Learn one small skill every day

After the last Abyss Street dungeon, the Zero Hour Lock status changed from 2% to 9%. What about this time?

Bai Miao glanced at it and found that the Zero Time Lock status was still 9%.

However, to Bai Miao's surprise, some additional information about the Zero Hour Lock was displayed.

The Lock of Zero Hour

[Source: Flying Towards the Sun]

[Description: The pinnacle of Time & Lock Company's technology, possessing the magical ability to control time, but it has been damaged due to overuse.]

Time & Lock Company symbolizes the city's most prestigious corporation, attracting countless people like Icarus constantly spreading his wings towards the sun.

[Status: Damaged (9%); Repair method: Restores 1% durability every 24 hours when in an abnormal time flow zone.]

[Rating: Aleph]

[Special Effect: In the event of an instant-death attack, consumes 10% durability to increase the holder's time flow rate by 100 times for 1 second, once every 24 hours.]

Bai Miao's mathematical skills made him extremely sensitive to numbers, and he instantly understood the reason.

After 7 days in Abyss Street, its durability increased by 7%, and after another 10 days in the Qingqiu Rebellion dungeon, its durability increased by 10%, allowing Zero Hour Lock to escape its damaged state. However, due to the gas explosion just now, a special effect was triggered, and it reverted to being damaged. Nevertheless, the text after escaping the damaged state was retained.

It turns out it was the effect of the Zero Time Lock...

Looking at the flames and listening to the cries for help coming from inside the apartment building, Bai Miao was filled with conflicting emotions.

Going upstairs to rescue someone would just be making things worse, wouldn't it?

There might have been no problem at all, but if I went over there, something big would definitely happen, and I might even blow the whole building up.

But just looking at it here makes me feel really sad.

Meanwhile, the Jiangcheng City Public Security Bureau and Fire Department both took action, and the official organization that issued the fire inspection order also sensed something unusual.

Although the purpose of the inspection was to find out whether Hu Chensan had left behind any dangerous goods, the fire inspection was indeed carried out in a real way.

There's no reason for a fire to break out so quickly.

Unless someone deliberately set the fire!

who is it?

Within five minutes, several departments arrived at the scene and found Bai Miao standing downstairs.

"Don't move! Raise both hands above your head!"

"Come with us!"

"I'm a resident! A gas leak in my home caused an explosion!"

Bai Miao explained.

"Then why are you outside now, and why are you being spread in such a strange way?!"

Bai Miao's hunter outfit at this moment really doesn't look like something a normal modern person would wear.

Bai Miao also contacted officials through the Knockers network, realizing that his identity could no longer be hidden.

However, we'll have to contact the authorities sooner or later, so let's consider this a chance to build rapport beforehand.

"I was surrounded by a group of people who thought I was a suspicious person, but I really did cause a gas explosion by accident. Were you at the scene? Who are you explaining this to?"

As soon as Bai Miao finished speaking, a girl with short hair tied up and dressed in a suit raised her hand from the group of people surrounding him.

"Kong Lin, do you know him?"

"Hmm... those from other departments, please go and maintain order. We'll take care of this."

After Kong Lin finished speaking, three-quarters of the group immediately dispersed, leaving only four people behind.

Who are you, knocking on the door?

Other official knockers who had not communicated with Bai Miao asked.

“He is White…” Kong Lin was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t expected White to be such a young boy.

"What? This guy is that big shot?"

The others were also surprised.

"Young... Boss, how old are you this year?"

“I’m 18, a senior in high school, and you can see my current situation.” Bai Miao shrugged. “That’s why I need help.”

"No problem, we've already contacted the local authorities, but judging from your appearance... the journey there will be quite difficult."

Bai Miao nodded with a wry smile: "That's true. Now I'm more hoping that my problem hasn't affected the other residents in this building."

"The fire isn't big. It was probably a momentary explosion that produced the open flame. The explosion wasn't very powerful either, and the subsequent gas concentration didn't reach the conditions for an explosion. Apart from the exterior wall of your apartment being blackened by smoke, other residents won't be affected."

A tall male knocker answered Bai Miao's question, adding, "I was a firefighter before joining the special department, so I can tell the extent of a fire at a glance."

"Come sit here for a while..."

"I'll stay put for now."

Bai Miao stood downstairs, watching the fire brigade quickly extinguish the fire.

As the person who knocked on the door, a former firefighter, said, the process of extinguishing the fire didn't even take two minutes.

Apart from Bai Miao's house being burned to the ground, the other houses did not suffer much damage.

The residents were still evacuated to open areas. Bai Miao watched as Hu Muyao and his grandmother huddled together, and looked at Bai Miao's room, which was blackened by the fire, with some fear.

"This is quite troublesome. I hope one of you can help me explain to the school. I asked my homeroom teacher for 7 days off, and then my phone exploded. I don't know if he will think I was burned to death after seeing the news. I didn't even have a chance to reassure him."

“We can handle this kind of minor matter. What kind of on-site investigation results do you want? If this matter is indeed related to the person who knocked on the door, then we won’t let the fire department give an investigation conclusion.”

Bai Miao never expected that he would have such a great influence.

"Let me think... I'll just say that I went back to my hometown for a funeral and didn't turn off the gas, which caused an accidental explosion. Anyway, I don't have any relatives, and no one will come to verify it."

"it is good."

"Um..." Just as Bai Miao was discussing with the other knockers how to minimize the incident, Kong Lin walked over: "I've already arranged the shelter you wanted. Shall we head over there?"

Chapter 46 Heading West

Is that place far away?

"It's not far, but it's in the suburbs, about ten kilometers west of the city."

"Tell me the location, I'll go there myself."

Bai Miao's words surprised the others: "You don't need us to escort you?"

"No need, I'm already very grateful that you provided the venue. I would feel bad if you delivered it to me."

Of course, Bai Miao didn't say the more fundamental reason: he didn't believe that these people could protect themselves by following him.

Who knows, I might end up killing them all.

The gas explosion didn't harm the neighbors, but what if someone was nearby?

There's no way they can escape.

"Are you looking down on us? Young man, I admit you can handle some tough thugs, but our autopsy revealed he suffered from psychological trauma, not physical injuries. That means your physical abilities aren't that great, right? Are you sure you can handle these kinds of accidents on your own?"

A young-looking man with a buzz cut knocked on the door and said nonchalantly, "There's nothing shameful about being protected."

"Alright, Chen Ao, that's enough. I'm sorry, Bai Miao, but Chen Ao just doesn't want anything to happen to you."

During the conversation, the group revealed their real names to each other. The firefighter who knocked on the door had the ID "炎炎消防队" (Yan Yan Fire Brigade) and his real name was Shan Chengtian.

It has a bit of an anime/manga vibe.

Bai Miao waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind.

"We'll take you there in an armored vehicle; it's only ten kilometers."

Bai Miao still refused.

If my phone's battery can be repaired for no reason, what about a car?

I'm afraid I'll have to earn the title of "vehicle killer" in the future.

"Hey? Why are you so stubborn? You don't really think you can do whatever you want just because you have an Aleph-level item that boosts your spirit, do you? I bet you put all your free attribute points into spirit, just because this item doubled your spirit power? Take my advice, with your high spirit power, you really can't pass this test."

Chen Ao still tried his best to dissuade him.

"No, you really don't need it. Just send me the location."

Bai Miao was also getting impatient. Why was this man dawdling like that?

"Alright, then don't come crying to us for protection later."

Chen Ao pursed his lips and sent the address to Bai Miao.

"Do you know the way?"

"I think."

With navigation skills and a specific address, how could you possibly get lost?

I'm just having bad luck right now, but I haven't lost the skill effects.

Having obtained the address, Bai Miao immediately activated his Qi Observation Technique. This technique can detect changes in airflow, which might be helpful in anticipating potential dangers.

"Boss, he really left alone."

Chen Ao watched Bai Miao's departing figure and spat on the ground: "That guy is pretty arrogant. Letting a senior high school student get such good props, I really don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. What if he wants to show off at school? I don't know how they chose such an immature student as the door knocker."

"Say less. Before he showed up, did any of you realize he was a student? His manner of speaking didn't seem like that of a typical high school student."

Shan Chengtian frowned: "Letting him walk on his own is definitely not an option. We'll follow him a hundred meters behind. That way, if there's any danger, we can at least take care of him."

Kong Lin nodded, agreeing to the proposal.

Chen Ao sighed deeply: "Am I here to be a bodyguard or a babysitter?!"

Using the art of aura observation in a modern city is a novel experience. Many auras seem insignificant under the bright lights of the city, as if the skyscrapers have swallowed up everyone's fate, yet also intertwined everyone's fate.

However, Bai Miao could still see that his whole body was emanating an ominous black aura, with only a few scattered golden and purple lights floating in the black aura.

There were very few people in the old town, and there were none at all late at night. Bai Miao, dressed in a hunter's outfit, walked on the empty streets, carefully watching his surroundings.