# 423
Chapter 423 – The Relic Vault
“You prepared gifts? For us?”
Lin Qiye asked, puzzled.
The man nodded. “Yes. Please, follow me.”
He gestured for them to proceed, then led the four through the lobby toward a discreet elevator at the back.
The other guests watched in astonishment. These were representatives of major conglomerates, titans of industry—yet none of them had received such treatment. Who exactly were these four youths?
Lin Qiye and the others stepped into the elevator. The man first entered a code on the smart panel, verified his fingerprint, then pressed the button for the 101st floor.
The elevator rose silently, the red digits climbing as the ground fell away.
When the display stopped at 101, the doors slid open to reveal a broad, upscale gray corridor.
They followed the man out and walked straight ahead. Their feet sank into an unfamiliar velvet carpet that swallowed every sound. Soft yellow ambient lighting bathed the hallway—neither dim nor harsh, perfectly comfortable.
Five minutes and countless doors later, they reached the end.
The man approached the final door, verified his fingerprint, iris, and work badge. The heavy door rumbled open, revealing a cavernous space three stories high.
Click, click, click…
Lights flicked on row by row, beams pouring down to illuminate a sea of display cases below.
Lin Qiye and the others stood frozen in the doorway, stunned by the tide of gleaming cabinets.
“These are…”
“Relics,” the man said with a smile. “Part of the Baili family’s collection. Except for the twelve ultra-high-risk items the master keeps elsewhere, every relic is here.”
Lin Qiye stepped to the nearest case and looked inside.
A pair of worn black boxing gloves rested on a pedestal, exuding an eerie black sheen under the spotlight—clearly no ordinary object.
A metal plate in the corner read:
[Tidal Gloves]
Inner lining carries Sequence 356 Forbidden Ruins [Giant Strength]. Generates 500–3,000 kg of force per punch. Threat rating: B. No user requirements. Principle decoded; mass-production underway…
Lin Qiye glanced at the endless rows of cases. “How many relics are here?”
“Three hundred eighty-three total,” the man replied. “One hundred ninety-six are ‘harmless’ Forbidden Ruins beyond Sequence 600; eighty-six are ‘low-risk’ between 400–599; sixty-three are ‘dangerous’ from 200–399; and thirty-eight are ‘high-risk’ from 90–199. Some duplicates are counted separately.”
Cao Yuan and the others were speechless. They’d heard rumors of the Baili family’s vault, but only now grasped what “collection” truly meant.
Such numbers were staggering.
“The master is a senior Night Watch officer who places great hopes in your future fifth special squad,” the man continued. “He asked me to bring you here so each of you may choose one relic as a gift from the Baili family.”
Lin Qiye turned, surprised. “A relic as a gift? Isn’t that too valuable?”
The man chuckled. “Captain Lin, you underestimate the Baili Group’s generosity. Every new special squad receives presents. The [Mandarin Arrow] in Captain Wang Mian’s hand, for instance, was a gift from the master years ago.”
Lin Qiye recalled the blade at Wang Mian’s waist and nodded thoughtfully.
Cao Yuan, An Qingyu, and the others looked to Lin Qiye, waiting for his decision.
After a moment, Lin Qiye gave a helpless smile. “Since it’s Fatty’s father’s kindness, we won’t refuse. Everyone, pick one.”
They dispersed through the vast hall. Though the relics were arranged by sequence, a high number didn’t guarantee suitability. Wang Mian’s [Mandarin Arrow], for example, was only Sequence 301, yet paired with his abilities it dealt ultra-high-risk damage.
As Lin Qiye prepared to search, the man stopped him.
“Captain Lin, the master chose a relic personally for you. Please, this way.”
Lin Qiye hesitated, then followed the man into a smaller side room. It felt cramped compared to the grand hall, but at its center lay a long black case.
The man gestured from the doorway.
Lin Qiye stepped forward, released the latches, and opened the case with a soft click.
A snow-white long blade rested inside.
Similar in length to a Straight Blade, but slimmer. Under the light, the edge shimmered faintly red, exuding an indescribable, bewitching aura.
Lin Qiye narrowed his eyes; the weapon looked familiar.
“This is different from the relics outside,” the man explained. “Its name is [White Slash], carrying Sequence 061 ultra-high-risk Forbidden Ruins [White Slash]. It’s one of the master’s twelve prized pieces. It ignores distance, striking anything within a thousand meters. One swing, and all bow their heads—a true killing instrument.”
Lin Qiye finally placed the familiarity: back at training camp, Baili Pangpang had lent him a replica of [White Slash]. That version could ignore only five meters, yet had left a deep impression.
Now the original lay before him.