System's Fury

"System, how are things?"

After resting his hand on the Man in Sunglasses' watch for about a minute, Xiao Han pulled it back and silently called for the system.

"Ding! After negotiations, I've successfully connected with the Main God core in the Main God Space. I discovered that there really is something wrong with this world's World Consciousness." The system no longer sounded as cold as usual. It seemed to be holding back its anger.

"What's wrong?"

Xiao Han paused, then walked to a corner and summoned the system panel.

"When the World Consciousness of this world rented out this timeline, it rented it to two buyers at once: me and the Main God Space.

That meant we could both use this instance world at the same time, instead of each of us having our own exclusive claim to it."

"So..."

Xiao Han asked cautiously.

"So! That damned World Consciousness took payment from both sides, but only had to pay the price of one timeline!"

From then on, Xiao Han could clearly hear the system grinding its teeth. It seemed the World Consciousness of A Chinese Ghost Story had really infuriated it.

"The price of one timeline? What do you mean?"

Xiao Han didn't quite understand. Was renting out worlds calculated by timelines?

"Renting out a timeline means that the World Consciousness of the A Chinese Ghost Story setting cuts off a timeline from its endless parallel worlds, one where the plot hasn't begun yet, and gives it to us as an instance for training. The same goes for the Main God Space.

Put simply, every fan-created world setting is a timeline split off by its World Consciousness.

But the Main God Space is the biggest customer of all the various World Consciousnesses, and it has money to burn. It can rent out timelines from them without limit.

Think about how many Reincarnators have experienced an A Chinese Ghost Story instance. Those instances, which are like fan-created worlds, were all split off from the World Consciousness."

"So the A Chinese Ghost Story we're experiencing now is also a timeline split off by the World Consciousness?" Xiao Han said, suddenly understanding.

"Exactly."

The system's tone turned cold again. "The instant I saw the Reincarnators, I knew that both the Main God Space and I had been played.

But the Main God Space has money to burn. It didn't bother arguing with the World Consciousness of A Chinese Ghost Story over such a trivial matter, and was still willing to share the world's missions with us."

"So, do we keep training in this world?" Xiao Han asked, looking at the system panel.

"No. This system has no habit of sharing a pair of underwear with someone else!

I've just negotiated with the Main God Space and the World Consciousness. We'll kill the Black Mountain Demon here.

As compensation for the time we've spent training in this world, the World Consciousness is only willing to refund us one-third of the 'venue rental fee.'" The system spoke coldly.

Xiao Han was a little curious about what the system meant by "venue rental fee," but he knew it was better not to ask about some things.

"What about the promised ten-pull draw and the World Anchor?"

"You'll still get the ten-pull draw reward, but not the World Anchor. Since I'm voluntarily giving it up, this world now belongs to the Main God Space. I already said I have no habit of sharing a pair of underwear with someone else!"

Having stated its decision without hesitation, the system continued, "Killing Tree Demon Granny just now boosted you from Two Star Dou Master to Five Star Dou Master. That counts as a gain from this world. Once you help Yan Chixia kill the Black Mountain Demon, you should rise to Nine Star Dou Master.

After we kill the Black Mountain Demon, we'll return immediately. We can leave the Centipede Demon to those Reincarnators."

"What about my Side Quest to kill a thousand demons and ghosts? I still need to kill about a hundred more to complete it." Xiao Han asked, confused.

"Don't worry. The World Consciousness will settle it for you. Even if you haven't completed it, it'll force the quest to count as complete. Get ready."

"Whew... That's a relief."

He let out a breath of relief and glanced at the Reincarnators whispering to one another, Yan Chixia drinking with his head down, and Ning Caichen, who seemed to be having some kind of problem. They would all be his teammates when they went after the Black Mountain Demon.

"Uh, I have one more question." Xiao Han awkwardly scratched his cheek.

"Go ahead."

"If you have feelings too, why do you usually pretend to be so cold?" Xiao Han asked curiously, looking at the system panel.

"Because reasons. It's science."

The system didn't seem to want to answer. It tossed out a terrible old catchphrase, then disappeared.

"Boss, are we really going to team up with this guy whose background we don't know?"

Paladin Youth Xiao Fang looked hesitant. "With our strength, none of us could restrain him. If he wanted to hurt us, we wouldn't even be able to fight back! He's the kind of ruthless monster who completely eradicated Tree Demon Granny!"

"Exactly, boss. That so-called high-rank Reincarnator is surrounded by Demonic Qi. You can tell at a glance he's a Demonic Path cultivator. People like that tend to be extreme and ruthless, always looking for a chance to stab someone in the back.

He's far too unpredictable. One mistake, and our whole team could die at his hands."

Iron Man, clad in the Iron Battle Suit, spoke up for once. He glanced around at his teammates. "Put yourself in our shoes. Would you trust someone you'd just met? Especially when he's a high-rank Reincarnator?"

"Of course not."

"Me neither."

"No! You're wrong!"

The Man in Sunglasses looked at his arguing teammates and smiled bitterly. "Why do you think I agreed to that young man's proposal? We have no choice!

Never mind the powerful old Taoist by his side. Just look at how he burned Tree Demon Granny alive, surrounded by all that Demonic Qi. That might not even have been the best he could do.

He's stronger than he looks!"

"What?!"

"No way! That means this transmigrator is terrifying!"

"Damn it, if he really wants to do something to us, aren't we doomed?"

Just as the Reincarnators were growing uneasy, the Main God's newly issued mission steadied them like a dose of reassurance.

"Assist high-rank Reincarnator Xiao Han and Yan Chixia in eliminating the Black Mountain Demon?! Is the Main God serious?" Xiao Fang exclaimed as he opened his Reincarnation Watch.

"The Main God's mission briefing also says that during the mission, neither side of Reincarnators may harm the other. Anyone who breaks the rules will be erased!" Chen Lan stared at the Main God's mission in disbelief. He hadn't expected the other party to really be a high-rank Reincarnator!

"All right. Since the Main God guarantees our safety, let's give this guy the benefit of the doubt for now. But stay on your guard when dealing with a Demonic Path cultivator like him!" After warning his teammates, the Man in Sunglasses turned and walked toward Xiao Han, who was engrossed in chatting with the system. He wore what he thought was a friendly smile.

"Little brother, I'd like to talk to you about something..."

The Reincarnator captain patted Xiao Han on the shoulder as he stood deep in thought, making him turn around.

"Holy crap! A ghost!"

The moment Xiao Han turned, he saw a gorilla-like face wearing sunglasses and flashing an eerie smile. He stumbled backward in fright. But once he realized it was the Reincarnator captain, he relaxed and patted his chest.

He glared at the Man in Sunglasses and snapped, "Could you stop putting on that fake smile? I thought I'd seen a ghost! People can scare each other to death!"

With all that Demonic Qi around you, unless those ghosts have rocks for brains, why would they want to come near you?

"Cough... cough!"

After cursing him silently, the Man in Sunglasses said awkwardly, "Little brother, I came to discuss a plan for dealing with the Black Mountain Demon."

"A plan?"

Xiao Han stared at him blankly, then said, utterly unimpressed, "What plan? With our numbers and strength, you don't think fighting the Black Mountain Demon will be difficult, do you?

In my opinion, we should just charge straight in.

In the movie, the Black Mountain Demon's strength was greatly reduced after the Diamond Sutra trapped him. We just need to do the same thing and slap the Diamond Sutra right in his face, don't we?"

"But..."

The Man in Sunglasses was conflicted. His team usually made plans before entering missions in the Main God Space. Being told they didn't need one left him deeply uncomfortable.

"No buts. In the face of overwhelming strength, tactics are the inferior choice!"

Xiao Han swept his hand through the air. "When the time comes, we'll get everyone to charge in together. We don't need to show any honor to a wicked creature like the Black Mountain Demon!"

The Man in Sunglasses' mouth twitched. Xiao Han's Demonic Qi was so fierce it looked like it could punch a hole in the sky. How could he call someone else a wicked creature? Was he not at all conscious of being a Demonic Path cultivator himself?!

"Fine. If you think that'll work, little brother, I have no objections. Let's do that."

The Man in Sunglasses nodded helplessly and was about to leave.

But when Xiao Han noticed his modern clothes, his eyes lit up.

"Hey, Man in Sunglasses, wait a second. Since we haven't started the mission to kill the Black Mountain Demon yet, why not call your teammates over? How about we make a trade?"