"Ahhh, Night Feather," Bai Xin complained while rubbing various parts of her body under everyone's exasperated stares, "you really went too hard on me! My joints still ache! Seriously, should I go see a doctor?"
It was 5:32 PM, some time after school had ended. There wasn’t much to say about Cold Night Feather’s performance in PE class earlier—simply put, Bai Xin had been thoroughly thrashed by her.
Cold Night Feather rolled her eyes impatiently. Only with Bai Xin did she drop her usual calm, detached demeanor. She tapped Bai Xin’s forehead lightly. "Shoo, shoo. Do you really think I’m stupid? During our fight, I capped my physical stats at just C++ level. You’re B-rank now—and way stronger than a typical B-ranker for some reason. Even after I schooled you with technique, you’d only feel a little sore. Nothing like your dramatic whining."
Bai Xin stuck out her pink tongue and grinned foolishly, trying to get away with it. Cold Night Feather could only sigh and rub her temples. Reaching the school gate, she turned to Li Xiao Xiao and the others. "Well, this is where we part. Bai Xin and I live in the suburbs—it’s unlikely we’ll share your route. See you all tomorrow!"
And so, bathed in the sunset’s glow, only two beautiful girls remained at the gate, drawing curious glances from passersby.
Cold Night Feather’s expression stayed blank as she asked, "So, why did you drag this out until everyone else left school? What’s your real plan?"
Bai Xin chuckled awkwardly, scratching her head. "Hahaha, guess I can’t hide anything from you, Night Feather. I actually need to buy something. Uh… why don’t you fly home first? I’ll take a car later!" She pulled out her keys.
Cold Night Feather nodded reluctantly. Was she curious about Bai Xin’s purchase? Of course—but she’d find out soon enough anyway. Taking the keys, she agreed, "Fine. I also want to investigate this city’s hidden secrets in detail. Just get home early."
Bai Xin nodded eagerly, then pushed Cold Night Feather away with a smile. "Then, my dear sister, you go ahead first!"
Cold Night Feather’s lips twitched silently. Finding a deserted corner, she glanced back at Bai Xin once more. "I’m off then!" In an instant, she shot upward like a released arrow.
Once Cold Night Feather vanished, Bai Xin sighed in relief. She dashed to the restroom, changed into a gray hoodie, tied her silky black hair into a ponytail, and pulled on a baseball cap. Then, she slipped out furtively.
.......
High above, Cold Night Feather flew at incredible speed. Cautiously, she enveloped herself in a wide-range repulsion field to ward off birds or stray aircraft—collisions at supersonic speeds were lethal, even glancing ones.
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the ground. A golden ring glowed around her pupils—she’d channeled her Authority into her vision. Authorities weren’t just about controlling elements or energy; they held versatile, wondrous applications.
To her enhanced sight, the city pulsed with strange energy lines. Thick clouds became transparent.
"Hmm. That thing below is bigger than I thought," she murmured, hovering midair. Countless twisted, worm-like black energy strands converged at Donglin Third Middle School, forming a cocoon-like mass. It felt as if the entire city existed solely to suppress whatever lay there.
"Compared to this, the other hidden threats here are trivial," she observed after a thorough scan. Though numerous dark entities lurked in the city, their combined pressure paled against the behemoth beneath the school.
Dusk deepened. Suddenly, a massive energy surge erupted behind her. She looked up—a pitch-black Seal Barrier enclosed the area, where a giant cyan tornado raged. Even the city-lit sky turned faintly green. Sensing the air, Cold Night Feather noted wind elements flooding toward it.
"That’s… the direction of the Third Middle School?" Her brow furrowed. Her petite nose twitched. Her expression turned grave. "This wind… carries that kid’s scent?"
Without hesitation, Cold Night Feather moved. In the next instant, she appeared directly at the tornado’s core—this was the true terror of a Sky-Shattering Realm user wielding Authority.
There, she saw it: a hemispherical Seal Barrier, dark with bloody streaks, covered the land. It radiated effects like concealment, repulsion, and defense—but meant nothing to her, far beyond its power range. Above, a massive gray wolf howled fiercely in the gale. Opposite it stood a hooded figure in black robes, crimson vein-like patterns glowing on the fabric. The figure raised a green staff, seemingly why the wolf, radiating immense power, held back its attack.
Cold Night Feather suppressed her presence completely, hiding in an advertising board’s shadow. To weaker observers, she’d be invisible even if stared at directly. The robed figure, insignificant as an ant to her, noticed nothing—proof of her peerless stealth.
"End! Hurry up! Is hunting one little rat so hard for you?" the crimson-patterned figure snapped downward, voice raspy and grating, like a strained shout.
"Hehehe… such a pretty girl deserves some fun first…" Cold Night Feather’s gaze dropped. Another robed figure searched the ground below, purple patterns adorning his cloak. Behind him lay a hellscape—human limbs and remains scattered everywhere, blood staining roads and billboards crimson. Each step left bloody footprints. "So, cute girl… should Uncle find you, or will you come out yourself? Hehehehe!"
"Tch! Stop playing! Kill that cheap master of the Storm Realm Beast now! Once the Seal Barrier weakens, the government’s hounds will detect us. We’ll fail the mission and never escape!" The crimson-robed figure’s staff glowed deeper green, pinning the gray wolf down. It could only whimper lowly.
The purple-robed figure waved impatiently, then shuddered violently, cackling wildly. "HAHA! Found you, rat!"
A Longsword shimmering with faint purple light slashed at an empty wall. Light distorted—and a beautiful girl in a gray hoodie, baseball cap, and backpack appeared, blocking the strike with a light blade. Cold Night Feather’s pupils contracted sharply. That girl was unmistakably Bai Xin—the one who’d claimed she was just "shopping" earlier.
