A certain floor of Noah Building, inside a lounge.
The room was tightly shielded by heavy velvet curtains, letting not a sliver of light seep through from the outside.
There were no lights turned on inside; the only illumination came from a circular pattern on the floor formed by dozens of white candles.
The candle flames burned quietly, casting flickering shadows on the walls and ceiling, moving like living creatures.
The air was filled with a mix of sandalwood and wax scents, creating a calm yet oppressive atmosphere.
A new CD player lay on the floor, looping a segment of white noise.
It was the sound of harsh winds before a storm, sweeping through forests and valleys, mingled with distant thunder.
This sound did not bring a sense of chaos; instead, it seemed to erect an invisible barrier, thoroughly isolating the room from the outside world, constructing an absolutely secretive domain.
Amidst the ring of candlelight, a thin and dark-skinned man sat cross-legged.
He wore a loose dark robe, with a blue turban wrapped around his head, a typical attire from India.
His eyes were slightly closed, and a red crescent mark on his forehead glimmered faintly under the candlelight.
It was as if a third eye had sprung into being at the center of his brow.
At this moment, the man formed some peculiar hand signs, breathing long and slow, almost inaudibly.
In another dimension, his body was like a lone island in an endless dark ocean.
And his spirit transformed into an invisible giant web, silently spreading, fishing for "fish" that drifted with the currents, glimmering with faint light.
Almost the entire Noah Building was encompassed within the range of this giant net.
Within this Spiritual Net, everyone’s consciousness was a flickering light spot.
The monotonous thoughts of security on patrol, the anticipation of employees waiting to get off work, and the restless anxiety of those under house arrest...
These chaotic ripples, like waves on the water, spread clearly and intertwined in his perception.
He resembled a patient spider, perched on the net, waiting quietly for prey to stumble into the trap.
Most of the ripples were murky and faint, not worth even a glance.
A completely different consciousness, like a meteor crashing to earth, directly invaded his network.
That consciousness was powerful and concentrated, with calm scrutiny and high alertness.
It did not enter unintentionally but rather with a clear purpose, precisely connecting to one of the light spots.
A strand of the man’s spiritual thread instinctively met it, attempting to track and lock it.
However, the other’s response was beyond expectation. Fresh chapters posted on novel⁂fire.net
At the moment of contact, that consciousness suddenly recoiled like a startled beast.
And before disappearing, it cast back a penetrating inquiry, attempting a counter-trace.
This was a silent confrontation, brief, lasting less than a second.
The Spiritual Net enveloping the entire building even showed a momentary blank breach at that instant.
The man slightly opened a slit in his eyes, with a ghostly blue light flashing through.
In a low murmur, his voice carried a hint of exploration and amusement.
Suddenly, a steady and powerful knock came at the door.
The man did not open his eyes, responding calmly.
The door opened, first walking in was a man with a buzz cut, not tall in stature, yet exuding an extraordinary authority.
It was none other than Minister Luo, who heads the East Capital Branch of Noah Organization.
Following him were Intelligence Director Zhuo Feng and East Capital Branch Station Chief Feng Jincai.
The scene in the room made Zhuo Feng and Feng Jincai’s eyes slightly change, but Luo Lie remained unchanged in expression.
He walked outside the ring of candlelight, his gaze falling on the still meditating Indian man, and gravely asked:
"What is the situation?"
The man did not answer immediately.
He slowly released his hand signs, raising his right hand, with the index and middle fingers together, in a ceremonious slow motion, pinching out the flames of the candles before him one by one.
Luo Lie did not rush him.
The man before him was a Brahmin from India, named Jia Sangyi.
He was also an inspector in the Noah Organization’s Internal Affairs Department, a rare A-Class master in the Spiritual Domain.
This person had a proud character, operating with his own set of laws, and would not tolerate anyone interrupting his meditation ritual.
To bring him here for assistance, Luo Lie had expended no small amount of personal favors.
Even with Luo Lie having a higher position, he had to show sufficient respect.
After all, Jia Sangyi’s abilities were immensely useful to him, especially in dealing with internal "moles" within the organization.
With the last wisp of blue smoke rising, a wave-like Spiritual Force Field in the room seemed to also calm.
After completing all this, the man slowly opened his eyes.
They were a pair of extremely deep eyes, with a seemingly ghostly blue flame burning within the depths of the pupils, yet it sent a chill through one’s heart.
"An interesting fish just gently nibbled at the hook."
Jia Sangyi spoke fluent Xia Country language, his tone flat, like stating a commonplace fact.
"The other party was very alert, and strong as well, slipping off the hook before I could lock him down."
Upon hearing this, Feng Jincai immediately stepped forward, urgently saying:
"Doesn’t that mean it failed? Master Jia Sangyi, you are..."
Before he could finish, he was cut off by a cold glance from Jia Sangyi.
That gaze was so piercing, it made Feng Jincai instantly shut his mouth, a layer of cold sweat on his back.
"Station Chief Feng, don’t use your mind filled with desires to judge the confrontation in the Spiritual Domain."
Jia Sangyi’s voice carried unabashed arrogance:
"I didn’t lock him, but that doesn’t mean he can walk away unscathed. He has also sensed my presence.