Chapter 362: The Worldly Figure, Manifestation of a Realm’s Will

"You’ve switched. So who are you? The Emperor of Ziyue?" Qi Suian backed away a few steps, his expression unreadable.

He wasn’t afraid of a sudden attack, but of the other party self-destructing.

After all, it wasn’t his own body, so he wouldn’t care how it was treated.

Blowing it up wouldn’t be a big deal either.

"Not exactly. I will wait for you in the Ghost City Mansion." After the other party spoke, the Royal Shadow Guard’s body actually began to melt.

The fusion-type ghost within was gradually exposed and began to awaken.

Qi Suian was already preparing to make a move, but after the Royal Shadow Guard melted, the malformed ghost also began to disintegrate.

This put him on high alert. ’The change is just too drastic.’

It was the first time he had ever seen a ghost die.

As for being burned in the Melting Furnace, that didn’t really count as death; it was more like being absorbed.

"Ghost City Mansion, right." Qi Suian quickly pulled up his map and found the location the other party mentioned.

The next logical step was... to get as far away as possible.

They were not only mysterious but also powerful. If it came to a fight, they’d be evenly matched—he was half a pound of scrap iron, and they were eight ounces of gold.

How could Qi Suian possibly be a match for someone who could dispose of a ghost so easily?

Showing up at their door would be no different from seeking death.

So, the best solution was naturally to find some ghosts to use as fuel and just muddle through this time.

As expected, none of the survivors who came to the Ghost City this time would make it out alive.

Apparently, his actions the last two times had been too conspicuous, attracting the attention of certain existences in the Ghost World.

He turned and flew in the opposite direction of the Ghost City Mansion, but Qi Suian discovered a problem.

There was something wrong with the space itself. He was clearly flying in the opposite direction, yet no matter how he changed his flight path, he always ended up heading toward the Ghost City Mansion.

"Looks like I’m their target. I don’t have a choice but to go," Qi Suian muttered.

’Since I can’t escape, I might as well go see what’s up.’

There’s no shame in running away, but only if it works.

Otherwise, it would be both useless and shameful, so what would be the point of running?

Once he stopped resisting, the journey shortened bizarrely. The very next second, Qi Suian found himself at the entrance of the Ghost City Mansion.

The entire mansion appeared incredibly dilapidated, a state best summarized as long-neglected and in disrepair.

"What a dump. For such a big city, the main mansion looks like this? They’re not afraid of losing face," Qi Suian grumbled as he stepped over the threshold.

But with that single step, everything changed in a world-altering fashion.

The dilapidated facade began to repair itself under some immense power. Dead trees sprang back to life, the dry pond filled with clear water, and koi fish even appeared, swimming within.

It was as if time was rewinding, returning the mansion to its most glorious era.

This was only the beginning. The four seasons cycled through the mansion, divided yet coexisting, as if an entire year had been crammed into the present moment.

Qi Suian’s expression was calm; inwardly, he knew exactly what was going on.

’Just a flashy display to put me in my place.’

It was completely unnecessary. They had already made their show of force when they disintegrated the ghost. Qi Suian was being quite well-behaved now.

He had other ideas, but he didn’t dare act on them.

’If I weren’t a coward, how would I have survived this long?’

There was only one path before him. Qi Suian walked forward slowly, passing directly through a full cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

With his attributes, the four seasons should have felt much the same. However, because the other party was using a power akin to fundamental principles, and the Tai Sui God’s controllable rule-containment structure was empty, it had no effect.

At the end of the path, in a pavilion, Qi Suian finally saw a blurry human figure.

The figure was just a silhouette; the rest of it was impossible to see clearly, occasionally flickering with distortion.

The figure had already brewed tea. Seeing Qi Suian standing at the edge of the pavilion, it finally spoke.

"You’re here. Sit." The figure acted with a familiar air, pouring Qi Suian a cup of tea as it spoke.

Qi Suian took the hint and sat down directly across from the figure.

He glanced at the tea, then picked it up and took a sip.

He was no connoisseur, but he could tell that this was just tea, with no strange additives or anything of the sort.

"I’m curious. The Ziyue Dynasty shouldn’t have tea, right?" Qi Suian voiced his confusion.

"It’s a specialty of the Truth Layer, not a product of the Reality Layer." The figure also picked up its cup and took a sip.

Qi Suian wasn’t surprised by the terminology. The entity had most likely acquired some of his thoughts or memories.

’For an expert of this caliber, isn’t something like that incredibly simple?’

For a Mahayana Stage master to see through the thoughts and memories of someone at the Qi Cultivation Stage was as easy as it gets.

They wouldn’t even have to lift a finger; a single glance would be enough.

That’s why the idea of a weaker person hatching clever plots and schemes against a stronger one is so utterly absurd—unless that expert is exceptionally well-mannered and restrains themselves.

"What do you want with me?" Qi Suian asked bluntly.

"The Doomsday Game is hiding in another world, controlling survivors to plunder the Ghost World’s origin."

"I need your cooperation," the figure said slowly.

"Don’t you know? I rely on the Doomsday Game to get by. It’s my bread and butter," Qi Suian said coldly.

The figure lifted its teacup, took another slow sip, and then said, "I’ll pay more."

"I know you’re not a survivor. You’re a violator."

"The Doomsday Game is using you as an anchor point. Don’t you feel even a little resentment?" As it spoke, the figure seemed to hint at a smile.

"It’s not a question of more money. Without it, I’d lose my platform for traveling between worlds," Qi Suian refused again.

’Of course I want more money, but between money and my life, is there even a choice?’

’I’d obviously choose the latter.’

"I have no interest in the Doomsday Game, and even less in traveling between worlds," the figure said calmly. "If the Doomsday Game hadn’t made the first move, I wouldn’t care at all about this so-called doomsday."

After hearing this, Qi Suian confirmed the figure’s identity. It had only been a guess before, but now it was certain.

The World Will of the Ghost World. Qi Suian was just a little puzzled. ’Isn’t this a bit too human-like?’

’Could it have changed like this just to communicate with me better?’

Secondly, Qi Suian also confirmed another thing: everything in the Truth Layer may have once existed. It was a part of the past.

Intercepted, or perhaps even recreated, by the World Will.

"What’s in it for me?" Since the other party had pushed it this far, Qi Suian had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

’Right, my life has been on the line from the start.’

’With such a terrifying existence making demands, how could I possibly have the guts to refuse?’

’In that case, I might as well ask what I can get out of it.’

"You want to fuse with the armor on your body, don’t you."

"And you want camouflage and mimicry modules."

"Of course, if you weren’t so wary, I could also help you increase the number of times your armor has evolved."

The figure refilled Qi Suian’s tea before laying out its terms.

"That’s right, I do," Qi Suian said, ignoring the last offer. The figure had a point.

"Upon completion of our cooperation, I will give you a set of camouflage and mimicry modules. Don’t worry, they’ll be F-rank," the figure stated casually, then continued, "As for the fusion..."

"Even if I gave it to you, you probably wouldn’t take it."

"So, continue on your own path. The Ghost Control Technique can serve as a reference."

"Celestial Capital has everything you want."

"I will prepare ghosts with twinning and fusion abilities for you."

"You can have them as a down payment." The terms offered by the figure were indeed generous.

So generous that Qi Suian was almost afraid to accept.

"I also want to kill the protagonist," Qi Suian added, making another direct demand.

"I’m afraid that’s not possible. I transferred the protagonist’s halo to someone else years ago," the figure refused.

Hearing this, Qi Suian’s expression turned odd. ’You can just give that thing away?’

"So this world has no protagonist anymore?" Qi Suian asked.

"That is correct. There is no protagonist," the figure replied affirmatively.

"Alright. What price do I have to pay?" Qi Suian believed it; there was no reason for the entity to lie to him.

With the figure’s power, crushing him would be effortless.

"There is no price. Just two steps."

"Go to the Celestial Capital, and then proceed to the world where the Doomsday Game is located."

"I am very experienced in dealing with invaders," the figure said.

Qi Suian felt it wasn’t that simple. ’It’s unrealistic to think there’s no danger involved.’

"In that case... can you help me kill all the other survivors while you’re at it?" Qi Suian thought, ’Since we’re at this point, I might as well ask for more.’

"No. I need to introduce survivors to create a new balance in the Reality Layer."

"The Ghost World has become too absurd. While survival isn’t a problem, restoring civilization and order requires external help."

"Therefore, I cannot agree to this condition."

"But rest assured, the Doomsday Game will not be able to take away any survivor except for you," the figure first refused, then gave Qi Suian its answer.

"Fine, I understand." Qi Suian naturally didn’t object.

The fact that it was bothering to explain showed great patience. If it were Qi Suian, and some weakling was whining and complaining to him, he would have just slapped them silly.

’My personal etiquette still needs improvement.’

"So, are you going to send me out of the Truth Layer, or should I just let things happen naturally?" Qi Suian asked.

"Let things happen naturally. There is no need to force it."

"Since our cooperation is agreed upon, do you have any other questions? If not, I still have preparations to make."

As it spoke, the figure surprisingly took out a strange Crystal Core.

"This is the down payment." Saying so, it handed the deposit to Qi Suian.

Qi Suian took it without hesitation and said, "No more questions. I wish you a smooth journey."

As soon as he finished speaking, the figure’s distortion grew more severe until it finally vanished completely from Qi Suian’s sight.

At the same time, the Ghost City Mansion reverted to its original dilapidated state, as if its recent splendor had been nothing but an illusion.