Gu Zhe also realized that, since Yun Qing and the others knew the truth about the changes in the world and knew ordinary people should steer clear of strange, eerie rumors...
Then had some people already adapted to those changes and gained supernatural strength that meant they no longer needed to avoid such things?
A revival of the spirit tide? The return of the Old Era?
The Netherworld and other supernatural regions would benefit. There was no reason people in the real world couldn't benefit too. The world was so vast, with so many people, that something was bound to arise somewhere.
After all, humans were the most spiritually gifted of all creatures. Every human possessed intelligence, a body and soul, and a will of their own!
He looked at the panel and his spirit points.
There were many things Gu Zhe wanted to upgrade.
The Paper Effigy Technique, for instance, wasn't just for making Human Effigies, animals, and so on. It was also useful for folding the structural frames of Spirit Houses and other buildings, improving production efficiency, appearance, and more.
Then there was the Paper-Cutting Technique. If he kept upgrading it, would he gain better eerie Paper Figures, faster cutting speed, or even more supernatural effects?
And the Paper Craft Technique, which seemed similar to the Paper-Cutting Technique-would it undergo supernatural changes later?
These considerations flashed through Gu Zhe's mind.
But his Spirit House business was already sufficient for now. Until his strength underwent a major qualitative change, he couldn't keep expanding endlessly. He hadn't forgotten the Bone Dragon's emergence or the terror of the Nether Ghosts he had witnessed that day. That world wasn't truly unclaimed territory.
Strength... strength... strength... that was the foundation of everything.
As for strength, Gu Zhe analyzed the skills before him, and his gaze finally settled on the Basic Paper Control Technique.
As an origami craftsman, folding paper was his preparation and foundation. Ultimately, he would inevitably need to control and manipulate it.
As the old saying went, mastery beat breadth, and specialization beat variety. Anyone who had played games also knew that, early on, it was best to focus on improving one skill to give yourself a trump card and some deterrent power.
So.
Spirit points -1, Basic Paper Control Technique: practiced → proficient!
Memories surged forth, and muscle memory formed within his body. Controlling puppets became increasingly effortless. He felt an inexplicable connection and understanding toward the Paper Figures and other things he had cut and made. They were his children, his creations...
Again:
Spirit points -1, Basic Paper Control Technique: proficient → accomplished!
In an instant, it was as though he had spent decades in another world controlling eerie puppets, day after day. As his experience accumulated, his consciousness moved freely between countless puppet subordinates in the Netherworld. With a casual impulse, he could control several Paper Figures at once. Everything flowed seamlessly, and he commanded the situation with every gesture.
Through those decades of constant control, an insight arose in his heart. Even without being reborn into the Netherworld, eerie Paper Figures actually shared some unseen connection with him. In fact, they already possessed certain supernatural rules.
Something stirred within him, but an obstacle kept him from breaking through.
Perhaps his cultivation was insufficient, perhaps reality was different, or perhaps his own body was too weak.
Again:
Spirit points... -3, 1.38 remaining, Basic Paper Control Technique: accomplished → perfected!
This time, it had actually consumed three spirit points.
Then:
Boom!!!
A rumble erupted inside his mind.
Endless memories flowed through it.
It was as though he had spent ten years, decades, or even a century silently contemplating his origami in another world.
One day.
An insight suddenly arose. I am an Eerie Origami Master. My origami is empowered by eerie rules and can become eerie Paper Figure subordinates in the Netherworld after being burned.
Reality has different laws. Its rules are stable, and it lacks certain things found in the Netherworld.
But... an insight born of long accumulation began to emerge...
But reality has me. It has my true body, my thoughts and will, my blood, my soul, and my flesh.
Then, within those inexplicable upgrade memories, his other self had a sudden inspiration. He sliced open his palm, used blood as ink, his heart as a guide, and his will as a blessing, then dotted the eyes of his paper cutout...
It came alive!
Gu Zhe's eyes snapped open.
A trace of the weariness accumulated over long years flashed through his eyes before vanishing.
It all felt as though he had experienced it himself, as though he had personally done it all.
His understanding of his mind, will, profession, and more seemed to have reached perfection.
There was not the slightest disconnect. Everything fell naturally into place.
He stood up.
He went to where the blank Paper Figures were stacked.
He picked up his origami knife.
He drew it lightly across his palm, and blood welled out.
Then his mind and will responded as naturally as his own limbs.
He picked up the brush for dotting the eyes. Using blood as ink, with his thoughts following and his will joining them, he painted the facial features, activating the latent supernatural rules bestowed by his profession!
A tremor of excitement flashed through Gu Zhe's heart.
Delight flickered in his eyes.
"It worked!!"
An unseen connection formed between his mind and the Paper Figure.
It felt exactly the same as it had in his "memories."
But this time, it wasn't a memory. It was actual reality.
His consciousness stirred.
The Paper Figure lying on the counter began to tremble eerily for no apparent reason. Suddenly, its upper body straightened, and it stood up.
It turned toward Gu Zhe, its two blood-red eyes staring blankly at him, indescribably eerie and unsettling.
This wasn't the Netherworld, the Nether Realm, the Spirit World, or the void realm. This was Earth, the material world, and something that defied science was coming into being!
Then the Paper Figure took a few steps across the counter. At first, its movements were awkward, but they soon became faster and smoother.
Finally, it became a thin, speeding silhouette, darting and twisting across the counter, the floor, and the walls.
After a while, it drifted lightly down from the wall.
Its two thin, stubby legs planted themselves steadily on the floor. It was as "cute" as a two-dimensional cartoon character!
Suddenly-whoosh!!
It went from standing still to moving in a flash.
The absurdly short, thin paper blade in its hand flashed past the corner of the counter.
The little Paper Figure returned to its original position.
Crack!
The corner of the counter broke clean off. The cut surface was perfectly smooth, as though severed by some sharp weapon.
He focused his consciousness on the Paper Figure.
Information surfaced in his mind like instinct.
[Name: Mystic Paper-Cutting Paper Figure] [Master: Gu Zhe] [Level: mundane] [Traits: 1. Unafraid of ordinary water and fire, 2. Light and swift, 3. Operates within a hundred meters under the Eerie Origami Master's mental command, 4. Swiftness is suppressed under the blazing sun; speed is enhanced at night]
Its resistance to ordinary water and fire was probably due to the specialty paper.
Its swiftness made sense too. It already had eerie supernatural properties, and its paper body was light, with little weight pulling it down, allowing it to climb swiftly wherever it pleased.
Its speed being restricted under the blazing sun was understandable as well. This was the real world of the living, after all. Eerie supernatural abilities would certainly be suppressed beneath the sun's overwhelming radiance.
Besides, they were only suppressed. That was already enough to prove how supernatural his Paper Figures were!
He willed it to move.
The Paper Figure standing there blankly darted into his clothes with a series of whooshes. Even in the summer heat, it didn't feel hot. Against his skin, it actually felt cool.
Keep going.
One Paper Figure certainly wasn't enough.
Once again, he used blood as ink and conviction as his guide, dotting the eyes to awaken the supernatural!
After a while, Gu Zhe suddenly felt dizzy, as though his vitality, energy, and spirit had been severely depleted.
It was like... like eating a cheap bowl of spicy hot pot and then spending the night with several women.
Weakness washed over him.
An understanding arose within him.
The expenditure of blood and mental effort was like consuming his vital heart's blood.
His physical body was still mundane. Overdoing it would deplete his vitality.
Fortunately, he was still young and had been nourished by the Nether Jujubes that day, so there were no lasting ill effects. But he would need to be careful in the future. He had to recover his vitality before dotting any more eyes and granting spirit.
At the same time, controlling Paper Figures in reality also consumed mental energy. However, their eerie spirits had already been awakened, and their supernatural properties came from his profession in the first place. As long as he didn't push himself too hard or become overly exhausted, he didn't need to worry about any serious loss of vitality.
In short.
Too much was as bad as too little.
Gu Zhe wasn't disappointed. Instead, satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
"Finally. I've finally gained the power to protect myself in reality too!"
He looked at the blood-eyed Paper Figures.
"Nine Paper Figures are enough to protect me!"
Gu Zhe wasn't stupid. As long as he didn't charge into armies or battle formations, nine incredibly swift Paper Figures with such elusive little bodies would be enough to destroy ordinary enemies.
Besides, rumors that firearms were steadily losing their effectiveness were spreading everywhere. Such an obviously easy rumor to debunk had nevertheless persisted.
Then perhaps it was true.
As one side weakened and the other grew stronger, he felt even more secure. Without firearms to keep them in check, his Paper Figures would be unstoppable among ordinary people!
He could keep upgrading and growing stronger in the future.
An intense light shone in his eyes.
"The future looks promising. And now that I've finally mastered supernatural power in reality, I can act a little more freely here too."
He looked around the storefront.
"The Gu Family may have come from humble beginnings, and I was once a corporate drone myself, so I don't find it hard to adapt. But I've lived two lives and awakened a cheat. How could I keep lying low forever!"
"Then, after lying low for a month or so, 49 Calm Heart Street can afford to be a little less inconspicuous!"