Chapter 106: Miscellaneous Matters of Fate

The time spent at home by the salted fish always passes quickly.

Tang Luo first participated in the "Approaching Science" gathering, which was held not in Yanjing this time.

But in Hudu, and interestingly, the venue was not even a base of "Approaching Science," but rather provided by a wealthy local tycoon who is a god-demon wanderer in the real world.

Unfortunately, I did not attend this time, leaving many who wanted to cling to a powerful figure disappointed.

This person is not only a tycoon but also a big shot, with unfathomable strength and extremely domineering; some speculate he should be a fourth-rank god-demon wanderer capable of directly piercing the battlefield.

Belonging to the "upper echelons" of "Approaching Science," even top-tier individuals.

Tang Luo also met Zhou Zhenguo and Chu Chongtian.

Zhou Zhenguo has not changed much, still looking the same; after the last mission, he underwent another mission, successfully completed it, and continues to probe at the edge of disappearance.

Chu Chongtian, on the other hand, has matured greatly; in these three months, he has undergone two missions, one fewer than Tang Luo.

One mission completed, one mission failed; out of the first three missions, he completed two, already qualifying as mid-to-high level.

Tang Luo, as usual, handed out two business cards; both said they would definitely come find the master if needed.

After chatting, Tang Luo wandered around but found no desired healing item.

Instead, the Heavenly Howling Dog squatting on his shoulder successfully attracted much attention, with some god-demon wanderers unable to resist inquiring.

Upon receiving the answer "brought back from the mission world," they were instantly "astonished to the point of heavenly awe."

Besides props and equipment, now even pets can be carried? Although just a cat, this is a small step for cats, but a giant leap for god-demon wanderers, a major breakthrough!

"I haven't even decided yet whether to keep it secret for a while, and you already blurted it out." After the passerby exclaimed in amazement and slowly dispersed, Qin Menglan walked over and said.

"It's just an advertisement." Tang Luo laughed, "Look, doesn't everyone now know I am Tang Xuanzang?"

"Yes, yes." Qin Menglan said, then furrowed her brows and said, "Aren't you worried about encountering danger by being so high-profile?"

"I am danger." Tang Luo's voice dropped, and suddenly he became handsome.

Qin Menglan was speechless for a moment; if she hadn't been in contact with Tang Luo often, she would really have been fooled by his current appearance.

"As long as you know it in your heart." Qin Menglan said.

The gathering continued smoothly without incident.

After displaying the existence of the Heavenly Howling Dog, no one, like Yao Jingwu, eyed him with envy wanting a life-or-death duel with Tang Luo.

On the contrary, many changed their address from "master" to "grand master," showing increased respect.

This disappointed Tang Luo somewhat; he didn't want these, you should be sending faces to his door, sending some good stuff!

Even if there's nothing good, at least let him do an advertisement.

The previous advertisement effect has already faded; these people's current respect is merely superficial, anyway calling him "grand master" costs nothing.

Moreover, what era is this now? The term "grand master" is about to be ruined; orally calling him "grand master," one probably thinks of "great damp" in their heart.

What Tang Luo wants is genuine respect, the kind that makes one think of him immediately when something happens.

These days, starting a business is truly difficult.

On the entrepreneurial path, the struggling Master Xuanzang, after ending the gathering and returning home on the third day, welcomed — not a guest, but Kongming from the Martial Arts Legends.

He brought Tang Luo a token of the Martial Arts Legends members, plus a small red fruit.

Kongming said this is called "Blood Bodhi," named after the Blood Bodhi in "Fengyun"; although not the real Blood Bodhi, its effect is decent, considered compensation for the lost joy of Tang Luo.

As for the token, according to Tang Luo's request, no black clothes, masks, or hiding head while showing tail; it is a string of beads worn on the wrist — prayer beads.

"This can be carried in and out of the mission world." Kongming said.

"Does this count as equipment?" Tang Luo asked, "What function does it have?"

Being able to be carried in and out of the mission world, with information, counts as equipment; without information, it counts as a prop.

If one insists, clothing and such also count as props, merely having no special function — Tang Luo's wearing of the "God-Demon Suit" is an exception, as it is his own consecration.

"Actually, it has no function, just a token." Kongming pointed to the four connected prayer beads and said, "On it are the four characters 'Martial Arts Legends'."

Tang Luo looked closely; indeed, the four characters are faintly visible, still in ancient script.

"Who can see this clearly?" Tang Luo complained.

"It will have some reaction with our clothes and masks." Kongming said, taking out the mask Tang Luo had seen.

One can see that the "Martial Arts Legends" on the prayer beads flashes with faint light, and so does the mask — of course, the mask has no characters.

It is a kind of anti-counterfeit mark, also a way for members to mutually verify identity.

Black clothes, like the prayer beads, have characters on the hem.

"Is this thing made by you yourselves?" Tang Luo asked.

"Yes." Kongming nodded, "Don't really treat the God-Demon Game as a rigid game."

"I know."

"If you encounter a member, also don't think you can completely relax." Kongming reminded, "Most members are friendly, but occasionally some situations arise, such as Thirteen, Shi Zhixuan, who are not what we want."

"After discovering his abnormality, we also want to handle it at the first opportunity; Approaching Science will be faster."

"Understood." Tang Luo said.

Kongming's words also count as heartfelt sincerity.

"Are you really sure you don't want to disguise your identity a bit?" Kongming asked, "The mask has a certain illusion effect; even if removed, it will remain another face for a certain time."

"No need, by the way, I already told Qin Menglan I joined the Martial Arts Legends." Tang Luo said.

"... You're happy, that's good." Kongming squeezed out an unhappy smile, kid, how come you don't know to keep a low profile?

The two then discussed fate-related matters further.

For example, some skills happen to match the fate, producing changes and making them easier to upgrade, reaching level three or above, achieving the level of thorough integration.

Also, there is the origin of fate.

Part comes from direct rewards after mission completion, another part from the mission world.

Interestingly, fate fragments from the mission world are not necessarily aligned with the mission world.

It's not said that only task worlds related to the Three Kingdoms can obtain Zhuge Liang's fate fragments.

And after becoming a fate holder, the rewards for completing tasks will also shift from random to being inclined toward fate-related.

In short, fate holders in the Stride of Gods and Demons are like favored sons.

Let Tang Luo ponder whether he should get a fate and play as a fate holder? Speaking of which, the three fate fragments he obtained were all eaten by him directly as snacks.

Moreover, once fate fragments are fused and held, it becomes impossible to fuse with other "heterogeneous fate fragments."

If Tang Luo is willing, upon obtaining new fate fragments, he can go to the Wulin Mythology exchange.

Wulin Mythology, like Walk Near Science, holds a "mutual trade gathering" every so often.

At that time, one can see all kinds of fantasy figures, which must be very interesting.

"Isn't this just an X exhibition?" After hearing Kongming's introduction, Tang Luo said.

"……Hehehe." Kongming gave a dry laugh three times; clearly, Wulin Mythology is quite impressive, but why does it become a chuunibyo organization in this guy's mouth?

"Speaking of organizations, does Wulin Mythology have opposing organizations, destined rivals, and such?" Tang Luo asked.

"Yes." Kongming nodded.

"Really?" Tang Luo just asked casually.

Kongming said: "There is our organization formed by fate holders inclined toward the East, and naturally there is one inclined toward the West, the Alliance of Gods."

"East-West fantasy war?" Tang Luo said.

Recalling the fate holder and Nero's fate he encountered in his last mission, which should count as Western? Though Capcom (the Devil May Cry publisher) isn't from Sakurajima, is it?

"The boundaries aren't that clear; ultimately, it's a struggle of interests." Kongming corrected.

On the surface it can be considered an East-West war, but the division isn't that clear either; in the end, it's still a struggle of interests.

It's not said that in Wulin Mythology, all fate holders are entirely inclined toward Eastern traditional culture fantasy figures.

The same goes for the Alliance of Gods.

Regarding the Alliance of Gods, Kongming didn't elaborate much, only mentioning some of its extremely dangerous powerhouses.

What Thunder God fate holders, War God Ares fate holders, etc. —if encountered in a mission world or the real world, one should flee immediately.

These people represent the top tier in the Stride of Gods and Demons, and only peers of the same level can contend with them.

The top-tier powerhouses of these levels mentioned by Kongming have been categorized into the "Fifth Order Stride of Gods and Demons."

Fourth Order Stride of Gods and Demons are powerhouses capable of piercing through modern conventional battlefields; then Fifth Order are those capable of plunging a nation into chaos, even shaking or overturning regimes—"one man against a nation" level powerhouses.

Of course, nations vary in size. The "nation" referred to here means one with sufficient armed forces, stable and strong.

"Speaking of powerhouses, will the upper limit of fate holders be fixed?" Tang Luo asked.

This is a question many fate holders care about.

After becoming a fate holder, will it mean the holder's power upper limit equals that of the fate's original owner?

One must know, the original owner's power itself has disparities.

Comparing character combat power across works is one of the essential activities of online noodle-slurping.

The author fighting it out is fundamentally insufficient to quell the "power dispute faction," unless one day the author really fights.

Even if adjusted for plot needs, a one-hit star-bursting Saiyan and Killer Bald 47 necessarily have a huge gap; it's impossible for code 47 to one-shot Kakarot·Son Goku.

Wait——maybe it's not impossible?

If becoming a fate holder means the power upper limit can no longer break through the fate's original owner, then the favored son becomes a dry son.

"No, fate fragments are seeds of power." Kongming said, "Whether they can finally grow into towering trees still depends on the holder themselves."

"But——" he paused, then continued, "Wanting to reach the original owner's limit and then surpass it is also not that easy."

"Having good fate fragments still requires overcoming many."

In Wulin Mythology, there are "Wulin Department" fate holders and also "Mythology Department" fate holders.

To say the Mythology Department is entirely stronger than the Wulin Department is impossible.

But to say there is no power difference between the two overall is also against conscience.