Chapter 26: Divine Sense and a Close Call

On this tranquil night, the city’s clamor seemed to gradually recede, leaving behind only the soft chirping of insects murmuring in the corners.

Bai Mengqi’s brows were subtly furrowed, a sense of indescribable gravity weighing heavily in her heart.

The task she was about to undertake differed significantly from her past missions. Previously, she had always confronted demons, monsters, or other supernatural beings, or perhaps dealt with powerful ability users.

This time, however, her target was an ordinary person—one who was very likely to be protected by numerous ability users.

The slightest misstep could ignite a major incident, demanding she be mentally prepared for the potential escalation of events.

She gently closed her eyes, her consciousness gradually withdrawing from the external world’s distractions. She focused intently on every subtle sensation within herself, and in the next moment, something extraordinary occurred.

It was as if Bai Mengqi’s soul had broken free from the confines of her physical body. Her consciousness drifted out from within, a sensation utterly wondrous.

She felt like a bird, long trapped in a cage, suddenly bursting through its confines to reclaim the exhilarating sensation of freedom.

She could distinctly feel her consciousness, like a wisp of light smoke, slowly detaching from her familiar body and beginning to wander through the air.

Immediately after, her vision seemed to possess a magical ability to pierce through anything. It effortlessly penetrated the walls, entering Wang Lei’s room without any obstruction.

Yet, this observation caused her brows to furrow slightly, for she discovered that Wang Lei was not in his room at all.

This presented a predicament. Normally, before embarking on a mission, she would find a way to make Wang Lei fall asleep early or knock him out, just to prevent him from suddenly looking for her. If he were to find her gone, explaining her absence would prove difficult.

As for the method she was currently employing, it was certainly no ordinary feat. This was a miraculous ability unique to cultivators, known as Divine Sense.

Within the world of cultivation, Divine Sense was an exceptionally crucial skill.

It allowed cultivators to transcend the limitations of their physical eyes, perceiving their surroundings in a far more extraordinary and ethereal manner.

Simply put, it enabled one’s consciousness to detach from the body and freely traverse various locations, completely disregarding physical obstructions. Just like Bai Mengqi was doing now, she could effortlessly peer through doors and walls to observe other rooms.

Furthermore, the perceptive power of Divine Sense would naturally enhance as a cultivator’s strength grew.

It was akin to a sharp treasure sword; as its master’s cultivation advanced, it too would grow keener, capable of discerning even the most minute details.

At Bai Mengqi’s current power level, approximately at the ninth stage of Qi Condensation, she had merely glimpsed the threshold of the long path of cultivation. A considerable gap still separated her from the realm of true powerhouses.

Should she manage to collect just one more Immortal Crystal shard from the Great Immortaless, she would attain the Foundation Establishment cultivation.

This realm belonged to the cultivation civilization of the Great Immortaless and her peers.

Over the years, Bai Mengqi had not actively sought out Immortal Crystal shards, preferring to let fate guide her.

She had currently amassed a total of nine shards. Seven of these had been forcibly secured by the Great Immortaless herself when the Immortal Crystal shattered.

The remaining two included one obtained from a fox demon, and another retrieved during her university days from a malevolent ghost that had been harming people throughout the campus.

Out of concern for safety, Bai Mengqi had located the malevolent ghost. After subduing it, she had guided it towards transcendence, thereby acquiring the ninth Immortal Crystal shard.

“Gone out? Where could she have gone so late at night? To buy something?” Bai Mengqi stood rooted, her brows still tightly furrowed as she pondered in silent confusion.

She paced back and forth in the room for a while, her footsteps making faint sounds on the floor, as if tapping against her somewhat agitated heart.

After a period of careful deliberation, she resolved to proceed with her original plan: to go out and find the man named Liu Kang.

She knew this matter could not be delayed any longer. If Liu Kang were allowed to continue his reckless actions, there was no telling how much more trouble he would inflict upon Zi Yanran’s family.

She certainly didn’t believe such individuals possessed any moral bottom line.

With this thought, she casually picked up the black baseball cap lying nearby and swiftly placed it on her head.

She then quickly exited her room, simultaneously using her power to lock the door behind her.

To minimize the chance of running into Wang Lei on the way, Bai Mengqi exercised extreme caution.

Throughout her journey, she continuously employed her Divine Sense, constantly monitoring her surroundings. Her eyes seemed to function like the most sensitive detectors.

Her Divine Sense ceaselessly spread outwards, perceiving every corner where Wang Lei might appear. Not even the slightest disturbance could escape her detection.

However, fate sometimes works in inconvenient ways. The very moment Bai Mengqi stepped out of the elevator, she abruptly looked up and found herself face-to-face with Wang Lei, who had just returned from shopping.

The distance between them instantly closed, becoming so intimate that they could almost discern every subtle expression on each other’s faces.

“Holy crap.” Bai Mengqi shuddered all over, startled by the unexpected encounter, her heart seemingly skipping a beat.

Instinctively, she quickly lowered her head and hurried past Wang Lei, her pace so swift it was as if something terrifying were chasing her.

Panic seized her heart at that moment. ‘I absolutely cannot let Wang Lei recognize me,’ she thought.

Wang Lei, too, was momentarily stunned. He stood rooted, still carrying his newly purchased items, his eyes filled with confusion as he watched Bai Mengqi swiftly pass by him.

He muttered to himself, ‘Is that cosplay? Why is she dressed like that? Strange, why does she look a little familiar?’

He scrutinized Bai Mengqi’s retreating figure. The black baseball cap and her somewhat mysterious attire indeed left him perplexed.

Wang Lei scratched his head, looking utterly bewildered. He then stepped into the elevator, and the doors slowly closed.

As for Bai Mengqi, she had already covered some distance. She continued walking briskly, her face etched with a look of exasperated headache.

She repeatedly mumbled to herself, ‘He didn’t see my face, did he? I hope not. It would be troublesome if he recognized me.’

She quickened her pace, practically jogging out of the residential complex, then dashed towards the location she had found for Liu Kang’s residence.

Her speed was immense, surpassing even that of a car. Her figure streaked through the night like a black bolt of lightning, swiftly cutting across the streets.

In truth, with her current strength, she could fly for short periods, though it would consume a significant amount of her power.

She had considered flying directly to her destination for a faster arrival. However, she worried about encountering unnecessary trouble in the air, such as being discovered by ordinary people. Thus, she chose to run swiftly on the ground instead.

****

Meanwhile, back at the residence, Wang Lei was just about to return to his own room.

However, as he passed Bai Mengqi’s room, the face of the silver-haired girl he had just seen reappeared in his mind. As if possessed, he raised a hand to knock on her door, simultaneously calling out loudly, “Bai Er, are you asleep?”

As he knocked, he tilted his head, listening for any sounds from within the room. He figured if Bai Mengqi wasn’t asleep, they could chat for a bit.

Unfortunately, the room remained silent; no one answered him. Wang Lei waited for a moment, thinking perhaps Bai Mengqi was sleeping too soundly to hear. He then decided to open the door and check.

Thankfully, when Bai Mengqi had left, she had prudently used her power to lock the door from the inside for safety.

Wang Lei tried twisting the doorknob, only to find it wouldn’t open. It was then that he realized his assumption was wrong.

“Oh, it seems I was overthinking it. She must be asleep,” Wang Lei sighed helplessly. He then turned and walked towards his own room.

His steps were somewhat sluggish, his mind still pondering the identity of the silver-haired girl he had just seen. Why had she given him such a strong sense of déjà vu?

****

Half an hour later, the Liu Group Tower.

Located in the heart of the city, this skyscraper soared into the clouds, ablaze with lights. Under the night’s illumination, the tower’s exterior walls shimmered with a metallic luster, appearing exceptionally dazzling.

Liu Kang typically resided in the penthouse suite at the top of the group’s tower.

There was plenty of information about him in the news, making him not difficult to locate.

Bai Mengqi stood in the shadows not far from the tower, gazing up at the towering floors. A chilling glint flickered in her eyes.