Chapter 1500

From the moment they inadvertently stepped into this so-called underground casino hideout, Shannon was certain that Sylvia was deliberately kept here. After all, with free people guarding the place, no ordinary person would just stumble in. This was the perfect place to hide someone. But if Sylvia had had her face swapped and lost her facial features, based on what happened with Cecily, she would need daily nutritional injections to sustain her bodily functions. In the early stages, to ensure the stability of the soul's new form after the face-swapping, the person would have to stay alive. Shannon suspected that among these people, one had to be from the Black Smoke Organization. Rather than searching one by one, it would be better to make him show himself. Plus, it would be a good chance to replenish the system's energy. That way, it would stop complaining that she only used it when she needed it. Once they caught the person, finding Sylvia would surely be much smoother. Soon, Shannon and the others followed the direction the man had indicated and found a hidden entrance to an underground basement. The system, having just absorbed the black smoke energy, was feeling quite powerful. As soon as the door opened, it charged ahead into the basement. "I'll lead the way. All of you, follow me." Shannon was speechless. Luckily, neither Benjamin nor Skylar could hear the system's voice. As for her, she pretended as if she hadn't heard anything at all. Without hesitation, she pushed the small fry from the Black Smoke Organization to the front. After all, this was a hideout, and who knew if they had set up any formation traps inside? Naturally, it made sense to have the scout lead the way. The process of finding Sylvia was unexpectedly smooth. As soon as they entered the underground basement, they found her lying on a large yellow cloth spread over an old bed frame. Sylvia lay still. Since she had lost her facial features, it was impossible to tell if she was awake or asleep. But even if she were awake, it was highly likely that she could neither hear nor see anything. As Shannon and the others approached, they saw the black sigil drawn on the yellow cloth beneath her, which seemed to be a formation designed to bind her and sustain her life. Shannon wasn't new to seeing people who had had their facial features taken away by the face-swapping technique, so she remained calm. Skylar couldn't help but curse, "These people deserve death!" The next second, he delivered a harsh kick toward the small fry's foot. The small fry, originally just a low-ranking member of the organization, was now no different from an ordinary person after the black smoke was drained from him. He let out a reflexive yelp as Skylar's kick landed, but despite the noise, the girl on the bed remained completely unaware. She lay motionless, her body still and lifeless as ever. "Let's take her away first," Shannon said as she stepped forward, carefully examining the black sigils on the cloth. After confirming that there were no traces of any special dark magic, she quickly pulled out a stack of blank talismans and, in one swift motion, drew three dispelling talismans. With her fingers forming a precise mudra, she began chanting quickly under her breath, "Clear the paths, earthly and celestial. Merge the worlds, all will prevail. By this decree, cease to be!" With the final word of the chant, the three talismans flew toward Sylvia's head, body, and feet, landing steadily in their positions. In an instant, the talismans ignited into black smoke. As the three talismans turned to ash, the black sigils on the yellow cloth beneath her seemed to dissolve as if they had come into contact with water. At the same time, the once bright yellow fabric lost its luster. Sylvia lay still nevertheless. Skylar and Shannon exchanged glances before deciding to carry her out of there. He gently cradled the girl in his arms, and the group swiftly exited the underground room. As they reached the top of the stairs, the sound of distant sirens grew louder, followed by the chaotic noise of police officers storming the building, ready to make their arrests. Shannon had planned to get Sylvia to the car first, but just as they were halfway there, a gust of night wind blew out of nowhere. The moment it hit, Sylvia, who had been in Skylar's arms, trembled slightly, and to everyone's surprise, she stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She had awakened.