F-class thief? Sorry, I can steal anything.

Chapter 174 The Society of Immortality

The Society of Immortality.

These three words fell lightly, yet they caused Chen Yifan's entire consciousness to experience a violent sense of weightlessness in that instant.

Is it a cult?

It was eradicated by the authorities with an iron fist thirty years ago, but has it resurfaced now?

Moreover, it's also related to the sandalwood box he threw at Wang Qingyun.

For an instant.

Lin Sen's blurry face,

The lost Hundred Aspects.

Countless fragments of broken information collided and reassembled wildly in my mind.

Chen Yifan frowned, but his face showed just the right amount of confusion that an eighteen-year-old boy should have.

"The Immortal Society?"

He seemed to have heard some rural tale, and probed in a half-joking tone:

"It sounds... like those villainous organizations in novels that pursue immortality."

Wang Qingyun actually nodded.

His weathered eyes held a complex mix of emotions that defied description.

It seemed to be mocking the stupidity of those people.

It was as if they were lamenting their fate.

"almost."

His voice was extremely low, as if the two words themselves carried an ominous magic.

"They're a bunch of lunatics."

"A group of madmen who existed as early as the 'Great Silence,' when civilization was still in a period of dormancy, who attempted to break free from the control of the [World Engine] and pursue the so-called 'immortality of the body and the true self of the soul.'"

Wang Qingyun leaned forward slightly, and the air in the office seemed to thicken.

"In their view, the world we live in, this system of universal job-changing, is a huge and sophisticated cage."

"And they..."

"The only conscious person who tried to escape."

prison Break?

These two words shot through Chen Yifan's spine like an electric current.

These lunatics actually touched upon the truth of this world at such an early stage?

He seized the perfect opening, and the bewildered expression on his face became even more genuine.

"Breaking free from the control of the rules...then what is their relationship with the 'heretical sects' you mentioned earlier?"

Like a thirsty apprentice, he followed Wang Qingyun's words and asked the most crucial question.

"Relationship?"

Wang Qingyun let out a cold laugh.

The laughter was devoid of warmth, only chilling.

"They are the most fanatical practitioners of 'heretical teachings,' and the root cause of why the term 'heretical teachings' has been thoroughly nailed to the pillar of shame."

He stood up and paced slowly in the small office, each step seemingly treading on Chen Yifan's heartbeat.

"This world operates according to the rules of the [World Engine]. Leveling up, changing jobs, skills, talents... everything is 'orthodox,' a broad road that we can see and reach the end of."

"But there are always some people who are unwilling to accept this."

"They are unwilling to abide by the rules set by the engine, either because of their lack of talent, their approaching lifespan, or their excessive ambition."

"They tried to bypass it and steal the most primal power directly from the bottom of this world, from the cracks in the rules."

Wang Qingyun stopped in his tracks, his gaze like two tangible searchlights, fixed directly on Chen Yifan.

"This kind of power that bypasses the world's engine and directly touches the world's origin is called 'heretical path'."

"And the Eternal Life Society is the most extreme, oldest, and most dangerous branch of this group."

"They are not content with stealing power; what they want is immortality. They want to completely bind their existence to this world and become immortal...gods."

Chen Yifan's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

He thought of Luo Tian.

Because I have no profession, no talent, and I don't want to be at the bottom of the world.

But because of a legacy, they embarked on this rugged path called "the heretical path".

It turns out that this road was already crowded with crazy pioneers.

as well as……

Countless corpses, whose names have been lost to history.

"That sounds...stupid."

After careful consideration, Chen Yifan gave the most "safe" assessment.

"It's foolish, but even more terrifying."

Wang Qingyun sat back in his chair, sinking into the soft backrest, as if his words had exhausted all his strength.

"Because they occasionally actually succeed."

Chen Yifan's eyelids twitched suddenly.

"Every success represents a serious provocation against the rules of the [World Engine]."

"And the price..." Wang Qingyun's voice became hollow and distant, as if he were recalling some forbidden scene.

"It is the arrival of the 'Cleanser'."

"Thirty years ago, a branch of the Eternal Life Society attempted to hold an 'Ascension Ceremony' deep in the Siberian ice fields. They succeeded only a small part of it; one elder had one foot in the door of the so-called 'god.'"

"and then?"

"Then, a giant crater appeared in Siberia, three hundred kilometers in diameter and bottomless."

"The landscape of that area has been permanently altered, and it remains a forbidden zone for life to this day; even spatial rifts do not appear there."

Wang Qingyun spoke in a calm tone, as if he were recounting an old news story that had nothing to do with him.

"That branch of the Eternal Life Society, that so-called 'god,' and... the three 'Zodiacs' sent by the Dragon Kingdom to stop them, as well as tens of thousands of elite professionals."

He paused, then uttered the coldest truth.

Not even a speck of dust remained.

"That's the way the 'Cleaners' operate—erasure."

In the office, the only sound was the ticking of the second hand on the wall clock.

Chen Yifan felt a layer of cold sweat seeping out of his back without him even realizing it.

He finally understood completely.

What did Wang Qingyun say today?

It was both a warning and a lesson in safety education about life and death, written with countless lives.

"That box..." Chen Yifan's voice was a little dry, "What does it have to do with the Immortal Life Society?"

"That was a key token in one of their rituals."

"It was stolen by 'Shadow Fiend' decades ago and has been missing ever since."

Wang Qingyun stared at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"As for why it ended up in 'Hundred Images' hands, and how it ended up in my hands, hehe..."

"In short, it has now been brought back to light."

Wang Qingyun didn't continue.

Shadow Fiend?

Is it related to him again?

Chen Yifan was taken aback at first, but then he understood.

No matter what.

This box itself is a volcano waiting to erupt.

What's more, it also contains the key to the legacy of the King of Assassins.

It's practically a timed alarm clock strapped with a nuclear bomb!

Whoever possesses it becomes the target of the Eternal Life Society.

At the same time, they are also the prey of countless greedy people.

It's the most glaring red dot on the "Cleaner" radar!

It seems that it was a wise decision for him to pass this thing on to Wang Qingyun.

"so……"

Wang Qingyun looked at him meaningfully.

"Do you still think that your so-called 'talent mutation' is a good thing?"

This is the final warning.

This is also my final piece of advice.

Chen Yifan fell silent.

Do you have a choice?

he does not know.

All he knew was that the spiritual cultivation method left behind by Luo Tian was the only "key" he could currently see to solving the mystery surrounding his sister and fighting against unknown dangers.

Even if it's a "heretical path," an abyss, he must continue down that path.

"Uncle Wang."

Chen Yifan stood up, no longer avoiding the other person's penetrating gaze.

The feigned bewilderment and naivety on his face faded away, replaced by a calmness and resolve beyond his years.

But he hadn't had a chance to speak yet.

Wang Qingyun spoke first.

I still hold the same view.

"When a person dies, everything is gone."

Wang Qingyun gave him a deep look, and a hint of knowing and weariness flashed in the depths of his cloudy eyes.

In the end, he just waved his hand.

"Alright, I understand. You can go now. The official announcement about the online situation will be released soon, so don't worry."

"Thank you, Uncle Wang."

Chen Yifan bowed again, then turned around and left the office decisively.

Behind him, Wang Qingyun stared at the closed door for a long time before finally pulling out a crumpled cigarette, lighting it, but not smoking it.

He watched the cigarette embers flicker in the dim light.

"In the end... so you still chose this path..."

Wang Qingyun muttered to himself, his voice filled with lingering weariness.

Amidst the swirling smoke, he picked up the phone on the table and walked to the window.

After a moment of silence, he finally dialed a number he knew by heart.

The phone rang only once before it was answered.

"it's me."

"An 'exception' has emerged in Jiangcheng..."

"Yes, he has already mastered the basics, and his foundation is... terrifyingly pure."

Wang Qingyun exhaled a puff of smoke that he hadn't inhaled into his lungs, watching it dissipate in front of the window.

"My opinion? It's better to guide than to suppress. Suppression... will only push him to the side of the 'Eternal Life Society'."

"Furthermore... I sense that the heretical power he possesses... seems to be spiritual power, just like that one."

There was silence on the other end of the phone, as if waiting for something to continue.

"Perhaps, just in case, it's time to let him make contact..."

"Another path."