"The Covenant of Freedom? The backer behind the Bounty Hunters is actually the Covenant of Freedom?" Information regarding the organization flashed through Zhang Yuanqing's mind, and he drew in a sharp breath. "Bounty hunters are a neutral faction spread across Europe and America, boasting an unimaginable number of registered members. On the surface, the relationship between these hunters and the guild looks like simple cooperation, but through missions, the Hunter Guild can completely manipulate Spirit Realm walkers across the globe.
"As long as the payout is high enough, even members inside Orderly or Evil organizations will chase profits and dance to the guild's tune. No wonder back then, Heaven's Punishment's Chief Prosecutor almost died when the Covenant of Freedom hunted him down. An organization like this is terrifyingly dangerous."
His expression grew increasingly solemn. "President, your goal in having me advance to Gold Hunter is for me to go undercover in the Bounty Hunter Guild, find a way to get close to the upper echelons, and infiltrate the Covenant of Freedom?"
"Clever!" Clad in a pure black suit, the President lightly applauded.
Amidst the clapping, he spoke in a deep, meaningful tone, as if reciting splendid verses of poetry:
"O lost lamb, I shall guide you unto the holy and victorious realm. You are one of the most promising Night Walkers in this world; your future lies across the sea of stars, not nestled in the gentle comforts of Chinatown.
"The war has already begun. Beneath these calm waters churn turbulent undercurrents, predatory sea monsters waiting to devour men, and a maelstrom that swallows all. Follow the great President and march toward victory together. You shall find salvation amidst hymns and applause."
What kind of nonsense is this? He's the least dignified, most unreliable demigod I've ever seen, Zhang Yuanqing grumbled inwardly. At the same time, catching the deeper meaning in the President's words, he asked in a grave voice:
"The war has already begun?"
The President cradled a wine glass in his palm, took a sip of red wine, and said:
"Did you think the war between the Dionysus Club and the Merchant Guild was truly just over petty conflicts of interest? Don't be foolish. The market battle between the two organizations was settled decades ago."
"Then..." Zhang Yuanqing asked humbly, "what is the real reason conflict broke out between them this time?"
"A faction war! A war of the Spirit Realm Administrators!" For once, the President shed his bombast, his tone low and grave.
"The Dionysus Club and the Merchant Guild are merely the vanguard pawns in this war, the opening moves testing each other's waters, the prelude to a catastrophe that will engulf the entire world."
Seeing Zhang Yuanqing frowning in deep thought, utterly lost, the President said:
"Your true combat capability is already comparable to a Dominator, and your status is sufficient. There is much information I can now disclose to you. Organizations of Spirit Realm walkers across the globe are as numerous as cattle hairs, but when boiled down, there are only two factions—Orderly and Evil!
"Which faction do you think the Covenant of Freedom belongs to?"
Zhang Yuanqing's voice deepened. "Evil!"
"Spot on!" The President snapped his fingers. "Spirit Realm walkers all over the world believe that this world belongs to the Orderly faction—that the mighty Heaven's Punishment, the formidable Five Elements Alliance, and the other major Orderly organizations have carved up the world to uphold order, while evil organizations are nothing more than foul rats in the gutter who can at best rule the shadows, utterly incapable of rivaling Orderly."
Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Is that not so?"
"It is not!" The President shook his head, dropping a chilling revelation. "The Orderly and Evil factions have in fact already clashed in a showdown. That took place a century ago."
Zhang Yuanqing blurted out, "The battle that destroyed the Holy See!"
The President nodded slightly.
"The Holy See fell, and the Covenant of Freedom was born. The Orderly faction had already lost in that first faction showdown. The overall strength of the evil classes surpasses that of the Orderly classes. If we cannot reverse this situation before the second faction showdown arrives, the Orderly faction is doomed to defeat."
"So after Heaven's Punishment's higher-ups obtained the intel on Pluto and learned that the backer of the Bounty Hunter Guild was the Covenant of Freedom, they chose to support the Merchant Guild?" Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood, but then his brows knitted again. "Since the Evil faction was the victor a hundred years ago, why didn't the Covenant of Freedom preserve the fruits of victory instead of going into hiding? Even if they could still develop their forces in secret, it ultimately couldn't compare to the major Orderly organizations that command official resources."
The President explained:
"Because the time was not ripe. The nature of evil classes destined them never to dominate the world on center stage. All living things turn toward the sun; that is the law of nature. If the Covenant of Freedom had truly taken control of the world, then over the past century, they would have faced relentless resistance from the populace and Orderly classes, weakening themselves time and time again. So they retreated into the shadows, developing secretly while quietly directing the course of the world."
Zhang Yuanqing had his guesses, but asked anyway:
"What kind of opportunity are they waiting for?"
Sure enough, the President replied:
"Waiting for the Sun, Moon, and Stars to return to their places! This 'game' known as the Spirit Realm does not yet have an Administrator. For the past century or more, it has operated according to a fixed program, completely beyond anyone's control.
"The pinnacle of the Night Walker class is supreme Administrator authority. Regardless of which side seizes supreme authority, it will deal a devastating blow to the other. Therefore, the trigger point of the second faction confrontation is the moment the Sun, Moon, and Stars align.
"Now do you understand why fallen Night Walkers had to die? Do you understand why the Soldier Master sect backed Ling Tuo?"
Zhang Yuanqing had an epiphany.
"So back then, the Covenant of Freedom revealed the Compass of Light and orchestrated that global clash of demigods just to force the process forward—to make all high-tier Spirit Realm walkers aware of the Night Walker's unique nature and foster an Administrator of supreme authority."
The President nodded. "Now, the Lord of the Stars and the Lord of Taiyin have both assumed their places. As long as the Lord of the Sun emerges, the war will break out. And the arrival of the Lord of the Sun is not far off."
He stared at Zhang Yuanqing, deep meaning lurking in the eyes beneath his mask.
I feel like I'm bearing pressure way beyond my years, Zhang Yuanqing chuckled self-deprecatingly.
The President continued:
"Of course, there are personal reasons why the Merchant Guild became a vanguard pawn in this war. First, I snatched the Illusion God item, monopolizing a demigod slot meant for the Evil faction. Furthermore, I am the only person alive capable of using the authority of the 'Myriad Realms Mall.' In the eyes of the Evil faction, there is no Orderly class practitioner in this world more repulsive or troublesome than me—well, the Lord of the Stars is tied with me on that front.
"And then, the Evil faction suspects that the core fragment of the Compass of Light is in my possession. They want to reclaim the fragment to produce a Lord of the Sun."
It seems that no matter where you go or what group you're in, pay-to-win players are universally despised... And the core fragment of the compass is the key to becoming the Lord of the Sun? What an info dump!
Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts stirred. "So the reason you've been hiding out in the Second District and refusing to return to the Merchant Guild is because you were forced into a corner, afraid that the Covenant of Freedom would send you back to the Spirit Realm?"
The President scoffed. "I can enter the Spirit Realm anytime I want!"
Holding his wine glass and leaning against the desk, he said in a low voice:
"The Covenant of Freedom is different from the Evil faction; it is composed of both evil and Orderly classes. Back then, they were able to overthrow the Holy See because grassroots organizations of all sizes and rogue cultivators joined forces—the whole world rose up against it.
"Of the Orderly classes who overthrew the Holy See, most simply couldn't stand its tyranny, while a small minority were fallen practitioners. Those fallen individuals integrated into the various major Orderly organizations, lying low and biding their time. Many of them hold high ranks and immense power today.
"I don't trust the Merchant Guild. There are definitely members of the Covenant of Freedom among them, so naturally, I cannot return."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
"So you formed the Relief Society—those are your true confidants. Tsk tsk, worthy of a demigod, managing to get someone as obstinate and self-opinionated as Chen Shu to work for you."
The President clicked his tongue twice as well.
"I detect some resentment in your voice.
"I promised Chen Shu that in the future, I would find a way to revive Zhang Zizhen. In addition, I promised to support you in becoming the Lord of the Sun. She trusts me, which is why she pours her heart and soul into helping me."
Support me in becoming the Lord of the Sun... Zhang Yuanqing fell silent for a moment, the resentment in his heart dissipating by half. He asked:
"Mr. President, becoming a Gold Hunter will allow me to come into contact with the Covenant of Freedom?"
The President nodded. "One of the tasks of the Hunter Guild is to scout talented evil class practitioners and Orderly class practitioners prone to corruption, supplying fresh blood to the Covenant of Freedom. So as long as you display enough potential and become a Gold Hunter in a short amount of time, they will come to evaluate you.
"Don't worry, I have already had Fu Qingyang forge a false identity for you. With his current status and power, he is more than capable of creating a person out of thin air. I will send you your identity and background info later.
"The Covenant of Freedom planted spies in Orderly organizations, so naturally we can do the same. This is a game of Werewolf among Spirit Realm walkers.
"Sigh, this move was originally pending. I would much rather invest in an outstanding Night Walker and support him in becoming the Lord of the Sun, reducing the evil hiding in the shadows to ashes in the most domineering and fierce manner possible.
"However, Past Without Trace had a disagreement with me. He knew that if he attempted to advance to demigod, it would be certain death. Yet the impact of a Level 9 Peak Dominator is ultimately limited. When the true catastrophe arrives, a Peak Dominator might be decent combat strength, but can never be the deciding factor.
"So he chose to sacrifice himself to forcibly seize the Illusion God item."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood. "The ever-shifting abilities of an Illusionist make it the class best suited for espionage."
The President nodded gently.
"Yuanshi, you are the only one who can infiltrate the Covenant of Freedom, because you possess Past Without Trace's relic. Well, having the Illusion God item alone isn't enough; when necessary, you must know how to make proper use of the Perfect Human Skin."
So I'm an intelligence operative in a grand war... Zhang Yuanqing found his exact positioning. The corner of his mouth twitched immediately.
"You've been laying this groundwork since long ago? You gave me the Perfect Human Skin just waiting for this day?"
The President chuckled. "I told you, this move was pending, but one must place the chess pieces in advance."
When I become a demigod in the future, I'll be a chess player too and play you bastards to death... Zhang Yuanqing asked without joy or sorrow, "I'll advance to Gold Hunter as soon as possible. But what if the Hunter Guild assigns me a mission to assassinate higher-ups in Heaven's Punishment or the Merchant Guild?"
The President gazed at him. "That is a choice between the bigger picture and personal feelings. You shouldn't ask me; you must ask your own heart."
To put it plainly: decide for yourself, take the heat yourself... Zhang Yuanqing's lips twitched. His gaze fell upon the wine glass in the President's hand, and he asked:
"The landlord is of the Void class—is he one of your men?"
Chapter 662