Bailian’s gaze remained locked unwaveringly on Senior Yu Chen.

Among them, Yu Chen and Ming Yi were already confirmed to awaken Corruption Artifacts. Yet of the remaining four, three had awakened theirs—and not just any level: the lowest was Class S, with one monstrous Class SS individual among them.

What about Yu Chen and Ming Yi, the very first to awaken?

You two wouldn’t dare disappoint me, would you?

Bailian murmured silently in her heart.

Yu Chen took the dagger from Xiao Chengcheng’s hand, paused briefly, then lightly drew the blade across his fingertip—

Blood welled, boiled, rose, and dissolved into crimson mist. Without turning, Meryl asked Akiko, “And this one?”

Silence.

Puzzled, Meryl glanced back—only to find Akiko staring blankly, mouth slightly agape, utterly deaf to the world.

Shock and surprise had frozen on her face, locked into pure terror.

“Hey,” Meryl sensed something wrong and patted Akiko’s shoulder. “Calm down. What did you see?”

After a long moment, Akiko’s expression softened slightly but remained grave. She fixed her eyes on Yu Chen. “This person… transcends rankings.”

“His Corruption Artifact… might just reshuffle the entire established world order.”

The Loki Squad stood frozen.

They trusted Akiko’s ability without question—but the weight of her words was chilling.

Kai Luo’s playful smirk vanished. “You don’t mean… Class SSS?” He sucked in a sharp breath.

Akiko only shook her head, gaze shifting between Meryl and Bailian, words held tightly behind her lips.

Bailian stayed silent. Meryl gave a subtle shake of her head. “I understand. We’ll discuss it later.”

Akiko’s meaning was clear.

A person like this: either never make them an enemy…

—or eliminate them swiftly.

Yu Chen studied the fully formed Corruption Artifact in his palm, thoughtful.

A staff radiating ancient solemnity.

“Scepter of Silence… abilities unknown. I’ll test it later.”

Meryl stared at it a moment, then shook her head hard to clear her thoughts. “Two more to go. Keep watching.”

All eyes returned to the six third-generation youths. No trace of mockery or ease remained in their gazes.

They’d already delivered shocking surprises. Would they astonish again?

Dandan flinched at the dagger’s cold gleam and stepped back twice.

Xiao Chengcheng patted her shoulder encouragingly. Others offered silent support with their eyes.

Gathering courage, Dandan took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and sliced.

A soft, cute yelp escaped her lips. “Mmph!” Tears welled as she pouted. “It hurts…”

A single blood droplet stirred faintly on her palm—

then stilled. Nothing more.

Akiko’s brow furrowed. She whispered into Meryl’s ear. Meryl’s expression tightened. After a pause, she rose and approached Dandan.

“Miss Huang Dandan? May I speak with you privately?”

Ming Yi and Yu Chen snapped their heads up. Meryl met their sharp stares with an unshaken, placid smile.

What was her intent? Their guard remained high.

Yet Meryl’s openness felt genuine—no threat toward Dandan.

Dandan hesitated, glancing between Xiao Chengcheng, Yu Chen, and the others, then gave a slow nod.

Meryl took her hand and led her out of the hall.

Yu Chen and Xiao Chengcheng exchanged a tense look. Ming Yi subtly scanned the Loki Squad:

Bailian sat serene, radiating “do not disturb”; Kai Luo hummed a tune beside him; Kaiwen and Kapier whispered quietly; Akiko stared downward, lost in thought; Jin Xuanwen snored softly, still fast asleep.

Nothing seemed amiss. Ming Yi frowned.

Was Dandan’s blood abnormal? She showed no sign of awakening a Corruption Artifact—but if that was all, why the private talk?

Soon, Meryl and Dandan returned. Meryl smiled gently; Dandan’s gaze darted nervously among the group.

“What happened?” Yu Chen’s tone was sharp.

“No need to worry,” Meryl waved lightly. “Miss Dandan simply didn’t awaken a Corruption Artifact—which is normal, though unusual among you prodigies. I just offered her some reassurance.”

Dandan nodded obediently.

Ming Yi saw right through the flimsy excuse. But Dandan was unharmed, showing no distress—leaving him no grounds to protest.

And provoking them now? Their group would lose badly. Living under another’s roof meant swallowing pride.

—

—

Finally, Ming Yi’s turn arrived.

Heart pounding, he found no escape under everyone’s eyes. Steeling himself, he sliced his finger.

Blood welled—and that surreal sensation flooded his mind again.

The blood felt like an extension of his thoughts: imagine it larger—it grew; smaller—it shrank; any shape—it obeyed.

Akiko, watching closely, blinked in confusion. A soft “Hm?” escaped her lips.

“The blood is changing… yet I sense zero presence of a Corruption Artifact?”

Ming Yi remained lost in the strange feeling. Xiao Chengcheng nudged him impatiently. “Stop playing! Form it already!”

Ming Yi froze.

All eyes turned to him. Yu Chen asked gently, “Xiao Yi, what’s wrong?”

Face burning, Ming Yi stammered under the stares before whispering:

“It’s just… gone…”

Gone?

“Shouldn’t it form from what’s in your mind?”

“In my mind… there is… no shape.”

Yu Chen and the others stood stunned. The Loki Squad looked utterly bewildered.

“Um… Sister Meryl,” Xiao Chengcheng ventured awkwardly, “have you ever seen this before?”

Meryl shook her head. “Never. A Shatterborn who controls blood but can’t shape it? Unheard of.”

Akiko added, “My Mirror of Insight detected no Artifact presence on him—yet he’s clearly a Shatterborn.”

Meryl had expected something extraordinary after Bailian mentioned he’d unconsciously blocked a Class A Ravager’s attack.

Now? She was left speechless, caught between disbelief and wry amusement.

While the group puzzled over it, Ming Yi stayed silent, head bowed.

He had a quiet suspicion—

This anomaly… was almost certainly tied to the cause of his death.