The weapon refiner is not doing her job properly

Chapter 253 Disappearance Resurfaces
Su Ninglong was clearly more interested in these stalls, but it was almost impossible to find a bargain in such a well-organized night market. Most of the stall owners' goods came from regular wholesale channels, and the probability of finding rare items was extremely low.

Qi Shen glanced at them briefly before looking away; these ordinary objects didn't catch his eye. But the ladies in his group were clearly in high spirits, so he had no choice but to chat with the two gentlemen, and the conversation gradually turned to the arrangements for the next competition.

"Won't the next competition be held in a four-star contaminated zone again?" Lian Xinyi couldn't help but shiver, as if trying to shake off the fear.

He didn't want to experience the feeling of knowing his companions were struggling in danger while he could only passively endure the invisible pain.

“The format of the competition should change,” Qi Shenyun said casually. “The Star Alliance has proposed that we can no longer share a single contaminated area, a suggestion that is exactly what the Star Alliance wants.”

Upon hearing this, Song Hu twitched the corner of his mouth.

The Star Alliance was knowingly walking into a trap, but the Star Alliance was worried that they would lose too badly and abandon the project altogether, so they indirectly made the Star Alliance bring it up, and then the Star Alliance reluctantly agreed.

"Isn't it ridiculous?" A hint of mockery flashed in Qi Shen's gray eyes. "Fighting to the death over something insignificant. Why not just ask me about the truth of the Key of Prophecy? Why go to such lengths?"

Song Hu was suddenly stunned. What did that mean? The Key of Prophecy was clearly a relic from the darkest period; did he really know the inside story?
Lian Xinyi didn't have as many concerns as Song Hu and directly pressed, "They won't ask, but I will! What exactly is the Key to Prophecy?"

“A sealed artifact that has developed self-awareness.” Qi Shen said casually, but did not continue.

At this moment, Su Ninglong had already stood up. Her soft, long hair was braided into a loose fishtail braid and hung down on her shoulders. Her ears were slightly perked up, and she looked furtive.

Qi Shen smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Su Ninglong felt her cheeks burning.

The moment she was caught eavesdropping, her usually self-righteous gaze could only hover over the ground, pretending she knew nothing.

"We'll discuss the Key of Prophecy after your contest is over."

"Didn't you have amnesia?" Su Ninglong blurted out.

“Some things I can’t remember, but others are etched into my bones; I can recall them at a glance.” Qi Shen’s gaze fell gently on her. “Anything you want to know, I can tell you. Right now.”

His favoritism towards Su Ninglong was obvious; it wasn't the care of an elder for a younger person, nor was it romantic love, but rather a natural appreciation for beautiful things. He had always done as he pleased and didn't see anything wrong with it.

Lian Xinyi exclaimed from the side, "Brother Qi, I want to know too!"

Su Ninglong also had a good impression of Qi Shen. This ancestor had always favored people and things that were pleasing to the eye, and just looking at them made people feel comfortable.

Since Qi Shen said she could ask more questions, she didn't hold back. Just as she opened her mouth, she suddenly caught sight of two figures at the street corner that caught her attention.

She squinted to make out the details.

It was Zi Yue, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, and Wu Xingyi.

They were turning into the lobby of the auction building. Although they kept their distance, Wu Xingyi's slightly turned-to-the-side listening posture clearly showed respect.

Zi Yue stood there blankly, her gaze wandering aimlessly before suddenly fixing on Su Ninglong, then quickly sweeping over her before finally locking onto Qi Shen.

She had never seen anyone like him before. While others would look out of place in flowing ancient-style clothing, it looked perfectly natural on him.

Wu Xingyi's expression changed drastically. "You absolutely mustn't get your hands on that person."

Faced with her stern rebuke, Ziyue simply curled her lip indifferently: "Why are you being so fierce?"

A deeper interest flashed in her bright eyes. She lightly touched her cheek with her fingers, her posture affected, with a strange kind of coquettishness.

"The harder a flower is to pick, the more fragrant it is! The more you try to stop me, the more I'll see what you can do to me."

All of Wu Xingyi's gentleness vanished, and her tone suddenly became stern, "I told you, absolutely do not provoke him, understand?"

Ziyue was impatient, her gaze still fixed on Qi Shen.

Seeing him smiling and whispering to the person next to him, she then noticed Su Ninglong standing to the side.

She looked down at her impressive figure, deliberately puffing out her chest, thinking that she would be perfect after plastic surgery in a while.

"My current superpower is very rare," she said confidently. "Anyone who isn't an idiot would find it hard to refuse me."

Wu Xingyi gasped in shock at her naive remarks: "He's at least a thousand years old, what kind of superpowers hasn't he seen?"

Ignoring all etiquette, she grabbed Ziyue's arm and hurriedly left, afraid of running into Su Ninglong.

For some reason, every time Wu Xingyi faced Su Ninglong, she felt as if she had been completely seen through, and all the filth hidden in her heart had nowhere to hide.

"Over a thousand years old?" Zi Yue's eyes widened, and a thought uncontrollably slipped out: "I also want to live forever..."

“If you’re not afraid of death, go ahead and try. Your family went to great lengths to find this body; if you offend Qi Shen, he can take everything you own away.”

The person carrying Ziyue's body finally quieted down. Although they still looked back reluctantly, they stopped making a fuss.

The smile on Su Ninglong's face vanished completely; she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

Wu Xingyi thought her voice was soft enough, and in such a noisy street, she figured Su Ninglong wouldn't hear her.

However, for cultivators, as long as they release their divine sense even slightly, even the most subtle conversations will be revealed.

Those people weren't just researching ability transfer; they'd even mastered the technology of soul swapping?
Once the soul can leave the body at will, the spiritual practitioner will be like a wild horse, easily invaded by secret spirits.

Su Ninglong carefully maintained the balance, trying to avoid potential future crises, while Wu Xingyi kept tearing apart this crumbling sky from behind.

The sudden news sent a chill down her spine.

She couldn't help but darken her face, her aura suddenly changed, and the chilling killing intent made Aria grab Lei Qingya's arm for protection.

At this moment, Qi Shen gently placed his hand on her shoulder, and a warm spiritual energy slowly flowed in.

"That Vice Principal Wu is courting disaster. Don't worry about him too much." His voice was calm and even. "The other person, do you know him?"

Su Ninglong met his clear, unadulterated eyes.

She replied telepathically, "I know you, but we're not close anymore." Anyone who hasn't seen each other for six or seven years, and who wasn't even close friends to begin with, will drift apart.

She had long been prepared that Ziyue might have perished, so when she learned that the other person's soul had been replaced, she felt nothing more than regret.

Qi Shen also used telepathy, inaudible to outsiders, to ask, "You want to investigate Vice Principal Wu?"

"Can't I check?"

“Star Police previously wanted to ask me for assistance, but I refused.” Qi Shen’s lips curled up slightly, his smile carrying a hint of wicked amusement, yet his eyes held no trace of insult. “Beg me, and I’ll help you investigate. If I’m willing to take action, I’ll give you an answer within three months.”

"Please." Qi Shen: "..."

He had assumed that Su Ninglong would haughtily raise her chin and resolutely refuse to sell her dignity.

Su Ninglong was secretly delighted. If she were to investigate on her own, she would probably throw in tens of millions of star coins and not even see a ripple.

But Qi Shen was different; his unfathomable strength gave him absolute confidence.

The two exchanged glances seemingly calmly, but secretly they had already reached a deal.

Qi Shen was rarely speechless by her. In all his years, this was the first time he had suffered a loss because of his thick skin.

"What kind of riddle are you playing?" Lian Xinyi asked curiously, peeking out.

"Mind your own business." Su Ninglong glanced at him. "We're talking about serious matters, it's not convenient for you to listen."

Lian Xinyi deliberately pouted and pretended to be unhappy, but Lei Qingya lightly kicked his butt: "Don't be silly."

The atmosphere inside the auction hall was lively, but Su Ninglong did not raise her paddle at all.

On the contrary, Qi Shen, relying on the agreement they had just reached, confidently demanded that Su Ninglong bid for him.

Lian Xinyi bit her handkerchief with envy, feeling like she had just swallowed a huge lemon.

Aria, however, was filled with admiration. Su Ninglong was truly amazing that she could make a powerful figure like Qi Shen willingly "live off a woman".

When Su Ninglong came out of the auction, she looked like a completely drained salted fish.

Qi Shen finally stopped after spending a full 90 million star coins.

"Make good money, young lady." Qi Shen laughed loudly as they parted.

Su Ninglong's heart was bleeding inside. She tried to convince herself that it was "worth every penny," but the thought of "picking up a sesame seed and losing a watermelon" followed her everywhere.

Every second Qi Shen hovered in front of her felt like he was snatching a handful of star coins from her purse.

She stared intently at him, wishing she could pounce on him and bite him back.

Qi Shen turned around, tore open space, and disappeared instantly.

"The Great Ascension stage?" Perhaps he is just a space-type ability user, but his cultivation level is definitely above Principal Yan's.

This extravagant and depraved man...

Now she only hopes that Qi Shen will keep his promise and not just fool her.

Of course, she couldn't place all her hopes for the investigation on Qi Shen.

Just as she was trying to find out about Ziyue's past, the rules for the next competition were finally announced.

Just as Qi Shen predicted, the Star Alliance and the Star Radiance Alliance will be divided into two groups, each entering one of the two contaminated zones. The group that can contain or destroy the internal secret spirits the fastest will win.

Zou Shuyi clicked her tongue lightly, "I knew Principal Yan would try to find a way to pass the task to the Star Glory Alliance. Are you still going to participate this time?"

Su Ninglong raised her eyes, her tone calm: "It doesn't matter whether we participate or not, the Star Alliance won't be competing for victory this time." Only by losing this round can we move on to the next one.

As the bar opened, Aria rushed in, her face deathly pale: "Someone else has gone missing! Ninglong, help!"

She specifically rented an apartment nearby because she knew the bar was frequented by hunters and she could call for help anytime. But when she witnessed the police investigating her neighbor's disappearance that evening, she felt as if she had been doused with ice water, completely chilled to the bone.

That neighbor was a homebody who never left his house, and he disappeared without a trace.

If his parents hadn't been unable to contact him for so long, probably no one would have noticed. What's even more terrifying is that he wasn't the only one who disappeared from this building; men and women alike vanished without a trace.

After being questioned by the Star Police, Arya found Su Ninglong, trembling with fear.

After understanding the basic situation, Su Ninglong said, "You can stay here tonight and sleep with my godmother."

"Okay, okay..." Arya couldn't have been happier; she had been waiting for those words for a long time.

Ms. Zou is the safest person around. Her special ability is that she can completely avoid contaminated areas, making her a walking, mysterious insulator.

Just then, Su Ninglong received an urgent notice from the school: the next competition would be held ahead of schedule.

She could only apologize to Arya: "If the other hunters can't handle it, I'll come back in a couple of days to follow up. You can stay with my godmother for a few days."

Startled by the time she had been missing, Ailiya would obediently nod to whatever Su Ninglong said.

Su Ninglong needed to rush back to school, and looked back before leaving. Zou Shuyi stood at the bar entrance, smiling as she watched her go; the soft lighting made her capable figure appear especially warm.

Su Ninglong waved her hand, feeling extremely reluctant to leave, yet unable to stay.

……

"The early competition was unavoidable," Tong Zi explained as she distributed materials to the participants. "Another series of disappearances has occurred, and the higher-ups have ordered a swift resolution. The Star Police have provided two clues, each corresponding to a four-star contaminated zone, both calculated by the Key of Prophecy. This time, we don't need to be too concerned about winning or losing, but we also can't let our guard down. Only by resolving this quickly can we prevent more people from being harmed."

Upon hearing that it was another four-star contaminated zone, even Xin Yi's face fell. Charlie patted him on the shoulder, trying to comfort him: "Look on the bright side, hard work is always more effective than racking your brains."

Lian Xinyi pointed at Charlie, her face filled with exaggerated grief and indignation: "When did you become such a philosophical dog?"

Tong Zi cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back: "That's the situation. Currently, no clear contaminated area has appeared, so we need to follow the clues to find the source. This time, the rule strictly limits each team to ten people, and everyone must be under sixty years old." This rule excludes the direct involvement of five-star hunters while also providing opportunities for other powerful hunters.

"Furthermore, at the strong request of the Star Alliance, Qirui will be included in the team's roster." Everyone knew perfectly well that having a navigator dog occupy a team member's spot was clearly a deliberate attempt to weaken the team's actual capabilities.

Su Ninglong didn't care about those restrictions at all.

She looked down at the electronic document she had just received, where all the clues were compiled. When she saw one of the messages, she paused: "My friend's neighbor is also on the missing persons list."

The investigation's direction aligns perfectly. Logically, this kind of preliminary investigation should be the responsibility of investigators and Star Police; it seems the Star Alliance has indeed begun to integrate into the official system.

Charlie, Lian Xinyi, and Sally will not participate in the team's operation this time either.

The new members were Yun Fei, Shen Zhaoming, and Lei Qingya. Su Ninglong looked around and found that most of them were familiar faces. She felt a strange sense of accomplishment, which proved that she had a good eye for people. These people would become important connections for her in the future.

Just then, an urgent message popped up on the bracelet from Song Liu in the group chat: "Something's wrong! Teacher Lena has also gone missing!"

Lena is an indispensable therapist on the team. Without her, Charlie and Lian Xinyi's safety during the mission would be much more uncertain.