Chapter 1: magistrate
(Please do not equate the settings in this book entirely with the original work, especially regarding the Lord of the Mysteries parts. Due to the author's impulsive decision to start writing on a whim early on, a large portion does not match the original settings.)
(Well, it's best not to overthink it while reading.)
...
Pain!
So painful!
My head hurts so much!
"Ugh… what… is the situation…" (Loen)
Ji, regaining consciousness, pushed himself up with his hands and lifted his head, discovering he was in a small circular pit. He then covered his head with his right hand and looked around.
Ji scanned his surroundings and muttered to himself, "Ugh, it's been so long since I felt pain. What's going on? I remember that at the time, hmm… what happened? Why can't I remember… Damn! I'm already a Sequence 2, how could I lose my memories! Now I've become like Azk…" (Loen)
After communicating with nearby spirits to understand the surroundings, Ji looked toward the tall buildings in the distance.
"Modern high-rises? Did I return to Earth? No, I should say I never really left Earth, right?" (Loen)
Ji stood up, closed his eyes, activated Spirit Vision, and used his ability to observe himself from a third-person perspective.
"Hmm, it looks like everything is fine except for the fact that I'm stark naked… System? Are you still there? System?" (Chinese) Ji called out to the system that had accompanied and helped him grow.
For some reason, his system required Standard Mandarin to communicate, though they didn't need to speak aloud; they could communicate directly in their minds.
After Ji finished speaking, a neutral voice rang in his ears, "I'm here. I was just reshaping your body. It's a good thing you're a Death Consul; even if you're completely dead, reshaping is dead simple~"
The system seemed somewhat smug.
"Ha, if that person hadn't already been a Corpse Collector when I transmigrated, I wouldn't have chosen this Pathway… In this lifetime, I can only stay at Sequence 1 at best." Ji felt a bit dejected mentioning the Pathway.
"Well, not necessarily?" the system replied.
"Hmm?! What do you mean?" Ji, whose head had drooped in disappointment, instantly lifted it. "I still have a chance to continue promoting? Can you change my Pathway or something? It can't be that I have to kill the Goddess, right?" Ji stood in the small circular pit, left hand across his chest, right elbow resting on his left hand as he rubbed his chin.
After Ji transmigrated to the world of Lord of the Mysteries, the system helped him seal most of his memories to avoid contamination from high-level information. It also made the Promotion Rituals for the Pathway relatively simple and would periodically issue him missions, rewarding him with Beyonder characteristics or Mystical Items.
However, the system could only help him reach the Sequence 2 stage. During that period, the Uniqueness and Beyonder characteristics of the Darkness, Death, and Warrior Pathways were all in the hands of the Evernight Goddess. After the Goddess promoted to an Outer Deity, Ji could at most promote to Sequence 1; he couldn't even become a true god of his own Pathway and could only jump to non-adjacent Pathways. Fearing accidents, he remained on the Death Pathway.
"Heh heh, I can't do any of the things you mentioned!" The system seemed to think it was being humorous.
"Haha, that's really funny. Then how am I supposed to promote!"
"Don't be in such a rush. You couldn't promote before because your adjacent Pathways already had true gods preparing to promote to an Outer Deity. Even if you could snatch the Uniqueness and Beyonder characteristics from them, could you beat them after becoming a true god? They have two other Pathways, after all. Wouldn't you just end up becoming their Uniqueness and Beyonder characteristics in the end?" the system said leisurely.
Hearing this, Ji stomped his right foot. "Damn, aren't you here? As fellow transmigrators, why can I only stay at Sequence 1 at best, and why am I still just a Sequence 2? You need to put in more effort."
"Heh heh, it's not a big problem. Now you can continue to promote~ Because, you are already dead~"
"Oh? There's such a good thing? Wait a minute, what do you mean I'm already dead? How did I die?" Ji frowned and asked the system.
"Just… just died like that…"
"Damn, I'm a Sequence 2 of the Death Pathway. Who could kill me without a sound? Speak up! Is this some stunt you pulled!"
The system seemed to have been poked in a sore spot and stammered, "That… I just saw you always worrying about the Pathway limit, so I… I just typed in a kill code… But, but I sent you to a new world! Reshaping your body and transferring your soul took a lot of effort…"
"You could at least have told me beforehand… Sigh, I was still thinking about going to Backlund to win over Audrey once I made it big… Forget it, where did you send me? Is this still Earth?" Ji covered his face; the expression beneath his hand looked like he was constipated.
"Of course! It is currently February 1, 2004, at 32 degrees north latitude and 117 degrees east longitude."
"Damn, where is this? I'm not very good at geography."
"Simply put, it's Hefei, Anhui. Got it?"
"Now I get it. Why this place?"
"Click…" A crisp sound rang out.
"By the way, how long has that brat behind been peeking?" Ji asked the system.
"Hmm, he's been watching secretly since you fell from the sky. He probably thinks you're a naked lunatic who speaks an incomprehensible language and isn't quite right in the head?" the system replied with a smile.
Ji only turned his head to look behind him and said, "Hey… *cough*, you behind me, how long have you been peeking? Is my body that good to look at? Even a boy can't help but stop and watch?"
"Click, click, click, click." Lu Mingfei, who had been peeking from the woods behind Ji, started running backward after Ji spoke to him.
*Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn! How did a person come out after that meteor fell! Am I cursed in the middle of the night! And I actually stayed there for so long! I need to hurry and find Uncle Policeman!* Lu Mingfei thought, but three seconds after he started running, his legs wouldn't move…
Lu Mingfei's pupils shook, and he thought to himself.
*Damn, what's going on? Why can't my legs move! There's a sound! That person is coming over! What should I do? Am I going to fall here today? Ha, maybe this is for the best. Mom and Dad haven't had news for years, and today at school, Aunt was like that… If I, if I weren't so pathetic…*
"Oi, brat, don't turn around. Take off your pants and clothes and throw them behind you." Ji walked to a distance of about three or four meters behind Lu Mingfei.
"H-hello? I'm just a student, I don't have anything on me. Please, you're a big person with a big heart, can you let me go…" Lu Mingfei kept his head down, holding his hands above his head.
"Alright, brat, I'm not going to eat you. Hurry up and take off your clothes for me; I'm still naked right now." Ji crossed his arms and sized up the boy in front of him.
In his Spirit Vision, the boy's aura was dim and filled with a sense of sadness, but it didn't seem very apparent from the boy's external behavior.
There were a few abrasions on his body. Did he get into a fight with classmates at school? The aura color was a bit dim and carried some white? Both pessimistic and optimistic; it seems his recent mental state is finding joy in suffering.
"B-big brother, my legs won't move, I can't take off my pants…"
Ji covered his face and released his control over Lu Mingfei. Lu Mingfei tremblingly took off his coat and pants and threw them back to Ji. Ji caught them and put them on deftly. *Hmm, this is too small. Whatever, why bother arguing with a child.*
"What's your name? Turn around and lift your head. Let me see." Ji walked closer to Lu Mingfei and stood behind him, asking.
Lu Mingfei swayed slightly from side to side.
"Lu Mingfei." He turned around and lifted his head, seeing Ji's eyes. What kind of eyes were those… Lu Mingfei felt as if his whole body had fallen into an ice lake. Biting cold and a suffocating sense of powerlessness enveloped him.
"Lu… Ming… Fei." Ji enunciated each word, then nodded and looked away.
After the eye contact ended, Lu Mingfei instantly fell to his knees, gasping for air.
"magistrate"
"Hmm?" The boy lifted his head.
"You may call me Mr. Administrator," Ji said, bowing his head with a smile.
Chapter 2: Do You Want to Change? Lu Mingfei.
A loser, a pathetic kid, completely ordinary.
After all that effort, I ended up here... Ji thought to himself as he heard the pathetic-looking boy in front of him say his name.
2004, huh? That means this guy is probably only around 13 years old. They sent me here pretty early, with 5 years left to start. Hmm, this guy is really as pathetic as the book described. Wait, no, his parents only left a year or two ago, right? He ended up like this in just a year or two?
I don't really want to get involved with this kid, but that's not my style. Helping others is helping oneself; it might even have a positive effect on stabilizing my humanity.
Ji was also happy to see others happy, which proved he was maintaining his humanity well, though the system also deserved some credit for that.
Thinking about what this kid will go through in the future... tsk, tsk, tsk. I have to help him. However, I am definitely an unknown variable. I wasn't in the original trajectory. The Little Devil behind Lu Mingfei will definitely be wary of me or... Ha, why worry so much? At most, I'm just a planetary-level lifeform. The system said that since I've left the Lord of the Mysteries world, I can advance. Once I ascend to a True God or even further to an Outer Deity, I will be the biggest Monster on this Earth, existing with both numerical values and mechanics. By then, I'll just perform a show of not eating beef... Haha, that's getting a bit carried away, and I'm not that kind of person... am I?
Ji shifted his gaze back to Lu Mingfei but did not make eye contact.
"You can call me Mr. Administrator," he said with a smile.
Today, Lu Mingfei woke up very early. In the bed next to him, his cousin Lu Mingze, who was 160cm tall and weighed 160 jin, was still fast asleep, occasionally muttering in his sleep.
Lu Mingfei sat on the bed, sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains and hitting the corner of his eye. He seemed... not fully awake.
Lu Mingfei had a dream. In the dream, a completely naked man descended from the sky and stole his clothes and pants, and he was so terrified by the man's eyes that he couldn't move. Sigh, it must be because of that incident at school recently; it's made me a bit mentally unstable. How could I have such a dream... Lu Mingfei thought to himself.
Lu Mingfei walked to the wardrobe to change out of his pajamas, and then he noticed: How come one set of clothes is missing? Where did I lose the one I wore a few days ago? I have to find it quickly... otherwise, Aunt will scold me again.
He rummaged for a long time but couldn't find that familiar set of clothes, so he had to put on an even older set. He didn't need to get up this early; it was still winter break. School Name Middle School, as a so-called elite school, didn't cut into students' holidays, though it might be different for the third year of high school. But that didn't matter to Lu Mingfei for now; he was still in middle school.
Lu Mingfei hesitated for a while before telling Aunt that he couldn't find one of his outfits. Aunt, as usual, shrieked at the top of her lungs, scolding Lu Mingfei for not knowing how to be frugal and losing clothes that hadn't been bought long ago. Lu Mingfei thought to himself that the clothes had actually been bought months ago, but he just stood there with his head down, taking the lecture.
After being scolded relentlessly by Aunt, she told him to take a bottle and go buy soy sauce. Sigh, it seems I'm destined to be a drudge in this life. Why didn't she ask Lu Mingze to go? Lu Mingfei pouted and walked downstairs.
"Oi, kid! Where are you going with that bottle? To buy soy sauce?" Ji, wearing a trench coat over a white shirt and sporting sunglasses, stood under a tree across from Lu Mingfei's building, calling out to him.
Lu Mingfei was so scared he almost turned and ran, but he suddenly remembered that running away hadn't worked before, had it? He decided to just stammer and slowly walk towards Ji.
"Big brother, you're real? I thought it was a dream... Are you some kind of superhero? You sent me straight back and even changed me into my pajamas... Big brother, can you stop time or something? Can you fly?" Lu Mingfei scratched his head, a sheepish smile on his face.
Ji took off his sunglasses and gestured with them at Lu Mingfei. "First, don't call me big brother. Call me Mr. Administrator or Ji. Second, I can't stop time, but I can fly. Your clothes from last night helped me a lot, keeping me from appearing in this world 'too openly'."
Taking advantage of the morning sunlight, Lu Mingfei was able to see the person in front of him clearly: black hair, black eyes, an East Asian face, and a smile always playing on his lips. Lu Mingfei had noticed this even in the pitch-black environment last night.
"What? Didn't get enough of a look last night?" Ji performed his classic chin-stroking gesture.
"No... it was too dark last night, I didn't see clearly... I wanted to observe Mr. Ji carefully. I didn't realize it until I looked, but you really are a man among men, a male among males." Lu Mingfei was thick-skinned enough to spout such nonsense even with someone from the supernatural realm standing in front of him.
Ji was speechless at the nonsense Lu Mingfei spouted, his face twitching. "Alright, I came to find you about something. When you have some free time, find a secluded place and say the words 'magistrate'. I'll come and explain the details to you. That's it; I still need to find a place to stay."
After saying that, Ji put on his sunglasses, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked away. Lu Mingfei remained standing there, holding the soy sauce bottle, at a loss for what to do.
Lu Mingfei passed through the iron gate leading to the rooftop. He sat by the humming air conditioner, gazing out at the city. He was deep in thought. After sitting for about the time it takes for a few traffic lights to change, he returned to the center of the spacious rooftop and took a deep breath.
"Phew... magistrate?"
The moment Lu Mingfei spoke, an ancient bronze gate appeared beside him. He widened his eyes, staring at this suddenly appearing object. The bronze gate vibrated slightly and then opened from the inside out, and Ji walked out.
"Ha, the Spirit World looks much safer now. It seems this world really doesn't have anything weird or strange." Ji walked from inside the bronze gate onto the rooftop, and then the door closed again and disappeared, leaving Lu Mingfei beside him dumbfounded.
"Hmm, the rooftop, huh? It'll do. I doubt anyone can hear our conversation." Ji thought to himself, except for a certain Demon. "Alright, let's get straight to the point. The first time I saw you, I felt that you were a talent worth molding, Lu Mingfei." Ji said with a smile, while raising his hand to tidy up Lu Mingfei's hair. "Your potential is immeasurable. I saw the power hidden deep within your bloodline (which was actually complete nonsense). You are simply an uncut jade, but in my hands, I will make you shine with the brilliance you deserve. Do you want to take me as your master?" Ji finished tidying Lu Mingfei's hair, making him look much more pleasing to the eye.
Lu Mingfei was still immersed in Ji's words and took a long time to come back to his senses. "Um, Mr. Ji, I think you must have made a mistake... How could I... I'm so pathetic, I don't look that good, and my grades aren't good either." He hung his head towards the ground.
"So, do you want to change? Change yourself and make yourself like, oh, what you said, a man among men, a male among males." Ji walked to Lu Mingfei's side and nudged him with his elbow twice. Lu Mingfei pursed his lips, not knowing what he was thinking.
Chapter 3: The magistrate in Action
"Go back home, change into your pajamas, and sleep like a good boy." Ji Eggers held a Pale blue fountain pen, injecting his spirituality into it to activate the item's ability. He imitated the naming convention of the former Church and named this item 1-14. This was the fourteenth Mystical Item he had received from the system. Its ability likely originated from the Sequence 4 Manipulator of the Visionary (Spectator) Pathway. Since it was a reward from the system and he himself belonged to the Death Pathway, he could better suppress the negative effects of the Mystical Item.
At most, it would make him unable to help himself from drawing things after carrying it around for a day.
Huh, the kid actually went back obediently... Did that Little Devil not notice? How is that possible? Given that brother-obsessed guy's style, it's impossible for him not to be keeping an eye on Lu Mingfei at all times.
I'll follow him and take a look. It's a good chance to find out where the kid lives, which will make it easier to find him later. Otherwise, I can't just carve a mark on him, right? If that certain brother-obsessed guy saw it, he'd be furious.
After using an item from the Darkness Pathway to make the nearby people fall into a deep sleep, Ji Eggers brought Lu Mingfei through the window into his uncle and Aunt's home. Moonlight filled the living room; this brand-new, large flat had excellent lighting.
Hmm, they were all sleeping soundly in bed. They didn't even know Lu Mingfei had snuck out in the middle of the night. This family is truly something else.
After returning to the house, Lu Mingfei walked towards his room, with Ji Eggers following behind, looking left and right. Ha, it's even better than where I lived before going to the Mystery world. Lu Lincheng and Qiaoweini sent back quite a lot of money... but the actual recipient hasn't even received it yet. This family is truly shameless.
Following Lu Mingfei to his room, the first thing Ji Eggers saw was an evil figure wrapped in a quilt on the first bed. Damn, is this the Mountain Devil? A height of 160 and weight of 160—it's no joke. On the bed, it looked just like a flattened oval.
Lu Mingfei took his pajamas out of the closet, put them on, and lay down on the second bed, though the guy didn't even know to cover himself with the quilt.
"Sigh, let's just treat this like a raising-sim game. Ha, I've never raised a disciple or anything like that before." Ji Eggers walked to the side of Lu Mingfei's bed and tucked him in.
Ji Eggers tapped his chest clockwise four times. "May the Goddess protect you, have a good dream." He vanished into the moonlight streaming through the window, as if he had never existed.
After Ji Eggers disappeared, a figure whose appearance resembled Lu Mingfei's appeared by his bedside. Looking closely, they seemed like brothers. He was wearing an exquisite black suit, his brow slightly furrowed. Perhaps he didn't just appear; it seemed as if he had always been there.
"Such a dense aura of Death, even a fully-formed Hela would be left in the dust... Death... How ridiculous... Where on earth did this variable come from? A meteor? An alien?" the figure muttered softly. "More observation is needed to be certain." The figure looked at the sleeping Lu Mingfei on the bed.
"Older brother," he leaned down and gently stroked Lu Mingfei's forehead. "My script might need to make some changes."
'Hmph, I didn't know you were a believer of the Goddess. You put on a good act.'
Ji Eggers, wearing the ridiculously small set of clothes Lu Mingfei had thrown at him, walked under the moonlight. It was rare to see such a bright night sky in February.
"I was just spouting nonsense, just going through the motions. I didn't even finish the hand gesture."
'If the Goddess knew, she would definitely punish you.'
"Even if the Goddess has eyes and hands that reach the heavens, she can't reach this place. Even if I curse her here, she can't do anything to me." Ji Eggers was currently in a state of Spirit Vision, observing the situation in this city.
'Reverence! Have some reverence! Maintain basic reverence for the gods. If you keep this up, you'll definitely meet with misfortune later!' The system seemed a bit cowardly.
"Instead of worrying about that, why not worry about what I should wear, where I should live, and what I should eat in the future? Although I don't need to eat, I still want to use delicious food to evoke the little bit of humanity I have left." Ji Eggers closed his Spirit Vision, crossed his arms over his chest, and said with a serious face.
'Cut the crap. With me here maintaining your humanity, and you not doing anything that destroys your worldview, your humanity is probably the most abundant among all angels!'
Ji Eggers laughed awkwardly. "Haha, so, um, are there any tasks? Look, I'm penniless right now; I can't exactly go rob someone. I'm a model citizen, after all..."
'Now you know to come looking for me? How about calling me Big Brother?' The fledgling system pushed its luck.
"You little bastard, pushing your luck, are you? I really should control you. From now on, you're a cute cat-girl who calls me Master and goes meow-meow!"
'Meow, meow, meow~ Task issued now~ Eliminate the Death Servants in the current city to ensure the safety of the citizens~ Reward: a Citibank black card~ Are you satisfied now?'
"What the hell? You can get this kind of stuff? Why didn't you get me some gold pounds to spend before!" Ji Eggers was a bit exasperated. In the past, he had learned from a certain adventurer to go to sea and capture pirates for money to achieve a modicum of financial freedom.
'Money doesn't just appear out of thin air~ I just took it from people who don't lack it~ Alright, go take action! For a beautiful world and future!' Hearing the voice in his head, Ji Eggers couldn't help but cover his head with his right hand.
Death Servant
A Hybrid whose dragon blood purity exceeds the critical limit of 50%. Their human genes are forcibly rewritten by the dragon blood, but due to genetic resistance, they cannot fully dragonize, becoming unconscious creatures between human and dragon. They should also count as undead creatures... right?
Previously, when Ji Eggers was using his spirituality and Spirit Vision to observe the city, he had discovered several places with a decaying aura, and one of them had an exceptionally dense aura. Interesting, is that place Odin's Nibelungen? I thought it came along with the 'Dandelion' typhoon, but it turns out it was already here. Whew, let's deal with the nearby Death Servants first.
Ji Eggers raised his right hand, and a dim radiance burst forth. An ancient, dark bronze gate rose from the ground, engraved with mysterious symbols and patterns. Ji Eggers stood in front of the gate, thinking.
Theoretically, I am now the highest-ranking being of this Pathway, so I should be able to customize the style of the Underworld Gate, right? Let me try... First, remove these symbols; they feel too pretentious and don't fit my style. Brighten the overall color a bit... Perfect! I am simply the greatest artist of the 22nd century.
Why the 22nd century? Because the 21st century has already been filled up by me. Let's push it to the next century.
Ji Eggers arrived at the location he sensed. The moment he stepped out of the bronze gate, the creatures facing him—no, at this moment, one should use 'He' to describe him—the creatures facing Him stopped whatever they were doing, knelt on both knees, and prostrated their heads on the ground, trembling.
A high-ranking being in the Death domain has the ability to completely dominate lower-ranking beings. When encountering an angel of the Death Pathway, this becomes even more pronounced.
"What truly ugly creatures. I smell the scent of mortal blood. Pitiful beings acting on instinct, I, the great Death Consul, bestow Death upon you..."
Ji Eggers' eyes lit up with a Pale light. The life force of the ugly creatures before him rapidly faded away. The scales that had grown on their bodies due to the excessively high concentration of dragon blood fell off, and their entire bodies decayed rapidly, oozing yellow-green pus. In just a few seconds, they turned into piles of scattered white bones...
Chapter 4: Rooftop Lesson
After dealing with a few dead servants that were close to the city and posed a great threat to ordinary people, Ji received the black card from the system. He always felt that the card smelled like potato chips. It couldn't really be what he guessed, right... Forget it, if they want it, they have to come and get it themselves. They know the rules.
"Report the time, system."
"Beep, the current time in this time zone is 23:03"
Still early... I could go find a shop to buy a few sets of clothes, then find a good place for a base, or should I eat first? There should be quite a few barbecue shops open at this time. Hmm, just thinking about it makes me unable to resist.
"How about it? Have you considered it? A person with Beyonder powers is standing in front of you offering to take you as a disciple, and you're actually taking this long to consider?" A black wooden cane with a silver-inlaid top engraved with beautiful patterns appeared in Ji's right hand. He stood the cane on the ground, gripped the top, and looked at Lu Mingfei beside him.
Lu Mingfei lowered his head, his hands hanging by his sides. "I... I don't know if I'm really worthy of your evaluation... And I'm such a loser..."
"Alright, alright, you already said that just now, and I can see it too. You have no energy at all, hunching your back all day, not caring about your hair or clothes. If you were an ordinary person, that would be fine, but you are not an ordinary person." Ji gripped the middle section of the cane and held the top in front of his eyes to examine it. "I can see that there is a lion hidden in your eyes."
"I feel like my only strength is playing video games..." Lu Mingfei said listlessly.
"For now, indeed. But, do you want to possess Beyonder powers?" Ji lowered the cane and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Me? Can I? Can I also have such miraculous abilities like you? Can I choose it myself? I want to have the ability to stop time like Kujo Jotaro!" Lu Mingfei clasped his hands in front of his chest, his eyes shining as if there were stars in them.
Ji reached out and pressed down on Lu Mingfei's head: "Calm down, kid. I can't make you a muscular hunk while also letting you stop time."
"Ahem, there has to be a formality to becoming a disciple. Come on, call me Master and let me hear it." Ji put away his sunglasses and placed them in the inner pocket of his trench coat.
"Master, Master, please teach me some real skills." Lu Mingfei said, clasping his hands together and closing his eyes.
"You're not Sun Wukong. Right now, at best, you can only be considered a newborn monkey." Watching Lu Mingfei mimic the gestures, Ji couldn't help but cover his head.
"Alright, listen to me carefully. I am not from this world."
"Huh?" Lu Mingfei was stunned.
Ji walked toward the edge of the rooftop and said, "What 'huh'? I come from a parallel world and came here for a certain reason. My Beyonder power system is different from this world's, so you have to be prepared." He turned around. "This world likely relies on the proportion of other higher species' components in one's genes to use Beyonder powers. For instance, you possess very strong potential. (Actually, Ji was just spouting nonsense; he had no idea what Lu Mingfei's actual bloodline situation was.)"
"This power hidden in your bloodline might subtly influence your thinking, your feelings, and your body."
"Have you always felt that you don't fit in? Always felt that you were very aloof? I believe this is proof that you are inherently superior to others." After Ji finished speaking, he sat back, and a huge high-backed chair engraved with mysterious patterns formed behind him.
"Truly amazing... This is so cool!" Lu Mingfei remained dumbfounded, his mouth wide enough to fit several eggs.
"Haha, I think so too. I used to do this often, scaring some people so much that they couldn't even stand steadily in front of me."
"Alright, back to business. Regarding my Beyonder power system, there are a total of 22 major categories corresponding to the 22 Major Arcana in tarot cards. I can only teach you things from my Beyonder system; you have to explore your own world's situation yourself." 22 tarot cards appeared in Ji's hand.
"I have removed a few of the more dangerous ones; you can choose from the remaining 19." The 3 tarot cards Ji removed were the Empress, Hanged Man, and Devil.
If only I were a Visionary, I could just imagine the path Mr. Fool took and show it to Lu Mingfei. After seeing it, he would know what to choose, and I wouldn't need to explain it all here myself...
"19 of them? This... it's so hard to choose. Can I choose the same one as you?" Lu Mingfei hesitated.
"My advice is no. This Pathway of mine already has a high-Sequence individual like me; if you choose it, the upper limit is too low. Oh right, you don't know about Pathways and Sequences yet. Emergency lesson now, let me explain it to you simply."
"There are 22 Pathways in total. Each Pathway is divided into 10 Sequences, from Sequence 9 to Sequence 0. The lower the number, the stronger the ability. Humans master Beyonder powers by consuming potions and performing auxiliary rituals. A Pathway can have at most 3 Sequence 1s and 1 Sequence 0. When a Sequence 0 appears, that Pathway will not have any Sequence 1s." Ji sat on the high-backed chair explaining to Lu Mingfei, but looking at Lu Mingfei scratching his head, it might take some time for him to understand.
"But I still don't know what to choose, there are too many..." Lu Mingfei muttered while scratching his head.
Ji yawned, "A simplest method: take these 19 cards, throw them on the ground, shuffle them, and then draw one. That will be your Pathway."
"Huh? Just like that?"
"This is the mystical component of the system; everything is destined~" Ji said, tempting him like a charlatan.
"Alright..."
Lu Mingfei took the tarot cards and crouched on the ground, shuffling them over and over again.
"Please, give me a super cool Pathway."
Lu Mingfei drew a card from the 19 cards and flipped it over.
A few small white stars surrounded a large golden star. Under the night sky, a naked goddess held a holy water jug, pouring the holy water from the jug into a pool. The Star.
The Star? This... this is my adjacent Pathway. If I become an Outer Deity in the future, then Lu Mingfei can at most reach Sequence 1. However, upon becoming a True God, divinity will basically completely suppress humanity... Perhaps stopping at Sequence 1 is fine?
The Star card floated into mid-air, spinning.
Ji nodded: "The Star corresponds to the Darkness Pathway, or in other words, the Sleepless. A not-bad card. However, I must warn you, the upper limit of this Pathway will only stop at Sequence 1; it cannot advance to Sequence 0. If you want to change to another Pathway that can advance to Sequence 0, after becoming a Sequence 0, divinity will suppress humanity, and you might no longer be yourself."
"Damn, what does it mean that divinity will suppress humanity? Master, you have to explain it to me." Lu Mingfei seemed scared out of his wits.
"Alright, I'll explain it to you. After a Sequence advances to 4, divinity will initially awaken. This stage is called a demigod. If humanity is maintained relatively well, then there is no problem. If you are fortunate enough to advance to Sequence 2, then congratulations, you will become an angel walking on the earth, possessing unimaginable great power. At the same time, divinity will also begin to contend with humanity. A relatively good method is to establish a religion, let mortals believe in you, acknowledge you, and help you stabilize your state. The True Gods of Sequence 0 are also like this." Ji stood up from the high-backed chair, and the tarot cards on the ground floated up and returned to his hand.
Lu Mingfei watched Ji toying with the tarot cards in his hand. "Then I'd better just choose this Star Pathway... All that religion and faith stuff is such a hassle."
Chapter 5 Sequence 9 Sleepless
The tarot cards in Ji's hand turned into dim gray specks of light and vanished; he looked Lu Mingfei straight in the eyes.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
A voice echoed in Ji's mind, "Beep-beep~ Mission complete. Granting the main and auxiliary materials for Sequence 9 of the Darkness Pathway, plus an additional Mystical Item from the Tyrant Pathway. I've placed them in your own Underworld; go take a look yourself."
The system seemed to be a bit rude.
After buying clothes last night, Ji had received a task from the system: "Get Lu Mingfei to confirm his Beyonder Pathway." The reward was the potion materials for Sequence 9 of that Pathway and a low-level Mystical Item from a random Pathway. Now, the task was complete.
Ji didn't hide it; right in front of Lu Mingfei, he reached his right hand into the adjacent space. He pulled out a pale blue cane half a person's height, with a sharpened tip that looked like it could serve as a weapon.
Sequence 7 Seafarer.
The moment he held the cane, information about this Mystical Item appeared in Ji's mind: holding it enhanced mobility in water, allowing for about half an hour of free movement, and injecting spirituality allowed for casting some water-related spells.
The negative effect was that after carrying it for a day, the bearer would feel an irresistible urge to destroy something.
Tsk, low-level items are useless. 3-28, that's its codename now... I'll just seal it with the Underworld and let Lu Mingfei use it.
Ji connected his spirituality to his own Underworld and then applied it to the cane in his hand.
Done~ Now the negative effect has changed to an irresistible urge to roar after carrying it for a day. Why do I feel like the previous one was better...
"Catch." Ji tossed the cane to Lu Mingfei.
"Eh..." Lu Mingfei caught the cane with both hands, then looked at Ji, asking something with his eyes.
"It's a good thing for you, though you can't use it yet. Same place tonight; I'll come to brew the potion for you. Call me when you're free." As Ji spoke, he turned and walked to the edge of the rooftop, then jumped straight down...
"Holy crap!" Lu Mingfei ran to the edge and looked down, but saw nothing. "That was so cool..." Lu Mingfei sat back down by the air conditioner, watching the traffic flow in the distance. He shaped his hand into a pistol, aimed at the traffic light, and made a "bui~" sound. The red light turned green. "Can I do that too..."
"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn! Long Legs! One of my cards is gone! I just checked and found a transaction record in the city where the Little White Rabbit is. What's going on!" Su Enxi's face was puffed up with anger.
"Oh my, Potato Chips, why are you so anxious? You have plenty of cards; isn't money just a number to you anyway?" Jude Mai lay on the sofa, her long legs enough to tug at every man's heartstrings.
"Did something happen over there?" The Three-No, likely a nickname, 'girl' Zero asked expressionlessly.
"Not sure. I just got back from there, and the Boss didn't say anything."
"Ladies," the Little Devil Lu Mingze appeared in the room, looking a bit troubled. "Our plan has a slight problem. Maiyi, your vacation is over. Now, I need you to observe a person who has suddenly appeared by Lu Mingfei's side..."
"Yes, yes, yes, just put the sofa there. Alright, thank you, take care, masters." Ji saw the renovation workers out and sat on the newly changed sofa. This was a finished villa that had already been renovated, but Ji still wanted to replace the furniture. This was the best residential area Ji could find in this city; it seemed to be called Peacock Residence, filled with luxurious villas.
Hmm, if this is the best residential area in this small city, that means Chu Zihang must live here too. He should be easy to identify. If not, I can just go to School Name and take a look... 2004, 'Dandelion' is this year, right?
Odin... Heh.
"Sigh... It's probably still a few months away. Better not think about it. What should I eat tonight? There seem to be a lot of barbecue places in the north of the city. I'll bring some for Lu Mingfei later. I wonder if they have french fries..."
Night 23:12
Lu Mingfei snuck out of his Aunt and Uncle's house. If he were caught not sleeping so late, he would definitely get an earful. He squeezed through the iron fence and arrived at the rooftop.
The night sky was shrouded tonight; moonlight could not pierce through the clouds. The entire world was lit only by the countless skyscrapers built by humans.
Lu Mingfei walked to the center of the rooftop, relying on the faint light. He kept taking deep breaths, as nervous as an examinee with five minutes left in the exam but still half the questions to answer. "Hoo, a bit nervous and a bit excited... Ahem, magistrate?"
Ji's voice came from behind Lu Mingfei, "Mmm, I'm here. Mmm, been here for half an hour. You kid are quite cautious, mmm, not bad."
Lu Mingfei turned to look. Ji was standing on a large air conditioner, holding a skewer and looking into the distance, though it was unclear what he was looking at. Furthermore, he was carrying a large bag in his hand—was it full of barbecue?
"Heave-ho." Ji jumped down from the air conditioner and walked in front of Lu Mingfei, then lifted the bag in his hand.
"I brought this for you. It's still warm. Eat it while it's hot, then come drink the potion."
"For... for me?" In Lu Mingfei's 12 years of life, no one other than his parents had ever voluntarily shared things with him.
"Yup, it tastes pretty good. I didn't know what you like to eat, so I took a bit of everything. If it's not enough, I'll have to bring more next time. We don't have much time tonight." Ji kept holding the bag out.
"Tha... thank you, Master Ji. This disciple has no way to repay you; I'd be willing to be a beast of burden in my next life." Lu Mingfei took the bag, feeling a bit moved.
"Doesn't 'Master Ji' sound a bit weird? Don't add Ji in front. Either call me Ji, or just call me Master." Ji took off his sunglasses and put them in his bag, then took out a glass bottle, holding it between his index finger and thumb to show Lu Mingfei. Inside the glass bottle was black water, which was somewhat strange. That black was different from ordinary black; it emitted a kind of black light even in the dark environment.
"The potion for Sequence 9 Sleepless. Once you finish eating the barbecue, drink everything in this bottle. The environment tonight is good, very 'dark'; from an occult perspective, this is a good omen." Ji put away the potion and turned to sit on the edge of the rooftop.
"Can I sit next to you?" Lu Mingfei stepped forward and said.
"Ahem, you can be casual when you're with me. I'm not going to eat you. You're my disciple, and I'm your master. From now on, I've got your back." Ji pulled Lu Mingfei to sit beside him.
"Master... I, I'm wondering if my parents don't want me anymore... Did they give birth to a younger brother for me abroad? Otherwise, why haven't they come back to see me in two years, only writing me one letter..." Lu Mingfei looked toward the distant high-rises with a wrinkled face.
He had once fantasized that his parents must be superheroes; if their plane ever crashed, they would suddenly appear before him, dragging the plane to a safe landing.
He had been living at his Aunt and Uncle's house for almost two years, and his mom and dad abroad showed no signs of returning.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Although I'm not a 'Psychiatrist', I am a very good Listener..." Ji glanced at Lu Mingfei and then moved his gaze back into the distance.
"Hmm... Let's talk about it later. Let's talk when we have time. I really need to tell you about those bad guys at school... You have to help me stand up for myself. I'll tell you their names, and you can sneak over at night and spank them!"
Lu Mingfei said indignantly while biting into a skewer.
"Hahahaha, alright, alright, I'll help you, I'll help you. Hmm... maybe I won't need to help you after all. After all, one should take revenge for the harm they've received themselves, right?" Ji took out the Sleepless potion, stood up, and pulled Lu Mingfei toward the center of the rooftop. "You've eaten enough, right? Come on, you're about to become different."
Ji handed the glass bottle to the youth beside him. Lu Mingfei took it with both hands, gave it a gentle twist, and opened the cap.
"Ugh~ What is this smell, Master... Ugh~ Can this really be drunk?!" Lu the Loser was overwhelmed by the stench emitted by the potion the moment he opened the cap.
"Well, the Sleepless potion is like this. Drink it boldly! Drink it down! You will no longer be a mortal; you will be a Beyonder, possessing magical powers." Ji encouraged him from the side, gloating.
Lu Mingfei's face was all scrunched up. He pinched his nose and let out a muffled shout.
"Bottoms up!"
Chapter 6 Darkness and Death
Lu Mingfei closed his eyes, steeled his heart, threw his head back, and poured the entire bottle of potion into his mouth.
"Ugh, the texture is so strange, it's like drinking snot. How would I even know what drinking snot feels like... This tastes awful!"
"Ugh!" Lu Mingfei clutched his throat with both hands and began to convulse involuntarily.
He felt the potion slide down his esophagus into his stomach.
The potion seemed to sprout countless fine threads, gripping every cell in Lu Mingfei's body. A silent, eerie sensation enveloped Lu Mingfei.
Lu Mingfei felt like his head was about to explode. His whole body felt as if it were wrapped in threads, whispers seemed to echo in his ears, and his vision changed—the entire world seemed to become brighter and clearly visible.
"Aaaaaah!"
Lu Mingfei couldn't help but scream in pain.
Hmm? Is there such a big reaction from drinking a Sequence 9 potion? Is it because of the dragon blood... or is it just because this kid's original body is too weak?
"Stay awake! You are currently in a state of power overflow from just consuming the potion. Now, imagine a simple object in your mind, or the person closest to you."
An object... the person closest to me... Ugh!
Lu Mingfei conjured two familiar figures in his mind...
His vision returned to normal, and the whispers in his ears gradually faded away...
Lu Mingfei crouched down, clutching his head. "You old man didn't say it would be this painful..."
"Haha, as long as you made it through, that's all that matters. Now." Ji half-crouched and extended his right hand toward Lu Mingfei, palm facing up.
"Welcome to the world of the Beyonder, new 'Sleepless'."
"Ugh..." Lu Mingfei took his hand, and Ji pulled him up.
"How do you feel? The Sleepless potion enhances your strength, agility, and cognitive abilities. The more energetic you are, the deeper the night, and the darker the environment, the more powerful you will become." Ji picked up the glass bottle Lu Mingfei had dropped on the ground and put it away.
"Feeling... great? I'm very energetic right now... And, I can see that cat downstairs from here." Lu Mingfei walked to the edge of the rooftop and looked down.
"At this stage, you don't possess any additional magical abilities; basically, it's just an enhancement of your physique and spirituality." Ji walked over to Lu Mingfei and patted his head.
"But remember, in the dead of night, you are far more powerful than you imagine."
"I can feel a power inside my body, and my hearing has become... so sensitive." Lu Mingfei raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist, a faint smile on his face.
"Oh, right. The potion will change your external traits. You might look a bit, uh, how should I describe it? Effeminate?"
"Uh, Master... I screamed so loudly just now, will the whole neighborhood have heard it?" Lu Mingfei scratched his head awkwardly.
"Ah, don't worry. I made the sound you emitted die, so no one heard it."
Lu Mingfei's mouth was open so wide a pineapple could probably fit inside.
Ji rubbed his chin, then, as if sensing something, looked in a certain direction.
He jumped off the rooftop and vanished while falling. Just as Lu Mingfei was feeling puzzled, a voice reached his ears.
"Be careful when you go downstairs later. I have something to take care of. Don't do anything dangerous, try meditating more. Once the potion's effects stabilize, we will begin training."
Be careful going downstairs? What does that mean? Wasn't it said that no one heard? Lu Mingfei walked downstairs, puzzled, passing through the iron railing and heading down the stairs.
However, he slipped. This was a sign that he hadn't fully mastered the body changed by the potion...
Lu Mingfei rolled down the stairs like a wheel.
"Tsk, what's going on? What were those two doing on the rooftop, eating barbecue and drinking for so long... Plus, when looking in their direction, my vision becomes blurry. Is this the effect of some Word of Power?"
On a distant rooftop, observing Ji and Lu Mingfei while using Mingzhao was none other than 'Long Legs' Jude Mai, dressed in a black stealth suit.
"Because I made a portion of the light die."
A low, yet not heavy, voice came from behind.
Jude Mai turned and delivered a side kick.
Ji blocked Jude Mai's kicking leg with his left hand.
"You should be glad I don't have any intention of killing you, otherwise, the moment you made contact with me, you would have turned into a pile of bones."
Ji clearly didn't feel offended; he looked at Jude Mai, who was still holding her kicking pose, with that slight smile.
"Sir, peeping at a woman is quite immoral, you know." Jude Mai retracted her long leg and quickly retreated to the edge of the roof, setting up a defensive stance.
"It's about 80 meters from here to the ground. Can you ensure you'll land without a scratch?" Ji looked at Jude Mai with great interest.
Jude Mai.
An employee of the Little Devil Lu Mingze, a member of the nanny trio, her Word of Power is Sequence 69, Mingzhao. A top-tier ninja assassin, skilled in stealth and close-quarters combat.
Truly as easily identifiable as expected. Seeing those long legs, I knew immediately who it was. That aura of the sky... it really is the Little Devil... It seems he wants to investigate me.
"My abilities are far greater than you imagine, sir."
What just happened? He jumped from the building over there, and then instantly appeared behind me? How did he do that? He—no, is He a Dragon King... Such a dense aura of Death.
Ji sat back, and a high-backed chair formed in the Pale radiance. He looked like a monarch seated high on a throne, but immediately after, he crossed his legs and supported his chin with his right hand.
"Care to explain?" Ji asked with a smile.
"Before that, may I ask you a few questions first?" Jude Mai put away her stance, her left hand resting on her waist.
If the other party is a Dragon King, then if He wants to do anything, I won't be able to resist without the Boss's help.
Ji raised his eyebrows.
"Granted."
Granted... This guy seems a bit unserious. Let me probe for information first.
"Are... are you some kind of monarch?"
Although I call myself a magistrate, and my current Sequence is Death Consul... I've never ruled over a large number of living creatures. However, she must be asking if I'm a Dragon King, right? So direct?
"No." Ji's smile didn't change at all.
No? This aura isn't a Dragon King's? The Boss once said the White King hasn't completely died... No... If it were more...
Jude Mai's posture unintentionally became formal.
"Who are you? The White King? Or?"
The White King? In a sense, I suppose I really am a White King... After all, it's almost time.
"I am not any of the high-ranking beings you know of, but..."
"I allow you to address me as."
"Death Consul."
Chapter 7: The Loser Raising Game
"Lu Mingfei, what was I just saying?" Ji flicked Lu Mingfei on the forehead.
The tender youth snapped back to reality, covering the spot where he had been flicked, his eyes shining with a 'wisdom'.
"Uh… is the name of the potion the key to acting? And is acting for the sake of digesting the potion?"
Lu Mingfei had nothing to do today, so it was the perfect time to find Ji and have him teach him Beyonder knowledge. If he hadn't become a Beyonder, he would probably be sitting in some internet cafe right now, drinking a Nutri-Express and playing StarCraft.
Ji took Lu Mingfei to a forest on the outskirts of the city and told him everything he knew that Lu Mingfei was allowed to know.
Mr. Death Consul was sitting on a tree stump, the hem of his trench coat trailing on the ground but seemingly spotless.
And as for Lu Mingfei.
He was sitting cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed in meditation, listening to the knowledge Ji was imparting, though he had just taken a hit for spacing out.
"Hmm, you still remembered the key parts. Through acting, the potion will be significantly digested, but remember, you are only acting." Ji said seriously.
"Excessive immersion will lead to loss of control, or the residues of Beyonder biological materials in the potion will cause some unknown problems."
"Only… acting… I understand." Lu Mingfei replied with a resolute look in his eyes.
"Hmm, I hope you truly understand. Acting also requires a method, but the acting for low Sequences is relatively simple. Take you for example, a 'Sleepless', it's obvious: sleep less and be more active at night." Ji stood up from the tree stump and helped Lu Mingfei up from the ground.
"I was so excited last night I didn't sleep at all! It's just that I fell down when I went back…" Lu Mingfei scratched his head.
"Normal. This happens when you haven't mastered the power of the potion yet. Oh right, where is the cane I gave you?"
"I was afraid Aunt would see it, so I hid it under the bed." Lu Mingfei said with a smug smile.
"Then you have to go back and get it now. I need to teach you how to use it." The cane he had held before appeared in Ji's hand again, though he was now holding it by the end and waving it around. "Activate special abilities, or use physical means."
Lu Mingfei snuck home and got scolded by Aunt, who said he didn't know how to clean up at home during the holidays, only how to run outside. Look at our Lu Mingze, he's there studying with a book.
In fact, Lu Mingze was secretly reading a novel.
"Huff, huff… Master, I'm back." Lu Mingfei's body had been modified by the potion, and now he only panted slightly after running this back-and-forth. If he awakened his dragon blood, he probably wouldn't pant at all.
Ji stood in front of the tree stump and thought this, watching Lu Mingfei take the cane out from inside his clothes… Why would he stuff it inside his clothes?
"Hmm… let me tell you how to use this thing first. Hold it in your hand."
Lu Mingfei held the lower half of the cane with both hands and pointed it forward.
"Can it freeze the enemy when I smash them with it!" Lu Mingfei looked at the pale blue cane in his hands.
"Uh… not really. While holding it, you can breathe freely underwater for at least half an hour, and your mobility in water will be significantly enhanced. Injecting spirituality into it allows you to cast some water-related spells, like high-pressure water blades, water tornadoes, and the like."
"Wow… that's amazing! Master, you just gave me such a powerful thing!"
Lu Mingfei's eyes were shining with stars. Ha, he really lived up to drawing the Star card. This kid seems to really like Star Platinum too? The occult component is maxed out.
"Ahem, just keep it for self-defense for now. When you promote later, I'll give you a better one."
I need to find something for this kid with minor side effects and broad utility… An item from the Mother Pathway? Forget it… wouldn't that clash with 'Don't Die'… But with me around, will Lu Mingfei even have a chance to use 'Don't Die'? I won't let him become that cowardly… That red-haired senior sister won't have a chance to push open his Door.
"Water Style! Water Dragon Jutsu!" The pale blue cane responded to Lu Mingfei's expectations, starting to generate some tiny water droplets around him. The droplets gathered together, and the whole thing was only about the size of a fist.
"Eh! Why is it only this big?" Lu Mingfei asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Pfft… hahaha, there's no water nearby, and you just became a Beyonder. Being able to understand how to inject spirituality to activate an ability is already not bad."
Ji rubbed his chin in thought.
"If you really want to achieve the effect of a Water Dragon Jutsu, you'd need to be near a water source in the middle of the night. With the bonuses from the environment and terrain, it should be possible."
"Master, you watch Naruto too?" Lu Mingfei chuckled happily.
"I'm only in my twenties, kid. And I come from a parallel world, not a primitive age. I even know the finale; Naruto becomes the Seventh Hokage in the end, got it?"
"Ah! Master, you spoiled it for me! That's so mean!" Lu Mingfei stomped on the spot, pouting.
After teasing Lu Mingfei a bit, Ji sat back down on the tree stump.
"The holidays are almost over, right? When you have time later, you can come to 327 Peacock Residence in the east of the city to find me. Hmm, we're a bit far apart… It's fine, just come. I'll cover your travel expenses, and if you're lucky, you might even be able to mooch a meal at my place."
"Wait, what? Master, you've only been here for a few days, and you already bought a villa in Peacock Residence?!"
"Your master has great skills. Sit over here and tell me what happened earlier, and why you were in such a sorry state." Ji pulled Lu Mingfei over to sit beside him.
Lu Mingfei hung his head, his mouth opening slightly and then closing. "It… it was just a fight with a classmate…"
"You don't look like the type to go out of your way to provoke others. What happened? What did that person say?" Ji patted Lu Mingfei's head.
"He said… my parents didn't want me anymore, and they had a little brother for me abroad… So I… I just started fighting with him…"
"Well fought, Lu Mingfei. Remember, you cannot actively harm innocent people. You must use your abilities in the right places. But if you didn't do anything to harm them and they hurt you, then they are no longer innocent."
Ji gave Lu Mingfei's back a firm pat.
"Now, head up! Chest out! Stomach in!"
Lu Mingfei stood even more seriously than a king of soldiers at a military training summer camp, his eyes radiating a will of steel.
"Do what you want, but do no harm. This is the maxim of the Mystery Pryer Pathway, but I believe this sentence applies to all Beyonders."
"The powerful bloodline in your body dictates that your future experiences will not be ordinary. I will help you grow until you are capable of dealing with any situation, but for now…"
Ji stood up and observed Lu Mingfei's face. After the modification by the potion, if Lu Mingfei kept a straight face, he actually looked a bit like Chu Zihang, but Ji had never met Chu Zihang, so he could only say it felt like it. Then he pinched his arm.
"I need to help you fix your appearance first."
Chapter 8: Tributary of the River of Eternal Darkness
"Hey! Young man in front!"
Ji, who was sipping a cup of milk tea, turned his head and saw a handsome, stubbled middle-aged man.
"Hm? Are you calling me?"
Ji turned around to face the middle-aged man, who was trying hard to maintain a calm expression.
"Haha... Angers, I am not done with you... You asked me to approach such a terrifying thing!"
The handsome middle-aged man in front of Ji was Chu Zihang's biological father, Chu Tianjiao.
He was originally only supposed to monitor Lu Mingfei in this city, investigate matters related to the Dragon race in the surrounding area, and occasionally eliminate a few fallen Hybrids.
But a few days ago, he reported the sudden appearance of a mysterious person around Lu Mingfei, and Angers sent him to approach and investigate last night, telling him, "Go boldly, he won't make things difficult for you. Call me after you find him, and I will talk to him."
Bold my foot. The gloomy, decaying aura on this humanoid creature is almost solidifying... Why do ordinary people not react to him?
"Uncle, if you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm leaving."
Ji turned to leave.
"Wait!" Chu Tianjiao ran in front of Ji to block his path.
"I was instructed by someone to come and investigate you."
Ji was speechless.
Seriously... You just said it directly? Then what else can you investigate? Are you waiting for me to tell you myself? At this time, the only ones who could notice me... should be the Little Devil Lu Mingze and Angers. Could this guy be Chu Tianjiao?
"Um, wait a moment... I'll make a call and let that person talk to you." Chu Tianjiao smiled awkwardly as he spoke and put his phone to his ear.
Hmm, a Nokia... doesn't look like the cheap stuff from this era... He disguises himself quite well in front of his son.
"Hello? Principal? I've found him, he's right in front of me. I'll hand the phone to him now." Chu Tianjiao handed the phone to Ji.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Hello, unknown great existence. I am the principal of Cassell College, Hilbert Jean Angers." A deep, powerful voice came from the phone.
"Ji, Ji Eggers."
"It is my honor to know your name. I would like to discuss a deal with you. I wonder if you are aware of... Dragons."
Jude Mai, on the top floor of the Huanya Building, had just finished bathing and was lying casually on the sofa wrapped only in a bathrobe. The phone placed aside rang, and she slowly picked it up, placed it to her ear, and pressed the answer button.
"Hello, hello, hello? Long Legs? Are you okay? The Boss said you ran into trouble." The owner of the voice did not have the usual lazy tone but asked very impatiently.
"Hmm, I'm completely fine. That person didn't make things difficult for me... if you don't count the mental damage?" Jude Mai said with complicated feelings.
"Hm? He actually didn't do anything? What did you talk to him about?" The voice on the other end returned to its former lazy state.
Jude Mai let out a long sigh, "Nothing. He asked me to explain, and I didn't say anything... Then he walked towards me. I wanted to run, but my legs felt like they were being held by something, and I couldn't run at all."
Jude Mai's other hand gradually clenched, then suddenly relaxed.
"In front of him, I had no ability to resist at all... But he just walked up to me and said..."
"'Stop investigating me. The nature of my existence is beyond your imagination. Lu Mingfei is under my protection. Your plans must change. I hold no malice towards you for now, as long as you do not touch my bottom line.' Hahaha..." A childish yet solemn voice sounded on the phone.
"Boss." "Boss."
"Hmph, so Prideful... If we completely rewrite the script, I hope my brother can achieve significant growth in his hands... That old thing Angers even came to ask me what that suddenly appearing guy is. How would I know what it is... I'll just fool him."
So there are things the Boss doesn't know, Su Enxi and Jude Mai thought.
"So, you want me to help you kill the so-called four great monarchs, and in return, I can get the precious materials from the corpses of the four great monarchs, and let me take whatever I want from the college's inventory? Are you mistaken... If I wanted them, I would just kill them myself, and the items would still be mine. Why would I want the meager things in your college? And can't I just come and rob you directly?"
Ji was a bit speechless. Is this old man Angers a bit wishful thinking?
"You wouldn't do that. According to the information I have, you are a person who obeys the law and possesses a kind heart."
Damn, I didn't pay attention to these people, and they've been spying on me every day. Chu Tianjiao is one thing, but when Lu Mingze is far away, I really can't detect him... Angers wants to hire me... but his stuff is useless to me.
"I still don't really want to..."
"Beep~ Task issued~ Join the Cassell College faction. You can choose to leave on your own after joining. Task reward: Sefirah 'Tributary of the River of Eternal Darkness' projection." The system's voice sounded in Ji's mind.
"Ahem... Let me consider it... I have to discuss it with Lu Mingfei... By the way, you've been observing Lu Mingfei all this time, right... Why? Why didn't you act when he was being treated unfairly?"
The voice on the other end was silent for a while.
"We need a weapon that can be fully controlled."
"Heh..."
"Master, are you going to the United States?" Lu Mingfei felt a bit sad. He had finally met someone who was good to him and even helped him become a super-powered person, but now he was leaving.
"Yes, I will place a mark on you. I will come back whenever I have time, and you can also call for my help if you encounter any difficult situations." Ji took Lu Mingfei's hand and tapped lightly on the back of his hand.
Lu Mingfei's spirituality felt that his aura of the living had faded a little.
"It's still those three phrases. If you encounter an accident, don't hesitate, just shout. If I can hear it, I can come to your side from anywhere on this planet within a few minutes."
"Can you not leave..." Lu Mingfei said in a low voice with his head down. Lu Mingfei was still just a 12-year-old child... He didn't want his master to leave, even though they hadn't known each other for long.
"Sorry Ming Fei, there is an opportunity for me to reach the supreme there... probably..." Ji looked down at Ming Fei and tidied his hair.
"If I don't respond when you call for help, you can recite the following three sentences or similar statements in any language, but preferably in Chinese." (Because he is more familiar with Chinese, it can accurately locate him. We can't have Lu Mingfei learn Hermes language on the spot, right?)
"the governor above the styx."
"the supreme undead lord."
"The ruler of the authority of death."
Lu Mingfei nodded solemnly after hearing this.
"Mm, from now on, if I encounter danger, I will call you immediately. It would be stupid not to embrace such a powerful backer!"
This kid! "And don't call me for everything... If you can handle it yourself, do it yourself. Practice your self-execution ability more." Ji covered his head and sighed.
Chapter 9: Honorary Professor
Cassell College, Principal's Office.
"Please sit, Mr. Administrator." Hilbert von Angers invited Ji to take a seat opposite his large desk.
Originally, Angers wanted to address him as Mr. Ji, but Ji asked him to change it to magistrate and not to use his full real name in daily conversation.
"This principal's office is quite well-appointed; it looks like you've made quite a bit of money," Ji remarked, looking around and feeling the chair made of high-quality materials beneath him, with a faint smile directed at Angers sitting opposite him.
"Hehehe, I cannot accept such a respectful title from you. Would you like some tea or something else?" Angers stood up and began rummaging through the cabinet behind him.
"I use the respectful title because you are an elder. I am as young as I look, so of course, I must show respect to the elderly." Ji paused for a moment. "Tea will do. What surprises me is that your Chinese is actually spoken so well."
"Hehe... found it. Wuyi Da Hong Pao tea. Please be careful, it's hot. Would you like some sugar?" Angers brewed the tea and brought it in front of Ji.
"No need, it's fine as it is."
Ji picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips... Hmm, he didn't know how to appreciate tea; he only thought it tasted good, but he couldn't explain why.
"Very good tea, thank you for your hospitality, Principal."
He placed the teacup, having taken a few sips, onto the desk.
"Yes, because our college's research has discovered that many Ancient Dragons will awaken in the East in the coming period, so we added Chinese to the required courses at Cassell College a long time ago." Angers smiled and said.
"Your Chinese is also quite good, Mr. Administrator, just like a genuine Easterner."
"Right, let's get down to business. Why did you call me over? Is there already a Dragon King for me to deal with?"
On the train to Cassell College, Ji had received the dragon-related materials provided by the college. He had pretended to read them seriously and briefly, and they were very detailed... writing down all sorts of information regarding suspected Dragon King targets. The most recent date was a suspected Dragon King, the king of sky and wind, who had appeared at the Secret Party headquarters over a hundred years ago.
Why did Ji take a train from Chicago station to Cassell College?
He had to keep a low profile and get familiar with the place.
"Not exactly. I would like to invite you to become an honorary professor at the college." Angers put away his smile, his face turning serious.
Ji covered his head and said in distress, "The deal didn't mention this... and I don't know how to teach anything."
"You should have already seen what I have experienced while on the train." Angers is now over 120 years old, and although his face is aged, he is full of energy.
"For the sake of dragon slaying, I am willing to do anything. After you become an honorary professor, if you slay dragons, your name will be linked to Cassell College. This can deter the Dragon Kind that have already awakened in the dark side of the world... Cassell will become their Nightmare. You don't need to teach the students anything; it's just for the title. Of course, if you want to pass on a few skills, that is also fine."
"...Fine. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back. Call me if anything comes up." Ji placed the empty teacup on the desk, then stood up and gradually disappeared completely.
Angers stood up and said in astonishment, "...How truly amazing. There are actually such powerful creatures in the world that do not belong to the Dragon Kind or the Hybrid... I hope he doesn't do anything terrifying on a whim one day..."
He sat back down in his chair. The sunlight from outside the window slanted into the Principal's Office, quiet and solemn.
"Maneke, I hope I haven't made an Error in judgment..."
An ancient bronze gate appeared in a hidden alley near School Name.
"Hmm... about 4 minutes, that's quite fast. System! What about the River of Eternal Darkness you promised! Why haven't I seen even a drop of water!"
The system's voice rang in Ji's mind, "I told you it was a projection, and a projection of a tributary at that; there certainly wouldn't be a physical form,"
"Then may I ask, my dear system, how am I supposed to use this projection?" Ji asked with a 'kind and amiable' tone.
"Actually, from the moment you obtained it, you have already been using it. You can go to the Spirit World and see. This world itself does not have an underworld, but due to your appearance and the effect of the tributary projection, your own underworld has already begun to expand in the Spirit World."
"Heh... in the future, I can add a line to my esteemed name: 'The Master who governs reincarnation.' Anyway, no matter how much I add, it will only point to me." Ji laughed happily.
He took a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket and put them on.
"Let's go see how our loser is doing today."
Lu Mingfei walked out of the school gate listlessly. He hadn't slept all night because his master said he would need to use poems written by famous people or self-composed ones to release supernatural spells in the next stage.
Although as a 'Sleepless', he was full of energy even without sleeping all night, but asking him to read books...
He didn't know when his master would return... Sigh... It was still early, should he go to the internet cafe to play StarCraft? It might not be good if someone saw him running off to an internet cafe right after school started.
A familiar voice rang out from the distance, "Oi! Kid! Look over here!"
Lu Mingfei raised his head in surprise, the drowsiness and boredom on his face vanishing instantly.
"Master! You're back!"
He shouted and ran towards Ji, who was across the street from the school, drawing the attention of nearby students.
Ji held Lu Mingfei's head to stop him from hugging him.
"Behave yourself, kid. It's only been a day or two. Let's go, let's find somewhere else to talk." Ji took Lu Mingfei by taxi to his residence at the Peacock Residence.
"Once you finish digesting the potion and advance to Sequence 8, our way of traveling can be faster." Ji opened the door and walked into the room.
"No need to change your shoes, make yourself at home. Go wait in the living room first; I'll go to the kitchen to get something to drink. Oh right, do you want Coke or Sprite?"
"Uh... do you have Nutri-Express?" Lu Mingfei asked with a dry laugh.
"No. Do you want pure milk?"
"I'll stick with Coke."
Ji took two bottles of iced Coke and sat on the sofa, handing one to Lu Mingfei.
"It's iced? It's only early spring, Master." Lu Mingfei said with a wry smile.
"Don't tell me you want to drink it hot? It's fine~ just drink it, your body can handle it now~"
Seeing Ji open the bottle cap and gulp it down, Lu Mingfei swallowed, then opened his own bottle and took a sip.
So cold!
"Ahem, how is your poetry study going? Let me tell you, after you advance to 8, poetry will be your main supernatural attack method..." Ji put down the Coke bottle and put one arm around Lu Mingfei's shoulder.
"Um, I read for the whole night last night, and it made me sleepy..."
"You kid... has there been any progress in digesting the potion? Generally speaking, if you play the role well, you can digest the Sequence 9 potion in about a month..." Ji picked up the Coke bottle and clinked it against Lu Mingfei's.
"Yes! I have a strange feeling whenever I take various actions at night. It should be the digestion performance you mentioned, but the feeling is very weak." Lu Mingfei held the Coke bottle with both hands and took small sips.
"Hmm, I need to find a chance for you to practice... The day after tomorrow is Saturday, right? Have you tested your current strength limit?"
"No. Does throwing rocks count? I threw a rock really far yesterday..." Lu Mingfei's eyes darted back and forth.
"On Saturday, let's determine your limit, and then I'll find you an opponent to practice with. Bring your cane. Don't worry, with me here, there won't be any danger."
Ji threw the empty Coke bottle into a trash can in the distance.
Chapter 10: Blessed of the Night
"Master, you're technically an unregistered citizen, right? How are you able to buy a house and do other things?"
Ji Eggers and Lu Mingfei were walking through the Peacock Residence residential area. It was getting late, and if he returned too late, he would get scolded by his Aunt again. Ji Eggers decided to drop him off at the gate of the complex and call a car to send him back.
"Heh, I have a few high-level Mystical Items from the Marauder Pathway and Spectator Pathway... I first use psychological suggestion to make them overlook the details, then steal that memory. But I *did* pay, you know. They'll only vaguely remember that someone bought something there; they won't be able to recall the name, appearance, or age at all."
Ji Eggers said all this in one breath, making sure to specifically mention that he had paid... well... though it wasn't his own money.
Lu Mingfei suddenly had an episode.
"Hey, hey, hey! Master, look over there! That's a celebrity at our school! His name is Chu Zihang! Does he live here too? Ah, right... Senior Chu Zihang's family is quite well-off."
He pointed in one direction. Ji Eggers looked over and saw a cool, indifferent-looking boy getting out of a Mercedes S500. The driver rolled down the window, said a few words, and then drove off.
Chu Zihang walked toward the gate of the residential complex.
"What? Envious of him? Once you reach a high Sequence, you'll have all the money and girls you could want," Ji Eggers said, wrapping his arm around Lu Mingfei's shoulder with a mischievous smile.
"Didn't you say we should do the right thing...? Are you revealing your true colors already? I didn't expect you to be that kind of Master..." Lu Mingfei covered his mouth, feigning surprise.
Ji Eggers rewarded him with a flick to the forehead.
"Go back and prepare yourself. I'll say this first: what you're about to face won't be easy for you to handle right now."
After hailing a car to send Lu Mingfei away, Ji Eggers turned back and looked in the direction Chu Zihang had gone...
Only 13 years old and he's already grown into this appearance? Why is Lu Mingfei such a loser-type...? And among his peers, his appearance is only above average. It seems Lu Mingze's bloodline seal might be a bit too ruthless...
The spirits around him provided information, and Ji Eggers arrived near Chu Zihang's home—no, near his 'father's' home.
Let's leave a mark on him. Looking at that ghost-like Chu Tianjiao... it's really hard to comment.
"Whew, time to go home~ Speaking of which, what games are playable in this era? I remember The Wind Waker came out in '03, right? Find some time to go to Japan to restock... Japan... Eriyi..."
As Ji Eggers spoke, he thought of that princess in Japan who seemed to be locked in a cage. His authority was Death, not Life. He could rescue her, but then what? Would she turn into a dead servant because of her high dragon blood concentration? Would the abilities of the Mother Pathway be useful? He might need a demigod-level Mystical Item for it to have any effect... He would think about it later.
Tsk, I wonder if Lu Mingze has a way...
Saturday
What a beautiful day. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and a kid like me...
shouldn't be here being chased by my Master in a car!
"Lu Mingfei! Why are you dodging! Don't run! Run toward the car!" Ji Eggers sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel with one hand and holding a bottle of cola in the other, taking a sip from time to time.
"Master! This is too dangerous!" Lu Mingfei yelled, running around to avoid the car.
"Don't be afraid! Use that super brain of yours that's been modified by the potion! Use your super strength!"
"But it's daytime right now! I feel like I'm about to run out of energy... Ahhhhh!"
Lu Mingfei was sent flying by the impact.
"Ouch, my back... I feel like my bones are broken..." Lu Mingfei lay on the ground, squirming.
Ji Eggers walked over, crouched down in front of him, took a small bottle filled with green liquid from the bag on his right side, and handed it to the squirming creature on the ground.
"Open it and drink it. It helps with physical recovery. I'll give you a few more bottles later, but don't drink too much."
"It's so amazing... I'm not tired anymore... My body doesn't hurt either... What kind of magical potion is this?" After drinking the potion, Lu Mingfei became full of energy.
"A potion that can be concocted by low-Sequence Moon Pathway Beyonders is just right for your situation. Alright, now go break that tree in front of us." Seeing Lu Mingfei regain his energy, Ji Eggers pointed to the next target.
"W-what?" Lu Mingfei's eyes widened, looking at a tree in front of him that he couldn't even wrap his arms around.
"Huff... huff... Master... I can't do it anymore..."
Lu Mingfei swung his fists, striking the large tree in front of him repeatedly. The tree vibrated rhythmically with Lu Mingfei's attacks, and the surrounding leaves fell to the ground.
"Keep going! You've already punched through nearly 10 centimeters; you're almost through it." Ji Eggers stood to the side, cheering him on.
"Ya!" Lu Mingfei roared, gathered his strength, and landed a punch just above the hole he had previously made. The entire upper half of the tree was sent flying into the distance before falling.
"Well done. This is how my disciple should be..." Ji Eggers reached into the space on his right, pulled out a cyan bracelet, put it on, and gently took Lu Mingfei's hand, stroking the wound.
"A Mystical Item of the Mother Pathway. I named it 2-12; the '2' represents that it is mid-Sequence level. The cane I gave you is a Tyrant Pathway 3-28, low-Sequence level." (Actually, Sequence 7 should be considered mid-Sequence.)
The wound on Lu Mingfei's hand healed rapidly, leaving not even a scar.
"It's so magical..." Lu Mingfei lifted his hand and examined it carefully.
"Once you reach Sequence 7, I'll give you this bracelet. Your spirituality is too weak right now to drive it." Ji Eggers tossed the bracelet behind him. It traced a bright arc, and before it hit the ground, it turned into Pale light particles and vanished.
'System, time check.' Ji Eggers said to the system in his mind.
'17:23'
Ji Eggers looked up at the Sun that hadn't fully set on the horizon.
"At 11 o'clock, bring that cane and sneak out. I'll be waiting for you downstairs."
After his cousin Lu Mingze, uncle, and Aunt were all asleep, Lu Mingfei took the hidden cane from under his bed and tiptoed out the door.
"Hmm, you're 3 minutes late... Ming Fei, you must pay attention to time in the future. Otherwise, if you miss something important, you'll regret it forever."
Ji Eggers was leaning against the wall of a building, holding a large bag in his hand.
"Barbecue."
...
"Master... where are we going?" Lu Mingfei asked, carrying the bag in one hand and eating a skewer with the other. Just a moment ago, Ji Eggers had picked him up and flown straight up, landing in the suburbs before calmly replying to him.
'I caused gravity to die, though I didn't actually need to do that; I just wanted to show off.'
Ji Eggers walked purposefully in one direction. Lu Mingfei followed behind him, jumping in fright whenever the hem of his trench coat brushed against him.
"I'm finding you a practice target, a dead servant with a low threat level. If you're wondering what a dead servant is, you can understand it as a reinforced zombie that can think but lacks consciousness."
After a while, Ji Eggers stopped and raised his finger, pointing ahead.
"We're here. It's about a thousand meters ahead. I've tried my best to suppress my aura, but we can't go any further, or we'll scare it away."
"Now, Lu Mingfei, go kill it. Otherwise, it will hurt many people in the future. Don't worry, it has no human rights; this poor guy has already become a Monster."
Lu Mingfei was a bit scared. He frowned and looked in the direction Ji Eggers was pointing. Ji Eggers patted his shoulder.
"Go for it. You are, after all, the Blessed of the Night."
Lu Mingfei held the cane in his right hand, feeling the abundant power and spirituality within his body. He took a deep breath and charged out quickly.