Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

The notice was just posted; the ink was still wet.

[Emergency Notice from the Temple of Remembrance]

In light of the recent natural disasters, the temple and its subordinate institutions have suffered heavy casualties.

To replenish manpower, effective immediately, all prospective spirit mediums will be promoted to full-fledged positions and incorporated into the emergency response team.

I hope everyone will diligently practice and conscientiously fulfill their duties.

"Early promotion?" someone from the temple read aloud, their tone complex.

"Is this some kind of 'what the hell' mentality?!"

"That's right, the selection process for permanent positions used to be so rigorous, but now it's all being moved up..."

"There's no other way, we're really short-staffed. Zhenniantang suffered the heaviest casualties in this natural disaster."

"Sigh, this world..."

Sighs and worries permeated the temple, and quickly spread to the onlookers.

"If this temple is like this, what are we going to do?"

"With such a severe natural disaster, even the temple can't withstand it?"

Fear spread like wildfire, and the days that had just begun to calm down were once again stirred up by this notice.

Anxiety enveloped everyone, and the future seemed to be suddenly shrouded in a thick fog.

Shen Zhen stared at the notice, her brows furrowed slightly.

Early promotion means greater responsibility and danger, but it also presents an opportunity for rapid advancement, access to more resources, and greater influence.

The Jingxie Division had been recruiting new staff due to a shortage of talent, and Ling Buyu immediately assigned them to emergency missions.

There were originally seven people, but now there are only six left. Lu Renjia sacrificed himself before he could be officially promoted.

Following this natural disaster, other institutions within the temple are also facing a shortage of manpower, and the entire temple system is in a tense and busy state.

Chen Xi stood beside him, her lips pressed tightly together as she looked at the words "heavy casualties" on the notice.

At this moment, Zhao Huaijin, Li Qingyan, Qi Xuejian and others also came over, and obviously they had also seen the notice.

Zhao Huaijin's face showed less of his usual arrogance and more solemnity:

"It seems things won't be easy from now on." Li Qingyan simply clenched his fist silently, his eyes becoming even more resolute.

In the afternoon, at the Jingxie Division's martial arts arena.

Coach Tie called the remaining six new recruits over here.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across everyone's face like a knife.

"You all saw the notice, right?" His voice was deep, lacking its usual gruffness.

"Enough with the nonsense. Starting tomorrow, there will be no distinction between newcomers and veterans, only between the living and the dead."

He walked to a weapon rack in a corner and took down the short knife that Lu Renjia often used.

"This knife will hang here from now on."

Instructor Tie carefully placed the sword back into the weapon rack.

"You see it first thing when you train every day."

Remember why he died: not because he was weak, but because his enemy was strong and ruthless!

He turned around, his eyes sharp:

"If you want to avenge him, you have to survive first."

"Remember, live on and take revenge!" the six said in unison, even Wu Xian straightened his back.

Finally, Tie Xuan looked at Shen Zhen: "You, spar with me."

Shen Zhen was startled.

"Don't think you're so great just because you have a little talent," Coach Tie snorted.

"With your level of mental power, you might be able to deal with low-level mutants, but if you run into a tough opponent, you'll die without even knowing how."

To become stronger, you must first learn to take a beating.

Shen Zhen took a deep breath and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Yes, Instructor."

Meanwhile, in an abandoned ruin on the outskirts of the capital.

A masked man sat alone on a pile of rocks, toying with two jade pendants that gleamed with an eerie light, engraved with strange patterns.

Standing in front of him were a man and a woman, Song Yue and Chu Yan.

Song Yue said:

"My lord, news has arrived that Shen Zhen went to the slums today."

They visited the family of Lu Renjia, the martyr who died in the line of duty, and stayed for about an hour. Wu Xian and Chen Xi accompanied them.

He then returned to the Purification Bureau and paid attention to the new notice from the temple.

Around noon, he spoke with Tie Xuan at the martial arts arena; the content of their conversation is unknown.

"Visiting family members..." the divine messenger repeated softly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"He is indeed loyal and righteous. You mentioned last time that his mental abilities are special, and now it seems that this kid does have some merit."

He paused for a moment.

"If possible, you can try to win him over."

"Yes, Your Excellency," Song Yue and Chu Yan replied.

"The Temple of Fulnancy suffered heavy losses this time, and its prestige among the people has been greatly diminished. The Divine Child is very pleased." The divine envoy handed over the two jade pendants in his hand and said calmly:

"This is a gift from the Son of God to you. I hope you will continue to work hard and serve the Son of God."

These two jade pendants can not only help you advance to the mid-stage of the first rank, but they can also save your lives in critical moments.

Song Yue and Chu Yan quickly accepted it with both hands, and said respectfully:

"Thank you for the blessing, Divine Child. Thank you, Divine Messenger. We will do our utmost to live up to the Divine Child's expectations."

The divine messenger nodded slightly, gazing into the distance as if deep in thought. After a moment, he said:

"Recently, there has been a lot of undercurrent in the capital, and various forces are making moves. You must be more careful in your actions, and report to me immediately if there is any disturbance."

"Yes, sir!"

......

After finishing her training, Shen Zhen wanted to visit her mentor, Yi Tianxing.

After retiring, Yi Tianxing lived in a secluded courtyard on the outskirts of the city. Apart from the occasional servant who would come to deliver supplies, he rarely received visitors.

Shen Zhen bought some snacks and good tea that Yi Tianxing liked, and then hurriedly headed out of the city.

Under the setting sun, the streets of the capital still bear the marks of the catastrophe.

Some people were cleaning up broken bricks, and new banners hung in front of the incense and candle shop, but few people paid any attention to them.

A faint smell of wood ash lingered in the air, and even the wind carried a heavy, sluggish quality.

Shen Zhen would visit her master several times a year, but this time her mood was particularly heavy.

The road to Yi Tianxing's residence was not difficult to walk. After going around two mountain ridges, you would see that familiar little courtyard.

There was no courtyard wall, only a bamboo fence around it. Inside, several vegetable patches were planted, a loofah vine climbed all over the thatched roof, and a stone mill was placed at the entrance.

The sound of splashing water came from the courtyard.

Shen Zhen pushed open the fence and went inside, where she saw Yi Tianxing sitting on a stone bench by the well, holding a wooden ladle and watering the vegetable patch.

Yi Tianxing was in high spirits, with only a few strands of white hair, which he casually tied back with a wooden hairpin. His coarse cloth shorts were speckled with mud, but this did not diminish his overall demeanor.

"Master," Shen Zhen called out.

Yi Tianxing turned around, a few shallow lines appearing on his face as he smiled, and put down the wooden ladle:

"So you've finally deigned to visit this old man?"

"The department has been very busy lately, with a mountain of work to do. I just took a break to come here, didn't I?" Shen Zhen put the things on the stone table and started to help boil water.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a few smooth pebbles in a bamboo basket by the well, with indistinct patterns carved on them, like some kind of simplified array.

Master often likes to think about these things, saying it's to pass the time.

The water boiled in no time.

The two sat at the stone table, boiling water poured over the tea leaves, and a fragrant aroma filled the air.

Yi Tianxing took a sip, his gaze falling on Shen Zhen. He didn't speak, but repeatedly stroked the rim of the teacup, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

Shen Zhen felt a little uncomfortable under their gaze, and her fingers tightened slightly as she held the teacup.

"Master, your eyes are still so sharp; you could tell I had something on my mind right away."