At this moment, Taixu's voice resonated from the broadcast.
"B-Rank Investigator Gu Jianlin, please prepare yourself. You will be guided into the Soul Skywell in ten seconds."
Meanwhile, she continued, "Former Night Watcher member, SSS-Rank Investigator Mu Feng, please mentally prepare yourself. You will be guided into the Soul Skywell in ten seconds. Please do not carry any sharp or lethal weapons. Thank you for your cooperation."
Gu Jianlin was shocked.
Uncle Mu also froze for a moment, not expecting that after so many years, he would once again enter the Soul Skywell.
The two exchanged a glance, seeming to understand immediately.
The investigation into the case from eight years ago was truly about to be reopened!
At the Black Cloud City Base, a massive golden light descended from the heavens, shattering time and space, distorting dimensions.
When Gu Jianlin's vision was restored, he found himself in front of towering bookshelves, seated on a soft single-seater sofa, with a round wooden table beside him. The table held fruits and snacks.
Ji Xiaoyu had also landed beside him; clearly, this was specifically arranged according to team divisions.
A considerable number of Omegas from the second tier surrounded them in a circle.
Further back were members of the third and fourth tier, separated by the rotating, towering bookshelves.
The bookshelves scraped against the floor with constant rumbling sounds.
Ahead were fifteen round tables, reserved for members of the first tier.
At this moment, a familiar, ethereal, and icy voice spoke from behind, "Today marks the highest mobilization meeting. The President and two Vice Presidents will appear, so there's an air of ceremony."
Ji Xiaoyu suddenly felt herself being lifted and placed on the table.
The young girl was utterly dumbfounded.
Tang Ling sat in her designated seat, wearing her black sunhat, a white jacket paired with a black camisole, denim shorts hugging her long, sleek legs, and strapped sandals on her feet.
Her snow-white thighs were dazzlingly bright.
It had to be admitted—this girl's figure was truly striking: her chest was full and firm, her waistline finely sculpted, her long legs perfectly proportioned—slender yet voluptuous, with a look of springy vitality.
Youzhu's physique, on the other hand, was entirely different. She was naturally petite, with a small frame and short stature.
Nonetheless, her body proportions were nearly perfect, although she lacked a noticeable chest.
She exuded a girlish charm.
Gu Jianlin, being inherently indifferent, had no interest in beauty.
The women he interacted with the most were Thunder and Moon Princess.
Other than them, there was the old monster.
But the old monster's beauty had a kind of irresistible allure that could drive people mad.
Even though Gu Jianlin knew his mind was shielded from influence, she still made him uneasy.
Gu Jianlin asked in mild surprise, "Aren't you part of the first tier?"
Tang Ling rested her chin on her hand, casually plucked a strawberry from the table, and popped it into her mouth. Frosty and expressionless, she replied, "I'm not close with them. I don't like being around them. It's better here with you."
Gu Jianlin raised an eyebrow, "But aren't the Sword Tomb people part of the first tier?"
"I'm only from the Sword Tomb, that's all."
Tang Ling chewed on her strawberry, "Doesn't mean we're on good terms."
Gu Jianlin was taken aback. No wonder people said this woman was similar to him.
Both of them shared the same solitary and antisocial tendencies.
Ji Xiaoyu felt like a kid dragged to a parent-teacher conference by her parents.
And she couldn't even fight back.
Helpless anger boiled, and she could only gnash her teeth in frustration.
"Because of the Qilin Wedge and the traitor incident, the association is taking this seriously."
Tang Ling said quietly, "You'll soon get to see the mugshots."
Gu Jianlin paused, "Mugshots?"
Just then, an ancient bell resounded within the Soul Skywell.
At the library's end, massive staircases rose as golden light cascaded down.
Faint silhouettes materialized, their aura surging upwards, nearly shattering the dome above.
It was the Ether Association's thirteen regional supervisors.
Lu Zijin was among them.
Chen Bojun, Wan Rentu, and Instructor Zhu strode boldly to the center of the staircases.
Councilman Zhang led the Judgement Court's deacons, his expression cold, moving to the staircase's right side.
Han Jing led the Night Watchers to the staircase's left side.
Meanwhile, at the staircase's summit, a massive Alchemy Eight Diagram shone brightly, spiraling in intertwined patterns.
Six volatile phantom forms descended into the scene, causing such dimensional distortion that turbulence erupted.
These were the six Heavenly Generals of the Ether Association!
The bell echoed. Above the staircase, darkness suddenly loomed, vast and deep like the Universe.
Countless planets hovered within the darkness, a galaxy sparkling brilliantly.
The first to illuminate was a faint, incorporeal radiance sketching out an imposing and frosty silhouette.
It was a woman of great authority and aloofness, donning a golden phoenix crown. Her frosty white hair was styled into an exquisite updo, wearing a dark golden, intricate palace gown. It felt as if time had shifted, bringing an ancient beauty into modern reality.
Yet her bearing carried an overpoweringly severe and cold intensity that outweighed her beauty. Her aged and detached gaze betrayed her true age, far from a youthful maiden—more akin to a century-old elder.
Her figure faded into the darkness, replaced by an enormous golden visage gazing down.
The President, Taihua!
The library's temperature dropped sharply to freezing levels, as bone-chilling gusts surged through the space. Within the cosmic void, countless blizzards coalesced, forming another colossal icy visage.
The Vice President, the Night Watchers' supreme leader—Lin Dong.