Chapter 1 The Vault

The office doorplate read: Safe Deposit Box Services Department.

The manager was a pot-bellied, blond middle-aged man with a slightly receding hairline. High-calorie food and a lack of exercise had ruined his figure.

"Open a safe deposit box?" The middle-aged manager quickly stood up and led Zhang Yuanqing to a reception sofa on the side.

An attendant poured two glasses of warm water and then retreated.

Zhang Yuanqing took a sip of the warm water and glanced at the middle-aged man's chest. His name tag read Karl Parker. He smiled and said, "Manager Parker, I'm here to open a safe deposit box, box number 0042."

Parker nodded. "Please show me your identification."

Customers could inspect and use their safe deposit boxes at any time, but each time they opened the box, they needed to carry identification and sign a record after opening the box.

"You've already seen my identification." Zhang Yuanqing stared into Manager Parker's eyes.

The latter was in a daze for a moment, then stood up enthusiastically and said, "Please come with me."

Zhang Yuanqing followed him out of the office, deep into the interior of the bank, took an elevator to the underground, and passed through a passage leading to the vault. Parker and a bank employee took out a key and opened a 30-centimeter-thick security door.

Finally, they opened an iron gate, and he arrived at the personal safe deposit box hall.

The safe deposit boxes here were like the walls of a temple mausoleum, row upon row.

Manager Parker led Zhang Yuanqing to zone 00 and stopped in front of box 42. "Please help yourself."

With that, he retreated.

Zhang Yuanqing entered the password and then faced his face toward the pinhole camera next to the keypad. After a few seconds, he heard a prompt indicating that iris recognition was successful.

Safe deposit box 0042 was unlocked.

He immediately opened the safe deposit box, and inside lay a square wooden box.

*Clatter!*

Zhang Yuanqing opened the wooden box and saw a fan-shaped bronze piece. Its complete form should have been a bronze disc, divided into four pieces.

The surface of the fan-shaped bronze piece was engraved with tadpole-like runes. Just looking at it made Zhang Yuanqing feel dizzy, his consciousness sinking into a deep vortex, difficult to escape.

He quickly closed his eyes and didn't continue watching. At the same time, he held the bronze piece in his hand, trying to read the item information.

A few seconds later, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, stunned.

There was no item information…

"Strange, the Pope's relic must be a Lingjing (Spirit Realm) item, why is there no item information?"

The lack of item information was a bit of a headache because it was impossible to define the thing. Like the treasure map fragments of the Demon Lord, the item information directly gave "a total of six pieces," "Yuhua Xianmen (Ascension Immortal Sect) treasure house," and other information.

The direction of the treasure hunt was simple and clear at once.

"Being able to make my eyes dizzy must mean it's not an ordinary object, but there's no item information... there's only one explanation, this thing is not a Lingjing item, but was passed down from ancient cultivators."

Zhang Yuanqing suddenly thought of a rumor that the Vatican had a complete inheritance from ancient cultivators. In the dark Middle Ages, the Vatican's knights charged in the front lines against werewolves, witches, and vampires.

So it was reasonable for the Vatican to possess items passed down from ancient cultivators.

"I just don't know if the Pope's relic is this bronze disc itself, or if the bronze disc is just a key, and gathering them all will obtain the real Pope's relic."

This fan-shaped bronze piece was obviously incomplete, not whole.

Zhang Yuanqing took out the fan-shaped bronze piece, put the wooden box back in the safe deposit box, and turned to leave the hall.

Leaving the bank building, Zhang Yuanqing changed his appearance several times in a row, changed his clothes, and disguised himself as a handsome blond man. He didn't return to the red brick building, but instead took a taxi to Kings County, a more chaotic area with a large immigrant population.

On the way, he thought to himself:

"Now it depends on the reaction of Tianfa (Scourge) and the Hunter Association. If it's the Hunter Association looking for me, then the organization that planned the serial murders is the Free Covenant, and I can take the opportunity to infiltrate the enemy."

"Conversely, if it's Tianfa, then I don't need to pay attention and concentrate on dealing with the Pope's relic."

An hour later, Zhang Yuanqing arrived in Kings County. The city's construction here was obviously inferior to Manhattan. Whether it was the streets or the residences, they exuded an aura of age, and the buildings weren't tall enough.

Zhang Yuanqing had a reason for coming to Kings County. He was guarding against the possibility that the planner behind the scenes was the Free Covenant.

If the Free Covenant was the mastermind behind the serial murders, then after he submitted the "Zongcheng Mission" application, the Hunter Association would inevitably pay attention to him and look for him.

In an international metropolis like New York City, the best way to find someone was to use high-tech means of locating them, such as through the Hunter app.

Returning to the red brick building at this time was equivalent to revealing his location. Although he could also prevent tracking and location by turning off his phone, he would have no way to contact the Hunter Association.

"If the Free Covenant attaches great importance to the Pope's relic, then they will definitely contact me today. Well, they need a little more time to find out that 'Jia Feizhang' took the items from the bank safe deposit box, so I'll wait a little longer..."

He wandered aimlessly around Kings County.

Kings County was the most populous district in New York City's five boroughs, and its治安 (zhì ān - public security) was comparable to the Bronx, which was full of N-words.

Places with bad public security had one thing in common: gatherings of idlers and prostitutes.

Zhang Yuanqing had only been wandering for a moment when a blonde woman wearing a tight dress, carrying a bag, and dressed enchantingly approached him.

"Sir, even though it's still a long time before dark, I can't wait to indulge with you." The blonde woman showed off her figure and said:

"For only two hundred dollars, you can have me. And for another two hundred federal coins, you can have me tonight too."

Two hundred federal coins? In New York City, where prices were high, it was considered cheap and affordable. She wasn't bad looking, and many men must have had you. Sorry, I don't have the habit of squeezing onto the subway... Zhang Yuanqing politely declined:

"Madam, the price I can accept is 100 federal coins, um, for the whole night."

The blonde lady sized him up and smiled charmingly, "Since you're so handsome, a hundred federal coins is fine too."

Sorry, I don't have the habit of squeezing onto cheap subways... Zhang Yuanqing walked away silently.

Two more hours passed, and he ate fried chicken at a street stall in Kings County, watched street dance, and watched energetic young men play skateboard and basketball.

He felt that the public security here wasn't as bad as rumored. Of course, it might be because it wasn't dark yet.

"Kings County and the Bronx are hiding places for evil professions. Should I sense emotions to find evil professions? Well, indiscriminately sensing everyone's emotions is too much of a burden for me. There's no need to torture myself..."

Thinking to himself, Zhang Yuanqing took out a backup phone, turned it on, and opened the Hunter app. Before he could check the background, he saw two unread emails in his inbox.

One was a notification that the mission was completed, and the other was from the official Hunter app.

"Respected hunter 'Tongtian Jiaozhu (Leader of the Tongtian Sect),' your outstanding performance has attracted our attention. For excellent hunters, we have professional training programs and preferential treatment in terms of revenue sharing and bonuses. Please report to the New York City Hunter Association branch before 6 p.m. today."

Tsk, tsk, the Free Covenant really planned the serial murders... Zhang Yuanqing narrowed his eyes after reading the information and immediately made a judgment.

"This message clearly wants to lure me to the guild branch. They must have failed to locate me through the app before choosing this inferior strategy. According to the president's deduction, the Hunter Association should have tolerance for me, but if I refuse to hand over the Pope's relic, it's hard to guarantee that the Hunter Association won't kill and steal the treasure. I have to guard against that."

"Yin corpses (corpses animated by yin energy) are the best cannon fodder, but no matter how well the aura of a yin corpse is disguised, it's impossible to hide it from the eyes of a high-level Xingzhe (Walker). For safety's sake, let an avatar of the Yata Mirror go."

Just as Zhang Yuanqing made up his mind, the phone he normally used rang.

The caller was Cao Qianxiu.

She? Why would she call me... Zhang Yuanqing answered the phone and said faintly, "Strange, this is the first time you've called me during class time."

Cao Qianxiu on the other end of the phone got straight to the point: "The organization's high-level executives want to see you. It's about something very urgent and important."

"What is it?" Zhang Yuanqing was stunned for a moment, thinking that even if it was urgent, it shouldn't be his turn. In terms of level, he was just a Saint. The Anti-Black and White Alliance wasn't lacking high-end combat power.

In terms of relationships, he was just a swordsman who had just joined the organization, and in the final analysis, he was still an outsider.

"I'm not too sure, but it should be related to last night's incident. I've already taken leave at home. Come back, and I'll take you to see the alliance leader and the elders," Cao Qianxiu said.

When Zhang Yuanqing heard that it was related to last night's incident, he suppressed his original intention to decline and said, "Okay, wait for me at home."

Immediately, he took out the Yata Mirror and created an avatar in a secluded place, parted ways with the avatar, and acted separately.

………

1 p.m.

In the Chinatown row of villas where the wealthy gathered, Cao Qianxiu led Zhang Yuanqing to a villa and rang the doorbell of the visual intercom at the front door.

"Gang Leader, I am Cao, a member of Group Six, and the person beside me is Xiaoyao Jianxian (Carefree Swordsman) from the Second District. He is also a newly joined member of Group Six," Cao Qianxiu introduced solemnly.

After she finished speaking, the wrought iron door *clicked* open, and the lock tongue popped out.

Cao Qianxiu looked back at Zhang Yuanqing and said, "Let's go in."

The two passed through the garden and were led by a maid to a Western-style living room. Zhang Yuanqing looked at the two people sitting on the sofa.

One was a middle-aged strong man with thick eyebrows and big eyes and a domineering aura, and the other was a handsome middle-aged man with a scholarly air.

The one with thick eyebrows and big eyes should be the alliance leader, and the other is Elder Tao? Zhang Yuanqing silently analyzed the identities of the two people. On the way here, he heard Cao Qianxiu say that the Anti-Black and White Alliance had one alliance leader and two elders.

The alliance leader was a Thunder Mage, and the other two elders were a Wind Mage and a Siren.

The auras of the three major professions were easy to distinguish.

"Judge Cao, please go to the side hall for tea first," Deng Jingguo said before the two could speak.

Cao Qianxiu obediently went to the side hall.

While Deng Jingguo sized up Zhang Yuanqing, he motioned for him to sit down and said in a deep voice, "What level swordsman are you?"

"Level five peak!" Zhang Yuanqing replied.

Deng Jingguo and Tao Siming exchanged glances. The answer surprised and pleased them.

Tao Siming smiled and said, "We want to ask you for a favor."

Help? I definitely won't take on a mission that sends me to my death... Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Please tell me."

Tao Siming said solemnly, "You are a scout, most skilled at tracking and investigating cases. We want to ask you to find someone. He is a bounty hunter, and his Lingjing ID is Tongtian Jiaozhu (Leader of the Tongtian Sect)."

Hunter Association branch.

"Anyway, I'm just an avatar, so it doesn't matter if I die. Just consider it as a test for the main body."

"If the Free Covenant people directly kill me, then the president's plan won't work, and I'll have to change my identity to infiltrate the enemy..."

In the Hunter Association's conference room, Zhang Yuanqing held a teacup in both hands and thought aimlessly.

Soon, he heard footsteps.

Then the door of the conference room opened, and a woman wearing a workplace uniform walked in.

She had a rare head of gray short hair, was about thirty years old, had a full chest, a slender waist, and round hips. Her two alluring long legs exuded the sweet scent of ripe peaches.

Her features were as delicate as carvings, so beautiful that it was impossible to find flaws. Her light gray eyes were hazy and charming, and secretly hidden amorous feelings.

Zhang Yuanqing only took one look and felt a headache as big as a bucket, his mouth dry, and the lust in his heart soared, wishing he could press this woman under him and whip her to his heart's content, letting her experience the strong Night Wanderer's attack speed of three a's per second.

Zhang Yuanqing immediately restrained his emotions, tried to calm his lust, and tried to expel the evil fire, but as a level six peak illusionist, he was a little uncontrollable at the moment.

This was a Dominator!

He had considered the possibility of the Free Covenant killing and stealing treasures, and even prepared to sacrifice the identity of Tongtian Jiaozhu and open another account.

But he didn't expect the other party to be so despicable and shameless, sending a Dominator-level Eros profession.

Yes, letting the Eros profession take action was the most stable and effective choice. It could control the target person without making a big fuss!

Today, it might directly lead to him losing both the person and the goods. Now my mind is full of playing Mario! Coming up with a beauty trap right away, the Free Covenant is a bit unethical... Zhang Yuanqing secretly bared his teeth.