As soon as the Human Emperor Banner came out, I became the Lord of the Old Ones

Chapter 77 Talents are rare
On the way out of the northern garbage dump, Long Jianhuan was still worried.

After a few days of field visits, she had a deeper understanding of Xu Yan.

But the fog that shrouded the young man in the wilderness not only did not dissipate, but instead became larger and thicker.

There is no doubt that Xu Yan concealed a lot of things.

The real Xu Yan is definitely not just the naive and kind-hearted card-making apprentice in the Star Shop.

He is also an excellent wilderness hunter, with extraordinary calmness and sharpness.

Considering that the other party came from the Shadow Ruins adjacent to the contaminated area, this was understandable and even natural.

“I still underestimated him.

"Such a multi-talented person who possesses professional skills, knows how to fight with bare hands, and is good at organization should not be simply defined as a 'card maker'.

"He has great potential and may have the opportunity to show his talents in a more thrilling position."

Long Jianhuan's pen cap tapped lightly against his increasingly thick work notes, and he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

She never forgot her father's dream.

Build the Security Bureau into the strongest shield and sharpest spear of the League of Heroes.

Unfortunately, today's Security Bureau is far from being the backbone of the Heroic Alliance.

Needless to say, there are four major card-making companies behind the Lingka Association.

Even the official agencies parallel to the Security Bureau - the Imperial Spirit Corps, the Old Days Foundation, the Alien Spirit Shelter and the Doomsday Research Institute.

They are all deeply rooted behemoths.

There is both cooperation and competition among various institutions.

The competition for talent is particularly fierce.

The Security Bureau has a special mission and it is easy to get caught up in the daily routine of maintaining law and order.

Working diligently may not necessarily yield much achievement, but the slightest negligence may cause heavy losses and lead to being scolded by the people.

For a gifted and ambitious spirit master who wants to make a career.

Join the Imperial Spirit Corps and go deep into the wilderness to fight against the old creatures.

You can hone your skills in desperate battles and achieve rapid growth.

Joining the Old Ones Foundation or the Spirit Asylum will give you the opportunity to access various ancient mysteries and forbidden powers, with a mysterious identity and a transcendent status.

As for the four major card-making companies, each of them controls several or even dozens of Echo Lands with a 100% exploration rate, and can continuously draw power from them. Newcomers can be armed to the teeth with all kinds of powerful cards as soon as they complete their induction training.

The only option is to join the Security Bureau and fight against evil forces such as the Black Dream Organization. It may take three to five years to catch a cunning criminal master like "Dr. Hyde". It is a thankless choice.

The problem of lack of talent has always plagued the Security Bureau.

In a border area like Dawn City, where resources are depleted and finances are tight, it is even more difficult for the local security bureau to recruit enough outstanding fresh blood.

The more Long Jianhuan got to know Xu Yan, the more he felt that it was a waste of talent for him to stay in the Xingxing Store.

Of course, the premise is——

Everything he said was true.

Turn to the end of the work notes.

Re-examine the whole thing from the most dangerous and unlikely starting point.

It is also filled with dense analysis, reasoning, and evaluation.

It outlines another black shadow that is more three-dimensional, more dangerous, and yet more mysterious.

After knowing Xu Yan to this extent, Long Jianhuan felt a little regretful and sent his blood, hair and dandruff samples to Dawn City for testing.

Of course, I don’t regret doubting Xu Yan.

Rather, she felt that this tit-for-tat cat-and-mouse game was simply too exciting and too interesting.

She should be like the old-school operators of her father's era, slowly unraveling the truth bit by bit, forcing the opponent into a corner and forcing them to surrender.

Or in a fist-to-fist fight, the opponent who resists stubbornly can be beaten to the point of shitting and pissing.

In this rapidly changing era, using increasingly advanced old technology to uncover the truth is too simplistic, crude, and boring.

This is not the way an operator should think.

But Long Jianhuan just couldn't help it.

I couldn't help but want to pinch Xu Yan's face.

Look at the face of this mysterious wilderness boy, is he covered with a mask as thin as a cicada's wing?

There is something hidden under the mask.

……

"Sister Long, we've found it! Silver Tongue Riley's secret account has indeed had several unusually large transactions in the past six months!"

As soon as he returned to the patrol team, Long Jianhuan heard Li Xinglan cheering.

Li Xinglan, who has worked as a clerk in the team for three years, may not be good at reasoning and arresting.

But she has an innate sensitivity to numbers.

"Look, this record, this record, and this record, despite changing hands, they all point to an account associated with the Rolling Stones.

"I can't find any mention of these transactions in the Rolling Stones' public accounts. If they were using 'Silver Tongue' Riley to provide the Black Dream Organization with payment for the cannon fodder, then that makes sense.

"You're right, the Rolling Stone Club is indeed suspicious. The issues surrounding these transactions are enough to warrant a search warrant!"

"No rush." ​​Long Jianhuan looked at the green numbers flashing on the old-fashioned screen.

Deep in the eyes, there is a gleam of brilliance.

"The Rolling Stone Club controls the underground order in Rolling Stone Castle. They are the undisputed local tyrants. Even many people in the patrol team have close ties with the Rolling Stone Club."

She pondered, "If we apply for a search warrant here, they'll get the news in minutes, and they won't let us find even a single hair.

"Don't tell the captain about this yet. Let me go to the Rolling Stone Club first!"

"Hey?"

Li Xinglan's eyes widened. "You promised the captain that you wouldn't investigate the Rolling Stones Club without his approval, and the captain asked me to supervise you!"

"So I said 'shop around.'"

Long Jianhuan said, "I heard that the Rolling Stone Club has deep connections in the wilderness area and can find many rare cards that are not available in the safe areas. Can't I go there to broaden my horizons?

"However, before we officially launch the investigation, there's one small matter that I need to resolve quickly and decisively!"

……

"call--"

It is still the back alley of the Star Shop, with the sunset glowing.

Xu Yan exhaled lightly, his chest seemingly at rest.

A winding insect mark appeared in the air about seven or eight meters away from the mouth and nose, and then expanded and turned into a white silk thread as thick as a python, making a sharp hissing sound.

"In less than a week, you've mastered 'Breath of the Insect' to this level. I have nothing left to teach you."

Long Jianhuan's expression was complicated. "Your 'Mimic Breathing Technique' has reached a high level. From now on, you only need to practice on your own according to the training card I gave you."

"Captain Long, thank you."

Xu Yan said sincerely, "It's not just about teaching me the Daoyin technique, but also about the Star Shop.

"Thanks to you, all the unscrupulous shop owners on this street have been punished. The Starry Sky Store has become famous and has won several long-term orders worth a lot of money. More and more customers are coming to it because of its reputation.

"Uncle Tong's hands gradually recovered, and the funding problem of expanding the business was solved with the compensation paid by the unscrupulous shop owner.

"I believe that it won't be long before the Starry Sky Store and even the entire neighborhood will be completely renewed even after I leave here."

"It's my duty. There's nothing to thank me for."

Long Jianhuan said, "I'm going to be busy for the next few days, so I won't be here. You should practice diligently and don't slack off!"

"I won't let Captain Long down."

Xu Yan said with anticipation, "I really hope that one day I can help Captain Long and lend you a hand."

"There must be a chance, let's go!"

Long Jianhuan waved his hand, walked to the exit of the back alley, and turned back, "Oh, I almost forgot to remind you of something.

"You have mastered the Mimic Breathing Technique. I believe you can feel your vitality surge like a tide, making you eager to conquer more and more powerful souls of the past.

“But breathing techniques alone are not enough.

"It also requires guidance and meditation. Only by combining these three can one truly become the master of one's own flesh, blood, and brain, perfectly control one's own soul, and then control the remaining souls of the past.

“But that’s not something I can teach.

“You are gifted and your situation is special. Even in Dawn City, there are only a handful of masters who are qualified to be your teachers.

"Before I help you find a suitable teacher, do not rashly activate the Bronze Battle Card and sign a contract with the Bronze Battle Spirit. Otherwise, the consequences will be serious!"

Xu Yan nodded.

Then he asked, “How serious is it?”

"Becoming an evil spirit master, your spiritual erosion worsens until you become terminally ill, your body completely taken over by the remnant spirits of the past, transforming you into a terrifying monster—"

Long Jianhuan stared into Xu Yan's eyes and said word by word, "Erosion, spirit, body!"

Xu Yan took a breath.

"Captain Long, I'll do whatever you say!"

He raised his right hand and vowed, "I will study hard and work diligently. I will never touch Bronze Battle Cards, or anything like that, something a teenager shouldn't be touching, until I've completely solidified my foundation!"

"That's good."

Long Jianhuan sighed, "I know that many refugees in the wilderness will do whatever it takes to pursue power, even at any cost. They think that becoming an evil spirit master or contracting spiritual erosion is no big deal.

"There are even some ridiculous secret recipes circulating, claiming that psychiatric drugs like Prozac, Diflucan, Requiem, and Viscon—drugs used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder—can be used to curb soul conflicts and even transform into a corrupted spirit.

"These idiots simply don't understand that psychiatric drugs can only delay the progression of the disease and temporarily control it, but how can they possibly cure the root cause?
"Of course, I understand that they have to do their best to survive in this precarious and dangerous environment.

"But you are different. You have escaped from that hellish environment. Ahead lies the golden road. Don't embark on the self-destructive path of blindly pursuing power!"

Xu Yan seemed to be thinking about something.

"It's time to leave now. There's still a lot of trouble in the team."

Long Jianhuan turned around.

"I'll see you off."

Watching her figure disappear into the depths of the sunset.

A flash of scarlet flashed in the depths of Xu Yan's dark eyes.

(End of this chapter)