43, The System's Wrath!

"System, what's the situation?"

After pressing his hand against the man in sunglasses' wristwatch for about a minute, Xiao Han withdrew his hand and silently summoned the system in his mind.

"Ding! After negotiations, I have successfully communicated with the Main God Space's core and discovered that this world's World Consciousness is indeed problematic." Faced with Xiao Han's question, the system's usual coldness was gone, as if it was suppressing anger.

"What problem?"

Xiao Han paused, walked to a corner, and called up the system panel to ask.

"When this world's World Consciousness leased out this timeline's world, it simultaneously leased it to both me and the Main God Space as two buyers. This means that both of us can use this instance world at the same time, rather than each of us independently contracting this world's instance as imagined."

"So that means..."

Xiao Han asked cautiously.

"That means! This damned World Consciousness took benefits from both sides! Yet only paid the price of a single timeline!"

From this point, Xiao Han could clearly sense the system's tone was gritting its teeth; it seemed it was also quite furious with the World Consciousness of A Chinese Ghost Story.

"The price of a single timeline? What do you mean?"

Xiao Han didn't quite understand—was leasing a world calculated by timelines?

"What's called leasing a timeline refers to the World Consciousness of A Chinese Ghost Story's worldview cutting off a timeline from its infinite parallel worlds where the plot hasn't started yet, giving it to us as an instance for training. The same goes for the Main God Space. In simple terms, every fan-fiction worldview is a timeline self-segmented by the World Consciousness. However, as the top client of major World Consciousnesses, the Main God Space is wealthy and can contract timelines from the World Consciousness without limit. Think about it—how many Reincarnators have experienced an instance of A Chinese Ghost Story? Those similar fan-fiction-like instances are all split off from the World Consciousness."

"So the A Chinese Ghost Story we're experiencing now is also a timeline separated by the World Consciousness?" Xiao Han realized with sudden understanding.

"Exactly."

The system's tone returned to its initial coldness. "So the moment I saw the Reincarnators, I knew both I and the Main God Space had been played. But the Main God Space is rich; it didn't bother arguing with A Chinese Ghost Story's World Consciousness over this trivial matter and was still willing to share this world's missions with us."

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

"No, this system doesn't have the habit of wearing the same underwear as others! I've just negotiated with the Main God Space and the World Consciousness—we will eliminate the Black Mountain Demon here. As the price for training in this world these days, the World Consciousness is only willing to refund one-third of the 'venue rental fee' to us," the system said coldly.

Though curious about what the "venue rental fee" was, Xiao Han also knew some things were better left unasked.

"And the previously promised ten-draw reward and World Anchor?"

"The ten-draw reward is still there, but the World Anchor is gone. Because of my voluntary forfeit, this world now belongs to the Main God Space. As I said before, I don't have the habit of wearing the same underwear as others!"

Having resolutely stated its decision, the system continued: "Just now, killing the Tree Demon Granny boosted you from a Two Star Dou Master to a Five Star Dou Master—that counts as a gain in this world. Once you help Yan Chixia kill the Black Mountain Demon, you should skyrocket to Nine Star Dou Master. After that, we'll return immediately. The Centipede Demon matter can be left to those Reincarnators."

"What about my side quest to kill a thousand demons and monsters? I still have about a hundred or so left to complete," Xiao Han asked, a bit bewildered.

"Don't worry, the World Consciousness will settle it for you then. Even if you don't finish, it will be forcibly recognized as complete. Get ready as soon as possible."

"Phew... that's a relief."

Letting out a relieved breath, Xiao Han glanced at the Reincarnators whispering among themselves, Yan Chixia drinking with his head down, and Ning Caichen, who seemed to be in some trouble—all teammates for the upcoming assault on the Black Mountain Demon.

"Uh, one more question." Xiao Han scratched his cheek a bit sheepishly.

"Speak."

"Since you're a system with emotions too, why do you usually act so cold?" Xiao Han asked curiously, looking at the system panel.

"Because and therefore, scientific reasoning."

The system seemed unwilling to answer, tossing out a stale old joke before disappearing.

"Boss, are we really going to team up with this shady guy?"

The Paladin youth Xiao Fang looked hesitant. "With our strength, none of us can control him. If this person means us harm, we wouldn't even have the ability to resist! Remember, he's the ruthless one who wiped out the Tree Demon Granny root and branch!"

"Yeah, Boss, that so-called high-level Reincarnator is dripping with Demonic Qi—clearly a Demonic Cultivator. People like that are usually extreme and ruthless, always thinking about stabbing others in the back. The uncontrollable factors are too great; one misstep, and our whole team could die at his hands."

The man in the Iron Battle Suit, Iron Man, rarely spoke up. He looked around at his teammates: "Put yourself in his shoes—would you trust someone you just met? Especially when that someone is a high-level Reincarnator?"

"Of course not."

"Same here."

"No! You're all wrong!"

The man in sunglasses glanced at his debating teammates and forced a bitter smile: "Why do you think I agreed to that youth? It's because we have no choice! Not to mention the powerful old Taoist Priest by his side, just the sight of him burning the Tree Demon Granny alive with that overwhelming Demonic Qi might not even be him going all out."

His strength is definitely greater than what we've seen!"

"What?!"

"No way? If that's the case, this transmigrator is way too terrifying, right?"

"Damn it, if he really wanted to do something to us, wouldn't we be dead for sure?"

Just as the group of Reincarnators were growing uneasy, the Main God's newly issued task settled their nerves like a calming pill.

"Assist high-level Reincarnators Xiao Han and Yan Chixia in eliminating the Black Mountain Demon?! The Main God is serious?!" Opening his Reincarnation Watch, Xiao Fang exclaimed.

"The Main God's mission brief also says that during the mission, neither party of Reincarnators may harm the other, or it will be considered a violation and result in an erasure penalty!" Chen Lan stared incredulously at the Main God's task, never expecting the other party to actually be a high-level Reincarnator.

"Alright, since the Main God vouches for him, let's give this person our preliminary trust. But be careful—when dealing with this kind of Demonic Cultivator, stay on high alert!" Warning his teammates, the Man in Sunglasses turned and walked toward Xiao Han, who was engrossed in chatting with his system, putting on what he thought was a friendly smile.

"Younger Brother, I need to discuss something with you..."

The Reincarnator team leader patted Xiao Han on the shoulder as he was deep in thought, making him look up.

"Whoa! A ghost! Aaaah!"

Turning his head, Xiao Han saw a gorilla face in sunglasses flashing a creepy grin, and he instinctively stumbled back a few steps. But once he realized it was just the Reincarnator team leader, he let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest.

Glaring fiercely at the Man in Sunglasses, Xiao Han said irritably, "Can you drop that fake smile? I thought I'd run into a ghost! Scaring people like that can kill them!"

With all that thick Demonic Qi on you, unless those ghosts have rocks in their heads, who'd want to get close to you anyway?

"Ahem... ahem!"

Cursing inwardly, the Man in Sunglasses said awkwardly, "Younger Brother, I came to discuss our plan for dealing with the Black Mountain Demon."

"Plan?"

Xiao Han blinked, then said in exasperation, "What plan? With our numbers and strength, you don't actually think taking down the Black Mountain Demon will be that hard, do you?

In my opinion, we just charge straight in.

In the movie, the Black Mountain Demon's power takes a huge hit after being wrapped up in the Diamond Sutra. We just follow that method and slap the Diamond Sutra right in his face, don't we?"

"But—"

The Man in Sunglasses hesitated. Usually, their small team would plan everything out before entering the Main God Space, and suddenly being told no planning was needed made him extremely uncomfortable.

"No buts. In the face of absolute power, schemes are the lesser move!"

Xiao Han waved his hand emphatically. "When the time comes, just call the brothers to charge in together. Against a crooked evil like the Black Mountain Demon, there's no need to talk about martial honor!"

The Man in Sunglasses' mouth twitched at that. Xiao Han's Demonic Qi was so fierce it looked like it could punch a hole through the sky—how did he have the nerve to call someone else crooked and evil? Didn't he have any self-awareness as a Demonic Cultivator?!

"Fine, if Younger Brother thinks this is workable, then I have no objections. Let's settle it like this."

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

But Xiao Han, eyeing his modern-style outfit, had a sudden idea.

"Hey, Sunglasses guy, hold on. Since we haven't started the mission to kill the Black Mountain Demon yet, why not call your teammates over and let's do a barter trade?"