Chapter 465

At dusk, as night fell, everyone ate their vegetarian meal, cleared the dishes, and planned to set out for Liangjie Mountain the next morning, then head straight for Shepan Mountain.

Whether or not there were demons and monsters, Tang Seng's presence fulfilled the condition, like checking in on a checklist.

Su Lin used fengshui techniques to locate a hidden underground spring, then used magic to create a hot spring in the desolate wilderness; amid everyone's confused stares, he scattered in some inexplicable items, making the water brim with spiritual aura.

Instantly, bright light shimmered, and mist curled in swirling clouds.

"Hey, Monk, what are you doing?" Lu Mingfei had wanted to call him "baldy," but feared Su Lin would use it as an excuse to settle old scores, so he chose a more refined term.

"Didn't Taibai Jinxing say something about that before…" Su Lin stuck a wooden tablet into the muddy ground, inscribed with "Do Not Disturb."

"What do you mean, 'that thing'?" Shi Hao sniffed the air; the scent from the hot spring smelled fragrant.

"That thing—according to the trials of Journey to the West, the scripture-seeker gains merit and fortune, those elusive things." Su Lin tore open a rift to another dimension, waved his hand to shoo everyone away, and signaled them to keep their distance:

"I want to test whether my fortune has increased."

He had previously participated in organizing the hand-pulled tractor race; White Zunzhe seemed quite satisfied with the event. As the saying goes, divine energy can save the desperate, and krypton can alter fate—this was a perfect chance to try.

As the saying goes, small bets bring joy, big bets harm the body; as the era's protagonist of this world, the scripture-seeker surely enjoys heavenly protection.

"Especially you, get the hell away," Su Lin said to Miss Kelaien: "Big bro, I'm scared of you."

Miss Kelaien sighed helplessly; he had no idea when, if ever, he'd ever be able to correct Su Lin's superstitious thinking.

Though none understood how Su Lin intended to test his fortune, everyone followed his wishes and moved to another nearby hot spring, hastily building a few huts to begin their own cultivation.

Except for Lu Mingfei, there had been no internet for days; he was already showing signs of withdrawal.

"Can I go home and come back?" Lu Mingfei muttered to himself; here, he couldn't even video-call Hui Liyi: "Red beans grow in the southern land…"

And he wasn't like these single dogs—he'd been in love, had experienced the heat of romance, and only someone who'd known that could understand him; there was no StarCraft to distract him—it was pure torture.

Miss Kelaien ignored Lu Mingfei, made a wish to himself, and obtained an LCD TV, a gaming console, a bag of chips, and a can of cola.

He walked up to Lu Mingfei and tossed him a rune stone: "Learn this."

"Charging Technique," Lu Mingfei opened his mouth to curse, then stopped—he saw the other man had prepared two computers.

Fine, who was he to refuse? After all, Lu Mingfei was the kind of guy who loved helping others and had noble character—helping a roadside ancient demon god charge his power bank wasn't out of the question.

Now, aside from Su Lin, who was soaking in the hot spring and conducting some mad cult ritual, everyone had their own business.

The two new Reincarnators were diligently cultivating; Meng Qi and Shi Hao—oh, Li Shixiong and Second Li Shixiong—were analyzing the abilities of other Reincarnators based on Taibai Jinxing's information; unfortunately, the Lingshan group remained mysterious and had left few traces in this world.

According to Meng Qi, completing the scripture-seeking task in the Reincarnation Space did not conflict with saving this world; under the condition of preserving themselves, they should try to bring a glimmer of hope to this world.

After all, the Reincarnation Space only required them to complete the western journey—afterward, who received the fortune and merit was entirely up to them.

If so, they could claim the Reincarnation Space's reward, then freely take whatever Taibai Jinxing suggested, and legitimately turn the Three Realms and Six Paths of this world upside down.

For the first time, Lu Mingfei understood why Su Lin had kept switching back and forth between Old Lu and Lu Mingze—there was no other reason: it was simply exhilarating to have it both ways!

Of course

Provided you don't get killed.

"What's so fun about this game?" Lu Mingfei stared at the screen at Palu and asked: "Won't this get sued by the strongest legal department in the Eastern Hemisphere?"

"It lets me experience the joy of exploiting others, while I'm being exploited by them," Miss Kelaien said, expressionless.

As Mr. Fool of the Tarot Society, the Great Ruler above the Gray Mist, the Red-Black King who governs fortune, he heard his boss's endless complaints about performance and suggestions to become a joke every week.

This nostalgic feeling from the ancient era made him feel that though the past was gone, at least some things tied to "work" still walked beside him.

Tears welled up.

"Ah Ke, you're playing video games again?" Su Lin walked into the newly built villa, saw Miss Kelaien and Lu Mingfei, and asked: "Where's Meng Qi?"

"At the end of the hallway, turn right," Miss Kelaien said.

"Oh." Su Lin nodded, raised his foot to leave, then lowered it again.

He took a holy cake from his system space and placed it in the living room, then exchanged for several packs of exotic-world snacks and laid them on the floor.

"Don't play games all the time—when you're tired, have some snacks and drinks with Mingfei and rest," Su Lin said cheerfully, then walked down the hallway.

The fan stopped spinning; the screen went black with a snap—Lu Mingfei's brain overloaded, and his mana crystal locked up.

Miss Kelaien stared wide-eyed at the spot where Su Lin's back had vanished, glanced at the pile of overly sweet food on the floor, and unconsciously began divining the likelihood of himself being killed today.

Snap—!

Lu Mingfei slapped himself: "I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Why was the real Su Lin so unnervingly kind and gentle?

Su Lin naturally knew nothing of others' private thoughts; in high spirits, he planned to find Li Huowang later for a little wine and some peanuts—the historical projection version.

【The Mad Disco of Le Zun】: A portable miniature world dance hall.

Effect One: Any music placed inside transforms into divine melodies, granting varied buffs; equipped with ten basic immortal musical compositions, capable of dancing while cultivating, singing to amplify power, fiery tunes to ignite blood, sorrowful tunes to inspire enlightenment, and more.

Effect Two: Consumes musical rhythm to forcibly compel dance. (An artificial law created by a deranged madman, capable of integrating numerous compatible multiversal law models.)

(Here, a God of Law and a God of Battle dance together; dragons roar, elves draw bows, behemoths swallow mountains; a legendary musician studied the Five Tones and Six Laws, poured his heart and soul into pursuing the ultimate essence of music, yet was struck by lightning on a stormy night and transported to the continent of Levi, a genius who cultivated through music, resonating with the world's spiritual energy to forge his immortal symphony! — "You know? Good music must appeal to both refined and vulgar tastes—hey, feed the dog~")

Probably a byproduct of Le Zun going mad, but the effects were undeniably excellent—cost 100,000 points.

【Invincible War Dragon】: A supreme weapon, the Sacred Dragon Armor, forged from dragon soul, dragon shell, combined with dragon qi flowing through the body, dragon heart activated, and dragon brain restored—solving the problem of difficult material sourcing.

Because he had shattered it too many times before, even if he no longer relied on the Invincible War Dragon, someone still felt deep regret. (Dao reigns over all, transforming all things; Buddha's compassion illuminates the world, saving all beings; Confucian radiance endures through ages, passing the torch; the Three Teachings united, the heavens and earth move as one.)

Invested 10,000 Mr. points.

Overall, the trial pull's effect was simply too good.

"Black Dragon Horse~ hooves facing west, carrying this monk, following three disciples~~~"

Bamboo groves stood tall, dense and hidden; Crow led two A-rank Reincarnation teams through a thread of lethal intent, arriving at the outskirts of Liangjie Mountain at breakneck speed.

"We're safe now," Crow said through telepathy: "What's gotten into these heavenly gods of the Celestial Court?"

"Are you ready to act?" Wei Wu's voice echoed.

"Soon—I'll first probe their strength, then negotiate a price acceptable to both sides based on their power level," Crow stated his plan: "If they're foolish, or replaced by the Fate Devourer, then there's no need to talk further."

Crow arranged the two different Reincarnation teams, then said: "Old Wei, how's the Captain progressing?"

"I don't know." Wei Wu's voice was heavy; he spoke faster:

"Hurry up with the Journeyer matter. Lingshan will likely be sealed for several days—don't come back during this time. If you have time, go with Lu Sitela to the South Sea and check on Mu Yan's condition."

Ya sensed something off in Wei Wu's tone: "What's happening at Lingshan?"

There was a pause on the other end, then a faint voice drifted through: "Kain has returned."

Upon hearing those words, Ya froze in place; in that fleeting instant, distant memories flooded his mind.

It was when he was still weak, before entering the Reincarnation Space, when countless urban legends began manifesting across the human world.

They couldn't be killed by weapons, and there was no way to stop them.

He had encountered something similar once—a remote town where rumors spoke of people long dead suddenly returning.

Windows shattered, sweltering summer heat, a room filled with potted green vines; survivors who had struggled through the night rose one by one, gazing at the lavish meal on the table and sighing at the beauty of life.

Midway through eating, a girl mentioned the man who had stayed behind the night before to cover their retreat and been chased by the legend. When all fell silent, a familiar voice spoke from the seat beside him: 【What's wrong? Is the food not to your taste?】

Decay, pallor, stench—his name must not be spoken, or he would return, becoming a whispered legend.

How long had it been since this eerie, horrifying feeling last appeared?

He swallowed hard and forced a laugh: "That's quite interesting. You can handle it, old man?"

"I can, but you must not awaken him," Wei Wu affirmed. "Otherwise, Lingshan will descend into chaos."

"I'll act quickly on my end—can't we just eliminate this Reincarnator team outright?" Ya asked, yet immediately negated the thought within himself.

They had waited too long. If this world collapsed due to the Abyss's nature, the mission completion rate wouldn't cover the upfront investment costs. Time was running out; the next batch of Journeyers might not achieve this level.

This team might be like Bai Mingsheng—maintaining A-rank strength yet possessing numerous powerful artifacts.

In all Reincarnation Space instances, default paranormal instance difficulty is higher than equivalent-level instances, and this team's death rate ranks among the highest on the instance leaderboard.

Too bizarre—what kind of instance artifact could achieve this, rendering the Age Chronicle powerless to observe?

"Canglang, Wuyou—deploy the Fate Eater. Use the Six Thieves I gave you as offerings," Ya sent a message to the hidden Huayu squad.

Canglang glanced at the white-robed woman beside him; after a moment's hesitation, she picked up a medieval-style silver coin bearing a human head and shoved it into the mouth of a bound common man.

"Your lives are bad," the six thieves spoke in unison, staring at Canglang and Wuyou: "Yours seem rather good?"

Canglang's spine prickled; every hair on his body stood on end.

"You already know this trial of the Journey," Wuyou said, standing beneath an invisible barrier: "The Journeyers' lives are even better."

"We'll judge only after seeing," the six thieves spoke together, their mouths twisting with an invisible, transparent substance writhing outward:

"But little beauty, according to our contract, you must give me at least one person with decent fortune before I return."

Wuyou frowned—this way of speaking had become the thieves' habit.

【Fate Eater: Originating instance unknown. A summoning-type artifact.

As its name implies, the summoned Fate Eater selects a target, binds itself to the living being through unknown means, travels from the present to the past, then influences the present from the past, completely replacing the target and inheriting their future life.

Preference: Male, chosen ones, those with boundless fortune.】

Wuyou spoke clearly: "That's a matter for later."

She began to notice the six thieves' gazes sweeping over her, thick with lust and greedy desire.

This disgusting thing felt more human than legendary.

"Let's go," it chuckled extravagantly; the twisted space gradually formed a humanoid shape with limbs and a head: "You Reincarnators always bring me surprises."

Not devouring that Reincarnator in my own universe was indeed the best choice.

Even if I devoured them, they couldn't pass the Reincarnation Space's certification—better to cooperate, sealing this avatar as a silver coin.

Other worlds hold more "protagonists." Replace their identities, enjoy their beauties, lovers, masters, disciples—play with their lives, trample, ravage, devour their destinies.

Yes, just like before—until all fate, all fortune, belonged to me.

It reached for Wuyou, but she dodged: "Little beauty, is that the Tang Seng you mentioned? So handsome—excellent."

It turned to the others in the Journeyer team, finding their appearances aligned perfectly with its standards—using their bodies would be far more pleasurable.

(End of Chapter)