The Glorious Transcendent-Chapter 58: Joining a Rank-Two team.

And since the essence-retrieval missions for first-rank teams had been canceled, that meant all ordinary individuals would have the night off.

But it seemed some weren’t so lucky.

"What does this mean?!" Mei Lan shouted, her eyes wide open in shock.

’It’s not that surprising,’ Kogan was sitting on the chair, completely relaxed.

Just moments ago, they had received an order:

Mei Lan and Kogan were to join a second-rank squad under the command of Leader Ling Shao.

Her surprise and shouting were totally understandable—after all, a second-rank squad doesn’t include anyone below the first rank.

What did that mean?

It meant their missions were harder.

The mere fact that it required a second-rank individual was enough to realize the level of difficulty.

She looked at Kogan and was surprised by how calm he was.

During the time he spent here, he had learned nearly everything, so Mei Lan couldn’t say his calmness was due to ignorance.

"Ever since you arrived here, my life has changed. I can’t tell whether it changed for the better or worse." Mei Lan paced the room nervously.

"It got worse, then better, and now it’s turning bad again."

She held her head in confusion.

Since Kogan’s arrival, she lost her partner Shan Yu — which meant she would be enslaved — but suddenly, she found herself living in a Rank One residence. And now, suddenly again, she was assigned to a Rank Two squad.

"At least we won’t be attacked by Sinners, so the only threat is the beasts. As long as we stick together, we’ll survive," Mei Lan thought.

According to her analysis, she found it impossible for two novices — who hadn’t even reached Rank One — to be attacked without being rescued.

Previously, having only Ray Kang with them made them feel safe. But now, she would be surrounded by twenty of Ray Kang.

And more importantly, Leader Ling Shao would be there.

There’s no better protection than that.

***

A vast courtyard surrounded by columns glowing with essence crystals.

Fifteen individuals stood there—seven women and eight men. Except for two free-roaming goats, each one had a mount prepared beside them.

The group spoke quietly among themselves. Every single one of them was Rank One.

On their shoulders and forearms, they wore vambraces made of pure essence.

Some carried swords, while others had crossbows strapped to their backs.

At the front stood Ling Shao in his black uniform, hands clasped behind his back, eyes sharp as they stared into the distance. He was deep in thought.

Moments later, two more members arrived.

A young woman in a black cloth outfit with her hair tied behind her head, her face clearly showing anxiety and fear.

The other was a pale young man with black hair, also dressed in black. Unlike his partner, his face was calm.

"It’s an honor to be working with you, Leader," Mei Lan bowed her head, her voice trembling.

"You’re late," Ling Shao spoke internally, ignoring her words.

"We were nervous... It made our steps heavy," Kogan replied mentally.

’Nervous?’ Ling Shao sneered inwardly.

What Kogan said was true—at least partly. Mei Lan’s legs were trembling from fear, and that had delayed them.

The squad members gave the newcomers a quick analytical glance but said nothing.

They were aware of the general situation—they had to work with these normal recruits to help them develop their skills.

Every person was an asset, and that deserved recognition.

"Our mission isn’t much different from what you’ve done before, so there’s no need to overthink," Ling Shao said, looking directly at Mei Lan.

"Understood," she nodded again, though her body still shook.

"Let’s move."

The leader mounted his goat and rode ahead.

The rest of the team followed in an orderly manner.

Mei Lan looked at Kogan—his face was calm, as if he’d been part of this team for a long time.

She sighed and moved up beside him.

***

The sky resembled the depths of the ocean, drowning the forest in endless darkness. A sweet fragrance filled the air, adding a sinister aura to the place.

A group had split off from the main path and was now creeping slowly between the trees.

The goats they used were well-suited for tight and rugged terrain.

They weren’t as fast as horses on open roads, but in this kind of terrain, they were without question the superior choice.

"Just between us—tell me how you obtained a Rank Two essence," Ling Shao suddenly asked Kogan.

How could he forget such an event?

"Honestly, I don’t know myself. You’re the one who linked it to me," Kogan replied casually.

"If it had been a Rank One essence, maybe I could believe that. But Rank Two... Hmph," Ling Shao sighed.

"Wait... Someone treated me before. You could ask him—maybe he had something to do with it," Kogan recalled Shan Yu.

"Of course. Just throw it on a dead man and be done with it," Ling Shao scoffed.

The whole time, neither of them looked at the other. They communicated purely through mental transmission.

Sure, Ling Shao could torture Kogan and extract the truth from him.

But that was forbidden.

One who emerged from the Womb must never be questioned about their past—or rather, must never be forced to reveal it.

Why?

For two reasons.

First, Sin—or more precisely, the Curse that would fall upon those who took from others what wasn’t theirs. Extracting information by force is one of the Three Great Sins: Never take what isn’t yours.

Second, it’s the same concept as walking the path while being watched.

If someone is forced to reveal what they don’t want to, it’s like stripping them of their clothes—walking naked among the watchers.

It causes anxiety, unease, and often breakdown.

Walking with one’s "clothes" brings confidence—or at the very least, preserves one’s mental stability.

That’s why no one is ever forced to answer such questions. It’s the only way they can be used effectively.

What Ling Shao was doing now was essentially asking Kogan for a piece of his clothing.

And that piece was incredibly valuable.

Where did that Rank Two essence come from?

Even Kogan had been surprised at first.

But after thinking it through, he remembered.

The giant ape that had chased Hinako... It was a Rank Two beast.

When Kogan killed it, he obtained that essence.

Killing a Rank Two beast usually required someone of the same rank.

Which made Ling Shao feel completely lost.

How could Kogan—who hadn’t even reached Rank One at the time—kill such a creature?

But thinking back, it had mostly been luck.

The first thing the ape saw was Julian—a weak young man. It devoured him in seconds.

Then came Hinako, who fled—showing even more weakness.

So in the ape’s mind, everyone in front of him was just prey.

When it finally saw Kogan, it instinctively assumed he was just another meal.

And that’s how Kogan caught it off guard—with a deadly slap that smashed it into a tree.

But... if that ape had considered Kogan a threat and fought with its full strength,

Kogan would’ve been in serious trouble.