As Yan Hongyu came to again, she found herself lying in a narrow mountain recess, with Yan Hongye sitting beside her, his head bowed low.

“Big Brother, why are we here?” Yan Hongyu asked.

Yan Hongye did not answer, his body remaining utterly still.

A sense of foreboding flickered through Yan Hongyu. She called out again, “Big Brother…”

Still no reaction. Yan Hongyu reached out and gently touched Yan Hongye. His body slumped over immediately. It was unnaturally stiff; clearly, he had been dead for a long time.

“Big Brother…” A wave of sorrow washed over Yan Hongyu. Though she had known for some time that Yan Hongye was near his end, seeing his corpse firsthand still brought forth a surge of grief.

“Ugh… my head hurts so much. It feels like there’s extra stuff in my brain. Why does it feel so agonizing and painful…” Yan Hongyu suddenly groaned, clutching her head as she rolled onto the ground.

“Hatred, pain, despair… How can I have these thoughts? No, these aren’t mine—where are they coming from?” Yan Hongyu writhed on the ground, clutching her skull, as intensely extreme emotions suddenly flared in her mind, causing her unbearable torment.

Suddenly, an image flashed across Yan Hongyu’s mind—it depicted what happened after Yan Hongye struck her down. After pointing his finger to immobilize her, Yan Hongye had dragged his broken body, exerting immense effort, to find a small mountain recess where he hid her.

Then, Yan Hongye whispered in her ear, “Little sister, I can’t hold on any longer. I’ve transferred the Divine Sense, simulated from the Divine Realm, into your brain. As long as you can fully integrate this simulated Divine Sense, combined with your perfected cultivation of Boundless Snow Sea on your person, your cultivation can reach the Divine Realm, thus fulfilling the expectations of those old folks.”

After a pause, Yan Hongye continued, “Unlike you, I was not born with entirely white hair, so I couldn't cultivate our family’s Boundless Snow Sea. I tried to force its cultivation before, which resulted in major problems with my body—my meridians were shattered, and my spirit was damaged. Only after leaving the family did I realize that the masters in our clan who could cultivate the Boundless Snow Sea likely all suffered from severe albinism, which accounts for their all-white hair. This unique condition might have caused a mutation in your bodies, allowing you to accommodate the frigid true qi. Since I didn't have this severe albinism, my body couldn't hold the frigid true qi, making cultivation of the Boundless Snow Sea impossible for me. I suspect our ancestor also suffered from this severe albinism, becoming a laughingstock to the world. His heart must have been filled with immense pain and despair. It was likely under the sting of this pain and despair that he simulated the virtual Divine Sense, instantly shattering the shackles of martial arts to achieve the level of the Divine Realm.”

Yan Hongye coughed a few times and went on, “After I was driven out of the family, I immediately recognized the state of mind our ancestor must have experienced. So, I willingly degraded myself, even becoming a male prostitute, being used by other men, beaten by their whips. Throughout that time, I was tormented by hatred, pain, and despair. Fortunately, I endured it all these years, and finally, not long ago, under the torment of these extreme negative emotions, my simulated Divine Sense finally succeeded. Through this simulated Divine Sense, I managed to fully mobilize the surrounding spiritual energy and unleash the Boundless Snow Sea completely. Sadly, the moment I made a move, I encountered Black Hero. Black Hero’s power is terrifying. I’m unwilling, but there’s nothing to be done. I have now transferred my simulated Divine Sense to you. This simulated Divine Sense is what I comprehended through the suffering and torment I endured over so many years. So, if you are willing to accept this simulated Divine Sense, open your heart and accept the hatred, pain, and despair in my soul. Only then can you inherit this simulated Divine Sense and reach the level of the Divine Realm.”

Yan Hongye stopped, took a breath, organized his words, and said, “If you are unwilling to accept this simulated Divine Sense, then just try your best to forget it. After just one week, this simulated Divine Sense will naturally dissipate.”

As

The room door flew open, and an ordinary-looking young man with a perpetual grin sauntered in.

“Who… who are you… how did you get in here?” Lu Guobang was startled, realizing he didn’t know this young man at all. Furthermore, the way he walked betrayed that he wasn't military; this was a high-security compound, and unknown strangers shouldn't be present.

“Heh heh, General Lu, you’ve had quite the run of luck! Causing such a massive incident, and yet only two small fry end up taking the fall, while you’re only demoted to a deputy position. It seems your influence is still quite substantial!” The young man ignored Lu Guobang’s questions and spoke with a steady, mocking smile.

“How did you know that?” Lu Guobang asked, astonished.

“Heh heh, because we were eavesdropping on your calls!” the young man chuckled.

“Who are you people? Do you have any idea that tapping military lines is illegal?” Lu Guobang roared in fury.

“Heh heh, you still think about what’s illegal? Then tell me, were the things you did in Hong Kong legal?” the young man continued his easy laughter.

“You… you’re from the Starry Sky Group?” Lu Guobang inquired.

“Heh heh, General Lu finally caught on. That’s right, I’m from the Starry Sky Group. But don’t get too happy; we’ve already disabled every piece of surveillance equipment in this room. Even if I admit it now, there’s nothing you can do to me,” the young man said with a grin.

“I can report you,” Lu Guobang declared loudly.

“Heh heh, it seems General Lu hasn't quite grasped his situation yet! Since I’ve confessed right in front of you, I’m not worried about you telling anyone, because you will never be able to open your mouth to speak again. Secondly, even if you shout at the top of your lungs, the guards outside won’t rush in, because they are all fast asleep right now,” the young man explained cheerfully.

“What do you want? Are you going to kill me?” Lu Guobang was finally terrified.

“Oh, no, no. We are civilized people, not like you who enjoy taking lives. We just want to turn you into a lunatic. This is also revenge for my brothers,” the young man shook his head.

Suddenly, Lu Guobang exploded into action, lunging out with a handgun in his hand. But before he could even fire, the young man snatched the weapon away in a flash and pointed it directly at Lu Guobang.

Lu Guobang forced himself to remain calm, staring coldly at the young man. The young man laughed, “General Lu, your glare can’t kill me.” Then, a syringe suddenly appeared in his hand. In the blink of an eye, the syringe plunged into Lu Guobang’s arm, and the liquid inside was swiftly injected into his bloodstream.

“Wha—what is this?” Lu Guobang finally cried out in terror.

“This is just something to turn people into certified madmen. Truly incurable lunatics,” the young man replied lightly.

“No, you can’t do this to me! Kill me instead, I don’t want to become insane!” Lu Guobang pleaded.

“Killing you would be too simple, but that won't quench the hatred in my heart. Just settle down and enjoy being a madman, truly experience a feeling worse than death,” the young man stated.

“Heeeh…” Lu Guobang suddenly felt as if a sun had ignited inside his brain. His body began to burn with heat, and he let out a beast-like roar before collapsing and rolling on the floor.

“Boss Desheng, what’s the situation?” A woman walked in and asked the young man.

The young man said, “A’Xia, it seems the drug has taken effect. Our mission is complete. Let’s move on to the next target!”

“Understood. The head of the Yan family is taking his afternoon nap at home; if we get there now, we can catch him just right,” A’Xia replied.

Desheng took one last look at the writhing Lu Guobang on the floor and said emotionlessly, “Let’s go.”

As the two turned to leave, the Lu Guobang on the floor suddenly scrambled up, his hair a mess, and began singing: “Little ya ma little er lang, carrying his satchel to school, not afraid of the sun’s burning, nor the raging storms, only afraid the teacher will scold me as lazy, without learning, I have no face to meet my parents…”

Suddenly, Lu Guobang stopped singing and screamed out, “Oh no, I’m late! Mom is going to hit me! What should I do…”

Just as the central senior leaders concluded their meeting and prepared to implement its directives, they suddenly received urgent intelligence: Lu Guobang of the Lu family and Old Second Yan of the Yan family had both gone mad.

Luo Tianmin remarked, “It’s true that there are gods three feet above one’s head. If the wicked are not dealt with by those below, Heaven above will surely step in to collect!”

Those aligned with Luo Tianmin nodded in agreement. “Since they have descended into madness, let us then resume discussions regarding the vacancies they have left behind!”

The old patriarch of the Guo family’s expression was grim. At this crucial juncture, the individuals in question suddenly losing their sanity—if this wasn't an act, the situation was serious. However, seeing that the other standing committee members were deliberately avoiding the topic, preparing instead to carve up the interests of the Lu and Yan families, he swallowed the words forming on his lips and returned to the meeting.

At the Starry Sky Group headquarters, Liu Hui looked at the newspaper report stating that the Commander of the Shuzhou Military Region had retired due to illness. He turned to Desheng and said, “This time we had to resort to these unscrupulous methods for revenge. But next time, if anyone dares to provoke us again, we will absolutely strike back using overt and legitimate means.”

In the gentle breeze outside the window, the dark shadow hanging over the Starry Sky Group finally lifted, and a sliver of dawn appeared in the distant sky. Liu Hui flipped the newspaper over and placed it face down on the desk. One page had turned; a new era was about to arrive!