He waved his hand, "Sit."

Gu Jianlin walked into the room, where there was only one chair, clearly meant for him.

He sat down and looked at the mysterious boss of the Forbidden Zone across from him.

To be honest, even with his profiling ability, there wasn't anything special about him.

The only thing notable was that his eyes were incredibly small.

Smallest he'd ever seen in his entire life.

"Please don't tell me you dare to talk without opening your eyes."

Mr. Liu raised an eyebrow, "I've already opened them as wide as I can."

Gu Jianlin fell into thought.

Unless the man had a mind reading technique, everyone who met him always said the same thing.

"Go entertain the guest."

Mr. Liu smacked the two bunny girls on the backside.

The two bunny girls smiled alluringly and sashayed their hips, walking gracefully toward him.

Yet in that instant, the cold gleam of a dagger flashed, slicing off a strand of their hair abruptly.

"Don't move."

Gu Jianlin gripped the dagger and calmly said, "Sit back down."

The two bunny girls exchanged glances, a faint glimmer flickering in their enchanting eyes.

Because their hands, poised behind their backs, had nearly reached the holsters at their waists.

"Although you've undergone special training, your eyes still gave you away."

Gu Jianlin said indifferently, "This kind of probing? Forget it."

Mr. Liu burst out laughing, not showing the slightest hint of embarrassment. He called the two bunny girls back and smiled with satisfaction, "Not bad, not bad! Strong vigilance. Only someone like you can survive in the Dark World. I'll skip the pleasantries—here, take this Golden Card."

He retrieved a pure gold card from his pocket and tossed it over casually.

Gu Jianlin caught it effortlessly, seeing four words engraved on the card.

——Youying Consortium.

"Those who can't survive in the real world often escape into the Dark World. Some are persecuted, some have only themselves to blame, and others are after something. But no matter who they are, they'll want to join us. Because under our protection, they won't have to skulk around wearing masks or hide in the shadows."

Mr. Liu chuckled, "I don't know which category Mr. Gu falls into, but I hope you're in the third one. Only that kind of person qualifies to cooperate with us, and to truly… become one of us."

Gu Jianlin, hearing this, suddenly realized he had underestimated the forces behind this Forbidden Zone.

The fat man's implication was clear: under their protection, he wouldn't need to fear the Association's relentless pursuit anymore.

"Of course, joining us has benefits that go far beyond mere protection. What we need are true powerhouses—the kind who can collaborate on major ventures. You know as well as I do: with Qilin Immortal Palace now manifest, everyone's after the Mystery of Immortality within the palace. Legend has it that the Qilin Venerable possesses authority over disaster and life."

Mr. Liu hinted cryptically, "But it's clear to anyone with a brain that Qilin Immortal Palace is bound to be a battleground for the Ether Association. At this point, half of the Dawn Combat Sequence has already entered the entrance at the seabed in Black Cloud City, working alongside the Omega Sequence's elite seeds for a large-scale sweep."

Gu Jianlin froze for a moment; he hadn't expected things to progress this quickly and wasn't even aware of it.

That level of battle was obviously not something a rookie like him was meant to take part in.

Mr. Liu's eyes gleamed strangely, and he coaxed, "However, we have another entrance to the Qilin Immortal Palace under our control, along with a secret that is classified even within the Ether Association."

Gu Jianlin hesitated briefly, "Is a secret like that something you'd casually tell a small fry like me?"

"Of course. After all, Ether Association has always been stingy—they rarely share information like this with their lower ranks. But things are different in the Dark World. Here, loose tongues abound, and anything is possible."

Mr. Liu laughed loudly, "Judging from your expression, I can tell you don't know. Why don't you take a guess: over two thousand years ago, why did Candle Dragon Venerable wage war against Qilin Venerable in the East Sea? Their battle shattered the heavens and collapsed dimensions."

Gu Jianlin's pupils contracted slightly upon hearing this. "Why?"

Mr. Liu shrugged, "Specifically, we don't know either. Our archaeological experts aren't as reliable as those in the Association."

Gu Jianlin was momentarily speechless, nearly cursing out loud.

"But what we can confirm is that Candle Dragon Venerable experienced some kind of issue over two thousand years ago. Desperate and nearly insane, He searched for a solution. According to a hidden rumor, after nine hundred years of slumber, Qilin Venerable descended to the East Sea and planted the Qilin Wedge, attempting an ancient form of priestly ritual to restore His full strength."

Mr. Liu shrugged, "Meanwhile, Candle Dragon Venerable sought to seize the fruits of this ritual."

Gu Jianlin was stunned. Battles between Supreme Ancients like these felt far too distant for him to comprehend.

Even though he had inherited the power of Qilin Venerable, the whole idea felt surreal to him.

"At the same time, Qilin Venerable wasn't passive either. He used the opportunity to try swallowing Candle Dragon Venerable's strength! Our consortium has an Ascender claiming descent from Xu Fu, who, through ancient documents handed down in his family, pieced together a shocking truth."

Mr. Liu said somberly, "Within Qilin Immortal Palace, not only is there treasure left by Qilin Venerable, but also the legacy of Candle Dragon Venerable buried within."