The red mist-like figure closed in on the caravan leader, who was desperately trying to defend himself. In just moments, his skin split open, blood gushing from every inch of his body. Inside that red mist, it was as if invisible teeth were gnawing away at his flesh, devouring him until nothing remained but a heap of white bones. Then, the Abyss called him back to “life” — and he charged at his former companions with a silent roar.
The Abyss. Hell. Never had the words felt so vivid.
The grassy field where the caravan was forced to halt was quickly drenched in crimson.
【Down! Roll!】
No time to think. She heard the air ripping behind her, and her body reacted faster than her mind. Qu Weichen tumbled awkwardly across the ground, just as the dirt beside her was pierced deep by a skeletal spear — no, a bone — which then wrenched free, spraying dust and soil.
A centaur skeleton. It had caught up.
Her mind was blank, but her body moved with precision. She grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it backward, stumbling to her feet and bolting forward again.
She had to run for Uweno. The central city had guards, knights — someone would come to the rescue! The Gates of Hell had opened just outside Uweno, obviously connected to that earlier failed attack. Uweno would respond quickly. She just had to hold out. She could do it.
As for the possibility that “the central city is also under attack, and its defenders can’t spare anyone to ride out to help”… Qu Weichen didn’t dare think about it. She simply ran, forcing her legs to move even as oxygen drained from her brain and numbness crept in.
【Summon a skeleton! Now!】
Number Nine’s voice was urgent. The centaur reared again; even if summoning here might expose her, it didn’t matter. She could cancel the summon before any rescuers arrived. The Necromancer Growth System was different from local necromancers — much harder to detect.
Qu Weichen’s foot caught, pitching her forward. She twisted, forcing herself to roll sideways, and triggered the skill. Dust flew as bone speared into the earth beside her hand. Once again, she’d tasted death up close. She gasped, eyes wide, as a blue magic array formed. The newly summoned skeleton soldier barely appeared before the centaur skeleton swatted it aside, shattering it into scattered bones.
Five minutes’ cooldown.
Qu Weichen quickly opened her skill tree and learned 【Bad Luck Curse】. The moment the skill point sank in, she traced a circle on the ground.
【Bad Luck Curse】: Draw a circle to curse your target! 5% chance to inflict misfortune. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
Had it worked? No way to tell. The shattered skeleton remains were fading away, but the centaur skeleton didn’t launch another charge. Instead, it approached, forelegs bending, upper human torso of bone reaching toward her. The ghostly blue “flames” in its eye sockets flickered — it seemed like it wanted to pick her up.
Was it going to take her away? Because she’d summoned a skeleton? This undead knight seemed smarter than the one in the village…
Just then, a golden arrow pierced straight through its skull — and exploded. With a boom, the centaur’s head burst apart. Qu Weichen, who had just been grabbed, was flung away again, hitting the ground hard. A metallic tang filled her throat. The pain began to drain away, the world falling quiet. The azure sky and white clouds blurred; a flock of birds seemed to pass overhead. Time stretched out and slowed to a crawl.
【Wake up. Stay with me.】
【Hold on. Don’t sleep. Talk to me.】
【Qu Weichen! Qu Weichen!】
The mechanical voice kept sounding. She tried to listen, but couldn’t make out what Number Nine was yelling in her head. She half-opened her eyes, watching the sky darken… and from the depths of her heart, she thought:
“Today… really is… a beautiful day…”
…
“…Elimination… complete…”
“Not a martial artist… just an ordinary person… badly injured…”
“Yes, still alive…”
“But—”
“…Understood.”
Fragmented voices chattered around her. She felt herself being lifted, her mouth pried open, cool liquid pouring in.
Who? She couldn’t see anything anymore.
Endless darkness swallowed her.
…
When Qu Weichen’s consciousness began to return, Number Nine’s voice overlapped with that of a strange woman—
【Someone’s here.】
“You’re awake?”
A woman sat on a stool by the bed, robed in flowing white embroidered with gold thread. Her long black hair spilled down as she tilted her head to look at Qu Weichen, a gentle smile curling her lips.
Her features were refined, her skin like porcelain, beauty fresh as morning light. Her light brown eyes seemed to hold a subtle magic — one glance was enough to draw someone in. Qu Weichen felt the sunlight outside grow warmer, even her heartbeat quickening beyond her control…
【Stay calm. Don’t get bewitched.】 Number Nine’s reminder was sharp.
【This is the Lord of the Inquisition Sanctuary. She’s… unusual.】
Unusual how? It couldn’t say — after all, it was only a support system.
Qu Weichen averted her eyes and murmured, “Did you save me? Thank you. If there’s anything I can do for you, I’ll do my utmost to repay it.”
“Judging by your bones, you’re only about fourteen, aren’t you?” The Sanctuary Lord’s voice was gentle, her chin resting on her hand as she smiled. “And how would you repay me?”
【While you were unconscious, she brought in a light priest to heal you, and watched the whole time. Since you’re bound to me as a necromancer, light magic doesn’t harm you.】
Number Nine explained. 【After healing, when you still didn’t wake, she tested you with every type of magic affinity stone.】
Qu Weichen’s heart sank. How strong is she? How far away could someone like her see? Do you know when they arrived near me?
【…Sorry, I don’t have that capability.】
“You need something, I can do it,” Qu Weichen said.
The Lord’s smile deepened, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she asked gently, “Where are you from? You’ve been out here so long — aren’t you afraid your parents are worried?”
“…From an unknown village that not long ago saved Uweno,” Qu Weichen replied evenly, hands tightening under the blanket before she relaxed them again. “When the Gates of Hell opened, no one survived.”
“My apologies.” The Lord paused a moment, then stood. “In three days, I’ll arrange for you to undergo martial awakening. If you can endure five rounds of body tempering, I’ll train you well… to work for me.”
“Who are you?”
Although Number Nine had already told her, she needed to ask.
The pale-faced girl sat up in bed, gaze clear and steady. Her messy short hair looked like it had been hacked at — maybe to ward off trouble? The Sanctuary Lord recalled her filthy, battered appearance when they found her, wondering how much hardship she’d endured… Two Gates of Hell, two brushes with death.
Fourteen years old. Even without her secrets, she was a fine seedling.
“New Lord of the Inquisition Sanctuary.” She smiled. “But I’m just a lucky ordinary person. What’s your name?”
“…Qu Weichen.”
Qu Weichen patiently explained the exact characters. The Lord nodded and left.
“Qu Weichen. Rest well.”
Qu Weichen watched her leave. Once the door closed, she asked silently, “She’s an ordinary person?”
【Impossible.】 Number Nine’s tone was certain. 【Have you forgotten how you felt looking into her eyes? And she didn’t even actively release anything.】
True. Qu Weichen appreciated beauty, but she wasn’t the sort to fall for a stranger — not in this state, in an unfamiliar place, after nearly dying. She even suspected the Lord knew she was a necromancer, but neither light magic nor the affinity stones could confirm it.
If their positions were reversed, she admitted she’d be curious too — curious enough to dissect someone to find out.
“Can I escape? Is the Inquisition Sanctuary powerful?”
【It grew from the original Office of Inquisition, with branches and followers everywhere. Headquarters is in Uweno. It’s one of the main forces countering the Gates of Hell and defending against undead attacks.】
【These days… it rivals the Light Church.】
“No way someone like that is just an ‘ordinary person’.” Qu Weichen sighed, picturing the Lord’s gentle face — and suspecting that behind the “saintly” act was someone cold and manipulative, with a taste for teasing kids. In her eyes, Qu Weichen was only fourteen.
With her current strength… escape? Where could she even go?
Martial awakening… she’d have to show enough potential to be worth keeping alive.
Only then did she take a moment to examine her surroundings: plain wooden table and chairs, simple furnishings, no unnecessary decorations. The blanket over her was light yet warm — maybe made from some magical beast’s fur. Her clean long-sleeved shirt and trousers must have been changed for her; either way, far better than her rags.
She opened her panel.
Host: Qu Weichen
Class: Necromancer
Skill Points: 2
Potential Points: 1
…A potential point? And why did her skill points reach “2”? She opened her skill list, confirmed she’d already learned Bad Luck Curse, and relaxed.
Number Nine, ever helpful, opened her achievement log:
【Inquisition Sanctuary Tourist】: Visit the Inquisition Sanctuary Headquarters! Necromancer — go wherever you like!
Reward: +1 Skill Point, +1 Potential Point
【First Arrival in the Central City】: Newcomer to the Floating Continent — see the greatness of the central city-state of Uweno!
Reward: +1 Skill Point, +5 Inventory Slots
“So even coming here triggers an achievement? Then going to the Light Church HQ would too? And the royal palace…”
Her mind spun — skill points and potential points were exactly what she lacked. And with the new inventory slots, she realized she’d unlocked her backpack module. Only—
“Where’s my cloth bag?!”
There were over five thousand yuanlang in there!
