Lin Xinyan and Shi Ji had different goals. Shi Ji only wanted to meet the minimum requirements for a practical assignment, while Lin Xinyan wanted the highest score she could get. So after filling her stomach, she planned to carry on. There were still five days left, including today, so she had plenty of time.

As she was leaving, Lin Xinyan didn’t forget to ask Shi Ji one more time.

“Hey, are you really not going to do anything else?”

Shi Ji might be carefree and unruly, but he certainly wasn’t a fool. He could tell Lin Xinyan meant well. He smiled and shook his head. “No, you just keep at it.”

Lin Xinyan hesitated for a moment, but finally left.

After Lin Xinyan left, Shi Ji cleared the table and went back to help out.

The baozi shop was busiest in the early morning. There were baozi fillings to prepare, dough to proof, baozi to wrap, and all sorts of other things to do. Starting sometime after four, the owner and several employees, including Shi Ji, had to get to work. They stayed busy until around ten, when the customers gradually began to thin out and they could finally take a break.

The baozi shop was mainly busy between four and ten, with most of its business coming during breakfast. There was a little business around noon, too, but fewer people ate baozi in the evening, so the shop closed for the night. The employees could go home and rest up for the next day.

Business was slow at noon, so the employees took turns minding the shop. That day, it was Shi Ji and the owner’s turn to have a break.

After ten, the owner called Shi Ji aside. Shi Ji thought something was wrong, but when the owner spoke, he realized the man had finally decided to pay him for all his hard work.

Shi Ji hadn’t expected to get paid at first, but if he could, all the better. He was absolutely thrilled.

“All right, Shi Ji. You’ve worked hard these past couple of days. Go out and have a look around today. Young people need to get out and about, or they won’t be able to keep up.”

It was a kind suggestion from the owner, but Shi Ji took it as an order. He nodded vigorously, then turned and headed off with a grin.

……

Silver Frost City wasn’t a small city. It wasn’t as large as Xiyu, but it was still one of the biggest cities in the Dragon Kingdom.

With anomalies appearing everywhere, governments around the world had established special agencies to detect them and provide early warnings.

These devices were installed on vehicles, and the network also extended to various locations through the power grid. As soon as an anomaly appeared within the monitored area, the Anomaly Detection Center would know, then issue an alert as quickly as possible.

Silver Frost City had a branch of the Anomaly Detection Center.

Since the Anomaly Detection Center provided early warnings and served as the first line of defense against casualties, its importance was obvious. It was built in the city center, and its structure was designed to withstand tremendous pressure. Ordinary attacks couldn’t affect it in the slightest.

That day, the Anomaly Detection Center in Silver Frost City was operating as usual. Even when no anomalies appeared, the staff didn’t dare slack off. A mere nap on the job could get an employee fired.

Every employee watched the supercomputer screens, alert and focused as they monitored Silver Frost City and the surrounding areas.

Ring, ring, ring……

Suddenly, that sound rang out throughout the control center.

！！！

The staff in the control room were stunned. One of the senior officers was so shocked that he shouted aloud.

“Damn it, it’s a Spirit Rank anomaly! Confirm its exact location! Hurry!”

……