The second day of our investigation began with desperation. Despite exposing the underground chambers and rescuing Zhao Min, the governor remained cautious. Magnus's supporters among the faculty claimed the chambers were for "advanced medical research" and that we'd misunderstood their purpose. Without Magnus present to confess, and with his influential allies spreading doubt, we needed irrefutable proof. "We're running out of time," I told Jin Hao and Mei Lin as we met in my room before dawn. "The convergence happens tonight. If Magnus completes his ritual..." "We know," Jin Hao said grimly. "But where else can we look? We've searched his office, his quarters, the main areas of the Tower of Gods." Mei Lin pulled out a sketch she'd been working on. "I've been studying the tower's architecture. Look at this—the building's foundation is much larger than the upper structure. There must be more underground levels we haven't found." "The guards sealed the entrance after we rescued Zhao

He gestured, and the twelve preserved students moved in unison, surrounding me. Their movements were puppetlike but deadly, each one maintaining at least Heavenly Spirit Realm power. I drew my sword, knowing I couldn't defeat them all. But I didn't need to—I just needed to buy time. The first puppet attacked, and I deflected its strike while moving toward the formation's edge. If I could disrupt even one formation flag— Magnus appeared in front of me, moving faster than thought. His palm struck my chest, sending me flying. "You're not disrupting anything," he said calmly. "In fact, you're going to help complete the ritual." He formed hand seals I recognized with horror—Soul Binding Eclipse, a technique that could forcibly extract memories and knowledge from a living soul. I tried to dodge, but the puppet students held me in place. Magnus's technique hit me directly, and agony beyond description