Ling Cage: I am a spiritual master, devouring source matter to become a god.

"Hmph!" Jing Yuan sneered, "The leader is truly cold-blooded!"

Jing Yuan felt disdain, but upon closer reflection, he realized that the Light and Shadow Society was known for being the most ruthless towards its own people.

"You flatter me too much, Head of the Association." Jing Yuan didn't refuse directly. "I don't have the ability to do this."

Charles remained relatively calm.

"As I said, this is just an opportunity to express sincerity. As for what you did and to what extent, I know perfectly well."

"Farewell!"

Jingyuan turned and left without giving Charles a final reply.

Jingyuan simply couldn't understand Charles's thought process. Why would he deliberately create a disaster in order to deal with Mark?

Does Mark's crime increase the more people are sacrificed?

Humanity's true enemies are the Devouring Beasts and the Mana ecosystem, not each other.

After this experience, Jingyuan felt even more strongly that Charles was not a good leader.

With the lighthouse in his hands, there is no future!

After leaving the Church of Light and Shadow, Jing Yuan intended to go straight back to his residence to rest, but then he remembered his appointment with 4277, so he turned around and went to the workshop.

The workshop door was opened, and the lights inside were still on.

4277, wearing her worn-out jacket, fell asleep on the control panel.

There were two throwing knives on the table, and a finished scabbard next to them.

Jingyuan walked over and patted 4277, and she woke up.

4277 woke up and happily exclaimed, "You're here!"

Jingyuan nodded and said, "If you're tired, go back and rest. There's no need to wait for me here."

4277 didn't care at all. He picked up the scabbard next to him and said, "This is a scabbard I made temporarily so that you can carry it with you."

Jingyuan took the scabbard and could sense the other party's care.

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it. You often give me delicious food! Consider this scabbard a free gift."

"Alright! It's late, go home and get some rest!"

4277 nodded, then whispered, "Be careful when you go down to the ground tomorrow."

Jing Yuan was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, "Don't worry!"

……

The next day, at the Hunter's Armory.

The team members were preparing to go to the ground, moving supplies and checking equipment.

This mission, besides collecting supplies, also serves as an assessment for new recruits. Therefore, the total number of participants is relatively large.

In general, hunters will choose a relatively safe location to collect resources.

You might encounter Devouring Beasts, but the probability is low.

Jingyuan, Mo Dong, Chu Feng, and Neil arrived at the maintenance depot to report.

After registering, I went to collect my equipment.

Although this is an assessment, the main focus will still be on data collection tasks.

To enhance combat effectiveness, Mark assigned Jing Yuan to the main combat team and also transferred his dedicated gravity body over.

Upon seeing the gravitational body, Mo Dong and his two companions were filled with envy.

When Jingyuan saw Erica standing nearby, he naturally went over to greet her, as she was his old classmate.

Hi, Erica!

"Jingyuan!" Erica asked with a smile, "Is your new gravity body alright?"

Jingyuan nodded and said, "Jingnan let me test drive it a couple of days ago, and it felt pretty good. Now that it's on the ground, if there's a chance, I'll have to really test its capabilities."

“I told the captain we should team up in pairs! Following your strategy from last time, if we encounter a Devouring Beast, I'll provide you with ranged fire support, and you can use melee to kill the Devouring Beast.”

"Okay!"

Erica and Jingyuan hit it off immediately, and Erica even gave Jingyuan a high five.

Erica turned around and saw Penny, with her beautiful blonde hair, walking past her. Erica suddenly said, "Hey... Penny, didn't you just do a mission in the Hall of Dawn yesterday? Why are you doing a ground mission again today?"

Erica's thoughts were simple: she thought the missions at the Hall of Dawn were exhausting, and that people should be given two days of rest afterward.

Hearing this, someone nearby laughed and said, "Erica, the missions in the Hall of Dawn aren't tiring, so why can't we do today's mission?"

"These are all missions, how could I not be tired?"

"You'll find out next time you go to the Hall of Dawn."

"You think you know everything!" Erica retorted, jumping over and raising her fist to strike.

Of course, it was just a joke.

Jingyuan looked at Penny beside him, and Penny noticed him too.

Jingyuan was secretly surprised. Had Penny gone to the Dawn Hall yesterday as well?

Chapter 30 Survivors?

Jingyuan and Penny locked eyes, but Penny deliberately looked away.

However, since the two were face to face, they still had to greet each other.

“Penny!”

"Jingyuan!"

There were no further words exchanged, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

However, everyone in the maintenance depot is busy right now, and no one is paying attention to such a small matter.

Mark and Ran Bing were arranging work on the side when Mark saw Jing Yuan, walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder and said, "I heard from Jing Nan that you adjusted the Gravity Body to melee mode?"

"Yes."

Mark patiently explained, "There are many types of Devouring Beasts, and some types have ranged attack capabilities. For us, the best option is to be able to attack both at close and long range."

"I know."

"The area we went to this time had relatively few Devouring Beasts, so it shouldn't be a big problem. When you get back, ask Jingnan to help you change it back."

Jingyuan agreed on the surface, but he had his own plans in mind.

Soon, the hunters were fully equipped.

Jingyuan and his three roommates, along with several other newcomers, boarded the elevator platform in the same vehicle.

Jingyuan sat in the car, looking around at the people inside. They all seemed to be newcomers to this assessment.

Aside from his three roommates, he was not familiar with the other roommates.

At this moment, Jingyuan suddenly remembered the big guy he had encountered during the previous assessment. He remembered that the big guy should have also passed the assessment, so why wasn't he in the car?

Corey was in charge of leading the team in the car.

Jingyuan asked curiously, "Brother Corey, are all the new recruits for this assessment on this bus?"

Corey glanced at Jing Yuan and said, "Yes! They're all here!"

"I remember there was a big guy who passed the test, but I didn't see him."

"A big guy?"

There aren't many large figures on the lighthouse, so it's easy to make an impression.

"I remember there was one, but it seems he didn't come."

"Didn't come? Does passing the assessment mean you don't have to come?"

"Well, I don't know the specifics either. Maybe it was taken by another department."

"Oh, I see!" Jingyuan didn't ask any further questions; he was just curious.

As the lifting platform descended to the ground, some of the newcomers in the group began to get nervous.

Even Chu Feng and Neil, who were standing next to Jing Yuan, looked nervous.

This is not surprising. They grew up in the lighthouse and had never seen a Devouring Beast, only heard its legends. It's normal for them to be a little scared when they think about encountering one on the ground.

After reaching the ground, the convoy continued its journey.

Seeing that Neil was tense, Jingyuan joked, "Neil, don't be nervous. The more nervous you are, the easier it will be for the Devouring Beast to sense your presence."

"Really...really?"

Jingyuan said in a joking tone, "Do you know what happens to people who are caught by the Devouring Beast?"

A young man across from Neil, who looked timid, raised his hand and said, "I know this. It will absorb the life essence and turn into flesh and soil."