Chapter 49: The Terrifying Abyss and a Shocking Revelation

“What… what are these things? They’re terrifying!”

Zi Yanran couldn’t help but shiver upon seeing the grotesque creatures. She clutched Bai Mengqi’s arm tightly, her gaze daring not to linger on the bizarre beings for too long.

Among them, some creatures were emaciated and withered, resembling fiends that had crawled out from the depths of hell.

Others were clad in armor, exuding a chilling aura like specters haunting a battlefield.

The air was thick with a suffocating and eerie presence, instilling a profound sense of dread.

Bai Mengqi gently shook her head, a hint of solemnity flickering in her eyes.

“This world holds many unknown beings; there are demons, monsters, ghosts, and spirits, many of which I’ve never encountered.

“Look at that eerie, floating entity over there—that’s what we commonly call a ghost. While they appear terrifying, in reality, they’re not to be feared as long as we can overcome our apprehension,” Bai Mengqi explained, striving for a calm tone.

Zi Yanran followed Bai Mengqi’s gaze, only to see the malevolent spirit seemingly sense her stare. It instantly transformed into an even more horrifying visage.

Its face twisted grotesquely, its eyes as black as an abyss, and chilling shrieks emanated from its mouth.

Terrified, Zi Yanran quickly averted her gaze. Her heart pounded, and her face turned deathly pale.

“Let me out! Let me out! You scoundrels from the Ability Bureau, one day I’ll kill you all! I’ll kill every single one of you!”

Nearby, several powerful ability users roared relentlessly at Lin Hongyu as he passed by.

“Miss Bai, these are all unauthorized individuals we’ve apprehended from the outside. Among them are many formidable ability users and ability-endowed beings. For instance, that shouting fellow just now is a B-rank ability user whom I personally captured.”

Lin Hongyu introduced the identities and origins of these prisoners as they walked.

Bai Mengqi nodded, understanding that in this world, numerous extraordinary powers and life forms existed. These sights were hardly remarkable.

“Then why not just kill them instead of locking them up?” Zi Yanran couldn’t help but ask, her voice tinged with confusion and bewilderment.

To her, such dangerous entities should simply be eliminated.

Lin Hongyu chuckled, a hint of cold indifference in his eyes.

“These ability users and ability-endowed beings are immensely helpful for our research and in combating supernatural abilities. Their emergence is already rare, so killing them outright would be a great waste. We generally try to capture as many as possible; only if capture is impossible do we consider direct termination.”

Having said this, Lin Hongyu led the two women further, eventually arriving at the Ability Bureau’s designated area for ability testing and ability user information registration.

This was a spacious and brightly lit hall, adorned with various advanced instruments and equipment.

Before entering, they passed by the infirmary.

Those individuals whom Bai Mengqi had thoroughly beaten not long ago were still recuperating in the infirmary.

One of them happened to spot Bai Mengqi.

“Hey, Chief Song, look! It’s that Bai Mengqi!” Someone immediately called out to Song Yanhua upon seeing her.

Song Yanhua promptly looked outside, then stepped out of the infirmary.

“We meet again,” Song Yanhua greeted.

His gaze swept over Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran, finally settling on Bai Mengqi’s face.

The lesson Bai Mengqi had taught them last time was likely something they would never forget.

“Oh, are you all right? Why is your Ability Bureau’s healing so poor? So many days have passed, yet your injuries haven’t healed. Do you need my help?” Bai Mengqi’s words carried a hint of playful mockery.

Injuries of that caliber, on her, would have been resolved in a single night at most.

Her words caught Song Yanhua off guard, and he quickly glanced at Su Ruoxi and Lin Hongyu.

However, both merely smiled at him, showing no intention of speaking.

“No, no, that won’t be necessary. It is a bit slow, but this pain has also taught us a lesson,” Song Yanhua let out a dry laugh, attempting to defuse the awkwardness with humor.

Yet, no sooner had his words faded than he received a glare from Lin Hongyu.

Song Yanhua immediately shrank back, not daring to continue speaking.

Lin Hongyu then abruptly turned to Su Ruoxi. “Ah, Deputy Director Su, please take Miss Bai to register first. I have some matters to attend to.”

Su Ruoxi knew what he intended, so she nodded.

She then led Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran to the registration area.

****

After the three of them left, Lin Hongyu quickly ducked into the infirmary and shouted for a doctor.

“Doctor Xia, quickly come treat my palm! It’s swollen like a pig’s trot!

The director exclaimed, holding up his hand, which indeed resembled a pig’s trotters.

Song Yanhua and the others watched this scene, utterly astonished, wondering how their esteemed director’s hand had become like this.

Bai Mengqi had already arrived at the registration area, a secluded room filled with various advanced instruments and equipment.

These instruments were capable of precisely detecting the strength of ability users and their powers, thereby providing more accurate information and data to the Ability Bureau.

Upon entering the room, Su Ruoxi began instructing Bai Mengqi on how to undergo the ability test.

She told Bai Mengqi to relax her mind and body and to naturally release the ability within her.

Bai Mengqi nodded in understanding, then closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

Suddenly, the spiritual energy within Bai Mengqi surged forth like a volcanic eruption, instantly filling the entire room.

That power was wild and tumultuous, as if threatening to break through all restraints and limitations.

The entire enclosed room began to tremble violently, seemingly unable to withstand such immense force.

“Such ferocious energy!” Su Ruoxi couldn’t help but exclaim.

She looked at the numbers on the instrument, which were rapidly soaring, soon reaching an astonishing height.

She knew this meant Bai Mengqi’s ability was exceptionally potent, possibly even exceeding their previous expectations.

Zi Yanran’s eyes widened at the sight, her heart filled with shock and curiosity.

She had never witnessed such a powerful release of energy before, nor had she ever imagined that a person could possess such astonishing abilities.

As Bai Mengqi’s spiritual energy continued to be released and the instruments continued their detection, a shocking result was finally yielded.

Bai Mengqi’s ability level was B+! This meant she was no less powerful than Lin Hongyu. As for why Lin Hongyu couldn’t contend with Bai Mengqi, it simply came down to the difference in how they utilized their power.

The methods of power utilization by cultivators were far more advanced than those of warlocks.

Bai Mengqi’s raw power might only be B+, but if she unleashed her full potential, her combat effectiveness could certainly reach A-rank.

Bai Mengqi herself remained relatively calm, well aware that her true power far exceeded this measurement.

Su Ruoxi quickly recorded Bai Mengqi’s physical strength data.

With that, the registration was complete.

“All right, your information has been logged. As long as Miss Bai uses her abilities lawfully in the future, the Ability Bureau will not proactively bother you,” Su Ruoxi stated.

Following this, Lin Hongyu privately invited Bai Mengqi for a discussion, which was, in essence, an attempt by the Ability Bureau to recruit her.

Bai Mengqi did not immediately agree, nor did she outright refuse. She simply informed Lin Hongyu that she currently had no intention of joining the Ability Bureau.

After completing their affairs, they left the Ability Bureau. However, before departing, Bai Mengqi cast a glance at a specific location within the building.

There, she had sensed the aura of a Great Immortaless’s crystal shard.

It seemed her item was within the Ability Bureau, but she found it inconvenient to demand it at the moment. She could only bide her time.