098, it’s you after all.

“Long time no see, Miss Li Xinxin.” A gaunt boy approached, wearing an oversized suit with a black tie that added a solemn air.

The old man ignored me entirely, fixing his gaze instead on Er Gou.

“So it’s you. I didn’t expect you’d still be here, Dan Feng.”

“Dan Feng? Wasn’t he taken away during the last game?” I was completely stunned. Dan Feng gave a slight wave, and three giant hands appeared behind him, grabbing hold of me, Lin Xiayue, and Wang Yan.

“Looks like you didn’t tell your… how should I put it… companion anything, did you?” Deputy Principal Bai looked at me with disdain.

“Trying to fight me while burdened with dead weight?”

“Let go of me!” Wang Yan clawed at the giant hands in his beast form, and Lin Xiayue desperately unleashed gravity attacks.

But to Dan Feng’s eyes, none of this mattered. He was the first awakened contractor we’d ever seen, and no one knew just how powerful he’d become.

“Dan Feng, don’t get too cocky.” Er Gou’s demeanor shifted abruptly—serious now, like a battle-hardened and capable woman.

“What you’re doing is already against the rules.”

“Heh, do you really think they’ll care?” Dan Feng said, full of confidence.

“Even my infant spirit form can’t handle this, and you think you can just leave here?”

“Dan Feng! They’re key forces—we can’t let you kill them here.”

“Oh? Li Xinxin, do you want to fight me?”

“The two contractors, Black and White Impermanence, have already tacitly allowed my actions. Aren’t you just boring enough to disagree?”

“Hey!” Wang Yan roared.

“Do you know something?”

“Shut up.” Dan Feng used the giant hands to clamp Wang Yan’s mouth shut. Er Gou locked eyes with Dan Feng, a bronze fan materializing in her hand, ready for battle.

“Li Xinxin, don’t you get it yet?”

“Work with me, and together we can defeat them.”

“Heh.” Er Gou laughed.

“You still know too little. Their strength far surpasses yours.”

“Give up. You’ll get your chance on the second stage.” Li Xinxin urged.

“Li Xinxin, don’t you want immortality?” The word struck a chord deep within me. Not only me—Er Gou’s stern expression faltered when she heard it.

Immortality—undying life—was a dream countless people chased. And now, from Dan Feng’s mouth, this word emerged. What could it mean?

Seeing Er Gou silent, Dan Feng pressed on.

“You should already know: the contractors’ trials are nothing but a survival-of-the-fittest training method.”

Er Gou nodded slightly; she had clearly known this for some time. But for us, it was explosive news.

All our desperate struggles were merely to activate the power of fifty-four cards. Why hadn’t anyone told us this from the start?

Perhaps those fifty-four would have stepped forward willingly, sparing many innocent lives. But this was merely my hopeful fantasy.

Would everyone stand up for others? Not necessarily. Some would hide. No one could be sure everyone had the courage to face this deadly trial.

To prevent any chance of escape by these fifty-four contractors, University D chose a policy of better to mistakenly kill a thousand than let one slip away.

Not only them—both the Foreign Language High School and University D’s affiliated high school adopted the same approach, secretly conducting the contractors’ trials.

This was a trap, a design laid from the very beginning.

“University D is the trial ground, while the Foreign Language High School and affiliated schools serve as selection venues.”

“When you enroll, the tests have already begun.”

“Of course, it’s possible that other cities besides North City also harbor highly compatible candidates.”

“Because of the Four Great Sects, there’s a chance that people with especially high adaptability appear near their locations.”

“Yindu Ghost Vein at Luoyang, Sacred Beast Realm at Shudu, Tibet Corpse Mansion at Fenghuang, and Artifact Sanctuary at Tianshan.”

“Looks like you’re from near Tianshan, huh? Such high artifact adaptability.”

I wanted to nod, but my body was still immobilized. Dan Feng gestured, and control over my neck returned—I hurriedly nodded.

“Dan Feng, let’s get to the point. What is this immortality about?” Er Gou snapped, clearly annoyed. Dan Feng grinned awkwardly and deliberately slowed his speech as he faced her anxious expression.

“Since you’re interested, let me explain slowly.”

“The gods’ generals’ original task was to repel outsiders and reinforce the barrier seals.”

“But if we don’t reinforce it? The outsiders will attack, and the world will descend into chaos.”

“Heh, what benefit would that bring us?” Er Gou retorted.

“Do you honestly think the outsiders would treat us kindly?”

“Exactly. I made a deal with them.”

“As long as I break the barrier, they promise me immortality.”

“Dan Feng, don’t joke with me.” Er Gou refused to believe him, arguing back.

“You’ve never even seen them, so where’s the deal?”

“Heh, Li Xinxin, I’m surprised you’re still a Tianshan spy.”

“Don’t you know that the little and big ghosts are actually outsiders’ spies hidden among humans?”

“You—!” Li Xinxin’s aura suddenly flared.

“You’ve seen the ghost cards!”

“Don’t get so worked up.” Dan Feng said leisurely.

“If you join us, everything can be negotiated.” He looked at Li Xinxin, awaiting her reply.

“Dan Feng, I don’t want to fight you.” Er Gou replied.

“You’re the most promising contractor here. Come back.”

Dan Feng sneered twice and said harshly:

“Li Xinxin, don’t forget—you’re under my control now.”

“I’m negotiating because I value your Spade Queen ability. Otherwise, I’d have crushed you already.”

“Try and see if you can.” The Spade Queen, Er Gou, was no pushover. She immediately unleashed her bronze fan and Spade Queen power, awakening fully.

Endless wind blades howled from all directions toward Dan Feng, who stood still, waving his hand lightly. More giant hands surged up behind him, shattering the blades.

“You’re just one awakened contractor—not impressive.”

“My awakened state, Thousand-Hand Infant Spirit, is a whole rank above yours.” Er Gou remained unshaken, swinging her bronze fan again.

“Did you really think I came alone?” Er Gou snapped her fingers, and space behind her shattered explosively.

Two familiar figures appeared behind her: Red Heart 6, Schrödinger’s Cat—Sun Cheng, who could traverse spaces—and Spade A, Midnight.

At this moment, Midnight held a golden spear, from which a powerful energy ripple radiated.

Dan Feng’s brow furrowed at the sight of the spear.

“Ancient spear?”

“Isn’t that buried beneath the library? How do you have it?” Dan Feng said nervously.

Midnight shook the golden spear in his hand.

“If I hadn’t sealed it, the ghosts would have been dead long ago. The Spade A spear’s attack power is the strongest among all the playing cards.”

“You can call me by another name too.” Midnight no longer hid his strength. He activated his awakened state, his entire body wrapped in golden light, clad in golden armor, golden radiance flowing from his hand.

Seeing awakened Midnight, Dan Feng suddenly faltered, like a mouse confronting a cat.

“It’s really you!”