The office of the garrison, illuminated by the soft glow of crystals embedded in the ceiling and walls, akin to night-shining pearls.
Four people were staring at each other.
The Garrison Commander, Xidina.
The Deputy Garrison Commander, Xing Jinglei.
The Deputy Garrison Commander, Yiluo Xi.
And the newly arrived Deputy Garrison Commander, Qian Qiu.
Among the four, none possessed management skills above average. The strongest was Yiluo Xi, whose management level could be rated at... thirty points out of a hundred.
Fang You watched from afar, shaking his head and chuckling.
This wasn't a major issue, as the organization had plenty of individuals skilled in personnel and financial management. The Garrison Commander's primary role was merely to strike a pose and suppress all dissent.
In this regard, Yiluo Xi was quite competent, frequently making appearances to intimidate wrongdoers… although Fang You suspected her posturing constituted a significant portion of her efforts.
Instructor Fang mused that the Mythology Coaching Class could probably start soon.
While he was contemplating the start of the training class and the workers' 996 schedule, Qian Qiu, inside the garrison office, was exclaiming "Holy hell!"
Four Mythological beings.
Was this the appropriate scale for a small oasis?
Were Mythological beings as common as cabbage in the organization?
At the thought of the organization's grand ambitions, Qian Qiu suddenly understood why an organization as powerful as Xinhuo remained unknown in the entire Weird Realm.
They needed to lie low, bide their time, and accumulate strength, so that one day they could shatter those 'commonplace' disasters.
Such a powerful organization, and the instructor still offered generous compensation. Hmm, he could finally work with peace of mind. It was just that the benefits were too high, and there were too many formidable individuals. Would there be a risk of unemployment?
Qian Qiu fell into contemplation.
Yiluo Xi was also contemplating.
She, the illustrious president of the Sisterhood, the invincible empress who single-handedly protected the oasis, had lost face in front of a newcomer on her very first day! Dammit!
What? You say Qian Qiu wasn't a newcomer but a Mythological being, an elder in the organization? Yiluo Xi didn't care about that. She had been the Garrison Commander here first, so she was the senior, the big boss.
Besides, was being a Mythological being that impressive? I, Yiluo Xi, am destined to be invincible in this world. Sooner or later, I will become a Mythological being, and even now, I won't be inferior to any Mythological being!
This was Yiluo Xi's invincible confidence.
Having just been completely defeated by Xidina, it hadn't dampened her confidence one bit.
Xing Jinglei was also contemplating.
Another Mythological being suddenly appeared. Wait, why did I say 'another'?
Just a few months ago, Xidina had appeared just like this. No, perhaps this Mythological being had been here all along, and it was only as his own level and authority within the organization increased that he gradually came into contact with more secrets and the organization's old monsters.
Indeed, his own organization was unfathomable!
How many more Mythological beings like Xidina and Qian Qiu were there?
No, he had to work even harder. This young master would definitely not be weaker than others!
Looking at the three deep in thought, Xidina's cowlick twitched. Her hands rested by her thighs, her eyes cast slightly downward, continuing to… zone out.
An eerie awkwardness fell upon the office.
Qian Qiu snapped out of his reverie, clasped his hands together, and broke the silence. "Old brothers and sisters, I'll be sticking with you guys from today onwards. I'm hosting a banquet tonight at Gourmet Heaven. Don't be late!"
In Qian Qiu's opinion, having reached the Mythological realm at 29, he couldn't be any younger. What kind of decent Mythological being didn't start at a hundred years old?
Although the colleagues in front of him looked young, especially the 'red-haired empress,' who looked as young as a minor, Mythological beings had the art of maintaining their youth. Advancing early made them look young, and they could very well be old enough to be his grandmother.
He deliberated between calling them aunties and uncles or old brothers and sisters, eventually choosing the latter.
The 23-year-old Xidina's cowlick twitched, as if she were still lost in thought.
The 17-year-old Yiluo Xi felt that the older gentleman in front of her was a bit strange, but her limited brain capacity was immediately captivated by the words 'Gourmet Heaven.' Her eyes lit up like bright lamps.
"Young man, good job, you're on the right track!"
She wasn't a glutton; she just enjoyed the thrill of getting something for free.
Xing Jinglei, however, snorted. "A gathering? Forget it. I have cultivation tasks this afternoon and will cultivate until tomorrow morning! When do I have time to waste!"
He had understood long ago that this guy was trying to affect his cultivation speed!
Would he, Master Xing, fall for such a trick?
Yiluo Xi was displeased. "Hey, hey, you're too much of a try-hard! Is it really that serious!"
Xing Jinglei crossed his arms. "You little brat, what do you know!"
At this moment, Xidina spoke a word of reason. "Is there a conflict between eating and cultivating?"
Xing Jinglei fell silent.
Right, he cultivated the Gluttonous Body Tempering Method, which required eating.
Why would he refuse an opportunity to eat for free?
Xing Jinglei remained silent.
The daily lives of the garrison commanders were not very busy. They mainly cultivated, occasionally appeared to beat people up, and had the vast majority of their 24 hours to themselves.
They also enjoyed the highest-grade training facilities within the garrison.
And received a not-insignificant amount of contribution points.
Qian Qiu had looked into the organization's prices and the relationship between contribution points and exchanges.
As a Deputy Garrison Commander, he could receive 6,000 basic contribution points per month. In a few months, he could accumulate enough contribution points to exchange for an Epic Weird Artifact. This… was too fast?
An Epic Weird Artifact outside cost tens of thousands at the low end and millions at the high end, good heavens!
Most importantly, working here required only sitting around. It was not hard, not dangerous, and there was remarkably little to do!
So little that Qian Qiu felt uncomfortable.
After all, when he was an assassin at his previous employer, not only were the missions extremely dangerous, but they were also incredibly time-sensitive. The most crucial thing was the extremely low remuneration! After so many years of work, he had only paid off the loans for the 'Hidden Kill Cloak,' 'Hidden Kill Under Armor,' 'Sky Net Hands,' and 'Soul Severing Scythe,' with little savings left.
He was considered poor even among the Six Senses, let alone among Mythological beings? He would definitely be the poorest of the poor.
However, he was poor only within the circle of the strong. He could still afford a dinner gathering.
He was just astonished by the lack of workload!
"Little? This is just basic work. We still have plenty of missions on our list that we can take. Work hard, and earning thirty thousand a month isn't a dream."
So, six thousand a month was just the minimum living standard?
What kind of organization was Xinhuo, anyway!
...
That night, under a bright moon and sparse stars, Qian Qiu, after a day of work (daydreaming), hosted a banquet at Gourmet Heaven.
He used internal channels, allowing for a 40% discount and the use of the VIP Room Number One. This was crucial. According to the Garrison Commander, currently, only Yiluo Xi was publicly known as the Garrison Commander of the oasis. Everyone else had to remain temporarily hidden. By concealing their strength, they could overturn the situation when they were targeted.
There was logic to this.
However, with four Mythological beings already, they were practically invincible in outer regions like the Fallen Star Grotto. Did they still need to be so… so tactical!
On his first day of formal contact with other core members of the organization, Qian Qiu's worldview was somewhat shattered.
After ordering, he sat in the private room, flipping through the menu. The prices were not cheap, after all, this was a commercial area (a tourist attraction). The ingredients for each dish were carefully selected, with many dishes featuring high-grade ingredients.
Looking at it, Qian Qiu understood why this restaurant dared to charge such high prices.
Expensive, but with good reason.
In super-oases like the Seven Star Alliance, the Crimson Lotus Empire, and the Ancient Moon Dynasty, restaurants that could provide high-grade ingredients were not common, as most were consumed internally.
He scanned the prices of the dishes.
With a wave of his hand, he pointed at the menu and said to order everything.
"High-grade ingredients contain a lot of energy and are very filling, but after all, we are high-level awakened beings, we can definitely digest them."
Even if he couldn't finish it, he had to order a lot.
How could a Mythological being who was treating guests be stingy?
Besides, Qian Qiu himself was hungry. Traveling through the Shattered Sea to the Fallen Star Grotto had consumed too much of his energy. Although Mythological beings didn't need to eat, when their own consumption was high, eating was the easiest way to replenish it.
Perhaps he would be the one to finish the leftovers later.
Qian Qiu thought to himself.
He took Mu Mu and the others to the adjacent private room, telling them to order whatever they liked, and he would pay. He then returned to Room Number One, waiting while browsing the panel in his mind.
Time gradually approached the mealtime.
The red-haired empress Yiluo Xi arrived first. The blonde Garrison Commander arrived second. Xing Jinglei, stout and wearing a loose martial arts uniform, entered right on time.
"Serve the food!"
Exquisitely crafted and fragrant dishes were presented.
Qian Qiu picked up a piece of third-order beast meat with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth, his expression immediately changing slightly.
This taste…
The devilishly spicy flavor felt like a volcano erupting within his body, but it wasn't painful. Instead, it washed away all discomfort, making every cell in his body boil, compelling him to roar…
"Delicious!"
Qian Qiu did not roar.
He was a Mythological being, he had this much self-control. It was just that the deliciousness was far stronger than he had anticipated. He had never tasted such a unique flavor, and with just one bite, he couldn't fully appreciate it.
He took another bite.
He extended his chopsticks towards the exquisite white jade plate, then suddenly stopped in mid-air, stunned.
Where was the meat? Where was that large plate of high-grade beast meat?
He merely caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye as Xing Jinglei picked up the last piece, stuffed it into his mouth, and then reached for another plate of new dishes.
Qian Qiu: "???"
There weren't many customers at Gourmet Heaven, and the food was served quickly. Moreover, this was a dinner for the garrison commanders, so they wouldn't dare to be slow.
Various dishes were served quickly, and they were devoured even faster.
Qian Qiu gradually forgot the deliciousness exploding in his mouth, staring blankly at his three colleagues in front of him, who were sweeping away the presented delicacies like a storm.
It looked less like they were eating and more like they were fighting.
And indeed, it was.
As high-grade food entered their stomachs, a furnace-like roar sounded within Xing Jinglei's body. He was eating, and he was also cultivating.
Yiluo Xi glanced over, her wine-red hair standing on end.
Dammit!
They were competing even during meals!
She exerted all her strength to grab dishes and control her digestive system to accelerate digestion. She utilized her extremely strong body control. After cultivating 'Empty Meditation,' Yiluo Xi's body control had long surpassed her previous limit of fourfold.
Her entire body was now in operation!
But she still seemed slow, unable to match Xing Jinglei, nor Xidina, who seemed to have a low presence but was eating with gusto, albeit slowly.
Damn it! Damn it!
Influenced by the three, Qian Qiu's speed of grabbing dishes also gradually increased.
Is this the eating habit of us Xinhuo people?
Eating is also very… competitive. That word is 'competitive.' Qian Qiu indicated that he had learned it.
The first round of all dishes was quickly cleared. Qian Qiu continued to order dishes, somewhat disliking the restaurant's serving speed. After a brief discussion, they decided to opt for extra-large portions and specifically order high-energy dishes.
The battle continued.
The three continued their whirlwind consumption, and Qian Qiu also ate with great gusto, devouring large portions of meat and drinking heartily, enjoying the delicacies of the day's encounter.
Until a certain moment, when he called the waiter to serve dishes for the nth time, he suddenly remembered…
'Wait a minute, how much have we eaten?'
Over a dozen jade plates were piled beside Xing Jinglei. Seven or eight were stacked beside Yiluo Xi. The dishes in front of Xidina were about to pile higher than her forehead.
These were all third-order delicacies, weren't they?
How many weird crystals would that cost?
His meager mathematical ability made it difficult to give him an answer, only that it was a lot, a very lot.
Qian Qiu's divine sense probed outwards, circling around the small pile of weird crystals in his empty Sky Net Hands, only to feel his wallet weeping.
But looking at the three who were still sweeping through the dishes and seemed far from full, Qian Qiu gritted his teeth.
Bring it on! Continue serving!
He, a dignified Mythological being and Deputy Garrison Commander of the oasis, how could he not afford a meal? Wouldn't that be a laughing matter!
This battle raged until late into the night. Yiluo Xi was the first to succumb and was eliminated.
At this point, seventeen or eighteen extra-large jade plates were piled beside her, but she was the weakest. The newcomer Qian Qiu had eaten much more than her.
Qian Qiu was the second to stop.
On one hand, he was heartbroken over his depleted wallet and dared not continue. On the other hand, he truly couldn't eat anymore! These dishes were all rare delicacies, otherwise, he wouldn't have eaten so much unconsciously, but… but what kind of monsters were his colleagues?!
In the same amount of time, the strong man Xing ate two to three times as much as he did. The blonde girl, who didn't look particularly strong, ate six to seven times as much. Yes, she alone consumed more than half of the total.
Only after Xing the strong man could no longer hold on and declared he was full did Yiluo Xi stop her whirlwind consumption.
However, looking at her expression, she still seemed only half-full.
Monsters! They were monsters!
It wasn't just Qian Qiu shouting in his heart; Xing Jinglei and Yiluo Xi were also thinking it.
They had been utterly defeated.
Especially Xing Jinglei, who had lost to Xidina in a gluttony competition for the second time. He couldn't imagine how this woman could eat so much!
"After eating, it's time to train. We can't waste the food we've eaten."
Xing Jinglei stood up and looked at Qian Qiu. "Thanks for the treat, old friend. Let's exchange some pointers when there's an opportunity."
Though defeated, thanks to this magnificent meal, Xing Jinglei's impression of Qian Qiu was good. It was just that this guy's appetite was a bit lacking. How could a man have such an appetite?
The three bid farewell and left one after another.
Qian Qiu tremblingly paid the bill. Fortunately, his accumulated weird crystals and materials over the years were enough to cover the cost of the meal, but after paying, there wasn't much left.
Years of savings, gone in one go.
But it was all right. Now, a bright future and high welfare benefits awaited him.
It was just that…
"I need to take on more missions to earn some extra money, otherwise, I might really not be able to afford to treat guests next time."
As for now? It was time to cultivate, of course!
The large amount of high-grade food consumed was converted into pure energy as it was digested. This energy could be absorbed to slightly improve physical fitness and mental state, or it could be used for the cultivation consumption of Mythological beings.
Qian Qiu hadn't been particularly diligent, especially after advancing to the Mythological realm.
But seeing Xing Jinglei today, he was deeply impressed by his spirit of always thinking about cultivation, cultivating while eating, and immediately cultivating after eating.
With his colleagues working so hard, how could he be lazy?
"However, this strong man Xing is probably the most diligent person in the organization. The legendary 'try-hard king'."
"'Try-hard king' is indeed terrifying!"
...
...
"The reward is indeed generous!"
Life as a Deputy Garrison Commander was truly leisurely, with days spent solely on training.
Influenced by the 'try-hard king,' Qian Qiu also trained diligently for several days and nights, but he eventually couldn't suppress his restless heart.
He was a person who found it hard to sit still.
So he took on a few small missions and worked part-time at a teahouse in the commercial area as a storyteller. He enjoyed this job, as it allowed him to earn some weird crystals to subsidize his treating guests, which was killing two birds with one stone.
True earnings, of course, came from the mission list in his mind.
He had explored the surroundings during this time, drawing maps and marking several resource points. Today, he had accepted a larger mission.
—Erect a signpost in the Interdimensional Land pointing towards the Fallen Star Grotto region!
...
"This mission is most suitable for Qian Qiu, as he is the only one who has traversed the Interdimensional Land."
This matter, actually, was something he remembered after watching the recording of Qian Qiu's journey through the Interdimensional Land.
Inter-domain travel was difficult, and getting lost was easy.
The Fallen Star Grotto was in an outer region, a desolate place. It was estimated that few super-powers had route maps to the Fallen Star Grotto. At this time, erecting a few signposts was very necessary.
When doing business, naturally, you want as many customers as possible.
"However, before that, I still need to give Qian Qiu another boost. Currently, Qian Qiu is one of only two presentable Mythological beings, and his current combat power…"
It wasn't weak, though.
Like Xidina, after advancing to the Mythological realm, Qian Qiu began learning multiple skills, including Blade Slash, Mind Steal, Psychic Shock, Meditation, and so on.
With his skill slots mostly filled, Fang You began to integrate skills for Qian Qiu.
At this time, Qian Qiu's contribution points were undoubtedly insufficient to exchange for a Legendary skill. Instructor Fang very generously granted him loan privileges, an interest-free loan, and he must have been moved to tears.
Preliminary preparations were complete.
In the synchronized vision, Qian Qiu sat in a training ground with the 'Level 5 Training Ground' buff effect solidified. Vaguely, he saw profound power descending.
It was light!
Skill light clusters merged into one. The core materials were his talent 'Great Dream Qian Qiu' and his awakened ability 'Extraordinary Time,' both fundamental to Qian Qiu himself. Yet, they could still be merged to create skills with miraculous power.
The fusion, difficult to observe, was underway.
After a while,
"Ding!"
"Hint: Unique skill 'Illusory Bubble' has been fused and created for Qian Qiu."
—
"Illusory Bubble (Gold)"
"Description: Can drag a target into a dream space derived from a real area. Within this space, the creator possesses significant suppressive power, the ability to change scenes, and can repeatedly perform 'death resets.' When the skill ends, the latest combat will be converted into reality."
"Note: During the duration of Illusory Bubble, no matter how much time passes or how many resets occur within the skill space, only an instant passes in the outside world."
"This ability…"
It involved illusion and time.
Qian Qiu's previous talent 'Great Dream Qian Qiu' could be used for deduction, but it required preparation time. Once unexpected situations arose, he could easily fail.
Illusory Bubble, however, was an instant skill.
A divine skill for 1v1!
The skill description was somewhat difficult to understand, so Fang You called Little Huan to test it.
The two stood in the training ground.
"Master, come on! Little Huan won't frown no matter what happens!"
She looked as if she were going to the execution ground.
Too dramatic.
Fang You borrowed this newly forged Legendary skill from Qian Qiu. He reached out and brushed his hair, his pupils flashing with shifting, rotating silver-white light.
In an instant, the surrounding scene changed drastically.
Vast white mist drifted around. The ground was smooth and flat, as if on the peak of a high mountain. Dark clouds quickly gathered not far above their heads, and in an instant, destructive lightning and thunder ensued.
This was the cultivation space for Palm Thunder.
Illusory Bubble, to construct spatial scenes at will, was actually difficult. But firstly, Instructor Fang's impression of this training scene was indelible. Secondly, he had once constructed the Palm Thunder cultivation ground in the 'Trial Book,' so his skills were already mastered, and he was now very proficient.
In this space full of lightning, he could manipulate the lightning's trajectory and change his position as if he were teleporting.
Compared to this, Little Huan seemed to be stuck in a quagmire.
The two sparred for a while.
Taking this opportunity, Fang You continuously tested Little Huan's combat skills, from close combat to spellcasting to psychological warfare.
Afterward,
He had two choices: one was to end the skill, and the other was…
"Death reset."
Fang You snapped his fingers, and lightning shattered his head.
The next instant, the scene returned.
Lightning and thunder flashed above, and he and Little Huan stood opposite each other.
After a while,
"Master, can we begin?"
She looked up at the lightning in the sky, clutching the hem of her skirt, trembling slightly.
Fang You raised an eyebrow. "You… don't have the memory from just now?"
"Memory from just now?"
Little Huan looked bewildered.
He tried several times. As expected, only he could inherit the memory during a death reset. After he sparred with Little Huan for several rounds and then ended the skill…
Whoosh~
The two returned.
Time was still frozen at the previous moment, but the next instant,
Crack—
A scratch appeared on Fang You's left arm. This was an injury he deliberately sustained in the last round of combat. At the same time, Little Huan groaned in the distance, and crackling lightning erupted from several places on her body.
Her eyes welled up with tears.
She blinked again.
"I… I have memories now!"
As the skill ended, the memory of being beaten in the last round surfaced in Little Huan's mind. For the previous rounds that had been reset, there were also some fragmented memories.
Fang You guessed that this might be related to the judgment of spiritual power.
"This ability is undoubtedly extremely monstrous, but it also has weaknesses. Sufficiently powerful individuals might be able to break the space, and it relies heavily on one's own combat level."
Fang You realized that this Legendary skill was a perfect fit for him.
Just imagine him holding Nirvana Sacred Fire in one hand, the Tree of Life behind his back, and then dragging his enemies into the Illusory Bubble space. How beautiful that would be.
Qian Qiu's combat power significantly increased.
Instructor Fang's combat power greatly increased.
Perfect.