“You’re telling me that Nidhogg, the most malevolent of beings, granted you a god's domain focused on time acceleration? Are you sure about that?”

“This... this doesn’t add up.”

“The details are a bit complex,” Lin Xuan replied with a casual shrug. “Honestly, this is only part of Nidhogg’s god domain. It’s hard to explain in words, so how about I just demonstrate?”

“Alright,” Wu Xiangnan nodded, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to see this godly ability firsthand.

The next moment, Wu Xiangnan’s vision blurred. A light tap landed on his back, and he instinctively shivered.

When did that happen?!

It was only an instant—a blink of an eye—yet Lin Xuan had moved behind him, casually patting his shoulder. If Lin Xuan had intended harm, it would have been... easy.

As an experienced former member of the Special Task Force, Wu Xiangnan wasn’t one to drop his guard completely. Although he hadn’t been overly vigilant in this instance, Lin Xuan’s speed was clearly extraordinary.

“So this is the power of time manipulation... no wonder it’s called a god’s domain.”

Wu Xiangnan couldn’t help but think back to the captain of the Masked Squad, who also wielded a temporal ability—time reversal. That power alone was fearsome, yet it felt fundamentally different from Lin Xuan’s.

As he mentally reviewed the records of the Night Watchers, Wu Xiangnan confirmed there was no record of any similar god domain or restricted domain. After all, time manipulation abilities often transcended the mortal realm and were typically attributed to gods.

Then something clicked in his mind, and his body stiffened. He turned to Lin Xuan, his eyes widening in realization.

“Wait... something’s off. You’re sure you activated your domain?”

“Of course,” Lin Xuan said with a confident nod. Though his expression remained calm, inwardly, he braced himself. His ability’s peculiarity wasn’t something he could easily conceal.

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“Then why can’t I feel the presence of your domain? This doesn’t make sense,” Wu Xiangnan muttered. Domains, whether godly or restricted, always emitted an energy field perceptible to those sensitive enough. But with Lin Xuan’s ability, there was... nothing.

“Maybe it’s because the time acceleration only affects me?” Lin Xuan suggested after a moment of thought. With a helpless shrug, he added, “Nidhogg chose me; I didn’t choose Nidhogg... I’m as puzzled as you are.”

Wu Xiangnan frowned but didn’t press further. He could only accept Lin Xuan’s explanation for now.

“Well... alright. It’s not something I’ll overthink right now. But clearly, you already have some understanding of domains and the truth of this world, so I won’t pry further. Everyone has their secrets.”

His tone shifted to a more formal one. “How about joining the Night Watchers?”

“I’ll consider it—but on one condition,” Lin Xuan replied without hesitation.

“What’s the condition?”

“I want to kill as many enemies as possible—be they anomalies or humans,” Lin Xuan said earnestly, his expression unwavering.

For him, joining the Night Watchers provided the best opportunity to fight stronger enemies. The more foes he vanquished, the more his draconic bloodline would purify. This arrangement was a win-win for him.

Wu Xiangnan was momentarily taken aback by Lin Xuan’s bluntness but quickly nodded. His reasoning was simple: as long as Lin Xuan followed orders, his zeal for combat wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Alright, but think it over tonight. The Night Watchers aren’t just some heroic group playing the role of gallant knights. It’s about responsibility—protecting this nation’s future. This isn’t a decision you can take lightly.”

Wu Xiangnan’s gaze was firm as he emphasized the weight of joining their ranks.

“I understand,” Lin Xuan replied with a slight smile. He appreciated the frankness.

As Wu Xiangnan offered to drive Lin Xuan home, the latter agreed, knowing it was another chance to solidify their rapport.

Old District, Taohua Road, Longhua Garden Community

From the outside, the community appeared dilapidated, with peeling walls and a rusted gate. However, it had once been a high-end villa community decades ago.

Wu Xiangnan parked at the gate, mentally noting Lin Xuan’s address. Although the Night Watchers’ resources made this unnecessary, old habits died hard.

Lin Xuan waved goodbye and walked inside. Passing the security guard’s room, he caught faint strains of opera music. He quickly turned left and entered Villa No. 5.

Once inside, Lin Xuan didn’t bother turning on the lights. With his golden draconic pupils, darkness posed no challenge to his vision.

The villa’s interior was simple: a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and the master bedroom where his parents used to stay. Although the room had been unoccupied for a long time, it was regularly cleaned.

Lin Xuan slumped onto the sofa, closed his eyes, and slipped into the mysterious world within his mind.

Towering before him was the colossal Gravestone. The inscription on it now pointed to a bloodline purity of 10%.

His gaze shifted to the faint script beside the percentage:

[Nibelungen]