Finally, after Bai Qi's repeated bombardment, the struggling Rat Talisman finally shattered, and the power it contained was completely absorbed by Bai Qi.
However, the excessive use of the black energy within Bai Qi's body left him extremely weak. He collapsed onto the sofa, listless and devoid of spirit, like a deflated fish that had lost its dreams.
Just then, Shaina emerged from her room, intending to report to Bai Qi. But upon seeing his current state, she decisively abandoned her plan. Work could wait; she picked up Bai Qi and carried him to the bed in his room to rest.
After lying in bed for over three hours, Bai Qi finally recovered somewhat. He sat up, rubbing his throbbing head.
"I think you need this."
Seeing Bai Qi sit up, Shaina thoughtfully offered him a glass of ice water.
For Bai Qi, the black energy was the core of his power; drinking water was of no help in his recovery.
Yet, Bai Qi didn't refuse. Instead, he complimented Shaina.
Since becoming the Holy Lord, Bai Qi found himself becoming increasingly adept at manipulating people's hearts.
A seemingly trivial remark from Bai Qi's lips brought Shaina immense joy.
"Alright," Bai Qi said, ending their brief interlude. "You should have something to report to me."
"Yes, Master."
Shaina stood up and said, "We've found someone who can use the Magic Disk. Here's his profile."
After obtaining the Magic Disk, Bai Qi had no intention of letting it gather dust in a warehouse. Coupled with a mission from the system, these factors pushed Bai Qi towards the so-called Continent of the Gods Forsaken.
The problem was, Bai Qi had no idea where this Continent of the Gods Forsaken was located. Furthermore, using the Magic Disk required someone who possessed justice, purity, and kindness.
Unfortunately, Bai Qi possessed none of these qualities. Even if he had deployed Umbrella Corporation's resources to search, finding a suitable candidate seemed like a distant hope.
But now, all that had changed. After persistent effort, their dedication finally paid off, and Bai Qi had found him.
Bob Smith, a seemingly common name, was a down-on-his-luck ancient historian. He was considered down-on-his-luck because his life had not been smooth sailing. He was a broke university history teacher with an almost fanatical obsession with ancient ruins and civilizations.
This obsession with ancient civilizations made him an outcast, viewed as a freak by most. He faced ostracism from colleagues and mockery from students.
Not long ago, Bob was fired by his university for various reasons. Now, he lived in a dilapidated rented room, subsisting on welfare.
Despite his destitution, Bob had not abandoned his research into ancient civilizations.
It was precisely this devotion to ancient civilizations that gave him a pure and naive heart, enabling him to use the Magic Disk. Moreover, as an ancient historian, Bob was, in a sense, professionally qualified.
Bob's situation was perfect for Umbrella Corporation and Bai Qi to exploit. By organizing an archaeological research team under the guise of sponsorship and then hiring Bob as a professor, his obsession with ancient civilizations would ensure he wouldn't refuse.
After finalizing the plan, Umbrella Corporation didn't act independently. Their first step was to inform Bai Qi, seeking the thoughts of their enigmatic boss.
Bai Qi, after reviewing the plan, nodded, largely satisfied with its content. However, he was less pleased with the security arrangements.
Bai Qi had just fought with Zhong Su in Stark Tower, and his current situation was sensitive. While the higher echelons of the US government couldn't monitor him, they would certainly be keeping a close eye on his key subordinates. If they appeared in places they shouldn't, the US would undoubtedly take action.
Although Bai Qi had ways to conceal their movements, they weren't foolproof.
Therefore, to ensure the smooth progress of this expedition, Bai Qi decided to recruit some fresh blood.
"Tell them not to rush into action yet, but continue to work on Bob. Keep him stable and ensure he is completely under our control. I will let them know when to proceed."
"Understood, Master. I'll send the reply now."
As Shaina finished her reply and returned to the room, she found Bai Qi already out of bed.
"Forgive my impertinence, Master, but you should be resting more."
"I'm fine. You stay here for now. I have something to attend to outside."
With that, two shadow ninjas appeared behind Bai Qi. Dressed and ready, Bai Qi once again entered the shadow realm.
The scene shifted to the South District of Gotham City.
Gotham City was once known for its simple folk and a plethora of unique individuals. Figures like the Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler were all renowned figures. However, the establishment of the Justice League had somewhat curbed this, and Gotham's public safety environment gradually improved.
At 3:30 PM, Artemis, having finished her classes for the day, rode her bicycle through the chaotic streets.
Don't ask why Artemis was riding a bicycle. She used to have a cool motorcycle, but her mother discovered her going street racing with friends. For two weeks, the motorcycle had been gathering dust in the garage, forcing her to use this old bicycle to get to and from school.
As Artemis's mood soured, a cheerful guitar melody reached her ears, instantly lifting her spirits.
The lively music made Artemis instinctively stop and search for its source.
Soon, Artemis found the guitarist, a street performer. However, as she approached him, her brow furrowed at the cardboard sign placed in his guitar case. The hand that was about to offer money retracted.
The sign boldly read: "Busking to buy drugs."
This was a testament to the simplicity of Gotham's citizens. Such blatant behavior was openly displayed. How pure, how innocent.
Don't find it absurd; this was commonplace in Gotham. Especially in the outskirts, where the residents were impoverished. Not only would no one intervene, but the police would likely avoid coming here if they could.
Robbery, theft, drug use, and prostitution were all openly conducted. It was only with the establishment of the Justice League that these activities saw some restraint.
Artemis found it unacceptable, but she was powerless to change many things.
She, too, aspired to be a superhero like Batman or Superman, doing her best to change the status quo. However, her family's circumstances were insufficient to support such an endeavor.
Just then, two delinquents in leather jackets, adorned with ear and nose rings, swaggered over.
"Hey, beautiful, want to do something fun with us?"