The Ancient Gods' Whisper

Gu Jianlin stared at the business card, hesitating for a moment.

He was aware of his physical condition, even though he'd been healed by the Priest, it was still so awful.

Anyone with half a brain could tell something was wrong.

He remembered that last time in the Qilin Immortal Palace, he had also been in the Ancient God Transformation state. Moreover, he'd uttered that strange syllable, unleashing an immensely terrifying power, nearly killing the five people who were trying to awaken him.

The problem was, afterwards, he hadn't experienced the kind of pain that felt like his body was being torn apart as he did now.

Other than the hunger that stemmed from the depths of his soul, he didn't feel any discomfort.

Ultimately, it was merely a matter of exhausting his spirituality.

After replenishing his spirituality, that sense of hunger disappeared.

Using the Qilin Power on both occasions, the consumption had been even greater when he dealt with the group of five in the Ancient Tomb, yet the side effects this time were far worse. There had to be reasons he wasn't aware of.

What was the most likely variable between these two instances?

When he'd awakened from the coffin, he hadn't sensed an extremely potent power within himself.

If he were to measure the fullness of his power, it would even pale in comparison to this Ancient God Transformation.

From this, it was clear that after two thousand years of being sealed, the Qilin Power retained its position but had been worn down to almost nothing.

Therefore, when he faced the grave-robbing group in the Ancient Tomb back then, it wasn't because residual power remained in his body that led to the absence of side effects afterward, but rather for another reason.

That reason could very likely be environmental factors!

The first time was within the time-space of an ultra-ancient era.

This time, it was in present reality.

It was highly probable that the difference in rules between the two worlds had led to this outcome.

Gu Jianlin pondered deeply and gradually recognized this possibility. If given the chance, he must verify it someday.

At this stage, using the Ancient God Transformation should be avoided as much as possible.

First, he wasn't sure how the Ether Association would define this kind of power.

Second, he didn't want others to know of his connection with the Qilin Immortal Palace.

Otherwise, they might start dissecting or researching him.

After all, someone was already giving him a hard time now; who knows what they might do next.

"Sister Chen Qing, don't worry."

He softly said, "Nothing will happen."

Chen Qing stared at him suspiciously, pursed her lips, and cautioned, "Are you sure? You're still young. There's no need to shoulder everything by yourself. Even if Professor Gu left something for you, it doesn't matter."

She lowered her voice and explained, "We can use the Lu Family's connections to help you suppress this. The foundation of the Peak City branch is the Lu Family, and its director is one of their people. We can directly intercept the Judgment Court's members for you."

Gu Jianlin smiled silently, "It's really fine. Thank you."

Seeing that he wasn't someone who couldn't weigh his priorities, Chen Qing truly believed him.

"Alright then."

She casually asked, "What do you want to eat? I can go buy something for you."

Gu Jianlin considered for a moment, "Bone broth ramen, please. Thank you."

Chen Qing nodded in agreement, got up gracefully, and left, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor growing distant.

Gu Jianlin stared silently at her departing figure, then pulled out his phone and dialed the number on the business card.

He didn't reveal his secret earlier for multiple reasons.

Not because he didn't trust her, but because the matter implicated far too much.

He had a premonition that if he disclosed it, he'd face endless storms and chaos.

Even with the seemingly reliable backing of the Lu Family, they might not be able to withstand it.

Because the one who places the bell must remove it.

The phone rang a few times before it connected.

"Hello, this is Jing Ci."

A courteous and magnetic male voice sounded, "May I ask who's calling?"

Gu Jianlin calmly responded, "My name is Gu Jianlin. We met at the grocery store yesterday."

Jing Ci exclaimed in realization, "Ah, it's you. The shop isn't open tonight; I'm taking the teacher out for a walk."

"I'm not looking to buy anything, just to express my gratitude."

Gu Jianlin said, "Please thank the old gentleman for me. He saved my life."

If not for the wheelchair-bound elder's reminder, he wouldn't have had the confidence to charge in alone.

"Oh, really? You still have the presence of mind to express gratitude?"

Jing Ci remarked meaningfully, "I thought the side effects would have you suffering unbearably by now."

Gu Jianlin froze.

"No need to be surprised. You think the Joker didn't use Deformation against you right away just because he liked idle chatter? Evolution always comes at a price, the pain of breaking rules and enduring its repercussions."

Jing Ci explained indifferently, "Of course, in comparison to him, your evolution is far more perfect."

Gu Jianlin was silent for several seconds. Clearly, he had underestimated the master and apprentice from this grocery store.

The other party even knew the full details of his battle.

However, it seemed they'd misunderstood something.

Jing Ci appeared to believe that Gu Jianlin had completed his evolution during his fight with the Joker using the method provided by the elder.

In reality, Gu Jianlin had simply mastered how to utilize the Qilin Power.

"I've encountered some trouble."

Gu Jianlin took a deep breath, "Can you help me solve it?"

On the other end, Jing Ci chuckled knowingly, "Why come to us for help? We've only met once. In terms of closeness, the Lu Family seems like a better choice."

Gu Jianlin replied, "If my secret gets uncovered, your secret will be exposed too."

"What if we don't fear exposure? Or, what if it isn't even a secret?"

Jing Ci continued to ask, "Aren't you afraid we're trying to set you up instead?"

·

·

The night was as cool as water, a moonlit lake surrounded by vibrant greenery reflected shimmering clouds.

A man in a tailored suit stood by the lakeside, listening to the voice from the phone, a faint smile forming on his lips.

"If you were trying to harm me, you wouldn't need such elaborate efforts."

The young man paused, "I could end it all with a single bullet to my own head right now."

Jing Ci sighed deeply before hanging up the call.

"To surpass the master, the student—this kid seems even smarter than his father."

He turned around helplessly, putting away the phone, "Teacher, pack up. Stop fishing."

In his wheelchair, the elder sat by the lakeside, wearing a straw hat, chewing on a stalk of hay, with a fishing rod in hand.

Beside him were a fish basket and a bait basin.

He looked every bit like a rustic fishing enthusiast.

Except the basket didn't hold a single fish, only a random assortment of junk dredged up.

Old mobile phones, shattered computer screens, deflated basketballs, and even two drones.

"Half an hour more,"

The wheelchair elder focused intently.

Jing Ci rubbed his forehead.

This elder was truly stubborn. If you said he was skilled, he couldn't catch a single fish.

But if you claimed he was inept, he could reel in everything but fish.

"Teacher,"

Jing Ci adjusted his collar and said, "That kid is in trouble again. Those Judgment Court folks are as annoying as ever. That kid should be receiving accolades, yet he's facing doubt-filled interrogations and checks instead."

The elder raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "This sort of petty issue doesn't require me to act. You handle it yourself."

Jing Ci slid his hands into his pockets, gazing at the flickering ripples on the lake, "But that's the Judgment Court we're talking about. Before you sealed my powers, they weren't much to me. Now, if those old crooks interfere, I can't guarantee what might happen."

Calmly, the elder said, "Don't worry. Those little pests won't dare cause any trouble."

The lake began to ripple as the fishing rod trembled.

The elder firmly gripped the rod, slowly reeling in the line.

A worn-out, rusty camcorder broke the water's surface and landed ashore.

The elder's expression remained stern and silent.

Seeing this, Jing Ci turned to leave in relative peace.

If someone foolish decided to provoke this old man tonight in a bad mood, there would certainly be a show worth watching.

·

·

Ding.

Gu Jianlin received a text message and opened his eyes.

"Five minutes."

Succinct and to the point.

Seeing this message, he suddenly felt a sense of relief, closed his eyes again, and relaxed his mind.

Tonight he was truly exhausted. If not for the excruciating pain within his body, he would have already fallen into unconsciousness.

Just then, he heard a knock at his door.

"Is this D-tier investigator Gu Jianlin?"

A sultry feminine voice sounded from within the hospital room.

A stunningly beautiful woman in a lab coat, hands tucked into her pockets, looked at him with a playful smile.

She was remarkably attractive, her light brown waves cascading loosely, her heavily made-up face exuding delicate charm. Her captivating eyes glimmered enticingly, and despite the loose lab coat, her curvaceous figure was undeniably apparent.

Most notably, beneath the coat, she wore only a black tank top that accentuated her chest.

The black pencil skirt below revealed the luscious black-silk-clad legs, complete with high heels.

Gu Jianlin had previously seen her in the school cafeteria, though at that time, she was busy tending to injured individuals.

Beyond the door, several figures stood indistinctly, their purpose unclear.

"Hello,"

Gu Jianlin propped himself up and greeted politely.

"My name is Lin Wanqiu, head of the medical department. We meet again."

Lin Wanqiu flashed a goddess-like smile and said warmly, "Your performance in this operation was impressive. Without you, the casualties in this incident might've been much worse, and our workload far more difficult."

Gu Jianlin didn't respond.

"The upper echelon of the Association holds you in high regard. Considering your close encounter with the Fallen, to ensure your health and safety, we'll need to conduct a comprehensive examination on you."

Lin Wanqiu's smile carried a touch of allure, captivating and graceful.