Mythological Systems

"I understand, Mr. Bill!" Zhang Yuanqing took a sip of iced cola, then glanced at the blonde standing behind Bill. Mr. Bill smiled faintly. "She is my personal assistant. You may speak freely in front of her about anything." *Right, personal milking assistant...* Zhang Yuanqing smiled knowingly. Wealthy, middle-aged bachelors never lacked so-called personal assistants. They didn't need to be exceptionally competent, but they were inevitably young, gorgeous, and well-proportioned. *Though Mr. Bill is a big shot with immense wealth, his personal assistant still pales compared to Guan Ya,* Zhang Yuanqing compared privately, then reeled in his wandering thoughts with satisfaction. "Mr. Bill, I'll offer you something you won't be able to refuse." Mr. Bill gave a genial chuckle. "I'll be the judge of that after I've seen it." As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Yuanshi Tianzun produce a stack of yellow paper talismans—a thin sheaf of about ten. "Talismans?" Mr. Bill cast a cursory glance over them, crossed his legs, and chuckled. "Mr. Yuanshi, if I remember correctly, talismans are consumables." Consumables were gone once used. Their worth could hardly compare to props, let alone a life-saving item like the Sliding Shovel Shoes. "They are indeed consumables, but these are Dominator-grade consumables," Zhang Yuanqing said. *Dominator-grade...* Mr. Bill uncrossed his legs, sat upright, and asked eagerly, "What are their exact effects?" "They contain the divine power of the sun. Their primary function is purification. Once infused with spiritual energy, the power within can be unleashed to purge all negative effects, and they even suppress toxins to a degree." Zhang Yuanqing pulled one out, holding it between his fingertips. "If placed in a home under normal circumstances, it functions like a heater, keeping ghosts and yin entities at bay. Most importantly, the divine power of the sun suppresses Alcoholics. Surely you wouldn't want to be attacked by Alcoholics again, Mr. Bill?" Mr. Bill's breathing had already grown heavy. The divine power of the sun was an exceptionally potent and rare energy. Purging all negative effects was a trait alone capable of rendering skills across numerous professions entirely useless. Moreover, the divine power of the sun was a natural counter to Alcoholics—precisely what he needed most. Dominator-grade props were extraordinarily rare, each virtually priceless. More crucially, across every major organization, Dominator-grade props were classified as non-salable; no amount of money could buy them. "It truly is an offer I can't refuse. However, ten is not enough!" Mr. Bill explained, "Consumables are far less valuable than props, and the price of using the Sliding Shovel Shoes is extremely low, making them exceptionally valuable. Therefore, you must add more talismans." He raised two fingers. "I want twenty, plus ten million." *Only 4.5 million per talisman? You profiteer...* Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "I will give you only ten, but I can throw in an ancient magical artifact. Furthermore, if you agree, I can consider making you the overseas distributor for the Evil-Breaking Talismans, letting you purchase them from me at a discount." In their past transactions, Mr. Bill had treated him fairly well. Besides, Bill was a merchant; one had to let him turn a profit. "An ancient magical artifact?" Mr. Bill frowned slightly. "You mean a prop from ancient superhumans? If it's Saint-quality, that's fine, but you'll have to give me two more Evil-Breaking Talismans. As you know, props from ancient superhumans have no item stat displays. Both the costs and abilities must be figured out on one's own, which carries inherent risks. Before understanding it completely, one can't put it to immediate use." Zhang Yuanqing paused briefly. "All right, deal!" With that, he unzipped his backpack and retrieved the palm-sized bronze cauldron. This prop had been appraised by Elder Gao Feng, whose verdict had been simply: mediocre! It was of Saint quality, but hardly exceptional. Mr. Bill picked up the small bronze cauldron and examined it closely under the illumination of the crystal chandelier. Taking advantage of the moment, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Mr. Bill, you know about ancient practitioners?" "In our country, they're referred to as superhumans." Mr. Bill examined the artifact while speaking. "Spirit Realm walkers emerged in modern times, less than two centuries ago. But based on our archaeological excavations and the development of Spirit Realm trials, it's not hard to discover that groups similar to us existed in ancient times. The difference is that their advancement did not rely on the Spirit Realm. "Now that you're a Saint and a prodigy cultivated by the Five Elements Alliance, your superiors should have shared these confidential matters with you." *No, my superior only knows how to persuade people with virtue and drown himself endlessly in flattery...* Zhang Yuanqing inwardly grumbled about the Money Prince, but nodded outwardly. "What were the ancient superhumans in your country like? I'd like to learn as much as possible. If there's an intelligence fee, please feel free to name your price." Mr. Bill glanced up at him, then looked back down to inspect the cauldron, smiling. "If your level weren't high enough, I wouldn't tell you any of this, even if you paid. But since we are both Saints, certain information can be discussed openly and shared. That is an unwritten rule among Spirit Realm walkers. "To date, the prevailing consensus among major Spirit Realm walker organizations is that mythological history is the history of ancient 'Spirit Realm walkers.' Do you know the three major mythological systems?" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "I don't even know much about my own country's myths, let alone those of other civilizations." Mr. Bill said, "The three major mythological systems are Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and your Eastern Sky-Opening mythology. If you let your imagination run free, you'll find that the various professions among Spirit Realm walkers bear an uncanny resemblance to certain deities in mythological history." *The Yellow Emperor sleeping with three thousand women and ascending in broad daylight corresponds to a Central Court Earth Monster...* That was the first thought that flashed through Zhang Yuanqing's mind. "Alcoholics find an almost identical deity in Greek mythology—Dionysus, the god of wine. He governed chaos and was also known as a god of frenzy. The Desire profession likewise finds a striking match in Aphrodite, the goddess presiding over love and lust." The moment Mr. Bill finished, Zhang Yuanqing blurted out, "The goddess born from Zeus's father's junk being tossed into the sea?" Mr. Bill stared at him blankly for a long moment. "And you claimed you knew nothing about myths..." Zhang Yuanqing coughed. "Please, continue." Mr. Bill set down the small bronze cauldron. "There is no issue with this prop. Our deal is struck. "Precisely because corresponding deities can be identified in myth, the mainstream view holds that these so-called gods were actually ancient superhumans. Their ranks are unknown—perhaps Dominators, perhaps demigods. "Because they commanded superhuman powers, the ancients worshiped them reverently and glorified them as deities. There is another piece of evidence to substantiate this. You know the Spirit Realm is divided into three major regions, right?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Yes. One of the regions has not yet opened." "That region is Norse mythology. Do you know how Norse mythology ends?" Mr. Bill asked, guiding him along. Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment and said, "All I know is that Zeus slept with his aunt, his sisters, his daughters, his nieces, and plenty of mortal women. He was like a walking stud, either bedding women or on his way to bed women—just as lunatic as the Demon Lord." "You truly don't know much about myth. Zeus is the supreme god of Greek mythology; the chief god of Norse mythology is Odin," Mr. Bill corrected him, steering the conversation back on track. "The finale of Norse mythology is Ragnarok. All the gods perished, and the entire pantheon collapsed into complete oblivion. The major organizations hypothesize that this might be why the third region of the Spirit Realm has remained closed, though the specific cause is unclear. "Similar enigmas abound. For instance, the Eastern Sky-Opening mythology is chaotic and fragmented, a patchwork of tales that hardly forms a coherent system, as if the lineage had been severed. Naturally, myths invented in modern novels don't count." Zhang Yuanqing pondered this for a long while before sighing. "A fascinating perspective. It gives me much food for thought. Well then, Mr. Bill, our transaction isn't quite finished yet." In the end, Zhang Yuanqing traded twelve Evil-Breaking Talismans and the bronze cauldron for the Sliding Shovel Shoes. Afterward, he sold another eight Evil-Breaking Talismans to Mr. Bill at four million each, leaving Mr. Bill beaming so broadly that he practically begged Yuanshi Tianzun to stay for dinner. Of the thirty Evil-Breaking Talismans the old crone had left him, only ten remained. Zhang Yuanqing then spent ten million to purchase a large batch of materials for crafting various talismans—talisman materials were far cheaper than those needed for refining corpses or spirits. *** Jinshan City. Ten in the morning, beneath a blazing sun, at a corner milk tea shop. Sitting by a small round table in a courier uniform, Kou Beiyue cursed, "You bastard, you're really not loyal at all. I called you out these past few days and you completely ignored me. Were you afraid I'd make you pay for the drinks?" Across from him sat the baby-faced Human Blood Bun, who chuckled sheepishly. "I had to head over to Songhai to report on my work recently. I only just got back, didn't I?" After receiving Kou Beiyue's call the last time, Human Blood Bun had nearly wet his pants in fright. He had packed his bags overnight and fled back to Songhai, leaving behind an oblivious subordinate to watch over the logistics company. He had contemplated selling out Kou Beiyue's whereabouts—pitting the tiger against the wolf—so that the unaffiliated professions could eliminate that latent hazard. After all, Kou Beiyue was still a wanted fugitive. Yet a week later, his subordinate was still safe and sound, and the logistics company hadn't been raided or shut down. Consequently, the Gu King assigned Human Blood Bun a mission: stay undercover by Kou Beiyue's side. The logic was simple. Kou Beiyue was merely a small fry, but Yuanshi Tianzun and Master Wuhen behind him were figures of extraordinary significance. Still, the mission carried immense risk. If Kou Beiyue had bided his time just to wait for his return, then coming back meant walking straight into a trap. Having sipped his milk tea for ten minutes, Human Blood Bun had spent those ten minutes trembling with fear. *There doesn't seem to be an ambush nearby. What's wrong with Beiyue? Is his operational competence really this pathetic?* Human Blood Bun wondered aimlessly in his heart. "Let me ask you something." Kou Beiyue sipped his milk tea in small mouthfuls. "Go ahead!" Human Blood Bun said. "I've been put on the wanted list lately. You probably know about my connection to Yuanshi Tianzun by now. When Lust Divine General captured me back then, did you sell me out?" Kou Beiyue asked. *Opening with his ultimate move right off the bat?* On the surface, Human Blood Bun appeared calm, but his heart raced, adrenaline surged, and his brain worked in overdrive, weighing how to respond. "The President ordered me to do it," Human Blood Bun answered truthfully. "Xiao Yuan is amazing; she predicted this down to the letter," Kou Beiyue remarked, looking thoroughly impressed. "What do you want to do?" Human Blood Bun asked, his face taut. Reciting the lines Xiao Yuan had coached him on, Kou Beiyue said with a cold expression, "I can let the matter with Lust Divine General slide. However, due to certain circumstances, we've lost our channels of communication with the evil—er, unaffiliated organizations. I'm hoping you can help gather intelligence for us. "Of course, you won't be mistreated when it comes to compensation." "Just that?" Human Blood Bun was stunned. *What else did you expect? Xiao Yuan said you still have utility value...* Kou Beiyue said in a deep voice, "Yuanshi Tianzun insisted on killing you. It was only because I saw you as a brother that I turned the tide and settled things with him on your behalf. And Yuanshi Tianzun rarely dares defy me." Human Blood Bun: "I don't know whether to believe that or not..." As they were speaking, Kou Beiyue's phone chimed with a ding. He unlocked the screen, looked down, and his expression instantly turned bizarre. *Boss, where are you? I want to join you! — Your loyal lackey!* *** Inside a vacant conference room, the curtains were drawn tight, soft lights illuminating a brand-new conference table. *Beep, beep—* On the ceiling, ten high-tech metal sensors blinked with yellow light simultaneously. Moments later, beams of fluorescent blue light descended vertically, coalescing into figures: a handsome young man, a gorgeous and alluring woman, a white-haired elder, an imposing middle-aged man... There was even a non-human entity, such as a curly-haired toy poodle. "We just held a Council of Ten Elders not long ago to discuss whether to sell the Mute Village guide to the Taiyi Sect. Not even a month has passed. Yuanshi Tianzun just came out of the killing trial; he hasn't even entered his first trial in the Saint stage, has he?" A red-haired young man spoke loudly. "It can't be about him again, can it? Besides, how did Elder Zhao get mixed up in this?" The Council of Ten Elders was the highest-level, most prestigious meeting beneath the Five Elements Alliance's Guild Masters' Summit. An elder of the Taiyi Sect had no place here. The elders who had just been summoned and were still unaware of the agenda turned their gazes toward the emaciated elder in black robes, sporting a goatee. Elder Zhao of the Taiyi Sect was among the first batch of Spirit Realm walkers, holding exceptionally high seniority among Taiyi Sect elders. "The word 'mixed' is ill-chosen!" Zhao Chenghuang's great-grandfather said faintly. "However, seeing as you're a Fire Specialist, I shall overlook it." The red-haired youth clicked his tongue. "Sounds like you're itching for a fight!" Elder Zhao couldn't be bothered to entertain him. Turning to Grand Elder Dihong at the head of the conference table, he said, "Elder Dihong, this old man would also like to know why the Five Elements Alliance invited the Taiyi Sect to this meeting. I certainly hope it's not because Yuanshi Tianzun has cleared yet another S-rank trial. If so, Elder Sun wasn't merely muddle-headed—he'd be a sinner of the Taiyi Sect." The elders immediately turned to Dihong. Whenever the Council of Ten Elders was convened, a momentous event had inevitably occurred. They only hoped it wasn't bad news. Something like the Mute Village dungeon guide was undeniably a blessing. Grand Elder Dihong, possessing plain features yet an aura of noble gentleness, spoke in a low tone: "It is indeed related to Yuanshi Tianzun." The expressions of the elders around the table grew peculiar in an instant. *Isn't this kid stirring up a bit too much ruckus?* Elder Dihong's expression grew solemn as he looked toward the third seat on his left, where an impeccably handsome young man in white was seated. "Fu Qingyang, it was you who reported this incident. You explain!"