What is an Old Offering?

Yang Qizhou didn't pay much attention at first, feeling a bit impatient.

His game character had already reached the "Spring of Heaven," and with a little more effort and a few more taps on the screen, he might obtain the Sacred Offering of the "King of Virtues." Having group messages pop up on his phone interface at a time like this was like someone sending a video call while he was in the middle of a raid; it would be strange if he were in a good mood.

However, his attention shifted to the content of the messages, and he felt that the name "Ancient God of Judgment" sounded somewhat familiar.

Wait.

Among the six major cults of Dark Fog Town, wasn't there a Judgment Cult that worshipped the "Ancient God of Judgment"?

Secret Cultivator is really something else, giving group members animal names—no idea where that weird hobby comes from.

This "Cheetah" must have encountered a choice in the game, and the status of the "Ancient God of Judgment" will affect the direction of the plot and future rewards, which is why he is so anxious to send a message.

After all, other players don't have the save-scumming ability of the Doom-Bringing Raven.

If he makes the wrong choice, the price paid won't just be a used resurrection count; he might face a continuous deviation of the subsequent plot line, eventually leading to a total collapse of the story and a situation where his game character dies with every step, unable to move forward.

Yang Qizhou once again realized just how broken the Doom-Bringing Raven's ability was.

If he couldn't reload his save, let alone progress the plot to this point and obtain powerful quasi-legendary items like the Garment of the Hidden World and the Law Book of Windbell Town, the Fire-Stealing Village would likely have been wiped out by Aliceina at the very beginning of the game.

Without the protection of the starter village, one could only imagine the fate of someone cast into the wilderness where mystery and the unknown walk hand in hand, and horror and weirdness coexist.

He probably wouldn't be able to play for more than a few minutes a day before his three resurrection chances were exhausted.

He wouldn't be much better off than the members of the Bureau of Occult Investigation.

Perhaps even worse.

Yang Qizhou turned his attention back to the group messages.

The Secret Cultivator Society isn't a strictly disciplined secret organization; it's just a trading platform used by Secret Cultivator to earn game information.

I haven't been in contact with the World of Weirdness for long and still have many doubts that need to be resolved. I could try trading information with this "Cheetah."

It can also serve as a way to test the waters of the Secret Cultivator Society.

Thinking of this, Yang Qizhou no longer hesitated and immediately tagged Cheetah.

[Honey Pot (Member): @Cheetah, I did learn about the current status of the "Ancient God of Judgment" from a member of the "Judgment Cult," but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. I can only guarantee that it was indeed obtained from the game.]

[Cheetah (Member): @Honey Pot, who is that member of the "Judgment Cult"? Is it convenient to disclose?]

[Honey Pot (Member): It is the leader of the "Judgment Cult."]

[Cheetah (Member): That works.]

[Cheetah (Member): [Image: "Passing tea to the big boss"] "Thank you, big boss."]

[Cheetah (Member): @Secret Cultivator, Group Owner, I need to conduct an information trade with "Honey Pot."]

Still in that towering skyscraper that seemed to stand among the clouds, Secret Cultivator sat in a rocking chair. With the neon lights of the city reflected on her face, she looked like the queen of a sky city, looking down upon the myriad living beings on the earth.

Secret Cultivator's attention was focused on the game. Like Yang Qizhou, she had started playing impatiently the moment the clock struck twelve and her resurrection count refreshed.

Perhaps all players were the same.

When the member "Cheetah" first sent the message, Secret Cultivator had also felt very impatient. After all, no one would be happy to be disturbed while playing a game, especially when the plot had reached a critical node.

But when she saw that the message was related to an information trade, her irritation vanished, and she even felt a sense of anticipation.

After all, according to the trading rules, Secret Cultivator was entitled to "leech" the secret information traded between two members.

Is it Honey Pot?

Secret Cultivator's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She had always maintained a strong sense of vigilance toward this newcomer, believing that his motives for joining the Secret Cultivator Society were impure and that he was likely targeting her, so she paid special attention to his messages.

When she saw the complete chat history, a hint of surprise arose in her heart.

This "Honey Pot's" game progress is a bit too fast. He has actually already had contact with a cult leader and even obtained information regarding an "Ancient God."

It was no wonder Secret Cultivator was so surprised. She considered herself a top-tier player in the World of Weirdness, having feasted on the flesh of an Ancient Dominator and taken the first steps on the path of "Authority."

Yet, in the higher-level towns, the highest-level NPCs she could currently interact with were only the Town Defense Officer and the Paladins.

Existences like cult leaders still belonged to the background characters in her eyes.

But this person had not only made contact with a "cult leader" but also learned secret information like the status of an Ancient God; his game progress was far ahead of hers.

To be targeted by such a person.

Secret Cultivator felt even heavier at heart.

Perhaps she should find a way to make "Honey Pot" feel more goodwill toward the Secret Cultivator Society and try to stabilize him.

She pondered for a moment and sent a private message to "Cheetah."

[Secret Cultivator (Group Owner Private Message): In the process of trading, you can appropriately disclose a little more information.]

[Cheetah (Member): ???]

"Cheetah," having received the message, was a bit confused. The Group Owner was actually interfering in the trading process—something that had never happened before.

But soon, he guessed something.

"As the group owner, Secret Cultivator must have an understanding of the members' true identities. Since she spoke this way, it indicates that this new member, Honey Pot, is not simple."

"Furthermore,"

"His game progress is simply too fast. His game character has already interacted with the leader of the cult. Needless to say, he is definitely a super big shot."

"Disclosing a bit more information appropriately to gain the favor of a big shot will only have benefits and no drawbacks."

Cheetah already had an idea in his mind and replied to the group owner via private message.

[Cheetah (Member): Understood.]

Soon, Secret Cultivator opened a private chat room and pulled both Yang Qizhou and Cheetah into it.

[Cheetah (Member): Hello, big shot.]

[Honey Pot (Member): Uh, don't be so polite. I'm not a big shot.]

[Cheetah (Member): Got it, big shot.]

[Honey Pot (Member): ...]

[Secret Cultivator (Group Owner): Cheetah is an old member and understands the rules of trading. However, Honey Pot, you just joined the group not long ago. You might have questions after reading the group files. Do you want me to explain them to you again?]

Cheetah looked at the messages in the group, becoming even more certain that the new member, Honey Pot, was a big shot.

Because when he first conducted an information trade, the group owner, Secret Cultivator, was not this considerate, nor did she intend to explain things personally. Back then, she only said, "The rules of trading are all in the group. Members who violate them have already disappeared from this world. See to it yourselves."

Is this questioning this humble one's reading comprehension? Yang Qizhou felt very unhappy inside...

[Honey Pot (Member): Thank you, but there is no need for such courtesy, Group Owner. Let's start the trade as soon as possible.]

[Secret Cultivator (Group Owner): Very well, then let's begin.]

[Honey Pot (Member): Brother Cheetah, regarding the information you wanted to know... according to the description from the leader of the Judgment Cult, the state of the Ancient God of Judgment is likely problematic. It can no longer respond to the prayers of believers in time. Sometimes, chanting the honorable name of the Ancient God even points to other unknown, hidden existences, leading to unfortunate events.]

[Honey Pot (Member): Of course, I cannot guarantee that the Ancient God of Judgment truly has a problem; I can only guarantee that this information indeed came from the mouth of the Judgment Cult leader.]

[Secret Cultivator (Group Owner): The oath has not been triggered; the information is true.]

[Cheetah (Member): Thank you, big shot. I am currently facing a choice that concerns the subsequent plot. This information of yours is very important to me.]

[Honey Pot (Member): We are trading information, so there is no need to be so polite. Also, please stop calling me a big shot.]

[Cheetah (Member): No problem, big shot.]

[Honey Pot (Member): ...]

Do all the people in this group like to pretend to be newbies? I'm the one who has only been playing World of Weirdness for three days! Yang Qizhou looked at Cheetah calling him "big shot" over and over, feeling quite helpless.

He just didn't know that Cheetah was a senior member of the Secret Cultivator Society and was usually very arrogant in front of others...

[Cheetah (Member): Big shot, it's your turn. Is there any secret information you want to know?]

Secret information I want to know? Yang Qizhou was lost in thought.

He had far too many questions in his mind.

What would be the consequences of chanting the complete honorable name of a hidden existence on the Ancient Earth in reality?

How should the negative effects of Old Day Items be suppressed?

And so on, and so forth.

However, if he had to say what he wanted to know most at the moment, it would perhaps be the "Old Offering."

[Honey Pot (Member): I do have one question. I would like to know, what does "Old Offering" refer to?]