Chapter 1 The End of the Matter

Back at the manor on the outskirts of the royal city, Becky unceremoniously threw herself onto the long sofa in the living room, wriggled around a couple of times, and then began instructing the servants to prepare food and hot water, looking as listless as a cat that had just smelled catnip. Hao Ren felt a strange sense of familiarity when he saw Becky’s behavior. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that he usually acted just as pathetically when he got home…

Becky squirmed for a long time, almost enticing Lily to join her, before suddenly sitting up straight. “Hey, do you think His Majesty the King really isn't going to pay attention to this?”

Lily’s ears twitched. “Of course not. Even the landlord has spoken up. What use is the King?”

Hao Ren liked Lily’s ability to boast without a second thought and still sound perfectly justified.

Of course, in some ways, her boast wasn't entirely unreasonable…

Vivian, on the other hand, answered Becky’s question very seriously: “Of course, the King will continue to monitor the sudden appearance of the ‘Ancient Magic Emperor,’ even if it's just a replica, but with the intervention of the ‘Outsiders,’ his actions will be limited to just monitoring.”

“Ah… that's why I don't like getting involved in this kind of thing. Something that can be explained in a few words has to be so convoluted,” Becky said, waving her arms vigorously. “By the way, does this mean your business here is finished?”

Hao Ren nodded.

He hadn't originally intended to stay in Holletta for so long. His purpose in coming here was to contact the “homeward-bound visiting group,” and he had only planned to talk to Marshal Ofra, but the Dark Mountain incident was an unexpected variable that made him stay for two extra days. Now it seemed that those two days were quite valuable. He had actually dug up a magic emperor from the mountains – albeit a replica…

As he pondered, he looked in the direction of Lorissa. The “Magic Emperor” was sitting upright in a chair not far away, looking around the room with an interested expression. For her, this world ten thousand years later was full of unknowns and novelty. Although it was unbelievably backward in every way, it was also a new environment worth exploring.

Hao Ren’s gaze did not escape Lorissa’s senses. Her long, pointed ears twitched sensitively, and then she turned her head. “Hmm?”

“Do you have any plans for the immediate future?” Hao Ren asked.

“Do you need my help with something?” Lorissa asked keenly.

It was convenient to talk to smart people.

“Yes, I need you to do me a small favor,” Hao Ren said with a smile. “I wonder if you'd be interested in cooperating with us in a small examination?”

“Examination?” Lorissa’s ever-calm expression finally changed a little. Her eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. “Why do I feel an inexplicable chill…”

“Uh, cough, it's not like those inhumane projects you participated in back then,” Hao Ren quickly explained, thinking that the person in front of him was particularly sensitive to this kind of topic after being tormented by a bunch of experiments until she barely resembled a human. It would be strange if she wasn't sensitive to it. “It's like this, we're investigating some of the deeper problems with the ‘divine power’ in demon hunters. I originally intended to ask the ‘Ancient Ones’ of this planet for help, like Ofra, whom you met earlier, but now I suddenly feel… that you are the perfect sample.”

As soon as she heard the words “perfect sample,” Lorissa’s eyebrows twitched even more violently. “The more I listen, the more uneasy I feel…”

“Don't worry, our organization is different from those unlicensed magic emperors back then. We emphasize scientific methods. It's called an examination, but in fact, it's all quite safe,” Hao Ren said quickly when he saw Lorissa’s reaction, even feeling from the bottom of his heart that it was a waste of his talent that he hadn't gone into multilevel marketing. “It probably just requires a little blood sample? And then record your soul readings when you use divine power or something. Anyway, it will definitely be painless and have no side effects…”

Lorissa was a little confused by the series of strange new words that Hao Ren had rattled off, but she still asked, “Are you really sure that I am such a ‘perfect sample’? You know, I am not an ‘Ancient One’ in the true sense, but only a product of this project. The perfect creatures you are talking about were completed after the experimental base in the Dark Mountains was sealed off – there is a huge difference between me and those ‘finished products.’”

“But it's precisely because you are this ‘semi-finished product’ that you meet the requirements even more,” Hao Ren said bluntly. “Because the most critical step in the conversion between human power and divine power is in you, which is those divine cells. The complete ‘perfect creatures’ have already completed the fusion of divine cells and mortal cells, and they can no longer find traces of the key point of this transformation in their bodies, but you are different… you are an intermediate product of the transformation from ordinary people to ‘perfect creatures,’ and you are still maintaining this intermediate state… I don't think there is a more qualified ‘sample’ than you.”

Lorissa stared at Hao Ren for a while, then suddenly couldn't help but laugh. “Heh… I've never seen anyone like you who discusses this kind of topic with the person involved so directly. Don't forget that I am a victim of biochemical experiments, and in my timeline, I was just victimized a few days ago.”

Hao Ren clicked his tongue. “Because I'm not used to deceiving people into a trap. It's better to make things clear from the beginning. So, you're not willing to cooperate? That's okay. We can actually complete the relevant examination by finding other people. It's just that it will probably take more time and collect more samples…”

“I didn't say I wasn't willing,” Lorissa blinked. “I'm just maintaining the necessary vigilance. After all, as far as I'm concerned, you are not familiar enough, not reliable enough, and can even be said to be strangers. In this situation, you want me to wake up and follow a group of strangers of unknown origin to participate in some ‘examination.’ Do you think that's normal? But the truth is that I have no way to refuse because I can't beat you…”

Hao Ren was immediately embarrassed. “Uh, cough, we did have some misunderstandings at the beginning, but you were the first to attack.”

“I didn't say that… well, that's also true,” Lorissa tapped her forehead with her index finger, her tone a little helpless. “In short, I don't think I can refuse your proposal. Coincidentally, I am also very interested in the ‘other world’ you mentioned. If I have the opportunity to see the scenery there, it might be a meaningful experience.”

“It's okay to see the scenery, but to be honest, you probably won't be able to ‘sightsee’ there for too long,” Hao Ren shrugged. “The Wall of Reality is still fragile, and people like you who are directly involved in that incident ten thousand years ago can't cross the border at will, so you can probably only stay there for ten days or so.”

“Ten days is fine, it doesn't matter,” Lorissa changed to a more relaxed posture. “Anyway, my kingdom is gone, so why bother about those things.”

She accidentally entered the Elf Queen state again.

“Okay, then it's settled,” Hao Ren wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded. “You can stay here with Becky for the next few days. I'll go back and arrange the affairs of those one hundred ‘time-travelers,’ and I'll take you with me when they return to Earth.”

Lorissa smiled gracefully and appropriately. “I'll leave it to you.”

Then she looked at Becky again. “I'll be bothering you a lot during my stay here.”

“Ah, it's okay, it's okay~” Becky waved her hands repeatedly. “Anyway, most of my big house is empty, and I'm worried that the house is too deserted. Those maids are idle all day long and gather together to gossip about the stories of haunted houses in the deep mansions – with one more person living in, they should feel more at ease.”

Hao Ren thought about it, and suddenly a “magic emperor” from ten thousand years ago moved into the house. Could anyone really feel at ease?

Three days later, Earth.

The list of those who were going to the Dream Plane for a “homeward-bound visit” had been completely finalized, and now it was the day they had agreed to depart.

There was no need to gather anywhere, and there was no need to worry about missing the opportunity to set off. Those who had obtained the qualifications to “join the group” had received a message early on, telling them to wait patiently at the agreed time. Everyone on the list had made preparations in advance, waiting for the arrival of that agreed moment with expectations, nervousness, or disbelief.

They had all received Hao Ren’s notice and had heard the explanation about this journey, but no matter what, they could not imagine what a journey across worlds would be like. Perhaps only when they stepped into the Dream Plane would they truly understand how grand and real the world outside their worldview was.

Of the one hundred people, perhaps only a demon hunter girl named Bai Huo could slightly understand the concept of “traveling through worlds.” This was not because this girl was exceptionally talented, but because she usually frequented Qi Dian…

At the Arctic Ice Fortress, Bai Huo and Hsu were waiting in front of the Frost Temple, surrounded by other selected demon hunters, while behind them, more demon hunters who had come to see them off looked at the small open space in front of them with curiosity and anticipation.

In the Athens Sanctuary, the Shadow Council Hall, the round table in the hall had been removed, leaving a circular open space in its place. The edge of the open space was lit with a circle of candles, the light and shadows flickering like some kind of mysterious ritual. Heather Ann, Jean Lucas, Hesperides, and other alien leaders stood in the center of the open space, also waiting for the arrival of the time. Heather Ann’s bright eyes were looking around, seemingly curious about where the “door” Hao Ren had mentioned would open.

In the secret realm of the Aiben werewolves, Kasa Aiben and Eoin Aiben also stood in the open space in front of the castle under the watchful eyes of several elders of the clan. The two werewolf brothers looked at each other, with smiles on their faces. “I didn't expect we would be invited.” “Hehe, I wonder how many acquaintances we can see…”

In secret realms and sanctuaries, the ancient aliens who had received secret invitations had all made preparations. Some were full of expectations, but others were still skeptical, but no matter what they thought, the time had finally arrived.

One after another, doors of light opened before their eyes.