Among everyone present, only Scarface knew the origin of that pearl.
When a Sentinel dies, the mental energy that disperses will condense into a pearl.
This pearl is the final gift a Sentinel leaves behind in this world.
Thus, these pearls are called Remnant Pearls.
Most Remnant Pearls are only for ornamental purposes.
Moreover, because the vast majority of Sentinels experience intense emotions before death, all sorts of emotions are left imprinted on the pearls.
Black stands for resentment and curses.
Red stands for pain.
Blue stands for worry.
Besides these, there are all kinds of other emotions.
Resentment, curses, and pain are the most common.
Remnant Pearls entangled with emotions need to be purified by a Guide using their Spirit Entity, or else their ornamental value will be greatly diminished.
Scarface had been through countless battles, big and small.
He’d seen all sorts and sizes of pearls.
But he had only ever seen one pearl that was crystal clear, like flawless glass.
That pearl was called the Amber Eye, and it was accidentally discovered by an ordinary resident of Border District 191 a week ago.
The person who found the pearl didn’t know what it was.
Seeing that it looked beautiful, they wanted to exchange it for universal currency and earn a bit on the side, but ended up attracting covetous eyes from many parties.
As a war zone, Border District 191 often sees Sentinels and Guides passing through.
There are plenty of people who know what that pearl is.
During the scramble among various factions, the pearl was lost.
Now that the pearl has been found, what about the corpse of its owner?
It should be nearby as well.
This is also why the Commander personally came to the front lines of Border District 191.
The corpse of a high-level Sentinel can remain intact for ten years.
If he doesn’t see the body with his own eyes, the Commander probably won’t feel at ease.
One can only say, the pearl’s owner truly deserved the praise of blessing the people.
When they calmly sacrificed themselves to protect hundreds of thousands, they did so willingly, without leaving behind any reluctance or resentment.
That’s why the pearl is so pure and perfect, flawless, more exquisite than any artwork in the world.
This reminded Scarface of when that person was still alive.
Like a clear breeze and bright moon, with a heart full of great love.
He truly loved this land, and cared deeply for the ordinary people living on it.
The transparent Amber Eye was just like that person’s pure and embracing heart.
But so what?
In the end, just another short-lived soul.
The one who lives longest is the final winner.
They say, when a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out.
No matter how revered he was, he’s already dead.
People still remember him now, but what about in five years?
In ten years?
How many will remember him then?
Scarface’s orders were to obtain the Amber Eye, at any cost.
There are thousands upon thousands of Remnant Pearls, but the Amber Eye is one of a kind.
He took out his device.
The device quickly began to beep—di, di, di.
Hearing the urgent beeping, a flash of realization appeared in Scarface’s eyes.
He sneered.
“No wonder you ran so fast.”
“The pearl is on you, isn’t it, Overlord Flower?”
After speaking, Scarface fixed his gaze on Ning Li.
Even though he had only caught a glimpse earlier, he still remembered Ning Li’s Spirit Entity—
A flamboyant, enormous Overlord Flower.
Among the fresh and elegant Qing He, Jasmine, Rose, and Camellia, this Overlord Flower stood out for its striking ugliness—it was hard to ignore.
Ning Li didn’t care about Yuan Zi’s shocked gaze, only looked calmly at the device in Scarface’s hand.
“It’s not just three meters now.”
The sentence came out of nowhere, but Scarface understood.
Earlier, in the girls’ dormitory, the device’s detection range was only three meters.
But now, there were still dozens of meters between them.
Scarface let out a cold laugh, saying nothing.
Could he admit that the device’s actual range was nearly a hundred meters?
He’d only set it to three meters because he enjoyed seeing the Guides’ faces twisted in fear and unease.
Seeing these Guides, still living in their Ivory Tower, so anxious and terrified gave him immense satisfaction.
How domineering!
A Panther darted out from Scarface’s side.
This was his Spirit Entity.
The Panther was imposing, its fur gleaming, its yellow beast eyes sharp and intimidating.
He drawled, “So, will you hand over the pearl before you die, or shall I take it from your corpse after?”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Zi almost screamed, clapping a hand over her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.
Did this mean, no matter what, Ning Li would die?
What exactly was Scarface after?
Why was it so important?
Ning Li merely possessed that thing, and yet had to die for it?
It made no sense!
Why should Scarface…
Yuan Zi grabbed Ning Li’s arm, trembling, “Li, run! I’ll hold him off!”
Even though Yuan Zi was scared to death, at this moment, her only thought was to protect Ning Li, not to run away herself.
She.
Ning Li’s eyes trembled slightly.
She and Yuan Zi had only known each other for three months…
Yet Yuan Zi was willing to let her escape first.
Scarface seemed to find the scene interesting, making no move to hurry them, as if waiting for Ning Li to run so he could play cat and mouse.
Catching a new Guide was child’s play for an old soldier like him.
He didn’t take these two freshman Guides seriously at all.
Ning Li quickly said to Yuan Zi, “Find a place to hide in a bit, I have a way to deal with him.”
Even though Ning Li said that, Yuan Zi didn’t believe it.
As Guides, their Spirit Entities were only for support.
Like her Spirit Entity, Little Rose—it could help Sentinels soothe their mental seas, and emit a rose fragrance to calm people and lift their moods.
But none of that would help in this situation!
“7, 13…”
Ning Li put her right index finger to her lips, “Shh.”
The situation was urgent, so she spoke fast, “Yuan Zi, listen to me, I really do have a way. If you stay, you’ll only hold me back. I’ll have to worry about you too.”
Yuan Zi wasn’t hurt by these words.
She knew Ning Li just wanted to protect her.
But she also knew Ning Li was telling the truth—her staying would be useless.
With tears in her eyes, she said, “Okay, I’ll go hide, you be careful! See you soon!”
“Mm.”
Once Yuan Zi had run off and disappeared, Scarface finally asked, looking interested, “You say you have a way to deal with me? What are you going to do?”
As he spoke, the scar running across half his face writhed like an earthworm, making him look even more vicious.
“With that hideous Overlord Flower of yours?”
Saying this, Scarface seemed to recall something funny and burst out laughing.
That ugly flower—what use could it have besides being ornamental?
No, it wasn’t even ornamental, really, since it was so ugly.
[Kick his ass!]
[He dares to look down on me, kick his ass!]
In Ning Li’s mental sea, Xiao Hei was jumping up and down, furious.
Ning Li wasn’t angered by Scarface.
She was observing the terrain.
Not far away was the battlefield of the Abnormal Species, flames rising to the sky, but nearby, there weren’t many Abnormal Species.
Scarface crossed his arms.
“What are you looking for?”
Before he could continue, Ning Li suddenly turned and dashed toward a nearby apartment building.
Scarface snorted, and the Panther followed, chasing Ning Li.
But when it was about to catch up, the Panther deliberately slowed down, stalking after her with graceful steps, toying with Ning Li and her Spirit Entity like a cat with a mouse.
When Ning Li reached an empty apartment building, she stopped running.
Scarface and his Spirit Entity followed close behind, stepping inside.
It was an old building, first floor cramped, the hallway packed with bicycles and electric scooters, the yellowed walls plastered with job postings and plumbing ads.
Because of the Abnormal Species invasion, all the residents had fled.
At this moment, besides Ning Li and Scarface, the building was empty.
The silent hallway echoed only with the Panther’s elegant, steadily approaching footsteps.
Seeing Ning Li flee here, Scarface looked utterly bored.
As expected of a Guide freshman who’d never left the Ivory Tower, running in panic to such a narrow, cramped, hard-to-hide place.
Wasn’t this just seeking death?
Thinking about how this young girl would soon become a corpse under his knife, Scarface felt merciful and spoke a few more words, “Next life, don’t run to places like this again.”
Ning Li retorted, “Why not? Isn’t it good here?”
Scarface was surprised by her reply.
But he didn’t think much of it and simply answered, “It’s quiet here, cramped, hard to escape. Didn’t expect you’d choose such a place to die.”
Ning Li drawled, “Yeah, it’s quiet, cramped, hard to escape. Isn’t that good enough?”
Scarface, “???”
Ning Li’s reaction was nothing like he expected.
Only then did he realize something was off.
What was it?
Right! Ning Li’s reaction was wrong!
She was too calm!
No panic, no fear, no begging!
She hadn’t shown a single moment of panic in front of him!
What gave her such composure?
Her Spirit Entity?
That ridiculous, useless-looking Overlord Flower?
Scarface laughed at himself.
He’d worked for the Commander too long, becoming paranoid.
A Guide under twenty—no matter what trump cards she had, could she really be stronger than a Sentinel who’d fought ten years on the battlefield?
Impossible. Whether in combat or overall strength, he was far superior.
A mere Guide couldn’t possibly stir up any trouble.
Scarface delivered his final ultimatum, “Enough wasting time. I should send you on your way.”
“In your next life, don’t pick up things you shouldn’t.”
“The Amber Eye isn’t something someone like you deserves.”
Just as the Panther tensed, baring its teeth, ready to pounce, Ning Li moved.
“Xiao Hei.”
At her command, the silly, clumsy Overlord Flower instantly transformed into a Necromancer in black robes, nearly two meters tall.
Scarface was shocked, “Your Spirit Entity isn’t the Overlord Flower?!”
“What kind of Spirit Entity is this?!”
Unfortunately, no one would answer his question.
The hem of the black robe swept out, covering the entire floor of the building like flowing black magma, bringing with it the aura of death.
In the Necromancer’s hand appeared a staff—luxurious, magnificent, yet shrouded in the breath of death, decay, and destruction.
The next moment, the Necromancer raised the staff, unleashing its innate power—
Death’s Mandate!
Yay! Beat him up, girl!