Era of Magic and Martial Arts

On the screen, a ten-meter-long Bone Snake was frantically writhing, as if chasing something.

In the center of the Bone Snake stood a figure with a cold expression, possessing only one eye that emitted a chilling glare.

"Is that Zuo Bai? The star scientist from Zone 6, Zuo Bai, why is he in the sewer? And those monsters? He’s manipulating a piece of... it looks like some creature’s spine?"

Wei Guangming’s eyes widened, a string of questions flashed through his mind repeatedly.

But none of that mattered. What mattered was a star figure appearing on the screen, sure to spike the ratings even higher!

However, looking at the screen, Wei Guangming felt somewhat impatient at heart.

He couldn’t help but urge internally:

"Deng Jiajia, don’t just film Zuo Bai! Move the camera to the side so I can see who Zuo Bai is attacking? Is it those monsters?"

As if hearing the station chief’s order, the camera on the screen suddenly shook and swiftly moved away from Zuo Bai’s face.

But contrary to Wei Guangming’s wishes, the camera did not pan around but instead slowly lowered, focusing on the sewage beneath Zuo Bai...

"You’re not filming the star scientist, nor the monsters he’s attacking; why film the sewage at his feet?!"

Wei Guangming frowned slightly, coughing once:

"Youngsters need more than courage; when filming, one must capture the key point! Seems like some good coaching is needed..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his tongue suddenly froze, his throat seemed blocked by something, rendering him mute.

It wasn’t just him; the entire monitoring room felt as if an invisible hand gripped their throats, staring intently at the sewage on the screen.

With the technicians’ rendering and brightening, the sewage image became increasingly clear, even clearly mirroring every ripple on the water’s surface.

Amidst those ripples, a hint of a concealed black snake was vaguely visible, its length unknown, yet forming a stark contrast with the white Bone Snake slithering above the water.

Black and white, snake and snake!

For a moment, the screen’s image presented an inexplicable aesthetic of composition.

Suddenly, the black snake slowly emerged from the water, its form twisting and condensing bizarrely in an instant into a humanoid silhouette.

Sleek black suit, thin cape, gold-rimmed glasses, a playing card pinned to the chest, as elegant and sinister as ever.

This time, however, the humanoid silhouette did not hide behind Zuo Bai as before but boldly stood right in front of him, within arm’s reach.

Even across the screen, one could feel the eerie murderous aura permeating the air.

"Who is he?"

Wei Guangming stared at the unfamiliar figure on the screen, his eyes ignited with even more excitement than when he saw Zuo Bai earlier.

"He seems to have crawled out of the sewage, condensed into a humanoid form like a shadow; such an entrance is simply..."

Wei Guangming didn’t concern himself with science, martial arts, or mysterious evil sacrifices. From a TV station chief’s perspective, having produced many hit shows,

he just thought this mind-boggling entrance was incredibly captivating, incredibly explosive.

He took a deep breath, excitedly commented:

"Just this entrance alone is worth more than two rating points!"

The director’s face flushed red, equally excited, exclaimed:

"Chief, the ratings have surged, skyrocketing three, no, four points... My gosh, who is this guy? Look at his attire and that face, my goodness, it surpasses every actor I’ve ever used on screen."

The director swallowed hard, professionalism kicking in, incoherently exclaimed:

"These features, this aura, this is a face destined for the big screen!!!"

Wang Cong looked up at the wildly ecstatic station chief and director, a peculiar and indescribable emotion rising within him, feeling their focus was slightly... unique.

The man on the screen had formed from shadows; what kind of freaky thing was that?

Though the man was dressed humanly, well-attired and gentle-looking, Wang Cong, as an Ancient Calamity Corpse, swore — the guy on the screen was absolutely, positively not human!

Not that Wang Cong was surprised; his experiences were too limited.

In his life, besides himself, he had never encountered a second "non-human."

His knowledge in this area was scarce, nearly non-existent.

As for Feng Mu, who granted him a new life... To be honest, Wang Cong still believed from the bottom of his heart that Feng Mu was genuinely human, a truly good person.

After all, Feng Mu’s behavior, mindset, even that heartwarming aura, were entirely unrelated to "non-human."

Yet the figure emerging from the sewage was entirely different.

Despite the elegant attire and demeanor, the non-human villainous vibe nearly overflowed from the screen.

Wang Cong stared in shock at the screen, an unprecedented sense of urgency rising in his heart.

"So, besides Calamity Corpses like me, besides those man-eating monsters earlier, there are also these bizarre creatures clad in human skin in this world..."

He murmured softly, his heart undergoing immense turmoil.

Wang Cong reached out to touch the gourd behind him, the cool surface beneath his fingertips provided some comfort.

After much effort, the gourd was now two-thirds filled with white sand, but that was far from enough.

Resolutely determined inside:

"Even in school, monsters keep appearing one after another, suggesting many unknown dangers might be lurking in this world. No, I cannot slack; I can’t let a bit of progress make me complacent.

I must work harder to improve myself, so if I ever encounter these monsters, I can protect Feng Mu from their harm!"

On the screen.

Zuo Bai’s shock was beyond Wang Cong’s hundred times.

He stared aghast at the shadow once again emerging from the sewage, a thousand questions rampaging in his mind.

"[Mask]? Impossible... how did you come out again? You were already devoured by me, you..."

Zuo Bai couldn’t remember the last time he had so many doubts.

Perhaps, just maybe, it was when he was first submerged by his mentor into Formalin Water.

Afterward, he inherited his mentor’s tradition, becoming the calm, rational, ambitious star scientist.

Zuo Bai’s thoughts momentarily diverged, but before he could articulate his question, he abruptly retreated, the Bone Snake in his hand reversing direction, slashing through the air in a white arc.

Like a giant snake turning back, it aimed to bite into the shadow’s rear.

The next moment.

Zuo Bai’s pupils suddenly constricted in panic, because this time, the shadow before him actually...