strictlysupreme Chapter 28 The Secret of the Ruins, Even the System Backs Down?
Chapter 28 The Secret of the Ruins, Even the System Backs Down?
Li, the coder, pushed up glasses that weren't even on his face. On the screen of the tablet-like magical artifact in his hand, the unfortunate Taoist priest who had been stripped of his cultivation was displayed as a headshot on the homepage of the "Three Paths Crossing" app.
Below the photo, a line of large, blood-red characters stands out: "Dishonest judgment debtor: Zhang Daoling of Longhushan (self-proclaimed)."
"Boss, the list of dishonest individuals has been launched and can now be viewed in real time by all users of the Underworld APP."
Li's tone was completely flat, as if he were reporting that the server was running normally.
At the ferry crossing, in the endless queue, countless ghosts were pointing and gesturing at the large headshot, holding up various styles of soul-nourishing wooden phones.
"Holy crap, it actually got hung up! This punishment is worse than being thrown into the deepest hell!"
"Serves him right! Let him cut in line! What do you call Boss Chu's tactic? Oh right, making an example of him!"
"Who would dare to break the rules after this? A ruined credit history means you'll be affected not only in your next life, but even in your next life, it'll impact your ability to get a mortgage!"
The ghosts were buzzing with discussion, and their gazes toward Chu Jiang had shifted from simple awe to fanaticism.
It was a fervor born from the fervor of finally seeing the dawn of order and fairness after being suppressed for thousands of years.
The underworld officials in the other line were all drenched in sweat.
Looking at the Celestial Master's "last portrait" and then at the gifts in their hands, they suddenly felt that these thousand-year-old soul crystals and ten-thousand-year-old yin wood were burning hot.
Chu Jiang ignored the group of officials with their own thoughts and focused his gaze on the very front of the ghost procession.
The tattered Taoist priest who had been silent all along, bound by the "shackles of Heaven," finally got his turn.
Unlike other ghosts, he didn't rush to board the ship, nor did he look at the Yellow Springs Spirit Boat surrounded by the light of merit.
He simply raised his head, his deep, almost lifeless eyes gazing silently at Chu Jiang.
Chu Jiang was also looking at him.
From the very first day this Taoist priest appeared, the system was constantly issuing alarms.
"Destination?" Chu Jiang asked, his voice calm.
The Taoist priest did not answer, but slowly reached out his hand from his tattered Taoist robe.
In his hand, he held a black, irregularly shaped fragment.
The fragment looked like some kind of stone, or perhaps charred wood. It contained no magical energy, yet it exuded an ancient aura that made even the soul tremble.
"Go to the place written on this."
The Taoist priest finally spoke, his voice hoarse and dry, like two rusty iron pieces rubbing against each other.
Chu Jiang's Netherworld Eye swept over the fragment.
Two distorted ancient characters are engraved in the center of the fragment.
【Return to the Ruins】.
"The navigation doesn't have this place," Chu Jiang replied expressionlessly. "You're being unreasonable and it'll affect my performance evaluation."
The Taoist priest seemed to smile, but his face, obscured by his long hair, was not clearly visible.
"Your 'navigation' is nothing more than a cage with more features."
He handed the black fragment forward.
"With this, your navigation system needs an upgrade."
Just as Chu Jiang reached out to take the fragment, the arrogant system in his mind suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream.
[WARNING! Unresolved fragments of a high-dimensional causal weapon have been detected!]
[Danger Level: Apocalypse!]
[The system's logic framework is at risk of being contaminated! The host is advised to destroy this item immediately! Immediately! Right now!]
A series of blood-red warnings flashed wildly in Chu Jiang's mind like a screen being refreshed.
Chu Jiang's hand paused in mid-air.
This was the first time he had ever seen a system so cowardly.
He didn't pull his hand back; instead, he grabbed the black fragment.
It feels cool to the touch, yet carries a strange burning sensation.
[Warning! Host behavior has triggered the system's highest-level risk contingency plan! The system will soon be forced into hibernation to protect core data...]
The system's voice grew fainter and fainter, and finally, with a "sizzle," it went completely silent.
Chu Jiang looked at the broken thing in his hand that had even scared the system into crashing, and twitched the corner of his mouth.
interesting.
He mobilized the power of the Ghost King within him and attempted to probe into the fragment.
boom--
An indescribable torrent instantly overwhelmed his consciousness.
He seemed to see a shattered sky, and a crumbling underworld dynasty, ten thousand times more magnificent than the current underworld.
Countless powerful gods and demons wailed, and the endless cycle of reincarnation collapsed.
A surge of despair and resentment, originating from the death of the entire plane, crashed deep into the depths of his soul.
"puff!"
Chu Jiang's soul trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of pure soul power.
Before he could regain his composure, the black fragment in his hand suddenly transformed into a beam of black light and disappeared directly into his palm.
Holy crap!
Chu Jiang couldn't help but curse.
This thing even has a forced binding feature?
Immediately afterwards, a power even more magnificent and ancient than the previous torrent exploded from his palm, instantly sweeping across his entire body.
This power contains no resentment, no despair, only the purest law of "crossing over," like the law of the beginning of time.
It was like a key that unlocked a shackle deep within Chu Jiang's soul.
Within Chu Jiang's body, the soul power that had just reached the late stage of Ghost King surged dramatically, like gasoline that had been ignited!
His underworld official robes fluttered without wind, and his soul began to emit a dazzling golden light.
That was not the light of merit, but an immortal radiance emanating from within when the soul was condensed to its ultimate state.
The Ghost King has reached perfection!
Peak Ghost King!
Just one step away from breaking through to the next major realm!
"not enough."
Chu Jiang could sense that the power of the "Crossing" Law needed an outlet to be released.
His gaze swept across the entire room.
The light swept over the queuing ghosts, over the trembling officials, and finally landed on the ever-flowing River of the Underworld.
He raised his hand and gently shook it over the entire Santu Ferry section of the river.
"I set the rules, I maintain order."
"This river shall belong to me."
Words become law!
The section of the river that had already transformed into holy water of merit suddenly began to boil.
The authority over the entire river, along with the boundless merit contained within it, was forcibly extracted by an invisible force, transforming into a golden dragon that roared and surged into Chu Jiang's body.
Boom—
Chu Jiang's soul emitted a sound like glass shattering and then reforming.
An aura far surpassing that of the Ghost King soared into the sky, sweeping across the entire area of the First Hall of the Underworld.
Ghost General (early stage)!
His body, which had originally appeared somewhat ethereal, had now become incredibly solid, with a faint golden light flowing across his skin. He looked no different from a flesh and blood body, yet he exuded the majesty of a god or Buddha.
Under this overwhelming aura, the ghosts in the queue involuntarily knelt down.
That wasn't out of fear, but rather an absolute suppression on a life level.
Even the ghost generals and officials like Yao Lao felt their souls tremble, as if they were facing an ancient deity walking in the world.
"I...I'm not seeing things, am I? He...he broke through again?"
"Only a few days? From Ghost King to Ghost Commander? Are they even letting ghosts live?"
Just as all the ghosts and gods were stunned, a brand new voice came from the crashed system in Chu Jiang's mind.
[System restart complete... Logical framework refactoring complete.]
[The host has been detected to have come into contact with the root information of 'Return to the Void' and has merged with the fundamental laws of 'The Ferryman'.]
The "God-Level Ferryman System" is no longer applicable to the current version.
[Automatically upgrading to—'The Multiverse Working System'.]
Chu Jiang was stunned.
Working class?
Why were they downgraded?
The core authority concept of "ferrying" has been completed.
[Current Position: Trainee Ferryman of All Realms]
[Mission Objective: To guide the lost, broken, and even dead worlds to the 'Ruins of Return,' completing the final cycle of reincarnation.]
[The new player gift pack has been updated. Please check it.]
The screen in front of Chu Jiang transformed into a familiar blue and white recruitment software interface.
His name was listed in the "My Resume" section.
He looked at the silent, ragged Taoist priest, who had already quietly boarded the Yellow Springs Spirit Boat.
Chu Jiang took a deep breath and stepped onto the boat.
He has many questions he wants to ask.
"Who exactly are you?"
The ragged Taoist priest raised his head, revealing a handsome face that was etched with weariness.
"I?"
"A failed extradition officer."
He pointed to the endless darkness beyond the bow of the ship.
"Let's go, we've arrived at your first stop."
"A world that has just died is waiting for you to sign for it."