The Law of Heaven

Chapter 19 The World of Hunters

Deep Blue Union's headquarters building is located in the new district of the West Coast. It is a super building that is 400 meters high, with a triangular structure like a spire and transparent glass curtain walls on all four sides, which can reflect the surging sea.

At the top of the building is a huge golden sign, with five petals intertwined and entwined by vines, exuding nobility.

The wind was strong by the sea. As soon as Aihara got out of the car, he saw the surging sea and the low-hanging dark clouds at the horizon, as if a storm was brewing.

Jian Mo parked the car in an open-air parking lot, got out, and stood next to him, sighing, "Tsk, see? Whenever the laws of nature invade reality, it causes abnormal weather, and there won't be any sunny days for a long time."

"This is called Spiritual Turbulence. Applause, you understand?"

The proper nouns that Master Zhou corrected in time.

The parking lot was filled with luxury cars. Decisive men in black, carrying suitcases, got in and out of the cars. They wore miniature microphones and in-ear headphones, clearly hunters under the company, mysterious and fashionable.

Security personnel were stationed all around, communicating with each other via walkie-talkie, standing in the shadows of the pavilion.

As they entered the headquarters through the main entrance, they were greeted by waitresses in suits, who offered them towels and bottled water – the service was quite attentive.

"Oh, so this is the Deep Blue Alliance?"

Aihara walked into the spacious hall, where metal walls lined all sides. The simple yet sophisticated structure gave it a futuristic feel. Lifelike robots moved freely across the smooth floor, each carrying out their tasks in an orderly fashion.

Aihara has a kind of country bumpkin coming to the city vibe.

The air was filled with an elegant fragrance. As the elevator doors opened, a group of men in black carried out stretchers and disappeared down the corridor.

Aihara sensed what was on the stretcher.

That's... a shroud.

"The extraordinary world is full of dangers, and people die from time to time. This is a risk that hunters must bear. However, what you see is not the corpse of a hunter. If a hunter is killed, his body will be taken to a swept-up alternate side for recycling and ancient artifacts will be extracted."

Jian Mo, smoking a cigarette, said slowly, "The body bag contains zombies, undead trapped in the alternate dimension years ago, things that exist between life and death. These are the most common things in the alternate dimension. Their ancient relics have rotted and can no longer be reused, but they are of great research value."

"That's right, we rely almost entirely on these zombies to study history. These old zombies are artifacts from head to toe, and many of them are famous and important figures."

Master Zhou rubbed his hands excitedly and said, "I've even personally studied Cao Cao's corpse."

Jian Mo said helplessly, "I've said it so many times, that can't be Cao Cao. The walking corpse you're studying is just an eight-year-old child."

Master Zhou objected: "What if it's Cao Cao from when he was a child?"

Aihara's eye twitched slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he roughly understood what was going on.

Because time doesn't flow in the alternate dimension, the Dead Apostles trapped inside won't die. However, living requires energy, and this ebb and flow might create a delicate balance, turning them into something neither human nor ghost.

"Exploring the opposite side can indeed make you rich."

He remarked with admiration, "He can do academic research and also collect cultural relics."

"Of course, immortal beings need to accumulate resources by exploring the other side, just like people need to earn rewards through labor. It's just a pity that even if the cultural relics found in the other side are national treasures, the outside world will not recognize them."

Jian Mo said with regret, "Because time doesn't flow in the alternate dimension, if you take those artifacts out for appraisal, the experts will only tell you they're brand new. Therefore, only the immortal beings recognize the value of these artifacts, but since most of the immortal beings can enter the alternate dimension to find these artifacts, their prices will be greatly reduced."

Aihara was taken aback, then understood.

Market prices are determined by demand. The immortal beings are already used to these kinds of cultural relics, so naturally they won't spend a lot of money to collect them.

The modern world doesn't recognize these cultural relics, otherwise every immortal being could become rich overnight, leading to an imbalance between the rich and the poor.

"Ding."

The elevator doors opened again.

"Oh, the goods have arrived."

Jane clicked her tongue in amazement.

“These are really valuable things.”

Master Zhou rubbed his hands together, licked his lips, and said, "I wonder what level of living spirit it is."

Aihara fell silent; this touched upon a blind spot in his knowledge—he didn't know what a living spirit was.

But he could also tell that the living creature was indeed a good thing. The two men in black in the elevator were pulling and fighting each other with a sealed box. They were so angry that their faces were red and their necks were thick. They glared at each other like dogs fighting over a meat bun.

"The thing in that box is a living spirit, which only appears on the other side. The academic community has not yet figured out the reason for the formation of living spirits, but it is likely a byproduct that appeared with the birth of the natural order, just like the kitchen waste you produce when you cook, but it is very valuable."

Jianmo licked his lips: "Living spirits attach themselves to objects, just like humans merging with ancient relics. When an object is parasitized by a living spirit, the two become one. Some living spirits have very useless abilities and are found everywhere. But some living spirits... possess quite overpowered abilities."

Suddenly, Master Zhou took out his thermos. A faint face appeared on the transparent glass bottle, smiling like a ghost.

Aihara was startled, but showed no unusual reaction.

He thought of the black card he had obtained yesterday.

Master Zhou pointed to his thermos and said proudly, "My thermos is practically a living thing. It's incredibly powerful; it can... keep things warm!"

"No, please wait a moment."

Aihara was about to explode with rage and couldn't help but retort, "Isn't the purpose of a thermos to keep things warm?"

Master Zhou said confidently, "But this thermos keeps things exceptionally warm!"

Jane shrugged: "I've tried it, it does keep you warmer."

Aihara put his hand to his forehead. He really is a genius.

As a long-lived being, Master Zhou is very confident in his abilities, but the living spirit he carries with him is just an ordinary thermos cup, which is beyond words.

Well, how should I put it? As long as you're happy.

“Your uncle probably mentioned this to you before he passed away, but just to be on the safe side, I have to tell you again. Living Spirits are a bit like equipment in a game. Living Spirits are a special kind of life form. They need to rest when they get tired, and they die and become completely useless when they are killed. Of course, it’s not the more Living Spirits you have, the better. They will become a burden to you.”

Jianmo pointed to his head and said, "If the burden is too heavy, it won't directly lead to death, but you will become mentally disabled, and no one can save you."

Aihara never imagined that such a wondrous thing existed in the world, and he immediately fell into deep thought.

He suddenly had an idea and said, seemingly casually, "I don't know much about spirits, but my second uncle once said that he was looking for a black card with the face of a clown on it."

Jian Mo was taken aback: "Master, are those living beings that are on record?"

Master Zhou pondered for a moment: "Oh, that should be the Ghost-Faced Clown? It's a spirit born from another dimension in London, England, and was once controlled by the Queen of England. Its function is to devour the blood of its host and create a spirit that you can control. This spirit cannot be detected or locked onto, and it possesses 80% of your original strength. It can do many things that you find inconvenient or extremely dangerous."

He paused. "This thing is actually pretty useless because the Ghost-Faced Clown's weaknesses are too obvious. It can only be used in the Otherworld, although the spirits it creates can travel to the mortal realm... but as soon as it leaves the Otherworld, it immediately dissipates. Who has the time to stay in the Otherworld all the time? The Otherworld is corrosive to immortal beings; anyone who stays there for too long will become a Dead Apostle!"

Aihara fell into deep thought. He hadn't even finished listening to Master Zhou's online course yet. This was the first time he had learned that long-lived beings would become dead disciples if they stayed in the alternate side for too long.

If what he obtained was indeed the Ghost-Faced Clown, perhaps he could turn it into a valuable and powerful living thing that would be truly useful to him.

But this is only his speculation.

He'll have to go back and try it to find out.

Jianmo asked curiously, "Why is your second uncle looking for this?"

Aihara shrugged: "How should I know?"

Master Zhou curled his lip: "This thing is hard to find. It was auctioned off after the Queen's death and was said to have been bought by a big collector. A year later, the collector went bankrupt, and the whereabouts of the Ghostly Clown have been unknown."

Xiang Yuan feigned ignorance and said, "No wonder I can't find my uncle."

"In short, this is the life of a hunter: either dealing with zombies or searching for living beings. After you register as a hunter, there will be a trial period. During this period, you will need to undergo some basic skills training."

Jian Mo stretched out his hand and said with a smile, "Give me your ID card, and I'll help you register."

Aihara felt a little ashamed; what he feared most was having others see his ID photo, but he had no reason to refuse at the moment, so he had no choice but to obediently comply.

"Wow, it looks so funny!"

Jian Mo took the ID card and laughed heartily, then turned and left: "Master Zhou, could you please take him to complete the spiritual quality test? I have some other things to attend to, so I'm asking for your help."

"Is it very funny?"

Master Zhou wanted to lean closer to take a look: "Let me see." "Hehe."

Aihara's face darkened: "Master, business is more important."

"Alright, it seems like quite a few new hunters are registering today. I see a long queue over there. Damn, are there really that many new players lately? How long will we have to wait?"

"Then hurry up!"

"Wait a moment, I'll apply for the newcomer benefits for you."

"There are also benefits for newcomers?"

"Of course, all hunters are provided with high-tech equipment by the company. You'll be facing a comprehensive test later, but don't worry, you're at the Creation Rank, so you'll pass without a care. But after you pass, you'll meet your instructor. You'll have to be careful then, because hunter instructors are all ruthless guys."

"Uh, would the drill instructor kill someone?"

"No, the company definitely doesn't want you to die. Although you'll be signing a labor dispatch contract later, it clearly states the death compensation. Unfortunately, because the instructor doesn't want you to die, he'll torture you terribly."

"Oh, it sounds like the company is still somewhat humane."

"Of course, the Deep Blue Union is known for its good benefits. After all, in the entire world of immortal beings, the Deep Blue Union is already quite decadent and has no competitiveness. If the benefits weren't increased, I wouldn't even bother working here."

Is it really appropriate for you to talk about your own company like that?

"Ha, I have a lifetime employment contract, they can't fire me. Besides, I'm retiring soon, I can curse whoever I want, get some applause!"

·
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The process of registering as a hunter was quite simple. With the assistance of the staff, Aihara completed the formalities, then met with the management of several companies, and after confirming the intentions of both parties, signed a letter of intent. The process went surprisingly smoothly.

The management didn't seem arrogant at all; they were probably just ordinary office workers. But for some reason, they looked like they were working overtime for too long.

The treatment of these formal employees is completely different from that of hunters. Although they are also long-lived, they are not combat-oriented talents, but rather clerical staff.

These people are truly born with the bodies of cattle and horses, becoming immortal beings but lacking much combat ability. Instead, they are chosen to work overtime because of their strong physiques. One person can do the work of ten people, and even the donkeys in the production team are not as capable as them.

Aihara only learned about the diversity of immortal beings today. It turns out that even people with superpowers can't escape the framework of this society. Unless they have enough ability, they still have to work honestly.

These civilian employees all once dreamed of becoming hunters.

However, they failed the testing and training.

Testing and training are the main focus today.

Only by passing the test can one become a formal hunter.

DeepBlue's testing process is fully automated, requiring no doctors or technicians; it relies entirely on artificial intelligence and mechanical equipment. There is no traditional interview process, but in reality, management personnel also monitor and observe through surveillance.

Aihara walked silently through a metal tunnel, with cameras on all sides emitting infrared rays that silently scanned his body and recorded data.

The metal wall glowed with fluorescence, displaying a massive stream of data. Each string of numbers was an analysis of him; some he could understand, and some he couldn't.

This is what is called detection; he doesn't need to do anything at all, the mechanical equipment has already completed the scan.

The purpose of this step is to confirm his rank.

"Name: Xiangyuan, ID: 0923, Registration complete."

"Soul fluctuations detected; spiritual quality test passed; confirmed rank as first level, Creation rank."

"The contract has been revised for you. Please review it carefully."

"Congratulations on becoming a probationary hunter."

As a soft female voice echoed through the metal tunnel, Aihara knew he had completed his registration and was now a probationary hunter under Deep Blue Union.

It is said that there are about twelve people being tested at this moment. In the end, everyone will come out of the passageway, enter the same room, meet the instructors, and begin training.

Xiangyuan arrived at the end of the metal passageway, where he found himself facing a dusty door. In front of the door was a long table with an exquisite briefcase on it.

He noticed that the box also had a palm print lock.

Aihara pressed his right palm against it.

The box was opened.

The metal box contained equipment donated by the company.

A Colt Python revolver, fitted with 100 .357 Magnum rounds. A US-made Nighthawk flat-blade knife, a renowned single-soldier military knife, a top-tier weapon. A composite body armor vest, its material as thin as thermal underwear, and its size perfectly fitting. Finally, a brand-new iPhone; the accompanying manual states it's a custom-made model, capable of connecting to the company intranet and equipped with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence.

"They've upgraded from slingshots to cannons."

These instruments of torture are really too much. If they were taken outside and discovered, the perpetrators would probably be imprisoned for more than ten years.

Putting aside the weapons and equipment, he used to be using an old, knock-off phone. Now that he has just become a hunter, he has been given a new phone, which makes him feel a bit emotional.

Money really does corrupt people.

“The Deep Blue Alliance is incredibly wealthy and powerful, and they didn’t even investigate my abilities. Are they not afraid that I have ulterior motives? Either these people are confident, or they have a broad vision, or it’s possible that the abilities of immortal beings are generally kept secret.”

Aihara pondered for a moment, and just to be on the safe side, he put on a bulletproof vest under his school uniform, and hid a revolver and a single-handed sword under the hem of his clothes, fully armed.

The rest of the items were put in a bag and carried on my back.

The light in the metal tunnel suddenly went out.

Xiang Yuan arrived at the gate and pushed it open.

The door was unexpectedly heavy.

Master Zhou had told him before that after passing the test, there would be a 24-hour training session, a process that every hunter had to go through, and it was very difficult.

If you fail to pass, you'll be stuck here indefinitely, and the training period will be extended indefinitely.

Even Aihara, being a Creation-class cultivator, might not be able to hold on. Fortunately, he had already informed his sister in advance that he had something to do tonight and wouldn't be going home.

He was now going to see what kind of tricks they could pull off with a mere training session.

The door opened.

A blinding light shone down, accompanied by whispers.

"Among this batch of newcomers, there are a few with rather high ranks. I wonder whose second-generation talents they are cultivating, trying to get a share of the pie while the laws of nature are being restored."

“Every immortal being wants to become a hunter after awakening, but the vast majority can’t even pass the probation period and just want to go home to their mothers. They don’t know how cruel the battlefield is; they’re just a bunch of ignorant children.”

"So what if their rank is high? Many things aren't determined by rank alone. Anyway, let's teach them a lesson. It's much better to lose face under our rule than to lose your life in front of the enemy, isn't it?"

"Don't let them get killed."

"I'll make them regret coming here."

Thirteen people, including Aihara, pushed open the door and entered a room, where they were all startled.

Because this is not an ordinary room.

To be precise, it was a huge morgue.

The morgue was full of mortuary beds, each covered with a body bag, and the bright fluorescent lights were blinding.

A group of people were standing there under the lights.

The leader had a burly physique like a brown bear, probably over 2.2 meters tall and weighing around 150 kilograms. He wore a camouflage tactical vest and dark camouflage pants, and his military boots lightly touched the ground.

"Welcome everyone, this is your welcome gift."

The instructor revealed a sinister smile, then suddenly spread his hands, and a torrent of water vapor condensed in front of him, shooting towards the newcomers like cannonballs.

Amidst the deafening roar of the exploding water vapor, the newlyweds, caught completely off guard and before they could even adjust to the intense light, were unexpectedly blasted away.

What the hell!

Aihara's expression changed slightly. He was the first to sense the danger. He subconsciously opened his mental field and condensed an invisible shield in front of him to withstand the exploding water vapor.

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(End of this chapter)