Chapter Thirteen: Ominous

With a sigh, An Miaoyi tried to comfort Lin Yi.

“Lin Yi, don’t lose heart. So what if your potential is rated F? There are people whose potential has reached S-level—what difference does it make? They still haven’t become Grandmasters. Some people clearly have low-level potential, but they may break through in the future. Besides, you have someone extraordinary behind you, a great teacher. There’s no need to overthink it…”

After a few words of encouragement, An Miaoyi began sharing information for Lin Yi to understand.

Soon, Lin Yi learned what these potential rankings meant, as well as the true nature of the so-called Paranormal Investigation Bureau.

In this world, supernatural incidents occur frequently, especially since the appearance of the ninety-nine mist-shrouded regions, which have caused such incidents to multiply exponentially.

Ancient and ferocious, newly emerged and terrifying—demons and ghosts, all have manifested in hideous forms.

To deal with these entities, every nation has established special action teams. The one prepared in China is called the Paranormal Investigation Bureau.

The number of ghosts has been growing, and personnel are becoming insufficient.

Especially after yesterday’s monumental upheaval, the red mist spread across the globe. According to An Miaoyi, countless demons and monsters are awakening and reappearing.

Thus, the need for new recruits has become even more urgent.

An Miaoyi had obtained a nomination spot, and she thought of Lin Yi, intending to give him this opportunity.

The Paranormal Investigation Bureau isn’t open to just anyone.

Its resources are limited. If ordinary people without any skills are admitted, they’d be devoured by monsters, leaving not even a scrap of bone behind. Only those with sufficient strength can join.

Up to now, the world has a clear hierarchy for both humans and ghosts.

The strongest are Grandmasters.

Grandmasters possess a domain akin to “their word is law.” Within their domain, they are absolute rulers.

China has a tradition of calling martial artists or powerful spiritual practitioners Grandmasters, followed by first-class, second-class, third-class, fourth-class, non-class, and, at the very bottom, weak masters.

Internationally, the standard ranking is SABCDE.

S-level corresponds to Grandmaster.

A-level to first-class master.

B-level to second-class master.

C-level to third-class master.

D-level to fourth-class master.

E-level to non-class master.

F-level are the weak.

Stronger than ordinary people, but weaker than all true experts.

For example, robust athletes or fitness enthusiasts would be categorized here.

In essence, they are merely the strongest among ordinary people.

F-level potential, as can be imagined, is quite poor.

Over the years, only such weak individuals have been found to possess F-level potential upon testing.

And, as luck would have it, that’s exactly where Lin Yi stands.

This ranking is truly the weakest.

“It seems the grading of ‘God-Slaying Sutra’ is entirely different—Yellow, Xuan, Earth, Heaven… But is my potential really so poor?” Lin Yi was speechless.

He felt a strong urge to smash the potential testing device!

As for identifying the level of opponents, the detector is indispensable.

According to An Miaoyi, modern technology now enables detection of demons, monsters, and human experts using energy detectors.

Mist regions are also known as ominous lands.

Based on the energy of their ominous aura and the magnetic fields of experts at each level, energy grades have been established.

S-level Grandmasters have energy points above 10,000.

A-level experts, first-class masters, above 5,000.

B-level, second-class, above 1,000.

C-level is 500, D-level is 200, E-level is 100, F-level is slightly above normal people, around 50, while ordinary people fluctuate between 0 and 50.

The grading for monsters and ghosts follows the same system.

So, when facing an enemy, the energy detector can usually determine their level.

However, if the opponent or monster conceals its true strength, that’s another matter entirely.

Because Lin Yi has a powerful figure behind him, An Miaoyi believes it’s easy for him to become strong; otherwise, it wouldn’t explain why he’s already so formidable.

Thanks to Xu Liuxiang’s connection to Changshan Martial Hall and the Xu family, An Miaoyi shared more insights, opening Lin Yi’s eyes to the complexity of the world.

In China, besides the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, there are other sects and schools: Buddhist, Daoist, Confucian, and more.

Abroad, there are many other forces as well.

But since the ‘God-Slaying Sutra’ has been passed down through generations, Lin Yi is hardly surprised.

The world is tangled and complex, in contrast to Lin Yi’s desire for a low-key existence. Fortunately, An Miaoyi spread word that Lin Yi had a powerful figure backing him, so he wouldn’t be scrutinized too closely.

This temporary protection gave Lin Yi some peace of mind.

During their conversation, Lin Yi’s gaze lingered on a metal box.

Wang Changshan had carried Xu Liuxiang away, leaving behind the box containing the female water ghost.

Steering the topic toward the box, Lin Yi learned that it was created through scientific advancements combined with ancient talismans and rituals, resulting in these little gadgets.

Once Lin Yi joined the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, all these items would be at his fingertips.

Some of them are even standard equipment.

An Miaoyi and Lin Yi agreed to meet the next day at noon in the World Trade Center, where An Miaoyi would accompany him for the test.

Lin Yi would then learn more about the Bureau.

After setting the time, Lin Yi left reluctantly.

Truth be told, Lin Yi coveted the iron box containing the female water ghost.

He wanted to destroy the ghost within, to earn a reward from the ‘God-Slaying Sutra.’

“According to An Miaoyi, there’s a special place in the Bureau for storing these entities, and they even use them to craft various items… I must get in. Once I’m in, I’ll keep a low profile!”

Outside the teaching building, Lin Yi smiled.

Yet, inwardly, Lin Yi was puzzled. He had cultivated the ‘Great Cavern Sutra,’ so how could his potential be so low?

Thinking carefully, he recalled that his two hundred and eight bones only stopped itching after he was full, but he could feel each bone being tempered and growing anew.

Perhaps this is why his potential tested so low.

“Hmph, low potential or not, with the ‘God-Slaying Sutra’ in hand, I fear nothing. Even if I have no rank at all, I won’t be afraid!”

After Lin Yi left, An Miaoyi picked up her phone and called her grandfather.

After the call, An Miaoyi and Li Na together, with An Miaoyi explaining Li Na’s report, filled out a form detailing today’s events and submitted it.

However, seeing her own report about Lin Yi’s F-level potential, An Miaoyi felt deeply wounded.

“Lin Yi’s potential… compared to others’ nominees, he’s so much worse. I’m going to lose face…”

An Miaoyi wasn’t worried about the Xu family’s issue; her main concern now was her own embarrassment.

She had spoken highly of Lin Yi in the organization’s internal group, calling him the core disciple of a master, a closed-door student, certainly someone with immense potential.

Now, thinking back, those words were nothing but digging her own grave, slapping herself in the face.

Worst of all, in that internal group, An Miaoyi had an adversary who grew up alongside her, named Mu Yuqing.

The mere thought of Mu Yuqing gave An Miaoyi a headache.

Mu Yuqing had ties to the Xu family, which explained why An Miaoyi never liked Xu Liuxiang.

Li Na, seeing An Miaoyi’s reaction, frowned deeply.

Finally, Li Na said helplessly, “I heard that the person Mu Yuqing recommended already has A-level potential, just a hair’s breadth from reaching the legendary S-level. Stronger and higher-ranked than Lin Yi. Honestly, sister An, you’d best avoid World Trade Center tomorrow, or Mu Yuqing will surely mock you mercilessly.”

An Miaoyi nodded instinctively, but soon bit her lip.

“I think Lin Yi has something special. Don’t forget, he has a master behind him… Lin Yi knows his potential is low, so he’ll surely work harder, eat more rare treasures. I believe Lin Yi will surprise me.”

Not far from the school, Lin Yi was dumbfounded.

His stomach was growling again.

His expression changed as he realized he needed money.

He had just eaten a lavish meal, stuffing dozens of pounds of food into his belly, and now he was hungry again. This was burning through his savings fast.

He was nearly broke!

He decided to eat at buffets—it was cheapest!

To his dismay, every buffet he’d frequented had closed for the day.

“I…”

In the end, Lin Yi gritted his teeth and took out the more than a thousand yuan he’d painstakingly saved, ordering about a hundred dishes at each small restaurant, eating ten meals in total before finally feeling satiated.

At the tenth restaurant, Lin Yi spotted an opportunity to make money.

He saw a man with an ominous aura!