Kongcheng had risked severe injury to protect him, and considering the unique nature of his own power, he realized he truly did need an organization to serve as a foundation.
"Alright, I'll join," Lin Qiye said plainly.
"Fantastic!" Zhao Kongcheng grabbed Lin Qiye's leg, so moved he was almost in tears. "Qiye, you finally saw reason!"
The other team members looked at each other in surprise; they hadn't expected Lin Qiye to agree so readily.
Suddenly, Zhao Kongcheng looked up, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Qiye, I have one more request."
"What is it?"
"Help me activate my Forbidden Domain!" Zhao Kongcheng's voice trembled. "I saw you drink milk to cancel the side effects of the Ghost-God Trigger. Our Night Watchmen have studied that stuff for years and never figured it out!"
Hong Ying frowned. "Old Zhao, have you lost your mind? The side effects of the Ghost-God Trigger are lethal!"
"But Qiye has a way!" Zhao Kongcheng insisted. "I saw it with my own eyes—after he drank that milk, all the side effects vanished!"
The other members of the Night Watchmen squad looked at Lin Qiye skeptically. Zhao Kongcheng began vividly describing how Lin Qiye had cured a hundred toxins with a single gulp of milk, thoroughly piquing everyone's curiosity.
"Is such a thing truly possible?" Hong Ying couldn't help but ask.
Lin Qiye was silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "It is indeed possible, but it requires a specific condition."
"What condition?" everyone asked in unison.
Lin Qiye gave a mysterious smile. "I need a special 'casting medium.' This item is critical; without it, the effects cannot be fully realized."
Upon hearing this, the others felt a sense of clarity. That makes sense! It had to be some rare, divine object to possess such power. How could it possibly just be milk?
The team members grew excited, theorizing about what this precious item might be.
"Is it an ancient relic of the gods?"
"Or some heavenly treasure?"
"Do we need to perform a sacrifice?"
Hong Ying said solemnly, "As long as it helps Old Zhao activate his Forbidden Domain, no matter how difficult it is to obtain, we will find a way!"
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Lin Qiye spoke slowly: "I need a cow. A live one. And..."
"And what? Do you need a divine cow from mythology? Like the Minotaur or Hathor?" Hong Ying began to speculate.
"If it really is a divine cow, it would be incredibly precious. This is a major matter; we should contact headquarters immediately to organize a hunt!" Si Xiaonan stood up suddenly, speaking with excitement.
Just as everyone prepared themselves for a grand battle, Lin Qiye continued, "And it's best if it's a female cow. While a bull might work, it affects the experience."
The air suddenly froze.
Everyone's expressions jammed on their faces, wondering if they had misheard.
"You said... what?" Hong Ying blinked.
"A live cow, female," Lin Qiye repeated with a serious expression.
Zhao Kongcheng was the first to snap out of it. "Just... an ordinary cow?"
Lin Qiye nodded. "Yeah, a normal cow is fine. It shouldn't be that hard, right?"
Hong Ying and the team members looked at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. They had expected some world-class treasure, and it turned out to be just a common cow?
"My cousin has a farm in the suburbs with a few dairy cows," Hong Ying suddenly remembered. "I'll contact her right now."
Two hours later, a black-and-white dairy cow was led into the Night Watchmen training grounds. The team members gathered around in a curious circle, waiting to witness a miracle.
They watched as Lin Qiye drew an angular, pixelated iron bucket from the void and walked toward the cow.
Everyone held their breath, eyes glued to the scene.
Lin Qiye stood beside the cow, bucket in his right hand. He crouched slightly and gave a gentle wave of his hand toward the animal.
Gurgle, gurgle—
Pure white milk instantly surged into the iron bucket. The milk seemed to emit a slight steam, releasing a peculiar fragrance different from common milk—a rich scent reminiscent of heavy nectar intertwined with cream.
"This... what is this?" Hong Ying sucked in a cold breath.
The surrounding Night Watchmen were all dumbfounded. Some even rubbed their eyes, thinking they were hallucinating.
"Where did that bucket come from?" Si Xiaonan asked in a low voice.
"Is your reaction time really that slow? The milk is the issue here!" Hong Ying rolled her eyes.
However, a fanatical light flickered in Zhao Kongcheng's eyes. He had already seen many of Lin Qiye's miraculous abilities and was now certain this youth harbored a great secret.
He couldn't wait any longer. He grabbed the pre-prepared Ghost-God Trigger and pulled back the clothing near his neck.
"Old Zhao, shouldn't you think about this one more time?" Hong Ying couldn't help but remind him.
"What's there to fear? Qiye is here!" Zhao Kongcheng grinned, a look of determination in his eyes.
Zhao Kongcheng raised his hand, aiming the shimmering crest-shaped injector at his neck. Under everyone's gaze, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and resolutely drove the sharp needle into his skin.
"Ah—!"
He let out a cry that sat somewhere between pain and ecstasy.
The moment the Ghost-God Trigger serum entered his veins, Zhao Kongcheng's muscles tightened and veins bulged on his forehead. A visible energy spread rapidly through his blood vessels, staining the skin beneath with a bizarre greenish-black hue.
His eyes snapped open, his pupils flashing with a golden light that did not belong to a mortal.
"I feel it... a power like never before!"
His voice became hoarse and deep, as if two people were speaking simultaneously.
Zhao Kongcheng roared toward the sky, his body suddenly soaring into the air. He drew the blade from his waist. In an instant, a massive black crescent moon manifested from the edge of the blade, radiating a bone-chilling aura.
"Life-Extinguishing Flash Moon!"
He growled low and gave the sword a light swing.
That pitch-black crescent shot forward, emitting an ear-piercing shriek as it sliced through the air. The moment the crescent moon struck the wall of the training ground—
Boom!
The specialized composite metal wall was sliced clean through. A bottomless crack extended from the floor to the ceiling, its edges even emitting wisps of black smoke. Fragments of the wall fell to the floor with heavy thuds.
"Holy crap!" Si Xiaonan blurted out.
Hong Ying stared solemnly at the massive crack in the wall, whispering under her breath, "Life-Extinguishing Flash Moon! It's a High-Danger Forbidden Domain!"
However, Zhao Kongcheng's joy lasted for only a few seconds.
Suddenly, his smile froze. A look of agony crawled onto his face and spread rapidly. He clutched his chest with his left hand, his features contorting.
"Qi... Qiye..." He looked toward Lin Qiye with great difficulty.
Everyone watched in horror as Zhao Kongcheng's hair turned from black to white at a visible rate. Black lines appeared on his skin, looking like aged cracks. His life aura was fading at an alarming speed; he looked as if he were slowly shattering.
"The backlash of the Ghost-God Trigger!" Hong Ying cried out.
Lin Qiye didn't drop the ball. Moving swiftly, he charged toward Zhao Kongcheng holding the milk bucket.
Just as Zhao Kongcheng tried to speak again, Lin Qiye reached him and slammed the entire bucket of milk squarely against his face.