"May we begin?" Zhong Shenxiu asked flatly, his expression suggesting he had no intention of ingratiating himself with Faraday.

Ga.

Faraday stood there, dumbfounded, as if drenched in ice water.

"Hey, who is this kid?" A nearby Necromancer couldn't contain his curiosity and quietly asked Jaens.

He simply couldn't fathom why their Vice President would address this young boy as "Master," and why he showed such deference. What in the world was going on?

He stared and stared, yet could find nothing extraordinary about Zhong Shenxiu whatsoever.

After recovering from his shock, Faraday addressed Zhong Shenxiu: "Master, are you here to have your Necromancer rank appraised?"

As he spoke, he glanced over at Robin. While he was uncertain about Zhong Shenxiu's status as a Necromancer, he knew Robin well—after all, he had once taken her in!

Zhong Shenxiu nodded, wearing an expression that clearly conveyed, I can’t be bothered with this nonsense.

Faraday was terrified of angering Zhong Shenxiu. Knowing he should handle the official business first before reminiscing, he hastily said, "Master, please wait a moment, I'll be right back!"

With that, he quickly pulled Jaens aside, whispered a few instructions, and rushed off.

Before long, Faraday returned, escorting a man whose attire was much like his own.

"Master, allow me to introduce you. This is our Guild Leader, Stanley." Faraday then turned to Stanley and continued, "And this, Stanley, is the Master I have mentioned to you so many times!"

Stanley's eyes visibly lit up, and he couldn't help but scrutinize Zhong Shenxiu from head to toe, making sounds of amazement as he watched.

"Don't waste my time," Zhong Shenxiu stated, adopting a look that warned, My patience has its limits.

Faraday was startled and quickly interjected, "Then let's begin!"

He immediately turned to Jaens and the others, who were still looking bewildered, and announced, "This is no longer your concern; you may step out for now!"

Jaens was stunned by Faraday's swift dismissal—he had intended to watch for a while longer—but he was forced to retreat, feeling utterly aggrieved. He obeyed so readily because he knew Faraday didn't want the group to witness what was about to happen next; further protest would be futile.

"Hey, Jaens, who exactly is that little boy?" one of the Necromancers asked as soon as they were outside.

"A very mysterious child!" Jaens, irritated by being dismissed, didn't feel like elaborating.

"Mysterious child? How so?" the Necromancer pressed.

"He's someone who can heal the Dark Backlash!" Jaens dropped a bombshell.

"What?" The Necromancer’s eyes widened. "Are you joking with me?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Jaens stopped walking and adopted a serious demeanor.

"I still don't believe it."

"See that little girl next to him? Her name is Robin. She used to be one of us in our 'Necromancer Fellowship.' That little boy saved her when her Dark Backlash flared up!" Jaens said with earnestness.

The Necromancer fell silent for a moment, then seemed to recall something. "Wait, that doesn't sound right. How could that little girl suffer from the Dark Backlash? She shouldn't even be a Necromancer yet. You must be tricking me, right?" He finished with a couple of nervous chuckles.

"Who says she isn't a Necromancer? You can't tell now, but originally, she wore the same black robes as us. It was only after she followed that little boy that everything changed. Not only can she walk freely under the sun, but the festering sores on her skin have completely healed!" Jaens gazed into the distance, seemingly lost in thought.

"This... how is this possible?" The Necromancer's voice trembled slightly, as everything Jaens described was something every Necromancer dared not even dream of.

"Hmph, now you should understand why our Vice President respects that little boy so much?" Jaens sounded slightly annoyed by the earlier disbelief.

The Necromancer said no more, merely standing there in a daze.

If all of this were true, it would be monumental. If they could truly walk normally under the sun, if their appearances could be restored, then Necromancers would become indistinguishable from ordinary people, freed from scorn and able to begin new lives. Just the thought alone made their blood boil. If this could actually be realized, Zhong Shenxiu would surely be enshrined by these Necromancers as a god-like figure.

"I regret it now. We should sneak a peek at what they're doing!" Jaens suddenly suggested.

His proposal was immediately endorsed by his two colleagues.

However, what none of the three of them expected was that the appraisal for Zhong Shenxiu was already concluded.

Faraday and Stanley were both frozen stiff, their eyes wide open, looking at Zhong Shenxiu as if they had just seen a ghost.

Too terrifying. It was utterly terrifying!

What exactly was that just now? How could he possess such devastating strength?

If it were just the monstrous Zhong Shenxiu, that would be one thing. But moments ago, on a whim, Zhong Shenxiu had also allowed them to appraise Robin, and the results had stunned them once again!

Faraday knew Robin well. Before she followed Zhong Shenxiu, Robin was, at most, at the strength level of an "Apprentice Necromancer." Yet, after only a few months apart, she had reached at least the rank of "Saint Magic Necromancer." How could this not shake him to the core?

An individual progressing quickly was normal, but this speed was utterly absurd. How could one’s strength multiply several times over in just a few months? It was too monstrous!

Now, Faraday’s gaze toward Robin had shifted, filled now with awe!

To clarify the Necromancer ranks here, from lowest to highest they are: Novice Necromancer, Apprentice Necromancer, Advanced Necromancer, Magister Necromancer, Great Magister Necromancer, Saint Magic Necromancer, and God-Demon Necromancer.

In truth, Faraday and Stanley’s abilities were limited. Had they been slightly stronger, they would have been even more horrified to discover that Robin's power had already reached the level of "God-Demon Necromancer," the state yearned for by all Necromancers!

"Master, if you don't mind, please wait in the reception area for a moment. Your two 'Rank Certificates' will be ready shortly!" Stanley stated with extreme deference.

Previously, he had only heard Faraday boast about how incredible Zhong Shenxiu was; now, having witnessed it firsthand, he realized it was far more terrifying than Faraday had described!

His respect for Zhong Shenxiu now came entirely from the heart, with not a hint of pretense!

Zhong Shenxiu nodded lightly, offering no objection.

After leading the trio to the reception area, the two old men emerged, looking quite secretive.

"Faraday, am I dreaming?" Stanley grabbed Faraday's shoulder, his withered, yellow hands trembling slightly.

"No!"

Faraday’s shock was no less than Stanley's. He remembered clearly that when he first met Zhong Shenxiu, the boy knew no Dark Magic at all, even borrowing many related books from them. How could he have become this monstrous in just a few months? What on earth happened in between?? And why was Robin equally monstrous???

Faraday was beginning to regret it now. He chided himself for not persistently clinging to Zhong Shenxiu back then, even if it meant serving as a mere servant. If he had done that, wouldn't he now be...?

The more he thought, the more Faraday felt an urge to beat his chest. He had always known Zhong Shenxiu was no common fish in a shallow pond, but he hadn't expected him to be this much more abnormal than imagined. In just a few months, he had already joined the ranks of the powerful, his speed breathtaking!

"Um... are we really only issuing 'Novice Necromancer Certificates' to those two?" Stanley asked worriedly.

Although he was stronger than Faraday in terms of personal ability, Stanley’s experience and insight lagged far behind, so he often relied on Faraday to make decisions for him. Nominally, Stanley was the leader, but in reality, Faraday held the true authority.

"We just follow the Master's wishes!" Faraday wasn't overthinking it.

"But their strength should already be at the 'Saint Magic Necromancer' level. Is this really okay?" Stanley pressed again.

"Don't worry. The regulations only state we cannot inflate the rank. Besides, this is the Master's intent; we had better not make unauthorized decisions!" Faraday said seriously.

He was actually quite puzzled himself, unable to comprehend why Zhong Shenxiu would reject a higher-level certificate only to demand the absolute lowest one. What deep meaning lay behind it?

As he pondered, five words suddenly flashed through his mind, causing his body to tremble and a chill to run down his spine.

Those five words were: Playing the pig to eat the tiger!!!

With Zhong Shenxiu's frail appearance paired with this low-level certificate, no one would associate him with immense power. If anyone arrogant enough dared to provoke him then, that person would certainly...

Faraday shuddered, unwilling to contemplate the consequences.

Stanley nodded, accepting Faraday's assessment. After a moment of silence, he hesitantly said, "Faraday, I have an idea, and I'd like to hear your opinion."

Faraday withdrew his thoughts, looking directly at Stanley, giving an air of, Whatever you have to say, just say it.

"I want to invite Master and Robin to become Elders of the 'Necromancer Association.' What... what do you think?" Stanley looked at Faraday with some tension, uncertain if this decision was right or wrong.

Faraday seemed momentarily stunned, not uttering a word. But after a while, as if experiencing a sudden resurgence of energy, he exclaimed excitedly, "Yes! Why didn't I think of that!"

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