“Tch.”

Ji Jue had nothing left to say. Jian Yuan had been famous for years, and age had only made the old geezer craftier. More importantly, he was a Grand Craftsman whose standing within the Depths rivaled that of a Grandmaster. One glance from him had revealed more than a full background check ever could.

Given the situation, Ji Jue couldn’t even be bothered to resist. He glanced at the old man’s monocle, then sprawled flat on his back with his arms and legs spread wide. “Just kill me!”

“That would be a waste,” Jian Yuan said. “I might as well put you to use. That is the proper way of the Ember Path, after all.”

Honestly, he wasn’t wrong. To those of the Ember Path, every part of a Chosen One was valuable, and for an old follower of Putrefaction like Jian Yuan, moral boundaries were hardly worth mentioning. 

Leaving Ji Jue’s flesh, bones, and soul aside, both Flawless Craft and Spirit Primacy were exceptionally rare prizes. Then there was Pacifier, an ability that could no longer be found anywhere else. Simply killing him would have been an appalling waste. 

Just as Ji Jue prepared to fight him to the bitter end, Jian Yuan waved his hand. A huge pile of materials came crashing down from midair. They poured over Ji Jue like rain, leaving only his head exposed. He stared at the old man, utterly dumbfounded.

Jian Yuan pointed toward the furnace. “Process all of this before time runs out.”

Ji Jue nearly laughed from sheer anger. Process it? No fucking way!

He had come here as an undercover infiltrator. Fine, he was going to die, but this bastard still expected him to work?! 

In your dreams!

Ji Jue snorted. “And what if I refuse?”

B...