The girl appeared almost out of nowhere, causing everyone nearby to take half a step back.
Black Sheep’s eyes widened as he stared at the woman who shouldn’t have been there, his mind racing but unable to make sense of the situation.
The girl herself seemed equally surprised by her sudden appearance, but her confusion quickly morphed into disdain.
She glanced at the dozen or so “Human-level” individuals around her, sneered, then turned her gaze to Black Sheep.
“Ugh… why did I end up with you?” She shot him a challenging look. “Haven’t seen you in a while, and you already look half-dead.”
“You…” Black Sheep opened his mouth but had no idea where to even begin. His questions were endless.
He had personally directed this girl straight into Qinglong’s room—so how had she suddenly reappeared here?
Not to mention, he had carefully verified that this foolish woman possessed no “Echoes” and was nothing more than an ordinary “Participant.” Yet how could she move in a way that resembled “Leaping”?
“Whatever…” The girl shook her head. “At least I made it back. I was jumping around aimlessly for a while, thinking I’d never return. I kept picturing Qinglong in my head, but somehow, I kept ending up near you, you pitch-black sheep. Maybe you were the first person I met in this corridor.”
“Jumping around…?”
“Is that any of your business?” The woman glared at Black Sheep. “But fine, since you diligently guided me to Qinglong, I, the ‘Divine Beast,’ won’t hold it against you.”
Hearing this, Black Sheep’s confusion peaked. Even if he tried to piece everything together the way White Sheep would, he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
“D-Divine Beast…? You…?”
“All thanks to you!” Xiao Ran laughed. “If not for your kindness, I might not have achieved this level of power. Listen up, you filthy, ugly ‘Zodiacs’—I am now Qiongqi, second only to Qinglong.”
Earth Monkey, leaning against the wall while clutching his wounds, also eyed the woman suspiciously. Something felt off.
“Qiongqi…?”
Even if a real “Divine Beast” were to appear in such chaotic times, none would dare to show up with such an attitude. The corridor was fraught with danger, and even a “Divine Beast” couldn’t guarantee absolute safety.
If this woman truly was a newly ascended “Divine Beast,” the smart move would be to conceal her identity and strike unexpectedly—since no one could tell friend from foe in these halls.
Yet here she stood, single-handedly opposing every “Zodiac” present. Could something like this really be a “Divine Beast”?
Not even the most deranged Vermilion Bird would pull such a stunt.
But if she wasn’t a “Divine Beast,” then provoking enemies like this was suicidal. What was her goal?
“What’s with the silence?” Xiao Ran frowned when she noticed the lack of response. “Did I not make myself clear? Disrespecting me is the same as disrespecting Qinglong. Think carefully. Someone report—what’s the situation now?”
Black Sheep realized he might be grasping at straws. This woman had been arranged by White Sheep—she not only entered Qinglong’s room unscathed but also claimed to have attained the status of a “Divine Beast.” And now, by some twist of fate, she had reappeared before him…
Did that mean she was truly an ally who could help him escape this dire situation?
Too many unanswered questions remained, and with no time to decipher White Sheep’s intentions, he could only stay silent and observe.
“You… claim to be a ‘Divine Beast’?” One “Human-level” individual stepped forward cautiously, skepticism in his voice. “How can you prove it?”
Xiao Ran’s expression darkened as she backhanded the man across the face.
*Slap.*
The sound stunned everyone present—even the man who had been struck was baffled.
Because the slap had been pathetically weak.
Not even close to the strength of an “Earth-level,” let alone a “Divine Beast.”
“You call *this* a ‘Divine Beast’…?” The man rubbed his cheek, fury rising. “You’re just a ‘Participant’ who knows how to ‘Leap’!”
Xiao Ran realized she hadn’t intimidated these lowly “Zodiacs.” She cursed Tianshe for not enhancing her strength, leaving her vulnerable.
“Probably a ‘Rebel’…” The “Human-level” individuals muttered among themselves.
Seeing the tide turning against her, Xiao Ran hesitated for a few seconds before unbuttoning her clothes to reveal her scarred back—covered with freshly pulsating eyeballs.
“Take a good look, you blind fools,” she sneered. “Does an ordinary ‘Participant’ have these?”
Earth Monkey, witnessing this absurd display, shook his head and approached Black Sheep. “Hey, what’s your take?”
“I…” Black Sheep was at a loss. The whole thing was ludicrous.
Suppressing a laugh, Earth Monkey said, “For all ‘Divine Beasts,’ the location of their eyes is a closely guarded secret—their only weakness. Yet here she is, flaunting them to prove her identity.”
“I don’t think we can analyze her actions with logic,” Black Sheep muttered. “The smarter you are, the less sense she makes. She probably doesn’t even realize people could destroy those eyes right now.”
“But you’re too weak, and I don’t feel like doing it,” Earth Monkey shrugged. “She’ll walk away unharmed.”
As they spoke, the “Human-level” individuals stared in shock.
“She really *is* a ‘Divine Beast’?” one murmured, eyeing her back. “Only they have so many eyes…”
“At least four abilities…”
Hearing their awed whispers, Xiao Ran smirked and draped her clothes back over her shoulders. “Now that you’ve seen the truth—report. What’s going on?”
One “Human-level” pointed at Black Sheep. “Reporting, ‘Divine Beast’! He’s the traitor! He must be executed immediately!”
“Traitor…?” Xiao Ran turned her gaze to Black Sheep.
Earth Monkey scratched his head. “Well? You two seem acquainted. Maybe she’ll help you?”
Black Sheep scoffed, his eyes flashing with killing intent. “I wouldn’t count on it.”
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