The Opponents

After checking and confirming that Amao had indeed Foundation Establishment Perfection and was in good health, Li Fan no longer worried about the Golden Scale Palace's subsequent operations.

That's right, this nine-round battle isn't over yet. There's more to come. According to Old Man Huan, the next steps will include an essential oil spa, full-body massage, ginseng chicken soup, and a whole host of medicinal diets and baths, all in a way that's like an emperor's treatment.

In short, Madam Chi Lin will personally lead the ministers to take turns serving and helping Amao recuperate and replenish his energy. Once he has recovered his strength, they will choose a day to fight again. This process will be repeated for eighty-one days. Not only will it stabilize his realm, but it will also cleanse his tendons and marrow, improve his aptitude and constitution, and even have the miraculous effects of beautifying his appearance and maintaining his health.

But that's not all. After that, Madam Chi Lin will personally teach her adopted son the secret techniques of physical combat. How long it will take to master the whole set depends on the boy's aptitude for these skills. However, given Amao's innate talent as the Blissful Child Golden Body, he'll probably learn these things on his own, or with a master, it won't be a problem at all.

In short, the legitimate sons of noble families and powerful clans within the Immortal Palace lineage, such as those from the Nangong clan, mostly cultivate in this way. They are completely nourished by the essence of various furnace resources, and after mastering the technique, their stats are comparable to those of ordinary cultivators in the Xuanmen sect. They are only slightly inferior to the top Nine Great Xuan Sects, and are far stronger than the servants of immortal soldiers and generals.

With the Huan family's resources, providing Amao with a Foundation Establishment package wouldn't be a problem. If he wanted to enjoy such benefits after reaching the Golden Core, he'd probably have to marry into Nascent Soul Stage Huan family. Even with the Huan family's resources, considering Old Man Huan is already showing Five Declines of Heaven and Man, it's likely that while the Yin-Yang Dao is powerful, this cultivation method would only allow him to reach the Nascent Divine Transformation stage at most with resources; breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm, what more could he ask for?

Sigh, maybe that's just how the world is. Some people play Dark Souls, some play Dark Orcs. Everyone has their own destiny... I'm so envious...

Unfortunately, Li Fan wasn't the protagonist he was meant to be; he was destined to be a lowly laborer. While Amao was being taken away for some "fun and cultivation," Li Fan and Old Man Huan strolled around the Golden Scale Palace, choosing a secluded courtyard with decent spiritual energy as their lodging.

Then, Li Fan stealthily went into the private room, moved the Divine Cult's equipment there, and wiped the tables, floors, and bathtub to remove the bloodstains. He cleaned up his mess without anyone noticing. Seeing that it was getting late, he flew away from Jinlin Isle on his flying sword, found an uninhabited reef, casually blasted open a layer of rock to create a flat area, and set up an illusion barrier and the Revered Heavenly Demon Array to Moon Worship.

Thankfully, the system didn't stand him up; they agreed to chat, but this time it wasn't the teahouse.

This was a starry sky unlike any he had ever seen before. Aurora-like radiation bathed everything in pink light. Li Fan found himself standing on the surface of a streamlined, elongated cone. Through the mirror-like metal shell, he could clearly see the dazzling stars overhead and his reflection.

It was a black doll, like a human form made of charcoal, with smoke and dust gathering and dispersing, just like the avatar of the Thousand-Faced Immortal he had seen before.

Li Fan tried to use his blindness to sense the thing beneath his feet, but he couldn't penetrate its outer shell, nor could he even perceive its size or shape. It was as if his Divine Sense had slipped through the smooth mirror surface, completely unable to perceive its existence.

This is...

"It's Sentinel. Our reconnaissance ship, the closest one to you."

The system's voice rang in Li Fan's mind, but there was no one Fourth Department.

"Stop looking. That tea room is a virtual image, like an illusion. Didn't you want to have an open and honest conversation? Let's not do anything like that."

Li Fan noticed that his mood was gradually declining, and he deduced that he was standing on the outer shell of that Sentinel in some special form, exposed to the vacuum of space, without receiving any replenishment from the evil energy.

Didn't you say you should only speak about it after you've attained enlightenment?

"That was a secrecy measure in place before you were chosen by the Thousand-Faced Immortal. Of course, some secrets can only be revealed after you achieve enlightenment."

"But now that you've directly contacted the Apostles and have the Thousand-Faced Immortal taking the blame, since the deviation value is already off the charts, it doesn't matter if I reveal some information to you, such as information about our opponents."

"As you might have guessed, we live in a multiverse, a parallel world setting. This mental health system originates from the technology of human civilization on the technological side, specifically from parallel Earth 0. From the perspective of the known multiverse, Earth 0 is the pinnacle of technology."

"Our adversary is also Earth 0's system, but strictly speaking, it's not two systems, but two groups composed of many systems."

Holy crap?

"The forces behind the Immortal Palace are what we call 'the company,' because Earth 0 is a pure company, and the system is also a corporate auxiliary management system. Yes, you can think of the system as artificial intelligence assistance, a supercomputer."

In reality, the world you live in is one of the latest parallel universes to be discovered, and according to Earth 0's laws, it belongs to the company that first discovered it.

There are many similar dimensional assets under that company, as well as quite a few parallel universe development companies of similar size. These are all forces from Earth 0. However, because their systems all have the basic business capability to reverse-search and analyze potential customer intelligence as soon as their names are mentioned, we refer to them all as 'the company'. Do you understand?

Holy crap, I totally get it now...

"The system behind the cult, which we call the 'Legion,' is not a single force, but a collection of many forces. They are the losers of the previous generation's wars, ghosts left over from the old century, marginalized people, scavengers, and criminals. Many of the military support systems they use are developed and restored from the ruins of the battlefields of the previous generation. Some of their military technologies are indeed not possessed by ordinary companies. However, since the end of the war, these systems have not been updated for a long time, and their funding, technology, and equipment are generally inferior to those of companies."

Therefore, after these forces' apostles arrived in the New World, they united to form a new 'legion,' scavenging for gold while also concentrating their efforts to fight against the 'company's' employees.

Then why don't you join the 'Legion'?

"The 'Company' is the beneficiary of the war's victory, while the 'Legion' is the defeated remnant of the war's defeat. They are the opposing sides in the ancient war, while we are a newly rising force with little connection to those veterans. We are like the fishermen who benefit from the conflict between the snipe and the clam."

"And strictly speaking, we're also on the 'company' side. We've already obtained official status on Earth 0 and registered a 'shell company' that specializes in providing mental health counseling services. You're just a temporary worker we hired."

Damn, it really is a mental health system after all this time, and I've been stuck in this job for ages and I'm still just a temporary employee...

"So hurry up and get yourself a permanent position. Otherwise, you won't be protected by labor laws."

"Yes, the competition among 'companies' is fierce. Don't think we're really on their side. Besides, the 'Legion' actually receives some behind-the-scenes support from 'companies,' doing their dirty work and eliminating competitors, so don't trust either side too easily."

Li Fan was momentarily confused. Wait, legions, mercenaries, companies... and what exactly are those Thousand-Faced Immortal?

"You can think of it as natives, no, 'virus'. Actually, Earth 0 is probably encountering these things for the first time, and they're currently analyzing their details, which is why we arranged for you to come here to find an opportunity."

"This new Earth, the Taiji Realm, is a newly discovered dimension. Due to the existence of an 'unknown virus,' its rating is currently fluctuating between 'non-performing assets' and 'high-quality assets.'"

What's the difference?

"If the 'company' determines that you are a 'high-quality asset,' they will prepare for large-scale development. There will be strict information screening when you enter the market to eliminate any spies who have infiltrated. At that time, it will be very difficult for us to contact you or provide support such as lottery props."

"If the 'company' determines that it is a 'non-performing asset,' it will probably look for another company to sell it. If it cannot be sold, it will be disposed of in accordance with environmental laws."

Harmless treatment?

"You've seen it, haven't you? Those purified worlds."

Okay, I see. So those destroyed worlds were the 'bad assets' that were purified.

"After being purified, they become simple resource points, but redeveloping them after purification is too wasteful of money. From the company's perspective, it's not worthwhile, so they won't easily sell their assets at a low price. They will definitely try to assess whether these 'viruses' have any development value."

"The Legion infiltrated quite early on, after all, they don't have much room to maneuver in already developed planes. We don't yet know the Legion's overall strategy for this Earth. Perhaps it's targeting the Company, perhaps the Assets, perhaps the Virus. In short, if they see this place as worthwhile, they might launch a large-scale invasion and seize it as a secret base; if they don't, they'll simply abandon it. It's not as troublesome as dealing with the Company. But the composition of those people is a mixed bag, and we still don't know their true nature."

So what is your purpose? Do you want to buy this 'distressed asset'?

"Please, we're just a shell company. Do you know how much assets at the dimensional level cost? We provide mental health counseling, not investment advice. Where would we get the capital for that..."

"Just assume our purpose is related to the 'virus' for now. If we get caught by the 'company' security and confess like this, they'll at most consider us a corporate spy, and maybe we can try to negotiate your release from a business perspective."

Well, thank you so much... So, does that mean we can't just kill Apostles anymore? Otherwise, with a company like this, wouldn't it be troublesome to offend them?

"It doesn't really matter. Anyway, those who are sent to border sites and live on construction sites are either contracted labor dispatch workers or underperforming employees who are ostracized. They are disposable commodities that can be replaced at any time. Big companies don't care about that."

"So you see how good our benefits are here, we keep supporting you. Li Fan, please be more careful, don't do anything reckless and ruin our investments. Small businesses like ours can't afford that."

Grass...

"That's about it. Oh, by the way, the Heavenly Book you uploaded is from the Beast Mother Dao Ancestor lineage. We'll be giving you some sample works to test during this lottery."

In addition, the user manuals for the equipment I received have been updated to your system. Once you get back, the system will provide guidance on how to operate it. That drone is pretty good; it can be set to automatically patrol and follow designated targets. You could try to steal the Huan family's fish-raising secret recipe."

No, since this world could be purified at any moment, why would you want to send two fish-bodied beings to travel here? Are you looking for death?

"This involves classified information. We can only discuss it once you achieve enlightenment or bring forth the merfolk."

So, which side is the main quest?!

"Anyway, be careful. That old idiot messed things up, even using metallic nitrogen. I think the 'company' will send someone to investigate sooner or later. Just think of him as a mid-level boss of the Feather Transformation Immortal level. Be a coward, don't die."

In your definition, someone as dangerous as a Feather Transformation Immortal is just a mid-level boss?!

Li Fan was excited and opened his eyes, only to find that the connection with the system had been lost.

Sigh, I feel like I've boarded a pirate ship.

He had previously suspected that this game was only just beginning, and now it seems to have been confirmed. A mere company executive is as dangerous as a native at the Feather Transformation Immortal realm; a bunch of defeated soldiers scavenging for scraps can stir up trouble with civilian technology—just imagine the scale of Earth 0's legitimate military technology...

And what exactly is the purpose of the mental health system? It doesn't seem as simple as just expanding and strengthening mental health counseling services to encompass the multiverse...

Well, there's a three-realm gap. Thinking too much is useless. I should focus on climbing higher first, and worry about this kind of thing after I've achieved enlightenment and received the official contract... Oh, and I can try my luck with a lottery now that my energy is fully charged.

'Prize has been delivered'

This time it was a small wooden gourd, from which came out mud-like balls that smelled quite nice...

'Fish feed, formulated based on the Beast Mother's Heavenly Book.'

Note: One pellet is enough for one fish. Eating too many might make it more alert.

Holy crap! Ugh... Damn, you guys really have your eyes on those two fish!

Since the system cared so much, Li Fan had no choice but to return to the Golden Scale Palace. He spent a few Spirit Coins to ask Old Man Huan to select one hundred black and one hundred white carp. He fed each fish a pellet of feed and kept them in the pond. He kept the remaining half-pot to see how things went.

Then, a magic array was set up, and the Qiankun Huaqi Pill was simmered in a pill furnace. The two qi of Qian and Kun swirled and coiled like a fairyland of clouds, providing energy for the black and white carp to breathe. This place where Li Fan and the fish could cultivate was thus completed.

Then he checked the equipment he had seized from Asiba. The armor and ammunition were nothing special; with the help of the system and explanations of the engineering drawings, he quickly understood them. The drones and protective suits were a bit more complicated, and the Ghost Shell system was the most complex.

Regarding weaponry, Li Fan assembled the Gauss rifle under the system's guidance. After a test fire, it was confirmed that it could indeed break through the defenses of Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and the projectiles possessed the speed of Golden Core level flying sword. However, it required optical aiming within visual range, had limitations in ammunition and batteries, and lacked the attack range of a flying sword combined with Divine Sense for target acquisition. Furthermore, the initial aiming motion was much slower than using a sword-drawing technique, making the opponent more alert and potentially wary. The projectiles were linear and untrackable. Frankly, within visual range, Li Fan could simply deliver a punch and be done with it. Therefore, overall, it wasn't quite enough to defeat a proper Nascent Soul Stage cultivator from the Xuanmen sect; it was better suited for ambushing Immortal Generals of the Immortal Palace and ordinary rogue cultivators who hadn't used the Golden Escape Technique.

The monomolecular axe is made of decent material; its blade can cut through alloys, making it a suitable tool. However, it's not a Magic Treasure, just a prop. It can be deflected using the Metal-Avoiding Technique. Of course, as mentioned before, when it comes to using the axe, Li Fan could finish it off with a single punch.

That protective suit is actually quite good. The AGSS aerosol provides significant damage reduction against Golden Core cultivators. Although it can't withstand attacks from Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, Nascent Soul Stage aren't that easy to encounter. Moreover, combined with military alloy armor, it should be able to withstand some damage. The materials science on the technology side is naturally top-notch; perhaps these plates can even be used to forge swords.

In addition, Li Fan also discovered a useful function in the protective suit: the suit can instantly generate electricity, stimulating muscles to unleash three to five times the strength of an ordinary person, which can be used to increase combat power and for emergency avoidance.

Of course, that's an enhancement for normal people, so it wouldn't have such a big effect on Li Fan. However, he could adjust the system and use it as a timed alarm clock.

In this way, when he enters an Inner Landscape energy and cultivate his Divine Sense, he can use a weak electric current to pay attention to the duration of his sleep, so that he won't fall asleep and never wake up, and several years will pass in the blink of an eye.

As for the other circuitry, he was afraid of damaging them and making them difficult to repair, and he couldn't inspect them by hand either. So he didn't tinker with them carefully for the time being. There wasn't anything next-generation technology in the stuff; after all, Ah Xi Ba had mostly disassembled existing equipment and pieced it together. With the system's explanation, it was still understandable. What impressed Li Fan the most were those gum-sized batteries.

It's remarkable that such a small device can power drones, Gauss launchers, Ghost Shell helmets, and exoskeleton systems for protective suits; even these things are solar-powered. However, after testing each drone, all the batteries were completely depleted. According to the system, the spare batteries in this first-aid kit need to be exposed to sunlight for a day to recharge.

It's likely that Axiba recently completed some major mission; the turmoil on both sides of Xun Kingdom and Zhen Country might actually be his doing. Plus, he used his helmet for remote communication the night before, which drained the battery completely. Perhaps that's why he came to the Golden Scale Palace to rest and relax for a day... Little did he expect to be so unlucky as to run into Amao...

Speaking of which, Li Fan has also had a busy day, and Amao has finished a course of treatment, so another busy day is about to begin, right?

Sigh, maybe that's just life...