Chapter 1 Gu Shen's Choice

Gu Shen lowered his hat and slowly squeezed through the crowd, arriving at the bar.

The bartender approached.

Gu Shen saw the bartender smile friendly at him, hand him a drink menu, and say something.

Judging by the shape of his mouth, he was saying—

"What can I get you?"

Until this moment, Gu Shen's psychometric world was still silent. This was the first time he had used this ability. In theory, psychometry and hypnosis were both basic abilities of mental-type transcendents, but psychometry consumed more energy. Perhaps it was because it possessed the characteristic of "tracing," allowing transcendents to contend with time to a small degree.

However, rather than saying that psychometry broke the shackles of time, it was more like seeking guidance from fate.

The longer the time traced, the greater the mental energy consumed.

The more powerful the person psychometrized, the more blurred the guidance.

Trying to glimpse sights that one shouldn't see... would result in a strong backlash.

The wisp of shadow in the psychometric world dissipated. Jiang Wan had been sitting in this position three days ago, in contact with the sealed item?

Continuing the psychometry, the blazing flame swayed violently.

The consumption of mental energy suddenly increased.

No... that wisp of shadow had not dissipated... In Gu Shen's vision, a faint black shadow dragged across...

Someone with a sealed item had briefly stayed in this bar.

Was it at this time that Jiang Wan was infected by the transcendent aura of the sealed item?

The clues ended here.

"I'll have a... this."

Gu Shen's thoughts returned to reality. He saw the bartender's slightly impatient expression, randomly pointed to a name on the drink menu, and at this moment, a voice rang out in the silent psychometric world.

"Gin is strong... not suitable for you."

Gu Shen's pupils contracted.

Almost instantly, he entered a state of alert, his fingers sliding into his sleeve, gripping the Ruler of Truth.

Gu Shen vigilantly looked to his side—

Just two positions away from him.

A burly gray hooded sweatshirt-clad uncle, leaning against the bar, facing the dance floor, his gaze lingering on the chaotic neon lights, stirring the ice in his glass with interest, not even glancing at him, just lazily saying, "I suggest you choose that Cosmopolitan... although it's a lady's drink, the intensity and taste are good, suitable for a newcomer like you."

Gu Shen didn't relax his vigilance.

He said in a low voice, "Who are you?"

To be able to enter his psychometric world... this was also a transcendent.

"Relax, don't look at me." The hooded sweatshirt uncle still had that lazy expression, calmly saying, "The commotion of activating psychometry is not small. If you don't want to be discovered, you should be more vigilant. Besides, if I wanted to attack you... I would have already done it, wouldn't I?"

The blazing flame dissipated.

Gu Shen was still in a state of alert, but he deactivated "Psychometry"... this ability didn't amplify combat effectiveness, and it consumed a lot of mental energy.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Cui Zhongcheng's informant, Hu Danian."

In the noisy world, the uncle's voice was very soft, but it was incredibly clear in his ears.

Cui Zhongcheng!

Gu Shen's mood eased slightly. Although he was still gripping the ruler, he didn't relax, but said to the bartender, "Change my drink... I'll have this."

He pointed to the "Cosmopolitan" that the man had recommended.

Seeing Gu Shen's reaction, the hooded sweatshirt uncle smiled, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether you believe me or not... Since you've found this place, you should have discovered that the clues have been cut off. I have some information here about the 'sealed item' you're looking for."

The phrase "sealed item" made Gu Shen's vigilance decrease a lot.

"Su Mu Stone Sculpture (肃目石雕), serial number undetermined, preliminarily identified as a D-level risk sealed item."

Hu Danian took out a photo from his pocket, moved closer to Gu Shen under the guise of shifting his seat, and pressed the photo onto the smooth surface of the bar. Gu Shen took it. The photo showed a stone statue carved with a ferocious demon, but compared to an adult male's fist, the stone sculpture was not large, only about half a fist in size.

It was exactly the same as what he had seen in Jiang Wan's dream.

"This sealed item was once kept by the council in the Dadu District, but a theft occurred a few years ago, and it was lost without a trace." Hu Danian said leisurely, "The file records it this way: Once the Su Mu Stone Sculpture comes into contact with a person, it will spare no effort to奪取 (duo qu - seize) their sleep, until the contactor has a mental breakdown."

"That's just the surface..." Gu Shen said in a low voice, "The actual reason for taking away sleep is because it produces a kind of mental erosion on the contactor."

"Not bad." Hu Danian looked at Gu Shen in surprise and smiled, "You're quite smart... No wonder you're so young and have received Mr. Cui's attention."

Gu Shen didn't say anything.

His file was currently confidential.

This informant probably didn't know who he was... He took the photo and asked, "The Su Mu Stone Sculpture will erode the dreams of all those who come into contact with it, until they have a mental breakdown... This is a transcendent event. How many people have been infected?"

His psychometry had seen a corner of the truth.

Someone had stayed here with this sealed item... Jiang Wan was unlucky enough to come into contact with it, and was thus deprived of sleep.

"So far, there are twenty-four people who have indirectly contacted the Su Mu Stone Sculpture. This number is still rising, and they are all under the surveillance of Deep Sea." Hu Danian said calmly, "You don't need to worry about these people... Someone will be responsible for treating them. Even if you don't cure Jiang Wan, we will take action."

Gu Shen frowned.

This incident seemed to be completely under control.

Was this another test that Cui Zhongcheng had thrown at him?

Gu Shen noticed the black tattoo that was partially visible on the hooded sweatshirt uncle's wrist, and silently noted this detail: "Was Jiang Wan sent to me by you?"

"No... I'm just an informant. I don't have that kind of ability."

Hu Danian shook his head, regretting, "This was all arranged by Little Cui. He had already subtly hinted to her to find you, but unfortunately, this woman was a little foolish... She suffered for nothing for a few days."

Gu Shen didn't respond.

From the arson case, he had seen the overarching layout methods of the so-called big shots.

They clearly controlled everything.

They could clearly reduce suffering...

They clearly possessed enough power, but they didn't move at the first moment.

Ordinary people were like grass in the eyes of transcendents... He didn't like this behavior, nor did he like this attitude.

"Where is the sealed item?" Gu Shen said, "I'll go take care of it."

"Although the situation is still under control... the owner of the sealed item has not been found. There is no information about this person in the Deep Sea database. What will happen next cannot be predicted." Hu Danian looked at Gu Shen and said seriously, "That's why I'm waiting for you here, not just to inform you of the existence of the Su Mu Stone Sculpture—"

"Mr. Cui asked me to convey a message, this transcendent event is not as simple as you think."

Hu Danian said solemnly, "This week... in the remote corners of the Lipu Street, Jiangtan area, there have been several deaths, all adult males, and all died from clean and quick throat cuts with sharp instruments, without any signs of resistance. Transcendent aura was detected in the wounds... Combined with the appearance of the [Su Mu Stone Sculpture], we have reason to believe that there is a deranged, out-of-control person wandering nearby."