Li Ban massaged his temples, picked himself up off the floor, and slowly walked over to his bed, throwing himself face-first onto the mattress as if he were going straight to sleep.
But a second later, his entire body began to tremble as though he were experiencing immense pain.
"Brain—washing—"
Li Ban lifted his head from the mattress, his eyes bloodshot. If he hadn't been tightly gritting his teeth, he wouldn't have been able to suppress his fury!
He hadn't been brainwashed at all!
Not only that, but he had clearly heard the conversation between the Director and Chen Dong.
Just as he had been unable to receive mission information before, the Laboratory's instruments were incapable of brainwashing him now.
Previously, Li Ban had thought this was a bug in the Laboratory's equipment. Now, he finally understood that this had to be a trait unique to him.
He didn't know where this trait came from, but it barely allowed him to stay conscious.
Just as Li Ban was about to reach his limit, his brain suddenly gave a loud buzz, and his mind cleared!
His body was still in pain, but his mind relaxed significantly.
Only after returning to the Wizard World was Li Ban certain that the buzzing sound represented the sublimation of Flute Sound!
It was just that the mission assistance system had only caught onto this and informed Li Ban when he returned to his space capsule.
The vast majority of Li Ban's elements had sublimated, and he had summarized a condition for element sublimation.
Frequent use, followed by triggering the necessary catalyst for sublimation.
He just hadn't expected that elements from the Wizard World could actually be used in the Laboratory's world!
'Could it be that because mental-type elements are fused with my consciousness, even when I'm in the Laboratory with a different body, I can still use Flute Sound to resist the brainwashing radio waves?'
Li Ban's eyes gradually brightened.
He had finally found a way to make himself stronger in the Laboratory as well.
Mental-type elements!
But mental-type elements were even rarer than energy-type elements.
Li Ban could only plan this out slowly.
'Fortunately, after Flute Sound sublimated, it gained a second ability: Mental Piercing. Just from the name, it's obviously an active attack type. It's equivalent to having an extra mental-type element.'
With a clear path to growing stronger, Li Ban was overjoyed.
After his joy faded, he began to think about the intelligence he had gathered from both worlds.
'Du An sent me to the Assassin Hall to gather unfavorable news about the Myriad Ancient Pagoda so they can take precautions?'
Du An was originally Wan Chengming's subordinate, and even now, he still had to transport corpses to the Fanggu Pagoda from time to time, so his actions made perfect sense.
But the Laboratory still didn't know Zhai Liu's identity.
Even Chen Dong, who had stayed in the Death Prison for so long, didn't know about Zhai Liu.
If a major event wasn't about to occur, Zhai Liu would have continued to hide in the Death Prison.
So what exactly was about to happen that caused so many factions to make a move?
Could it be related to the First Prince that the Director had mentioned at the end?
But no matter what caused the conflict between the various factions in Yu Province of the Wizard World, the Laboratory only had one goal.
Transferring the Core Element!
The twenty or so experimenters, Li Ban included, could serve as both a bridge to transfer the element and cannon fodder in the ensuing battle.
Since Li Ban had accidentally discovered the truth, he had to seize this opportunity.
Otherwise, he would forever remain a low-level experimenter, completely at the mercy of others.
Only by completing the mission could there be change, and only with change would he have the chance to use Flute Sound to find a breakthrough.
Therefore, it would be best if he was the one to transfer the Core Element during this mission!
Over the following period, neither the Death Prison nor the Assassin Hall assigned Li Ban any missions.
It wasn't until spring arrived that all six elements Li Ban had fused reached full spiritual rhinoceros!
He immediately reported this matter to Du An and Huo Jiang.
This meant he could now be promoted to a 3rd Tier identity.
After reaching full spiritual rhinoceros, others had to wait for an open position to be promoted. Perhaps Li Ban was the only one who had open positions waiting for him to reach full spiritual rhinoceros several times over.
He felt as though he was constantly being pushed forward by someone at all times.
This time, however, Li Ban didn't directly become a prison official.
The two big shots of the Death Prison even got into an argument over this matter.
After Huo Jiang informed Zhai Liu that Li Ban had reached full spiritual rhinoceros, Zhai Liu immediately asked, "Out of those prison officials, which one tastes better?"
Huo Jiang knew Zhai Liu meant he wanted to kill one to make room for Li Ban.
But before he could answer, he heard someone coming down the stairs.
He immediately shut his mouth and looked toward the entrance.
The person who came down was not a prison guard, but Du An!
Du An wasn't wearing his official uniform today. Instead, he wore a dark purple silk robe with fox fur sewn into the collar, looking rather like a wealthy young nobleman.
"Huo Jiang, go wait outside."
Huo Jiang hurriedly agreed. Not daring to hesitate in the slightest, he quickly hurried up the stairs.
On his way, he even made sure to close the main door between the third and fourth floors for Du An.
Du An walked unhurriedly over to Zhai Liu and casually glanced at Lin Han in the next cell.
"Are you sure he's completely gone mad?"
"What do you think?" Zhai Liu was very unceremonious toward Du An.
Even though he and Du An were considered allies now, he didn't like the man.
Not wanting to make small talk, he cut straight to the point. "Li Ban is due for a promotion."
However, Du An calmly shook his head. "No, there's no position for him right now."
Zhai Liu narrowed his eyes. His originally stunning face was instantly shrouded in frost.
"Just pick one and kill him, won't that do? Aren't you also trying to use Li Ban to investigate whether the Assassin Hall is going to move against Tower Master Wan Chengming? Why won't you let him be promoted?"
"There is no position," Du An gave the exact same answer.
Zhai Liu raised his hand and slapped the cell bars with a loud crack. "If there isn't one, then make one!"
His spit flew onto the floor and the bars.
Bizarrely, after landing, these supposedly lifeless drops of liquid twitched back and forth seven or eight times before gradually settling down.
It was as if they weren't liquid at all, but rather tiny, living bugs.
Du An noticed the restless spit as well, but he remained calm and unhurried. "You're getting anxious. Is it because your eldest brother is coming?"
Zhai Liu's face instantly darkened, his eyes filling with a dense web of bloodshot veins.
He slammed his hands against the bars, far harder than before, shaking the entire cell.
"He's not my eldest brother! I'm going to kill him! I will absolutely kill him!"
Zhai Liu seemed to have completely lost his mind, just like Lin Han next door.
Abandoning the discussion about Li Ban, he just kept screaming and shouting.
He continuously repeated that he was going to kill him.
Du An acted as if he didn't know why the man was going crazy. He waited calmly for a moment before continuing to speak on his own.
"If you still want Li Ban to get the antidote for you, then don't interfere anymore. He's already met Yan Jiu. If I hadn't arranged Flute Sound in advance, he might have been induced to sell you out two months ago."
"Don't forget—as long as they find out you're still alive, you truly won't have any chance of getting the antidote."
Zhai Liu acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, continuing his crazed fit.
Du An had said what he needed to say.
He didn't want Zhai Liu's impatience to ruin his arrangements.
Before leaving, he added one last sentence.
"For the time being, just honestly play the part of a prisoner... or a madman."
With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and left, leaving a room full of crazed roaring in his wake.
After reaching full spiritual rhinoceros, Li Ban didn't get the chance to be promoted.
Aside from the few people who knew the inside story, this seemed perfectly normal to everyone else.
Who could get promoted the moment they reached full spiritual rhinoceros?
Even those high and mighty princes and princesses in the Capital City couldn't do that.
But they didn't know that although Li Ban failed to secure a promotion after reaching full spiritual rhinoceros, he did receive a new element from Huo Jiang.
It was a good-grade element Zhai Liu had prepared for him long ago—Shadow Meld.
The physical state of the Shadow Meld element after separation was also quite special.
It was a black, human-shaped paper cutout.
The figure was curled up, but its limbs were taut.
It looked not as if it were cowering in hiding, but rather lurking in the dark, ready to attack at a moment's notice.
At a glance, it was exceptionally well-suited for Li Ban's current hidden identity.
Taking Shadow Meld, Li Ban looked down at it, then asked Huo Jiang, "Can I know now what exactly he wants me to do?"
"That, I don't know either." Huo Jiang shook his head.
He was Zhai Liu's closest confidant in the Death Prison.
However, that "closeness" actually needed quotation marks.
Zhai Liu only used him because, in a place like the Death Prison, he was the only one available right now.
But Huo Jiang still didn't have access to the true core secrets.
Huo Jiang was well aware of this.
If he truly wanted to become Zhai Liu's confidant, his only option was to help the man survive this low point.
He would only be considered truly successful once Zhai Liu left the Death Prison.
Until then, he could only watch as Zhai Liu handed over one rare cultivation resource after another to Li Ban, who had merely climbed his way up through sheer luck.
Sometimes, just thinking about it... really made him jealous.
Quickly suppressing the emotions surging in his heart, Huo Jiang lowered his eyes and said, "Sir will tell you himself. It won't be much longer."
Li Ban tucked the new element away and immediately left Huo Jiang's side.
He knew Huo Jiang had been holding back.
But some emotions couldn't be bottled up for too long.
They would explode.
A few days after Li Ban obtained Shadow Meld, it was once again time for him to visit the pawnshop to check for assassination missions.
Du An had told Li Ban that the Assassin Hall might test him with missions related to the Death Prison.
He could show reluctance, but in the end, he absolutely had to accept them.
However, if it were other missions, Li Ban could refuse them at his discretion.
Taking half a day off, Li Ban rode alone to Qingcheng County.
When he passed the tea stall outside the city, he sat down and ordered a cup of hot tea.
He hadn't seen them in half a year. The woman who had been carrying a shoulder pole and a child back then had already set up a small tea stall.
There was also a half-grown boy helping out beside her.
The little girl who had once received snacks from Li Ban cautiously walked over carrying a large tray.
Perhaps recognizing Li Ban, the little girl poured his tea exceptionally full, almost to the point of overflowing.
So much so that she had to walk very carefully to ensure the tea wouldn't spill onto the tray.
At that moment, a customer happened to stand up to settle his bill and leave.
He took a step back and bumped the little girl's shoulder.
The little girl's arms jerked, and the large bowl of tea on the tray wobbled.
Seeing that the tea was about to spill, the little girl couldn't react in time. She could only widen her eyes in terror, waiting for the splash.
A hand suddenly reached over. Three fingers supported the tea bowl and smoothly swirled it in a circle, miraculously stilling the rippling tea.
Li Ban lowered his head and took a sip of the tea, finally making the bowl less dangerously full.
When he looked up, the little girl was staring at him with sparkling eyes.
Li Ban kept his eyes on the little girl as he drank his tea.
The corners of her small mouth turned up into a smile. It seemed that simply not spilling the water was a very joyous occasion.
He ruffled the little girl's weed-like hair.
The boy selling tea nearby watched him with a vigilant look, but, intimidated by Li Ban's high-quality cotton coat, he didn't dare approach.
High-quality clothing meant living well.
In a barren place like Yu Province, people who lived well either had immense skill or a large family estate.
They weren't people that commoners trying to eke out a living like them could afford to offend.
Li Ban ignored the wary boy in the distance. He reached into his coat, pulled out a hard-boiled egg, lightly cracked it, and stood it on the table.
"It's already cracked. Eat it. If you don't, it'll go bad."
With that, without waiting for the little girl or anyone else to react, he left two large copper coins on the stall and walked away.
Swinging up onto the horse he had brought from the Death Prison, Li Ban spurred its sides. Welcomed by the city guards, he entered Qingcheng County through a different gate that required no queuing.
His trip out this time was routinely to visit the pawnshop to check for missions.
However, as he passed through the southern part of the city, someone suddenly opened the door to a small courtyard and waved to him.
Li Ban hadn't seen the person who opened the door before, but he saw another figure standing in the courtyard behind them.
He had seen that person before.
Even though she was wearing a mask, the ring of golden bells around her waist was very conspicuous.
It was Yan Jiu.
Li Ban looked back and forth down the street.
Although the streets in the southern part of the city were relatively desolate, people did occasionally pass by. Yan Jiu was actually standing so brazenly in the courtyard of a roadside house.
Did the Hall Master of the Assassin Hall not need to hide her whereabouts?
Regardless, since she had already shown herself, Li Ban still had to go meet her.
Li Ban dismounted and led his horse into the courtyard.
As he entered, the man who had just opened the door came over, took Li Ban's horse, and led it to the stable to feed it some fodder.
This was the back door of a two-courtyard compound.
Yan Jiu didn't speak. She led Li Ban through an open side door into the house.
Upon entering the room, she suddenly took off her mask, revealing a glowing face.
Upon seeing her face, Li Ban felt a slight headache, though the symptoms were much milder than the last time.
Still, he frowned without attempting to hide it, letting her see his discomfort.
Yan Jiu put her mask back on and lowered her head to play with a Willow Leaf Blade.
Li Ban instantly recognized it. That was the small throwing knife he had snatched from the assassin Hundred-Count and used to slit her throat.
This thin little knife had curved tips on both ends and was edged on all four sides. It was incredibly sharp, fully capable of slicing a finger open with the slightest misstep.
In Hundred-Count's hands, it could even directly chop off a person's head.
But right now, as it twirled in Yan Jiu's hands, it looked like a harmless twig.
"Hall Master," Li Ban said, coming to a halt at the door.
"You won't need to go to the pawnshop anymore; our people there have already evacuated. I have a new mission to assign you. For the time being, just follow my orders."
"Understood." Li Ban gave a brief cupped-fist salute, looking somewhat confused. "But I've only just been promoted to Iron rank. Why is the Hall Master seeking me out?"
Usually, only those promoted to Bronze rank were considered core members of the Assassin Hall.
"Because you came from the Death Prison." The one who answered Li Ban wasn't Yan Jiu, but the Cat Girl.
She walked out from the inner room.
When she lifted the dark blue padded door curtain, the first thing to peek out were those fluffy ears.
After coming out, the Cat Girl walked over and stood by Yan Jiu's side.
At this moment, the two of them facing Li Ban alone seemed to lay their relationship bare.
"You want to deal with the Death Prison?" Li Ban pursed his lips, his expression full of reluctance. He looked at the Cat Girl. "You were the one who said joining the Assassin Hall would leave me a way out, which is why I joined. But I don't want to block my current path just for the sake of a backup plan."
The Cat Girl shrugged indifferently, sat down, and poured herself a glass of water.
"You've already joined the Assassin Hall and killed so many people anyway. If you don't do this, we'll expose your hidden identity as an assassin to the Death Prison. Let's see if they'll spare your little life then."