[Ding! Reincarnator Gengshen 69 detected. The Main God Apostle requests reception. Authorization approved. Access granted!]
The vast, mysterious voice of the Main God Hall rang out. Wu Ming's body stiffened, and a glimmer flashed across the black ring on his hand.
[Ding! A reincarnator carrying a low-grade magical artifact has been detected. Would you like to spend fifty minor merit to enter as one?]
"Yes!"
The instant the thought crossed Wu Ming's mind, he found himself inside the Main God Space. The Black Gold Ring on his left index finger stood out clearly, but his merit had silently dropped by fifty, leaving him with six hundred.
"Main God Hall, can you appraise this item? If so, how much minor merit would it cost?"
Wu Ming removed the Black Gold Ring, held it in his palm, and asked.
[Main God Apostles possess True Sight. Appraisal fees are waived!]
The Main God Hall answered with remarkable briskness. Another beam of light descended, enveloping the Black Gold Ring. In an instant, a line of data appeared before Wu Ming's eyes:
[Item Name: Black Gold Ring] [Materials: Iron Essence, Western Black Gold] [Weight: One liang, four qian] [Grade: Low-grade magical artifact] [Effect: One Gold Blade Spell per day, with a range of one zhang. Automatically recovers. Requires True Qi or mana to activate.] [Description: This ring was forged from iron essence mixed with black gold. A spell was worked into it during the forging process, allowing it to cast one auxiliary spell per day. (Note: After casting the Gold Blade Spell once, it must be replenished with mana or True Qi, or left in the open to be nourished by the essence of the sun and moon. Otherwise, the spell will not reset.)]
"This really is much simpler and more convenient to look at!"
Wu Ming nodded in satisfaction. "Best of all, it feels great not to pay for it..."
After putting on the Black Gold Ring, Wu Ming immediately opened the exchange list and began making targeted purchases.
"Ghost Dispelling Pill: Made primarily from male realgar from Wudu, mixed with cinnabar powder, blended with wax, sealed with a spell-mark, and wrapped in a crimson pouch. Ordinary ghosts will flee at the sight of it! Exchange cost: fifty minor merit. I'll take two!"
A flash of light later, after the merit was deducted, two oddly scented sachets appeared in Wu Ming's hand. Threads of light seemed to shimmer along their cords.
"Hundred-Year Peachwood Sword: Made primarily from the heartwood of a hundred-year-old peach tree, engraved with talismanic spells, and completed through thirteen stages of craftsmanship. It can overcome spirits and ghosts! The Ancient Scripture says: 'The peach tree is the finest of the five woods. In ancient times, it was used to suppress evil energy; it is a divine tree. The essence of peachwood lies at the Ghost Gate, where it subdues a hundred ghosts. Thus, making a peachwood sword to suppress evil is a divine art!' Exchange cost: one hundred minor merit. I'll take it!"
After another selection, a purple-bronze sword, redolent with ancient charm and fragrant to the nose, appeared from thin air. Wu Ming snatched it up.
With the intel in hand, knowing what sort of world he was about to face, Wu Ming hadn't hesitated for a moment.
Both items possessed magical properties but didn't qualify as magical artifacts. In that, they were somewhat like his earlier ring.
Wu Ming then turned to the talisman section and exchanged a stack of low-grade, single-use charms: Vajra Spell Talismans, Demon Subduing, Monster Suppressing, Evil Dispelling, and Baleful Intent Repelling charms.
Finally, gritting his teeth, he bought the supposedly exceptional Trauma Medicine and a Beginner Rejuvenation Talisman that could restore him instantly, spending every last bit of his minor merit.
"The next mission leans toward the supernatural. In a world where gods and ghosts exist, there's no other choice!"
Fully armed and ready to go, Wu Ming turned to the Daoist Arts section and let out a long sigh. "What a shame..."
He still very much wanted to learn Daoist Arts and witchcraft, and become a man of magical power.
After all, never mind their lethality and versatility—even from the simple perspective of longevity, the odds of living longer through the practice of Daoist Arts or witchcraft, or even Gu Art, were a point or two better than with martial arts.
Unfortunately, with the merit he'd originally had, he couldn't even get close to the cultivation methods of the Orthodox Xuan Gate. At most, he could exchange for one or two sinister, vicious little spells, and they'd require him to consume his own blood and vital essence to practice. There was no way to master them quickly! What a rip-off!
Besides, even if he learned Daoist Arts, he'd still have to start with the basics and wouldn't be able to unleash their power. If he wanted to improve his combat strength, spending his merit on single-use items was the safer bet.
Not to mention that Wu Qing was still arranging for him to enter a Dao Academy. He couldn't afford to leave any loose ends.
So this time, Wu Ming had decisively traded all his merit for temporary combat power, ready to make a killing.
He was determined to become the lord of the Main God Hall! How could he get anywhere without striving and fighting?
"If they were other reincarnators, I wonder how much time the Main God Hall would give them to prepare? Hopefully, it won't be like last time, sending them straight into a dungeon without even giving them a moment to return to the Main God Hall?"
Wu Ming speculated with some wicked amusement. Then the vast voice of the Main God Hall sounded by his ear:
[Reincarnation mission beginning. Reincarnators, prepare yourselves!]
In an instant, a dizzying sensation swept over him, and Wu Ming's vision went black.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in another world.
In a secluded mountain valley, lush with clear streams and greenery, a group of people lay sprawled in every direction.
Morning dew coated the green leaves. Thick mountain mist rose all around them, carrying a biting chill.
Wu Ming glanced around and saw several people getting to their feet, looking at one another with wary expressions. His heart tightened. "Veterans?"
"Achoo!"
Lying on the ground on a cold morning was obviously miserable. Before long, several of the newcomers who'd been sprawled there also clambered up, their faces full of alarm.
Who wouldn't look shaken after suddenly being brought to another vast world?
"Still..."
Wu Ming felt himself over and curled his lips into a smile. "Am I really in a soul-body? Why does everything feel so real?"
He glanced around. Huang Ying wasn't there, and he felt a little disappointed. "Looks like we can't always end up together..."
"Everyone, quiet down!"
One of the veterans who'd regained consciousness first stepped forward. He was a tall man with thick brows and large eyes, looking honest and guileless, as though he'd been born to be a loyal, straightforward fellow.
"My name is Tu Yanghao! Like you, I'm from the Great Zhou... For now, I can only tell you that none of this is a joke. This is a wondrous pocket realm created with great magical power and supreme supernatural abilities by some god, Buddha, demon, Six Paths Yama, or even a mighty being who has transcended the world... Think back carefully about what happened, and you'll understand..."
Just as expected, the newcomers were dumbstruck as soon as he began speaking.
For people from ancient times, accepting concepts like the Main God Hall and infinite worlds was asking a lot.
Tu Yanghao clearly didn't expect them to understand right away. He went straight to Wu Ming and the others who'd awakened earlier. They'd put some distance between themselves and everyone else without making a show of it, clearly people with experience.
"I expect you few have already experienced a world, so you should understand what I'm saying..."
Tu Yanghao's expression was sincere. "We all know the Main God Hall's missions are incredibly difficult. If we don't work together, our chances of success are slim..."
"Stop right there!"
Before Tu Yanghao could get any closer, the young swordsman to Wu Ming's right spoke coldly. He wore a bamboo hat and held an ancient sword in his arms, carrying himself like a martial-arts expert who warned everyone to keep their distance.
"What is it? Do you not trust me, brother? The Blood Oath Alliance I belong to is a renowned major faction in the Main God Hall. If you want to join, I could even introduce you..."
Tu Yanghao's expression grew even more earnest. But Wu Ming took another step back, feeling as though a terrifying beast lurked beneath the man's humble, kind exterior.
"Hee-hee... That sort of line only fools gullible newcomers. Anyone who's survived a few missions in the Main God Hall knows how overbearing the Blood Oath Alliance is, and how much they love recruiting newcomers to bleed them dry!"
To Wu Ming's right, an ordinary-looking woman in a cloth skirt and wooden hairpin giggled, seemingly glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
"The Blood Oath Alliance?!"
Wu Ming acted as if he hadn't noticed and asked, "Can people form alliances in the Main God Hall?"
The question exposed him as a newcomer at once. Tu Yanghao's expression grew even more sincere, and he smiled. "You can't do that inside the Main God Hall, of course. But what about in the Great Zhou World?"
"So we're in the Great Zhou?"
Wu Ming was startled, then quickly understood. The Main God Hall forbade reincarnators from revealing its secrets to outsiders, but that restriction naturally didn't apply when speaking with fellow reincarnators.
"That's right. My brothers in the Blood Oath Alliance swore an oath in blood and stand by one another. They're all true, loyal men!"
Tu Yanghao thumped his chest. "If you trust me, we can join forces for this mission! Of course, the Blood Oath Alliance has grown large, and there are some rotten apples among us. It's only natural that people criticize us. But if you don't want to join, we won't force you!"
As he spoke, two other reincarnators stepped behind Tu Yanghao. In an instant, they formed a small group, clearly a force to be reckoned with.
What's more, by openly admitting the alliance had its flaws, he really did come across as sincere.
At least, Wu Ming could see several newcomers wavering, clearly tempted.
"No need... I'm used to being on my own!"
Wu Ming had only just started speaking when he suddenly stopped, his face going blank. Nearly every reincarnator reacted the same way.
The Main God Hall's message had arrived:
[All reincarnators confirmed! World opening!] [Side Quest issued: Arrive!] [Quest Description: This is a world where gods and ghosts, fox demons and spirits coexist. The Three Realms and Six Paths are incomplete, and intersections between them occur with ease. Abnormal events seem to be taking place beneath the Black Mountain Range, in Black Platform County. The county magistrate has posted a proclamation requesting aid. At this very moment, a group of extraordinary people has arrived...] [Quest Requirements: Reach Black Platform County and take up the proclamation. Success will unlock the next quest. Failure will result in the deduction of one thousand minor merit. Those without sufficient merit will be executed!] [Scenario Size: Medium Dungeon!] [Quest Difficulty: Flood!]
"Damn it! It really is a world with gods and spirits!"
Tu Yanghao's expression changed dramatically. He shouted, "Does anyone have charms that can counter ghosts, or have they practiced Daoist Arts or brought any Daoist Artifacts? I'm willing to pay a high price..."
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