Compared to Guangguang's excitement and elation, Mingxi appeared much more composed.

She calmly watched the unfolding scenes, sensing the profound natural charm contained within the patterns.

She didn't know what the book of rules would ultimately manifest as, nor could she be certain it would end up in her hands.

Therefore, she treated the current scene as her only chance to observe the complete rule text, dedicating all her effort to memorizing and understanding it.

However, she soon realized she had worried too much.

The sky full of light patterns quickly contracted and gathered, condensing into a heavy, substantial book.

It floated in the void, its cover a dark, gilded, embossed metal plate, glowing with a deep, recondite luster like dark obsidian, yet revealing the warm, moist quality of jade as light patterns flowed across it.

The cover was covered with layers of profound and mysterious patterns, which were not static but slowly wriggled like living things.

Some were like burning spectral flames, trailing pale purple tails as they snaked across the cover.

Others resembled swimming silver snakes, their scales shimmering with fragmented starlight, forming a closed loop with their heads and tails connected.

Still others transformed into translucent ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ancient seal characters, flickering between bright and dim as if whispering, but upon closer inspection, every stroke trembled slightly, as if about to break free from the cover's confines at any moment.

At the top and bottom of the spine, golden sun and silver moon reliefs were coiled, respectively.

The reliefs were composed of countless tiny, intricately structured patterns, radiating ripples from within, as if resonating with someone's breath.

The very center of the cover had no text, only a recessed star-shaped area, within which three rotating gems, black, white, and gold, floated.

The black gem was like a beating heart; each pulsation caused the cover's light patterns to dim and brighten slightly.

The white gem was like frozen ice, surrounded by wisps of white mist.

The golden gem resembled a miniature sun, emitting a soft yet unblinking halo of light.

The three gems mutually attracted each other, forming a stable triangle, as if it were the source of the entire book's power.

Occasionally, patterns would transform into starlight and fall from it, dissipating into the air as points of light, leaving behind faint energy fluctuations.

Sometimes, streaks of light would fly in, entering the book and disappearing.

This book carried a mysterious and complete complexity, as if it contained the operating rules of the entire world.

"What is that?! A book?"

"Quick! Get that book for me!"

"A treasure!"

"..."

Confused voices came.

Due to the combined skills of Bright Crystal and the other two, and the destruction caused by Golden Yuanbao and its companions, this underground laboratory was now completely exposed.

The SPA facility was not located in a remote suburb like the abandoned factory before; it was situated in the heart of Saint Shield City, in the most prosperous area.

With such a huge commotion, the Xiao Li Country officials, the SPA facility owner, or the actual person in charge of the underground laboratory were probably already on their way.

Now, the book of rules had made a grand appearance, and it was clear at a glance that it was a good item.

Anyone with a bit of sense would not stand by and watch such a treasure fall into someone else's hands.

A scramble for it was inevitable.

All of a sudden, the Beast Tamers and their pet beasts who had been observing from above were now impatiently leaping into the breached underground space.

Their numbers and the complexity of their compositions were like a crowd adding ingredients to a hotpot.

"The treasure is mine! No one can take it from me!"

But no matter how fast they were, they weren't as fast as Mingxi and the book of rules.

After all, they were a two-way street.

Perhaps because of the 'walnut plaything,' the book of rules did not move erratically; it very actively fell into Mingxi's hands.

The strange thing was that upon touching it, she felt almost no temperature, texture, or weight, as if her human five senses had disappeared.

"Put down that book!"

A harsh shout, accompanied by the buzzing explosion of an electromagnetic pulse grenade, sounded as seven or eight figures in grey-black uniforms landed with the help of their pet beasts. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The eagle emblem on their chests gleamed coldly under the emergency lights.

It was the insignia of the Special Operations Department of Xiao Li Country.

The Special Operations Department's function was similar to Longhua Country's Special Criminal Bureau.

However, their methods were more brutal and unreasonable; many privately referred to them as the International Wild Dog Squad.

It was unexpected that they would be the fastest to arrive, apart from the onlookers.

However, these people clearly meant trouble.

Their gaze on the book of rules in Mingxi's arms was like that of a wild dog, starved for eight hundred days, seeing fresh beef.

"Special Operations Department business! All idlers, disperse immediately!"

This command was overbearing and arrogant.

The 'hotpot ingredients' that were scalding hot a second ago, the next second seemed to have collectively participated in an ice bucket challenge, instantly returning to the refrigerator compartment.

"Damn it!"

"It's the Wild Dog Squad, run!"

In an instant, they all vanished without a trace.

This deterrence left Mingxi a little awestruck.

At this moment, the leading blonde man pulled out a pair of black handcuffs, his boot heel heavily grinding over the tail of a dead stitched creature.

"Mingxi, a citizen of Longhua Country, you have illegally trespassed into our country's important experimental base, deliberately destroyed scientific research facilities, killed important experimental subjects, and seized important items.

You are now arrested for endangering alliance security!"

"So, this underground laboratory is your country's doing?"

Mingxi's eyes were as cold as profound ice, and her gaze towards the blonde man already carried killing intent.

The blonde man, Karen, narrowed his eyes.

He had clearly seen the general situation of the underground laboratory upon entering, and having witnessed too much of society's dark side, he immediately understood that there were serious problems here.

But—

"So what?!"

Mingxi sneered, "So what indeed?"

She raised her hand and pointed to the remains of the cultivation tanks in the corner: "That's our country's explicitly protected Fluffy Snow Beauty, that's Green Field Star's Blue-Eyed Frog, that's Red Moon Country's Ghost Head Wolf..."

Many fragmented parts of the stitched creatures bore the traces of rare wild Transcendent creatures from several major countries.

"These protected Transcendent creatures can be used by you for inhumane scientific research.

It seems Xiao Li Country's status as the alliance leader has already gained full recognition from the entire alliance!"

Rare Transcendent creatures, let alone being used for scientific research, even being contracted by Beast Tamers required strict scrutiny.

Yet, they were ubiquitous here!

No matter how stubborn or hegemonic Xiao Li Country was, it couldn't acknowledge this matter.

Karen's expression changed slightly, then he sneered, "Stop changing the subject!

The book in your hand is the core item of the laboratory and belongs to Xiao Li Country's property.

Either you hand it over obediently, or wait for Longhua Country's officials to compensate us, including the cost of you and your pet beasts destroying this spa and laboratory!"

Before his words finished, three mechanical hounds sprang from the shadows, their metal claws scraping the ground and sparking.

Xue Qingting immediately released pollen for defense, but the mechanical hounds had no sense of smell or touch, so this skill had minimal effect on them.

Moreover, the mechanical hounds equipped by the Saint Shield City Special Operations Department members were at least S-class, and their strength was not bad.

"You say it's Xiao Li Country's property, and it is?

If you call it, will it dare to answer?"