"Seventeen seconds!"

"Way to go, Big Brother Zhou!"

"Awesome!"

As Ji Jue had just pushed the door open, he saw a packed lounge erupting into cheers and applause.

Everyone was huddled around something, seemingly engrossed in playing with it.

He suddenly gasped, since leaving the workshop he hadn't seen such intense spiritual fluctuations emanating from every person, large and small alchemy equipment nearly filling every hand.

It was truly dazzling.

But with the door being flung open without a knock, several inside turned to look, sizing up the uninvited guest, puzzled: why is someone just arriving now?

Who called this duck?

"Oh, it's quite lively here."

Ji Jue closed the door behind him with a friendly smile, "What is everyone playing?"

Then, amidst a brief silence, he heard an angry roar that shocked everyone into stillness.

"Ji Jue!!!!"

Ji Jue looked up, startled.

He looked around.

He instinctively took a deep breath.

This familiar feeling, this heartwarming call, and the heart-wrenching shouts...

He was back, they were all back!

In this unfamiliar place, where he was all alone, Ji Jue almost felt tears come to his eyes, it was like coming home.

I've missed you, Prison Building!

In his joy, he strode forward, grabbing Lou Feng's hand and shook it vigorously.

"Long time no see, Old Lou, how have you been?"

What the hell do you think!

"Not good at all."

Lou Feng's face was ashen, he instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but the grip was like a vice and he couldn't break free, which only made him more furious—damn it, Non-attack is amazing!

Even though it really is...

"Though you're not good, I'm doing great!"

Ji Jue exclaimed, "Aren't you happy for me?"

Lou Feng was nearly driven to laughter by annoyance, his twenty years of composure and decency fading as he squeezed through clenched teeth, "Go to hell!"

"I'm also glad to see you!"

Ji Jue's smile remained, handshakes and back slaps flowing naturally, "Wow, you've put on quite a bit, been eating well lately, and you've gotten paler!"

Amidst the astonished and odd looks of those around, Lou Feng's face couldn't hold up.

And then, on the sofa, surrounded by many apprentices, the young man Zhou Cheng watched the two with a bizarre expression, growing more curious, "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Do we really need introductions?"

Lou Feng scoffed, pointing to the amiable face beside him, "This is Ji Jue from Tide Sound Workshop, aren't you all familiar with the name?"

Instantly, silence fell, abrupt and total.

It swallowed everyone.

"Tide Sound?"

Someone blurted out in astonishment, "Isn't that..."

What isn't it?

Nobody spoke again.

It was as if they were suddenly thrown into an ice cellar, instinctively shivering for a moment.

Then, looking at Ji Jue, their expressions subtly changed: wariness, doubt, shock, disdain...

And even an undisguised loathing and resistance.

In just a few seconds, their gazes were so richly nuanced, it was staggering, really making Ji Jue realize his popularity in the industry was indeed hopeless.

"...Since you are here, you are a friend."

From the stifling atmosphere, Zhou Cheng forced a smile, "Sit down, everyone, please sit."

Unfortunately, no one offered a seat, instead giving Ji Jue cold glances.

Ji Jue didn't seem to care at all, pulling over a chair and sitting down, utterly indifferent to the hostility. Lou Feng finally managed to break free and glanced at the situation, instinctively moving a bit away.

Then moved a bit more.

"Hey, I've long heard the great name; I didn't realize it was someone from Tide Sound Workshop."

Zhou Cheng spoke casually, scrutinizing Ji Jue's appearance, recalling what Lou Feng had said about his joining the workshop less than a year ago, his expression slightly relaxed in a moment.

Taking up an object from the table, he invited:

"Want to give it a try?"

Hearing this, the crowd suddenly exhibited expressions eager for a show.

"I haven't seen this before, what is it?"

Ji Jue didn't mind at all, taking it in his hands to examine. He seemed to hear the snickers within the crowd.

Such a bumpkin.

Zhou Cheng said with a grin, "Just some little gadgets released by the Taiyi Ring, handy for craftsmen to practice with, good for occasional diversions."

Ji Jue looked at the cube-like object in his hands, appreciating the intricate internal mechanics and the segmental Spiritual Circuits that seemed to constantly shift with motion.

Once spiritual energy was input, the cube began moving on its own, its internal Spiritual Circuits interlocking randomly generating a complex Spiritual Lock.

It indeed broadened Ji Jue's horizons.

He had never seen such a little gadget.

It was like a randomly generated math puzzle; the user needed to solve the internal Spiritual Lock in the quickest time by guiding the Spiritual Circuit to fill in the gaps.

Now at full operation, with its four-tier nested structure, it wasn't easy.

And more covertly, the Superior Emblem was gathering inside.

Probably if not solved in time, it would create quite a commotion, signaling game over.

"Well, let me give it a try."

Ji Jue chuckled, bowed his head, and started manipulating the object in his hands. But, amidst the clicking sounds, the internal Spiritual Circuit kept disconnecting, making it hard to complete.

Finally, he sighed helplessly.

"It's too complex, how can I solve it?"

With everyone watching expectantly, he complied with a wistful remark, "You're not teasing me, are you?"

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