Start by conquering the world with unlimited job opportunities.

Chapter 410 One must not call him by his real name, nor look directly at his appearance, nor delve into his past or future.
No sleep for one night.

For Fang Qingyu, sleep is no longer a necessity.

Last night, he sat cross-legged on the soft carpet of the hotel suite.

One by one, the second-tier life beads in his hand were absorbed.

This drives the experience points of the [Border Patrol] profession to steadily increase.

As the sky outside the window began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

Fang Qingyu slowly opened his eyes.

In the depths of her starry eyes, it seemed as if a galaxy had gathered and returned to tranquility.

【职业：巡界者 Lv.1（1000/1000）】→【职业：巡界者 Lv.2（0/2000）】！
We've finally broken through from the initial stage to the middle stage.

Last night, a considerable number of life beads were used, but the results were remarkable.

Their ability to utilize the power of the Border Ranger and their sensitivity to spatial perception have both made a qualitative leap.

Fang Qingyu stood up and stretched his limbs.

It produced a sound like the clinking of gold and jade.

A surge of power flowed through my limbs and bones.

Then Fang Qingyu picked up the long box containing the mysterious rusty knife and leaned it against the wall.

My gaze shifted to the suite's door.

Zhulong said he would take her to see the new world.

They behaved just like ordinary people.

So, eating breakfast is something that can't be skipped.

Fang Qingyu walked to the door of Zhulong's room.

I tapped it three times lightly.

The door didn't open instantly as if it were divinely ordained, as I had imagined.

There was silence in the room.

Fang Qingyu waited patiently for more than ten seconds, just when he thought that Zhulong might have quietly left.

Or when the other person doesn't want to eat breakfast.

A slight clicking sound came from the door lock.

The door opened inwards.

She was still wearing that simple white T-shirt and dark blue jeans, with a neat and tidy high ponytail.

Zhulong stood inside the door, his face, so perfect it seemed otherworldly, yet his expression was subtly different from yesterday.

It is no longer purely ethereal and indifferent.

Instead, it carried a hint of absent-mindedness and dazedness.

"Morning."

Fang Qingyu greeted her calmly, without asking any further questions about her unusual behavior.

It's normal to feel shocked or confused when you first come into contact with the world and are overwhelmed by a massive amount of information, especially after using mobile networks last night.

After all, the ability to transmit sound over long distances was a skill possessed only by those at the third rank or higher in the old era.

And the extent of the information explosion on the internet.

It's a revolutionary experience for anyone encountering it for the first time.

Zhulong's gaze slowly focused on his face, and he nodded gently in response.

She walked out of the room and closed the door behind her back.

"Shall we go for breakfast?" Fang Qingyu asked.

"Ah."

Zhulong responded, his voice still cold and clear, but the feeling of being absent-minded had not completely disappeared.

Fang Qingyu understood and did not choose the hotel's magnificent and well-serviced buffet restaurant.

Yesterday's reaction to the traditional food street.

Let him understand that this deity seems to prefer the mundane aspects of human life.

He led Zhulong down the elevator, through the spacious and bright but somewhat deserted lobby, and into the cool morning air of Yudeng City.

Pedestrians hurried along the street.

With a clear goal in mind, Fang Qingyu led Zhulong through several streets and arrived at an old town area.

The buildings here are not tall, and the shops along the street are densely packed.

"Grandma's Wontons", "Old Zheng's Mixed Noodles", "Chen's Soup Dumplings"
Beneath rows of slightly worn but gleaming signs, crowds thronged and steam rose in the air.

It was one of the locals' favorite breakfast spots that Fang Qingyu found online.

A street lined with fishermen's breakfast dishes.

When Fang Qingyu arrived at the entrance of Lin Ji Wonton, the restaurant with the best reputation, he paused.

The small shop was already packed with people, with several greasy and shiny small square tables filled with diners, and a line of more than a dozen people waiting outside.

It was full of lively atmosphere, but also incredibly crowded.

Fang Qingyu subconsciously turned his head to look at Zhulong.

Sure enough, her slightly furrowed brows showed that she didn't seem to be very comfortable with this overly crowded and chaotic environment.

"Wait a mininute."

Fang Qingyu immediately said.

He strode toward a convenience store that had just opened, and a moment later, he came out carrying a lightweight folding square table and two small stools.

In a relatively spacious corner near the entrance of the breakfast shop, we neatly set up a table and arranged chairs.

"Sit here, it's quieter here."

Fang Qingyu gestured.

Zhulong looked at the simple yet clean little table and stools, and then at the crowded scene inside the shop. His tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, and he sat down on the stool as instructed.

She turned slightly to the side, her gaze sweeping over the pedestrians and vehicles passing by on the street, her heterochromatic eyes deep and unfathomable.

My thoughts seemed to drift away into the distance.

Fang Qingyu then turned around and squeezed into the crowd to queue up to order and pay for his food.

A short while later, he returned carrying two large trays and placed them steadily on the small table.

Two steaming bowls of thin-skinned, generously filled wontons in clear soup, sprinkled with bright green scallions and dried shrimp.

Two bowls of glistening, savory noodles, topped with a few perfectly braised char siu slices.

There were also two baskets of crab roe soup dumplings with skins as thin as paper, through which the broth could be vaguely seen sloshing around.

It's the most authentic flavor of Yudeng Market.

"Try it, the dumplings here are very famous."

Fang Qingyu sat down, handed the chopsticks to Zhulong, and picked up a pair for himself.

Zhulong withdrew his wandering gaze and focused it on the food in front of him.

She imitated Fang Qingyu and picked up her chopsticks.

The movements still had a bit of a beginner's awkwardness, but they were more natural than yesterday.

She picked up a soup dumpling and carefully bit a small opening in it.

Gently sip the hot and delicious broth inside.

A faint hint of satisfaction seemed to flash in his clear, black-and-white eyes.

Fang Qingyu also buried his head in his food and started eating; the taste was indeed authentic.

Just as he finished half a bowl of noodles.

A cold, clear voice from the opposite side of the dragon rang out softly:

"If one day humanity is destined to become extinct, you will have the chance to survive."

She raised her head, her heterochromatic eyes calmly meeting Fang Qingyu's gaze. "Would you choose to live, or choose to die?"

The sound was very soft, almost inaudible amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

Yet it clearly pierced Fang Qingyu's eardrum.

His movement of picking up the noodles suddenly stopped.

This question came rather abruptly.

Fang Qingyu put down his chopsticks, raised his head, and met Zhulong's gaze.

In fact, when he discovered that he had enough ability to become the strongest human being.

I've thought about this question before.

Fang Qingyu slightly twitched the corners of his mouth.

A faint yet incredibly earnest smile appeared on his face:
"If that day truly comes, humanity will cease to exist."

He paused, his tone carrying a sense of calm that came from seeing through everything.

"Then I'd probably choose to die with them."

For the first time, a clear ripple appeared in Zhulong's usually calm, black and white heterochromatic eyes.

She tilted her head slightly, her high ponytail swaying gently, a hint of confusion in her voice: "Why?"

"because."

Fang Qingyu picked up the bowl of wontons, took a sip of the hot soup, and glanced at the noisy crowd around him.

My gaze swept over the faces of those struggling to make a living.

My gaze swept over the bowl of food in front of me, a dish imbued with the warmth of home cooking.

"Living alone is so boring."

"How boring it would be if there were no familiar faces in the world, no friends to talk to freely, no corners to evoke a memory, and everything around us was either hostile or empty."

He put down the bowl and his gaze returned to Zhulong's face.

"Moreover, if I have a chance to survive, it means that I also have a chance to save the entire human race. I will definitely choose to fight for it rather than give up and live a life of mere survival."

Even if we ultimately fail, it's just that we've reached the end together with the people we want to protect.

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Zhulong listened quietly, his exquisite face revealing little emotion.

However, she never seemed to have considered the meaning of life from this perspective.

In the grand scheme of her life, the survival of an individual is as insignificant as dust, and the rise and fall of a race is but a ripple in the long river of time.

But this is the choice of this insignificant human believer.

Yet it carried a weight that felt unfamiliar to her.

After a moment, she nodded slightly.

It was as if I had grasped some kind of complex logic.

She offered no comment, only looking at Fang Qingyu with eyes that held a hint of curiosity, her cool voice ringing out again:
"Then good luck."

After saying that, she stopped talking, lowered her head, and focused on the bowl of dumplings in front of her, which was still more than half full, and began to eat them in small bites.

Fang Qingyu's heart stirred slightly as he observed her reaction.

Zhulong's sudden question was by no means unfounded.

He asked tentatively, "Have you discovered something?"

Zhulong picked up a dumpling without pausing for a moment, without even raising his head, only shaking his head very slightly.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyu didn't ask any more questions.

As for beings like Zhulong, they will naturally say what they want to say.

Keep asking questions you don't want to answer; it will only ruin your impression of them.

So Fang Qingyu stopped worrying and quickly finished the rest of his breakfast.

After paying, I tidied up the table and chairs and returned them to the convenience store.

Then he took Zhulong, who was still lost in thought and seemed somewhat silent.

The unique crowds that have now joined the Fishing Lantern Market are now a common sight.

Today is the day of the annual grand lantern festival in Yudeng Market.

In previous years, the main venue was located by the sea.

There will be a grand sea-worship ceremony and a spectacular sight of thousands of lights floating into the sea.

However, this year, the shadow of the full-scale descent of ghosts and gods looms over the land.

The seaside has become a high-risk area.

The city hall decisively moved the event inside the city, relying on the protection of the force field shield.

The location is in the central square of the old town and several connected ancient streets.

Despite the change in form, the scale has also been reduced.

But the public's long-suppressed enthusiasm for the celebration was unprecedented.

It seems he wanted to express the fear and unease he had been feeling for days.

Let it all out completely.

When Fang Qingyu and Zhulong arrived, the grand event had already begun.

The crowds were dense and shoulder to shoulder.

At the very front, a dragon, tens of meters long, was being swayed forward by dozens of strong men.

The dragon's body was covered with a dense array of light strips.

Even under the sunlight, it still shines brightly and glitters.

The parade that followed was even more diverse and spectacular.

There were shrimp soldiers and crab generals on stilts, draped in colorful lanterns.

There was a band playing gongs and drums, singing cheerful fishermen's songs.

Most of the people were jubilant citizens, young and old, men and women, almost everyone had a lantern of various shapes and sizes in their hands.

There are traditional lotus lanterns, whimsical octopus lanterns, and even eco-friendly lanterns made from recycled plastic bottles.
The scattered lights converged into a flowing river of light.

The entire old town was immersed in an almost frenzied festive atmosphere.

The threat of the Fate Demon seemed to be temporarily isolated outside the force field shield.

Before my eyes is only the vibrant and lively life that belongs to humanity.

Fang Qingyu bought a handmade lotus lantern from a roadside stall run by an elderly woman with exquisite craftsmanship.

Layers of pink and white petals overlap, with a warm yellow electronic candle flame at the center.

He handed the lamp to Zhulong: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Why don't you take it and play with it?"

Zhulong looked down at the lotus lamp in his hand, which emitted a soft glow, his cold fingertips touching the slightly warm lamp wall.

She seemed somewhat intrigued and, imitating those around her, gently lifted the lamppost.

The small lotus lamp in her hand reflected her unparalleled beauty.

A touch of human warmth seems to have been blended into the divinity.

Fang Qingyu himself chose a cute little steamed bun lantern, with red dots on the plump white buns, which looked rather comical when he carried it.

The two of them remained just like any other ordinary tourist.

Slowly moving forward with the surging crowd.

The long procession of lights stops at each important intersection or square to perform or engage in interactive activities.

There is a traditional lion dance, where the lion's head is agile and majestic, leaping and bounding on high poles.

There were spectacular acrobatic performances, including rolling fire hoops, which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd.

There was also a temporary riddle-solving contest, where those who guessed correctly happily received small prizes.
Zhulong's gaze followed the dancing lion's head.

The black and white heterochromatic eyes reflected the leaping flames and dazzling lights.

When she saw the acrobats perform dangerous stunts, her usually calm lips curved upwards in an almost imperceptible arc, unnoticed by anyone.

Although it is fleeting, it really exists.

She even stopped at a stall playing the game of pitch-pot, and, imitating the children next to her, picked up a feathered arrow and flicked her wrist slightly.

Whoosh!
The arrow traced a perfect arc and landed precisely in the furthest part of the bronze pot, where the spout was the smallest.

"Wow! So awesome!"

The stall owner and the children nearby exclaimed in surprise.

Zhulong's face remained expressionless, though a faint hint of pleasure seemed to flicker in her eyes. She didn't accept the prize, but simply set down the remaining arrows and continued forward with Fang Qingyu.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the noise and the play of light and shadow.

From afternoon to dusk, and then to nightfall.

One by one, the lanterns were lit, illuminating the entire street like a dreamlike fairyland.

Zhulong seemed completely immersed in this unprecedented, mundane excitement.

She carried the lotus lantern, her gaze lingering on the various exquisite lanterns and performances.

The cold, aloof feeling was softened considerably by the lamplight.

The occasional subtle changes in facial expressions.

It carries a touch of girlish wonder.

Fang Qingyu, who was by his side, also felt a rare sense of relief.

When the giant electronic clock in the central square points to 8 p.m.

A grand fireworks display was about to take the stage as the grand finale.

Fang Qingyu's phone vibrated slightly.

A text message popped up on the emergency channel of the Fish Lantern City Administration Bureau:
[A large-scale gathering of Fate Demons has occurred at the edge of the force field in the East Third District, raising the impact intensity to an orange alert!]

Seeing this, Fang Qingyu calmly put away his phone.

He glanced at Zhulong, who was being attracted by a stall selling rattles.

The little girl's clear laughter and the colorful, spinning rattles.

This caused Zhulong's gaze to linger for a moment.

“A large army of ghosts is coming from the edge.” Fang Qingyu’s voice was low, making sure only Zhulong could hear him. “I have to go deal with it.”

He paused, then asked, "Are you going to stay here and wait for me to come back? Or will you come with me?"

Upon hearing this, Zhulong shifted his gaze from the spinning rattle drum.

She seemed to think for a fraction of a second, and then very naturally handed the rattle drum with a smiley face painted on it, which the little girl had just tried to sell her, back to the bewildered little girl.

"Together."

Her cool voice showed no hesitation.

Fang Qingyu nodded: "Okay, let's go!"

The two figures blurred instantly, like ink merging into water, disappearing silently from the noisy, crowded throng without attracting anyone's attention.

next moment.

The two figures had already appeared in the sky above the edge of the force field shield in the East Third District of Fish Lantern City.

Below, the battle is raging.

The force field gently envelops the city.

Outside the protective shield, thousands of Divine Administration soldiers, city guards, and a small number of Divine Cultists, dressed in dark blue or gray combat uniforms, were taking advantage of the terrain created by the shield.

They fought fiercely against the surging tide of ghostly beings.

Inside the force field shield, about 100 meters from the edge, there is a temporary command platform.

A middle-aged man wearing the dark blue standard combat uniform of the Bureau of Sanctuary, with shoulder insignia indicating the rank of deputy director.

Holding a tactical tablet, his eyes scanned the battlefield, and he continuously issued clear commands:
"Three teams! The pressure on the left flank is too great, split into two groups to push up."

"Long-range firepower team, concentrate your attacks on that Tier 3 Stone Armored Giant Lizard, don't let it get close."

"Medical team! Quickly! Drag the wounded in! And be fast!"

This man was Yan Bin, the deputy director of the Yudeng City Management Bureau.

Before Fang Qingyu came to Yudeng Market.

I have read the information about the main local figures.

I vaguely remember this person.

Just as Fang Qingyu's gaze habitually swept over the battlefield below.

Just as they were about to lock onto the most threatening group of ghosts and swoop down.

His gaze unconsciously drifted to the top of Yan Bin's head.

Fang Qingyu's diving motion was as if it had been abruptly paused.

The starlight flowing around him suddenly stopped, and he was abruptly suspended in mid-air.

The Candle Dragon beside him also stopped, its cool gaze following Fang Qingyu's suddenly frozen gaze to Yan Bin below.

On her stunningly beautiful face, her delicate eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Can he sense it?
At this moment, Fang Qingyu's mind was in complete turmoil.

Because at this moment, the title that appeared above the middle-aged man's head was...
【???believer】

Goodness, this is the first time Fang Qingyu has ever seen such a title.

In the past, the question marks we saw were only displayed by beings that were two major levels above us.

And at this moment, one of the believers is marked with a question mark!?

What kind of being is this, that even the title of a follower cannot reveal his true name?!

And this bureau chief.
But he's a martial artist.

Who possesses such power to transform a martial artist into their follower?!

Various doubts arose in Fang Qingyu's mind.

This caused Fang Qingyu's thoughts to become somewhat chaotic for a moment.

However, at this moment, Zhulong suddenly spoke, his clear and cold voice ringing out.

"Didn't you come here to help?"

Fang Qingyu then came to his senses.

The starlight around him shone brightly once more, and the prominent star points on his forehead pierced the void.

It swooped down fiercely towards the area below where the most ghostly beings were concentrated.

boom--

Starlight fell to earth.

It was like a sun being cast into a black tide!
The shockwave, mixed with starlight, exploded outwards in a devastating ring.

This terrifying attack instantly cleared out the core area of ​​the battlefield.

The originally surging tide of life-destroying ghosts seemed to be cut in half, and its offensive stalled!
"It's Fang Shen! Colonel Fang Qingyu is here!!"

"Fang Shen!! Kill them all!!"

The soldiers fighting fiercely below were taken aback at first.

A deafening roar of joy erupted immediately.

Morale soared to its peak, and they began to push back outwards with great force.

"Follow Fang Shen! Charge!!"

"kill!!"

Soon, under the crushing force of Fang Qingyu, this humanoid natural disaster,...

The army of ghosts at the edge of the shock field was completely crushed and slaughtered.

All that remained on the battlefield were burning wreckage and mountains of filthy corpses.

And the exhausted warriors who cheered in victory.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the stench of blood was overwhelming.

The soldiers began quickly cleaning up the battlefield, collecting the bodies of their fallen comrades, and treating the wounded.

According to convention, Fang Qingyu should have transformed into a streak of light and left at this time.

This time, however, the dazzling starlight around him slowly receded, and the star-shaped horn on his forehead disappeared, but he did not leave immediately.

He stood on the scorched earth in the center of the battlefield.

Their gazes turned once again toward the command platform at the rear.

Under the soldiers' gazes, filled with both confusion and ecstatic adoration, Fang Qingyu strode forward, stepping through the sticky blood and scorched earth, towards the high platform.

Wherever he went, the soldiers who had fought bloody battles automatically parted to make way for him.

She looked at him with burning eyes.

"Colonel Fang!"

"Fang Shen!"

Respectful titles were used one after another.

Fang Qingyu remained calm and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, her starry eyes kept scanning the titles of the people on both sides.

Everything seemed normal at first.

Until his gaze swept across the area below the platform.

When she saw the two young figures standing not far behind Yan Bin, her starry eyes narrowed slightly again.

found it.

A man and a woman, both dressed in relatively clean and neat combat uniforms, appeared to be Yan Bin's bodyguards or assistants.

The man was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a lean build and a calm face.

The woman was a bit younger and had a pretty face.

And above their heads.

The title "[Believer]" was also prominently displayed.

Two more.

Fang Qingyu's heart sank.

It's astonishing enough that a deputy director is a devout follower of superstition.

Now, two more young second-tier grandmasters have been discovered.

This is definitely not a coincidence.

At this moment, Yan Bin had already walked quickly down from the platform, his face showing just the right amount of gratitude and enthusiasm, and greeted Fang Qingyu.

"Colonel Fang! Thank you again! Thank you so much!"

Yan Bin's voice was loud and clear, filled with sincere gratitude.

"Your intervention this time has once again prevented a casualty for our Yudeng City Management Bureau and for these soldiers."

He extended his hand warmly.

Fang Qingyu remained calm and shook hands with him.

"Director Yan, you're too kind. It's just my duty."

His gaze seemingly casually swept over Lin Feng and Lin Lan, who had followed behind Yan Bin, as if he had only just noticed them, and asked with a perfectly timed question: "And who are these two?"

Yan Bin immediately put on an even warmer smile and quickly stepped aside to introduce them: "Oh! Colonel Fang, these two are my wife's nephew and niece. This is Lin Feng, and this is Lin Lan."

"They have both reached the second-tier martial arts master level and have always admired you very much."

As he spoke, he winked at Lin Feng and Lin Lan.

Lin Feng and Lin Lan immediately stepped forward and bowed slightly to Fang Qingyu, their posture respectful.

His eyes revealed genuine admiration and excitement: "Greetings, Master Fang!"

Fang Qingyu nodded with a gentle smile on his face: "Not bad."

He casually followed up with a question, his tone carrying the approval and confirmation of a senior to a junior: "Director Yan said that you two are already martial arts masters?"

Yan Bin seemed surprised that Fang Qingyu would specifically repeat this to confirm, and paused for a moment before immediately smiling and affirming, "Of course! Xiao Feng, Xiao Lan, quick, let Colonel Fang check your Qi and Blood cultivation!"

"Yes!"

Lin Feng and Lin Lan responded in unison.

Both of them took a deep breath at the same time, and their internal energy surged and circulated.

A surge of energy belonging to a second-tier martial arts master instantly burst forth from his body.

A visible aura of energy and blood forms around them.

It exudes power and has a solid foundation, without any sense of superficiality.

Fang Qingyu was slightly taken aback.

He really is a second-tier grandmaster.

When did grandmasters become believers?!

This is completely different from what Fang Qingyu had learned before.

"Very good." Fang Qingyu's smile remained unchanged, even carrying a hint of approval.

He stepped forward and, as if encouraging a younger generation, extended his hand.

He gently patted Lin Feng and Lin Lan on the shoulder respectively.

He then withdrew his hand, his smile remaining gentle, as if it had just been a simple encouragement.

Fang Qingyu turned to Yan Bin and said in a relaxed tone, "Director Yan, things are finished here. The city's lantern festival is in full swing, so I'll be leaving now."

Before he could finish speaking, he gave Yan Bin and the other two no chance to respond or try to persuade them to stay.

Fang Qingyu's figure had already turned into a faint afterimage of starlight.

It vanished from its spot in an instant, soaring into the sky.

"Colonel Fang, take care!" Yan Bin hurriedly shouted to the sky.

Looking in the direction where Fang Qingyu disappeared, Lin Feng and Lin Lan exchanged a glance, both seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.

"Brother Feng, Sister Lan, God Fang specifically asked you about it just now! He even patted you on the shoulder!"

"Yes, yes! In other cities, Fang Shen always fought and left immediately, never staying!"

"Is Fang Shen interested in Brother Feng and Sister Lan? Does he want to recruit you to Dawn City?"

"Possibly! To be noticed by Fang Shen means a bright future!"

The surrounding soldiers also gathered around, chattering amongst themselves, their voices filled with envy.

Lin Feng and Lin Lan also showed excited and hopeful smiles.

Fang Qingyu returned to the side of the Candle Dragon in the sky.

His brows were furrowed at that moment.

Without saying a word, it flew towards the city, with the Candle Dragon following silently beside it.

The crowds at the lantern festival remained overwhelming.

Laughter and cheerful voices seem to dispel all gloom.

Zhulong still held the lotus lantern, standing quietly by a relatively quiet bridge railing, watching the prayer lanterns floating on the river.

Fireworks have begun to bloom in the night sky.

The dazzling light flickered on her stunning profile.

Fang Qingyu stood beside her, his brows furrowed, without saying a word.

"Forget it."

The clear, cold voice, like an icy spring, interrupted Fang Qingyu's turbulent thoughts.

Zhulong did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the lights on the river.

Fang Qingyu was stunned for a moment, then finally came to his senses.

Right, how could he forget about Zhulong?

Although the diagram doesn't reveal who those three people worship, Zhulong must know for sure to say that.

Fang Qingyu then looked hopefully at Zhulong's profile.

However, at this moment, the candle dragon's face was illuminated by the fireworks.

But without turning his head, he said softly:
"Do not call him by his real name."

"It is not advisable to look directly at its appearance."

"It is impossible to investigate its past and future."

"Its purpose is..."

"The true God of creation."

(End of this chapter)