Li Dongze paused, carefully choosing his words. "The Spirit Realm is a supernatural phenomenon currently beyond scientific explanation. Despite our ongoing efforts to analyze and understand it, we still lack a complete grasp of its nature. The Spirit Realm exists within reality, yet remains detached from it, accessible only to those chosen by it."
"And the method of selection..." He took a sip of wine, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You should have experienced it firsthand."
"That card?" Zhang Yuanqing responded promptly.
Li Dongze nodded slightly. "It's called a Character Card. Obtaining one initiates a Trial Mission. Successfully completing the Trial grants you a corresponding profession, along with its associated skills and attributes."
"The Spirit Realm's selection mechanism for Walkers remains a mystery. The distribution methods for Character Cards are equally unpredictable. Sometimes they materialize directly within your body; other times you might stumble upon one by the roadside; or you might accidentally click a link online."
"Completing the Trial Mission is just the beginning. To level up and grow stronger, Spirit Realm Walkers must continuously accept missions and enter the Spirit Realm. But don't worry, missions aren't frequent, and not every Spirit Realm scenario is life-threatening. In fact, some can be quite fascinating."
"Take me, for example. As a Level 3 Scout, I've entered the Spirit Realm every month for the past two years. But I only enter a Solo Spirit Realm once every three months, and I nearly died in one. The rest of the time, I go into Multiplayer Spirit Realms, which are relatively safer and more interesting. Heh, if you want to gain supernatural abilities, you have to pay the price."
Li Dongze paused, giving Zhang Yuanqing a chance to ask questions.
"So it's like game dungeons?" Zhang Yuanqing offered his understanding.
Li Dongze smiled. "I enjoy talking to young people like you. You grasp concepts quickly and are eager to embrace new things."
After a brief nod of approval, he continued, "Exactly. Think of it like playing a game. The Spirit Realm is the dungeon. Some dungeons are solo-type, while others are multiplayer, either cooperative or competitive. Solo-type dungeons are the most dangerous, with the highest mortality rates.
"Multiplayer dungeons are relatively safer, with two types: death-type and penalty-type. The latter only deducts experience points."
Zhang Yuanqing frowned. "Why are solo-type dungeons so much more dangerous?"
Li Dongze pondered for a moment. "In multiplayer Spirit Realms, you'll encounter Spirit Realm Walkers from other professions. But in solo-type realms, you're facing challenges tailored to your own profession. Take Scouts, for example. Their Transcendent Stage abilities are insight, tracking, and analysis."
"So, the three Solo Spirit Realms I encountered were: playing a detective solving a case; hunting each other down in a jungle; and wilderness survival. Also, the Spirit Realm dungeons for each profession differ between the Transcendent Phase and the Saint Stage."
My profession is Nightwalker, so I entered Supernatural Dungeons. Phew, thank goodness for Multiplayer Dungeons, or I'd have pissed myself in the Spirit Realm sooner or later. The Saint Stage Spirit Realm dungeons will change? Zhang Yuanqing nodded as he listened.
"Lei Yibing's disappearance—did he enter the Spirit Realm?" Zhang Yuanqing asked gravely.
He urgently needed confirmation from an official source to validate his suspicions. If Bing Ge had entered the Spirit Realm, things wouldn't be as dire.
Li Dongze pondered for a moment before replying, "After Lei Yibing's bizarre disappearance, the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau took over the case. Their assessment is that Lei Yibing has already died in the Spirit Realm."
Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart stop for a moment, overwhelming anxiety and panic surging through him. "Why?"
Li Dongze explained, "Because it's been too long. Normal Spirit Realm dungeons, at least in the Transcendent Stage, last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Lei Yibing has been missing for four days now. The Transcendent Stage represents Levels 1 to 3."
"What about above the Transcendent Stage?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but there should be longer dungeons."
Maybe Bing Ge is a powerful Spirit Realm Walker, Zhang Yuanqing thought, trying to reassure himself.
At his current stage, with his limited abilities and knowledge, he was powerless to help Bing Ge's disappearance.
Joining the Official Organization and saving himself was now his top priority.
"Oh, before I introduce you to the Official Organization, there's one more crucial thing," Li Dongze said, taking a sip of wine to clear his throat. "What's your Morality Value?"
"60 points, the initial value," Zhang Yuanqing answered honestly.
Li Dongze nodded. "For a newcomer like you, the Morality Value is the biggest pitfall. Remember that."
"Why do you say that?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, his confusion evident.
"Remember the note beneath the Morality Value?"
Yes, it said, 'Make me a good person,' Zhang Yuanqing nearly struck a Hua Tsai pose.
Li Dongze's expression turned serious.
"The initial Morality Value is 60. Falling below this threshold triggers the Spirit Realm's punishment mechanism. It will broadcast your location to all Spirit Realm Walkers in the city and issue a bounty for your elimination."
Zhang Yuanqing's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"So I can never do anything bad for the rest of my life?"
Well, I'm not saying I want to do bad things, but being a saint is exhausting.
Besides, what's the standard for measuring Morality Value? If crafting and sharing suggestive art counts as moral decay, then I'm doomed.
Li Dongze chuckled, clearly enjoying the newcomer's flustered expression. He explained slowly:
"Don't worry too much. Based on our observations, Spirit Realm Walkers who steal, rob, or injure others will have 1-5 Morality Value points deducted, depending on the severity of the offense. Murder costs 10 points. Causing serious consequences, such as multiple deaths or injuries, will result in corresponding deductions based on the severity of the incident.
"As for lapses in personal morality, they won't affect your Morality Value. Also, while your Morality Value can be deducted, it can also be accumulated. That's why we encourage you to be a good person."
This system seemed deliberately designed to restrain Spirit Realm Walkers. But why would the Spirit Realm want to control its Walkers?
Morality and law are constructs created by humans to maintain order. In the natural world, apart from humans, other creatures don't need such concepts.
In other words, unless the Spirit Realm's allegiance lies with humanity, the existence of Morality Value seems illogical.
But the Spirit Realm is a supernatural phenomenon!
Zhang Yuanqing instinctively felt this restriction was illogical. Since Li Dongze didn't explain, it meant he didn't know the reason either. From their conversation, it was clear the Official Organization's understanding of the Spirit Realm was limited.
Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood. "I see now. No wonder it's such a trap for newcomers. So, how do you accumulate Morality Value?"
New Spirit Realm Walkers often use their newfound powers to do things they previously couldn't, like making money. But the fastest ways to get rich are all listed in the criminal code.
What else was I wondering? Hmm... Would supporting impoverished young women lower my Morality Value? In the Spirit Realm's definition, would that count as a moral failing or a legal violation?
Zhang Yuanqing didn't dare ask that question yet. They weren't close enough, and he didn't want to leave a bad impression on his future leader.
"Accumulating Morality Value is as simple as lowering it—just do good deeds. In fact, many Spirit Realm Walkers from evil organizations are enthusiastic about charity and donations. It's the fastest way to accumulate Morality Value. With enough money, they can kill with impunity." Li Dongze scoffed.
"Isn't it ironic? You never truly know the true faces behind those who do charity. And even more ironic is that human lives can be measured in money. That's the reality, both in the real world and the Spirit Realm.
"Also, killing other Spirit Realm Walkers doesn't deduct Morality Value."
After Zhang Yuanqing had digested this information, Li Dongze continued:
"Next, let's talk about the Official Organizations.
"The Official Organization we belong to is called the Five Elements Alliance, composed of five major factions: the Hundred Flowers Association, the White Tiger Corps, the Crimson Fire Gang, the Water God Palace, and the Central Court. These five factions represent five distinct professions: Wood Spirits, Scouts, Fire Masters, Water Ghosts, and Earth Fiends."
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but mentally scoff: Why are all the Official Organizations full of monsters and demons?
"Besides the Five Elements Alliance, there are several other organizations with official backing. I'll send you the details later," Li Dongze said, twirling his wine glass.
"The five factions within the Five Elements Alliance only formed their alliance in the last twenty years. Before that, they operated independently, and their relationships were far from harmonious. This stems from the Five Elements' cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the inherent differences in the professions' natures."
Li Dongze took a sip of wine and shrugged. "Take the Wood Spirits from the Hundred Flowers Association, for example. They're a bunch of radical environmentalists and animal rights activists. Can you believe they actually tried to get the Five Elements Alliance headquarters to ban members from eating dog meat? Even God wouldn't go that far! Every time I see their sickeningly sentimental faces over animals, I can't resist the urge to kick their asses with my boots."
Next, Li Dongze launched into a scathing critique of the four major professions outside the White Tiger Corps.
This gave Zhang Yuanqing a vivid understanding of the Five Elements Alliance's other organizations. For instance, the Crimson Fire Gang, who preferred action over words; the Water God Palace, with their gloomy personalities and penchant for cultivating viruses and bacteria; and the Central Court, a group of nouveau riche tycoons involved in real estate and mining development.
"Only our White Tiger Corps Scouts—wise, calm, and decisive—represent the perfect profession," Li Dongze concluded.
Do the other four organizations agree with that assessment? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
"Heh, the more you explain, the more it sounds like a game, doesn't it? Even within the Five Elements Alliance, some refer to the Spirit Realm as a 'game server.' Spirit Realm Walkers have character panels, items, and quests, while each distinct Spirit Realm functions like a separate dungeon. Moreover, there are different classes. The Crimson Fire Gang members are reckless and impulsive, reveling in violence—they're like berserkers. The Water God Palace members wield water manipulation abilities, making them water mages. The Hundred Flowers Association can raise pets and heal injuries, making them priests and summoners. The Central Court members are tough and durable, the quintessential MTs."
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't resist a teasing remark:
"So, are your Scouts like those 75-gold eyes in the game?"
Li Dongze froze, his grip tightening on his cane. He replied expressionlessly, "If I were a Fire Master from the Crimson Fire Gang, I would have already smashed your dog head with this cane."
"My apologies!" Zhang Yuanqing immediately apologized.
After the joke, the atmosphere between them grew more relaxed. Li Dongze chuckled, "Once Scouts reach the Transcendent Phase, they gain formidable solo combat capabilities. When I say it's a near-perfect class, I'm not exaggerating."
"Of course, among the orthodox professions, the Nightwalker is universally acknowledged as the strongest. I'm referring to orthodox professions, mind you, not the evil ones. Even we Scouts have to admit that Nightwalkers are slightly more perfect than us."
Ah? Nightwalkers are that strong? Can they take on ten opponents? Zhang Yuanqing's heart leaped with excitement. "Could you tell me more about the Nightwalker profession?"
Li Dongze chuckled, understanding the young man's admiration for strength. "Even in the Early Transcendent Stage, Nightwalkers possess formidable assassination skills and explosive power. They can also communicate with souls, refine corpses, and control spirits. Their diverse abilities and formidable combat prowess make them truly formidable."
"However, Nightwalkers are exceedingly rare. Currently, the Songhai City branch doesn't have any Nightwalkers. This is partly because Songhai has too few Nightwalker Trial Spirit Realms, and partly because the Taiyi Sect in the Capital City is constantly recruiting Nightwalkers from across the country."
As he spoke, he naturally inquired about the new employee's profession:
"What's your profession? I hope you're not a Fire Master. I despise crude, hot-tempered young men."