Chapter 1 The Day After the Lantern Festival, 2016

- Suitable for travel, sacrifice, and prayer -

Even in this day and age, many people believe in auspicious days and use them as a reason for their actions. Moreover, due to the resurgence of spiritual energy, even more people believe in this concept.

However, no matter what, in the damp, cold, and windy winter of Southern Zhengguo, the vast majority of people would never go out. As for sacrifices and prayers, not even half of the corresponding facilities can be found.

So, someone like Su Zhou, who, after eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) delivered by Tang Yuan with his parents at home, is so idle that he wanders around the city, is truly a rare sight.

The tangyuan delivered by Tang Yuan weren't just Su Zhou playing with homophones. It was because, not long ago, Su Zhou had been appointed as the captain of the First Action Team of the official Extraordinary Security Bureau.

With this title, he naturally had extraordinary subordinates—Tang Yuan, whom he had cooperated with in the Kunlun Secret Realm before, was one of them. Therefore, during their last meeting, the other party had conveniently sent Su Zhou some tangyuan she had made herself, perhaps to build a good relationship, or perhaps as a bribe.

It must be said, the taste was really good. If he could, Su Zhou hoped Tang Yuan would bring more.

Now, Su Zhou is at Shao's house, watching Shao Shuangyue play games with Shao Qiming as usual. The gaming otaku is now used to being watched while playing, which Su Zhou commented as, "quite the streamer."

This time, the game Shao Shuangyue is playing isn't related to the other world that Su Zhou is about to go to. It's just a very ordinary real-time strategy game, a remastered version of the decades-old 'Age of Empires II' that has been remade seven or eight times. Heaven knows why this game still has campaign DLC updates, but Shao Shuangyue is enjoying herself, controlling Byzantine armored cavalry to charge, slash, and burn in the enemy's base, extremely cruelly.

At this time, Shao Shuangyue already has the strength of the Kai Ling (Opening Spirit) Stage. A large part of this is due to the spiritual plants and food that Su Zhou and Shao Qiming occasionally send home, and another small part is due to the healthy body she has been instilled with over the past decade or so. The improvement in thinking, hand speed, and reaction ability brought about by just the Kai Ling Stage is enough to make Shao Shuangyue's gaming skills improve by leaps and bounds, as if she were a different person—all sorts of campaigns that she couldn't beat before were all cleared in a short amount of time this time.

"Awesome, big sis!"

"Isn't it!"

"But, you're so good, why don't you play some online multiplayer games?"

"Well, well... people always have to take things step by step." The beautiful girl, who could only play single-player games because she was constantly getting wrecked online, blushed on the spot.

After teasing the confident Shao Shuangyue, who was obviously getting a little carried away, Su Zhou found an excuse, asked Shao Qiming for the key to the Shao family's old house, and then went to the suburbs alone.

There, Su Zhou had all the supplies and equipment he had been preparing for going to the other world recently.

Although Su Zhou isn't short of money now and can even mobilize official resources for his own use, his most frequent use of public resources for personal gain is actually at the school cafeteria, where he unscrupulously devours free state-owned assets through the teacher's window.

As for things like transworld travel, he wouldn't be foolish enough to make it so obvious and attract the attention of the authorities... Right now, Su Zhou has no intention of letting others know the secrets of the other world and the Celestial God Imprint.

So, this time, Shao Qiming is still using all sorts of relationships as extra support. As long as he doesn't actively do anything himself, Su Zhou doesn't have to worry about being monitored, after all, he is a professor, and a powerful professor with real power at that. The Holy Council wouldn't treat him and his friends as surveillance targets.

"Let me see... yeah, it's all prepared."

At this moment, Su Zhou is standing next to the gate of the backyard of the Shao family's old house, counting the various supplies in his backpack.

Because of the Undead Mentor's Inheritance, the other world can be roughly determined to be a Western fantasy world, so Su Zhou specially customized some hooded robes, leather armor, and even gentleman's suits... Of course, because he couldn't know the dynasty, whether it was ancient, modern, or future, Su Zhou prepared all the Western clothing from all dynasties.

Although he doesn't really need to blend in with the crowd, even Su Zhou doesn't like to show himself off in a completely unfamiliar and extremely dangerous other world.

As for other things that are considered hard currency in most eras, such as spices, spiritual plants, Yaochi Jade Liquid and Jade Marrow, and various concentrations of holy water, Su Zhou has prepared a lot.

Spices aside, this time, Su Zhou used the holy water that had been stored at home for more than a year, including a cup of No. 1 holy water that had been concentrated for a long time, was self-illuminating, and almost a paste. Next were cans of No. 2 and No. 3 holy water.

The same is true for Yaochi Jade Liquid. He carried a whole can of jade liquid with a total spiritual power content of about 3,000 cycles, and solid jade marrow with a total spiritual power content of 4,500 cycles.

These are all natural treasures. Even in a Western fantasy setting, basic non-attribute liquid spiritual power and spiritual power crystals are high-level transcendent materials that are treasures everywhere. They can not only be used to set up arrays and perform rituals, but can also be taken directly to quickly provide Su Zhou with spiritual power, achieving an effect similar to life-risking pills.

In addition, the Blade of Annihilation and the Dragon Horn Spear were packed neatly and carried by Su Zhou.

"This time, the Wisdom Tree Spirit has also grown a lot, and is no longer a little waste that only says 'I'm hungry'... Now, it can reside on the Dragon Horn Spear that is often infused with its spiritual energy, acting as a unique spirit attachment!"

Thinking like this, Su Zhou picked up the spear from behind. On the eight-foot-long Dragon Horn Spear, faint and strange spiritual light patterns flowed, and with a soft sound that only rang in the spirit world, one could see a deep blue-green light pouring from Su Zhou's hand into the spear, causing it to radiate a magnificent, holy glow full of wisdom and spiritual light!

"Good!"

Finally shaking off the title of little waste that only eats—after all, producing fruit is a physical matter, and has nothing to do with the soul—in any case, the Wisdom Tree Spirit immediately let out a cheer, and it could be vaguely seen that a phantom of a divine tree was floating on the spear!

Without hesitation, Su Zhou waved the spear and gently thrust it out into the air in front of him—instantly, a hurricane swept out, but Su Zhou controlled it within the speed of sound. The surging shockwave did not shatter the glass or any furniture in the Shao family's old house. Naturally, it was impossible to see what unique effect this spear with the Spirit of the Wisdom Tree attached to it had, or what power it had increased.

But Su Zhou was very clear that if there had been an enemy in front of him just now, facing his seemingly light and harmless spear, which had no killing power compared to the Transcendent Stage, even a Garuda or a Peacock, or even those enemies at the Holy Council level in Zhengguo, would undoubtedly be infected by the spiritual energy of the Wisdom Tree and forcibly enter a state of enlightenment!

The so-called state of enlightenment is a sudden divergence of thinking, a flash of inspiration in the mind... It doesn't sound like a bad thing, but a good thing? But the state of enlightenment is actually just spacing out.

With a spear containing the Spirit of the Wisdom Tree, Su Zhou guarantees that the first thing that comes to the minds of all enemies hit directly or by the aftershock will definitely not be a counterattack, but 'Ah, I understand, how powerful, the path is at my feet!'.

As for what they understand, who knows? In any case, it is impossible to break through on the spot, or accidentally think of a way to break the situation. Even Su Zhou, the attacker, doesn't know what they will comprehend, so those people themselves will be even more unclear.

After all, the Wisdom Tree is not a breakthrough tree, and it is helping Su Zhou. Under the influence of the Wisdom Tree Spirit, the enemy might suddenly realize the importance of eating a healthy breakfast, or that eggs should be cooked before stir-frying them with rice... all sorts of trivial matters could be a trap.

In any case, whatever the enemy comprehends has nothing to do with Su Zhou, because in that moment of distraction, it would be enough for Su Zhou to kill him seven or eight times over.

In this way, Su Zhou also has an additional powerful control skill. Coupled with the 'Nightmare Suppression and Shepherd Spirit' spirit attachment on the Dragon Horn Spear, the effect will definitely be greater than two.

In addition to these weapons and spirit attachments used for combat, Su Zhou also brought some commonly used tools, such as a small knife for engraving runes, and some medicines that are useless to him, but might be very valuable to people in the other world... The experience of going to the Divine Wood World last time made Su Zhou prepared. He already knows what things are more useful in the other world, and what things are meaningless to bring.

After all, this is his second time going to the other world, and he is very clear about these things.

"It might not even be ancient or modern, it might even be the future."

Seeing Su Zhou's preparations, Yala, whose body has become larger and is now one centimeter thick, and quite 'huge', coiled around Su Zhou's shoulder, reminded him: "Although I can guess that the target this time is unlikely to be the future, there are also many space undead and cosmic necromancers. For the so-called ancient great existences, your future is just the past that they have experienced countless times."

Although it sounded like she was subtly bragging about herself, what Yala said was indeed reasonable. Su Zhou had actually thought about the style of space necromancers for a long time—after all, compared to humans, it is too convenient for necromancers to explore outer space. It even feels more convenient than robots, and it is a very suitable life form for exploring the stars.

"What can we do? Who told us that we searched for materials for a long time, but couldn't find the 'plot'?"

Su Zhou said this, shaking his head with some regret: "To be honest, if it wasn't for the fact that the Celestial God Imprint opened the gate, and I needed to go over as soon as possible, otherwise, the gate would automatically close, wasting the energy of traveling through time and space, I would definitely open the gate first to see the situation, confirm the situation, and then go to that world to explore."

This point is quite unsolvable. Unless Su Zhou can provide the spiritual energy to travel through worlds himself, then he must rely on the aura of the great existence within the demonic body if he wants to travel through. And finding a second Shepherd is quite difficult.

And not finding something like the plot of the Divine Wood World also prevents him from guessing in advance who the mastermind behind this world is, and he needs to find it himself.

But that's fine too. If he knew everything in advance, the other world would lose its meaning as a training ground.

"Although changing the plot is indeed very interesting, exploring unfamiliar games and the world itself is also one of the greatest pleasures for an 'exploration-type player' like me!"

Thinking like this, Su Zhou smiled and took out the silver pocket watch in his arms. He lowered his head, staring at the 'broken' divine object in his hand, which had no hands, and on the originally empty dial, a blue-green scale was now flashing.

That is the scale representing the coordinates of the Divine Wood World.

Everything is ready—divine knives, spears, holy water, spiritual objects, clothes, and all kinds of emergency food and water. Su Zhou sensed the transcendent high-level power in his body, which he had completely mastered. Each transcendent organ responded to each other, stirring up spiritual energy, creating a spiritual power wave around him as turbulent as the tide.

"This time, compared to the last time in the Divine Wood World, my strength has improved a lot. The officials of ordinary worlds are basically unlikely to stop me. In that case, my style of acting may be more open and aboveboard, which will also make it easier for me to see experts from all walks of life."

"Of course, it also depends on the situation. If that place is exceptionally xenophobic, or if they are all monsters and alien races, and my identity as a human is extremely inconvenient, then it is better to hide and be more low-key."

Su Zhou is very clear about his purpose in going to the other world this time—he wants to absorb the experience of the strong from other worlds, see the various powerful alien beasts that may exist in the other world, and provide materials and inspiration for condensing his 'true body'. In addition, he also wants to obtain some valuable additional resources from it to prepare for opening up a personal space in the future.

This is the primary purpose. As for defeating the avatar of the great existence, the Lonely Lord, in the other world, it is not urgent. At least Su Zhou is very clear that the three-year safety period brought about by the Divine Wood World has not passed, and he has plenty of time to grow before challenging strong enemies.

He is both high-profile and low-key, both confident and cautious. Humans are always contradictory and unified, and Su Zhou is naturally no exception: "Holy water has special effects on undead spirits, and I also specially learned the Heart-Clearing Mantra and various exorcism Taoist techniques—but because thunder magic itself is the most effective exorcism Taoist technique, there is actually no need to worry too much."

"Let's begin."

Saying this, Su Zhou turned his head to look at Yala, who was on his shoulder, and the red snake spirit smiled, then wriggled along Su Zhou's hand, wrapped around Su Zhou's fingers, and breathed out a breath towards the Celestial God Imprint.

It was a gray-black aura, like dust and mist. It released a silent spiritual light, but it did not have a dead or decaying aura. Instead, it had a tolerant and heavy feeling of accepting everything and watching everything.

This aura condensed in mid-air without dissipating, advancing as if it were rotating, and then, like this, it touched the Celestial God Scale.

This time, because there was a blue scale, the Celestial God Imprint, which was not as broken as before, absorbed all the gray-black aura into the imprint at a speed much faster than the first time—then, a huge force began to surge in response, and the pocket watch began to resonate with the distant spacetime.

In an instant, divine patterns spread, and light marks lit up—after the aura was swallowed, a power that was so vast that the transcendent of this era could hardly believe it emerged from the Celestial God Imprint, and then, it condensed into an incomparably clear gray-black imprint.

[—World Core Element·Rotation—]

[—Invasion Deviation Value 79.84%—]

[—High Stability Independent World—]

Just like the first time, Su Zhou heard an incomparably vast horn again, like a war song, and like a farewell... And this time, he vaguely heard more connotations, but before he could think about it carefully, a circular spacetime light sphere with gray-black brilliance, centered on the Celestial God Scale, had already appeared in front of Su Zhou.

Through the light sphere, Su Zhou could vaguely see the scenery of the other side of the world—it was a gray-black wilderness, the grass and trees were withered, the world was dim, gray clouds and raging winds surged together, and on the wilderness, there were no modern roads, but rather old horse roads.

"This feeling isn't very advanced."

Su Zhou raised his eyebrows slightly. He was fully armed and had brought all the supplies, and Yala had returned to the top of Su Zhou's head, watching the world on the other side with a smile.

However, Su Zhou had long expected a world that was not very advanced.

"Then, let's go!"

Thinking like this, the young man grinned, then stepped forward and touched the light sphere.

In an instant, his figure disappeared from Earth.

Traveling alone for thousands of miles, wandering through the worlds, helping those in need!

—Su Zhou has departed!