RAAS Chapter 98: Origin World (5)

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Accompanied by a lazy voice, an exceptionally exquisite-looking man stepped out from the shadows. Dressed in a deep blue military uniform, he stood out strikingly in the dim castle.

His eyes were long and narrow, his nose high and straight. His lips were thin but deeply colored, adding a touch of allure—especially when they curled slightly, enhancing his striking appearance.

When silent, he exuded a charm almost akin to a woman’s. Yet, the moment he spoke, there was a distinct masculine sharpness in his tone.

Two completely contrasting qualities merged seamlessly within him, making him all the more captivating.

At that moment, he was gazing at Qin Mo, his eyes settling on the small creature in his palm. A hint of understanding flashed in his expression. "Your system is quite impressive."

Qin Mo gently cradled the little panda, tucking it securely into his embrace before lifting his gaze—cold and piercing—at the newcomer. "He is not yours to comment on."

The man merely smiled nonchalantly. Then, lifting his eyes to meet Qin Mo’s, his interest was evident. "Hello, my name is Lan Yu. I’m from the Independent Alliance. Oh, though others also call us..."

Lan Yu smirked maliciously. "The Poachers’ Alliance."

"So?" Qin Mo raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes radiating layers of killing intent. "Are you here to avenge those two worthless scum?"

Sensing the immediate tension in the air, Lan Yu quickly waved his hands in an exaggerated manner, looking somewhat comical.

"No, no, no, don’t misunderstand! Who would waste time worrying about the dead? That would be a complete waste!"

"So, the bounty wasn't issued by your people?"

Hitting the key point in a single sentence, Lan Yu's expression stiffened slightly. However, he reacted quickly and laughed it off the next moment. "Our alliance has many departments. It’s not surprising that a few clueless fools might stir up unnecessary trouble. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it as soon as I get back. I promise it won’t cause you any trouble."

Speaking such blatant lies with a straight face—if Shi Qing were awake, he’d probably have a million sarcastic remarks ready.

Unfortunately, the little panda was fast asleep, and Qin Mo had no interest in such nonsense.

Too lazy to entertain empty words, he cut straight to the point. "If you're here for revenge, I’m happy to oblige. If you’re here to recruit me into the Poachers, don’t bother—I’m not interested."

Lan Yu had a whole speech prepared, but before he could even begin, Qin Mo had already shut him down. He was surprised by this man's sharp instincts, yet at the same time, he couldn’t help but curse internally—Damn, this newbie is way too arrogant!

Still, he held back his temper and continued, "Don’t be so quick to refuse. Unlike those hypocrites in the Orderly Faction, we in the Independent Alliance are honest about what we do. Their so-called righteous cause? It’s filthier than anything the poachers do. They claim they want to protect systems, but once you join them, you’ll be nothing more than a pawn, forced into submission, unable to escape—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Mo lifted his left hand.

Without warning, a black ink blade shot from its sheath, its sharp tip pressing directly against Lan Yu’s throat.

Lan Yu’s body tensed in an instant. He hadn’t sensed even the slightest movement before the deadly blade was already at his vital point. It wasn’t unavoidable, but the sheer speed of the attack was enough to send chills down his spine.

Qin Mo’s gaze was icy as he spoke. "I already said—I’m not interested."

Lan Yu dropped his playful demeanor. Though the blade was still dangerously close to his throat, he showed no trace of fear.

Locking eyes with Qin Mo, his tone became uncharacteristically serious—yet still dangerously alluring.

"Don’t you want to possess him completely? Don’t you want to own him entirely? No betrayal, no abandonment—you will never be separated. Devour him, and you will truly become one."

The moment the last word fell from his lips, the blade inched forward—threatening to pierce his throat in an instant.

In a split second, Lan Yu bent sharply backward, narrowly dodging the deadly strike. The next moment, his figure flickered, a phantom-like afterimage spreading beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, he had retreated nearly a hundred meters.

From the distance, his voice drifted faintly through the air.

"Think about it. I know—you desire him."

Then, his figure vanished without a trace.

Qin Mo stood motionless in the desolate castle, as still as a statue.

Meanwhile, Shi Qing was deep in sleep.

When his eyes were open, he hadn’t felt particularly tired. But the moment he closed them, a flood of exhaustion consumed him. At first, he could still feel the warmth of Qin Mo’s palm, but soon, everything faded into darkness.

The endless blackness was like a boundless void. There was no weight to his body—he felt light, yet also strangely hollow.

Shi Qing thought he might be dreaming, but the eerie clarity of the experience made it feel anything but a dream.

It was as if he had forgotten everything—yet somehow, he remembered everything.

He could see nothing, yet he inexplicably felt as though he could see everything.

He was submerged in darkness, yet standing above all existence.

Emotions, memories, the ceaseless cycle of time—joy, sorrow, conflict, peace—all rose to the surface before his cold gaze, repeating endlessly, night after night, day after day, with no end in sight.

It was monotonous. Dull. And overwhelmingly lonely.

Shi Qing had never felt this way before, yet at this moment, these emotions flooded his mind as if they had always belonged there.

He didn’t know how long he had been wandering in this dreamlike void.

Until—

Everything shattered.

Chaos erupted.

Bloodshed, conflict, an inescapable force of destruction.

The darkness was torn apart, yet before dawn could arrive, it plunged back into ruin.

All sensations collapsed into nothingness.

Power was shattered. Abilities were seized. And when everything lost its foundation—everything crumbled into oblivion.

Shi Qing felt a deep sinking sensation in his heart. And in that instant—

The void vanished.

He found himself in an entirely different world—one of unimaginable splendor.

It was indescribably grand, filled with an intricate web of dazzling lights—like auroras from the heavens woven into an enormous, unfathomable net.

Shi Qing stood upon this "net," hesitant to move, afraid of touching something unknown.

But his stillness brought no peace.

Suddenly, two orbs of pure white light collided violently within the aurora, erupting into an even more radiant explosion that sent ripples through the web, fracturing, shattering, destroying.

The two entities clashed relentlessly, fierce and overwhelming. Every strike was executed with full force, like mortal enemies locked in an unending battle, fixated on each other, determined to obliterate the other.

Shi Qing watched in stunned silence.

He didn’t know where he was.

He didn’t know what was happening.

But he felt danger.

He desperately wanted to escape this "dream."

In the next instant, both warring light forms abruptly stopped.

Though they had no physical bodies, Shi Qing could still feel it—

Two ice-cold, venomous gazes had locked onto him.

He was locked in tightly.

They saw him!

Shi Qing didn’t know what he was, but at this moment, a chilling fear surged in his heart, making his scalp tingle.

“No!” With a sharp scream, Shi Qing suddenly opened his eyes.

Qin Mo frowned. The little panda in his palm fluffed up in fear, its small round eyes filled with a hollow emptiness, with a faint glimmer of tears. Qin Mo cupped him gently, pressing his lips lightly to the tiny forehead, speaking in a soft voice: "It's okay now, Qingqing, don’t be afraid. I'm here."

His wildly pounding heart gradually calmed down. Shi Qing finally managed to control his trembling body. He raised his head and met Qin Mo’s familiar dark eyes. Only then did he feel at ease.

With a soft plop, his limbs sprawled out, and his little belly pressed against Qin Mo’s warm palm. Shi Qing spoke weakly, "It seemed... it seemed like I had a nightmare, but it felt so real. It was incredibly real."

Qin Mo's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked softly, "Tell me about it."

Shi Qing recalled briefly before slowly beginning to speak, recounting the bizarre and seemingly illogical dream.

The Order Keepers' Association

Xia Zhe returned to headquarters and saw the new recruits reporting this time. Except for Qin Mo and Shi Qing, almost all the newcomers had come for aptitude assessment.

He carefully reviewed these system assessments, then waved dismissively.

The appraiser standing by with hands clasped in front of him asked humbly, "Do they all pass?"

Xia Zhe gave a slight "hmm" in response, then ordered, "Register them, distribute benefits, arrange a few assessments to test the hosts' capabilities. If anyone stands out, report it."

The appraiser acknowledged, "Understood."

Xia Zhe got up and left, feeling somewhat frustrated. Lately, system aptitudes had been unimpressive. Although this batch of new recruits was large, the system abilities were all rather ordinary, with no real potential for cultivation.

Thinking about the "backyard" filled with outstanding hosts who had their systems stolen... what a hassle!

If only an extraordinary system appeared, something everyone could share, it would instantly solve the crisis at hand!

But... none could be found.

He couldn’t help but think of that rebellious newcomer. No need for an assessment—he was certain that system’s aptitude was exceptional. To have nurtured a host to such strength proved just how outstanding that system must be.

The problem was, dealing with that Qin Mo. Without even interacting with him, Xia Zhe already knew how selfish he was. There was no way he would willingly give up his system for others to use.

Unless... Xia Zhe’s eyes darkened for a moment. If they forcibly took it, killing that host wouldn’t be easy.

Was it necessary?

Xia Zhe pondered for a moment, then stood up and walked toward the hall’s rear.

At the same time, Lan Yu also returned to the Independent Alliance headquarters.

The two of them had unknowingly sought an audience with their respective supreme leaders—for the same purpose.

What was even more surprising was that before they could knock or inquire, the long-sealed doors suddenly swung open from within.

Xia Ze looked in astonishment at the tall man before him. In the next moment, he dropped to one knee. "My lord."

The man's violet eyes radiated an astonishing heat. His usually emotionless, handsome face carried an unmistakable smile.

Xia Xun turned his head, looking at Xia Zhe, and the corners of his lips lifted uncontrollably. "He’s finally back!"

Xia Zhe stiffened, and in the next second, excitement filled his eyes. He suppressed the tremor in his voice. "You... you mean..."

"Yes!" Xia Xun's gaze was determined. "What belongs to me must be mine again. The power has returned!"

In an instant, all emotion in his eyes vanished. He quickly regained his usual composure and restraint, issuing his command without hesitation. "Chi Xuan has noticed as well. We must seize him before he does!"

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