I'm in an American comic book, and all my teammates are main characters and bosses.

Chapter 58 - Do you even understand the true value of being a Time-Traveling Woman?!

Ciri nodded quickly and changed into winter clothes. She originally wanted to carry her sword, but after thinking about it, she wrapped the two swords in cloth to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble.

This piqued Ron's curiosity: "Speaking of which, you and Geralt are the same. Even though you both got the runic longsword, why are you still using your old weapons?"

"To prevent unnecessary wear and tear," Ciri explained. "Besides, the power of the rune sword will make me overlook some of my own weaknesses. Whether in combat or training, I can't fully understand the magical mysteries on the rune sword yet, so I plan to use it as my primary weapon only after I fully understand its power."

"For now, let's learn about arcane magic and ancient blood."

As she spoke, Ciri straightened her clothes and said, "I'm all packed, let's go."

Old Man's Antique Shop wasn't far from the mental hospital; although it wasn't inside Hell's Kitchen, it was only two blocks away. In the dead of winter, Ron and Ciri strolled over there.

Wearing the down jacket of this world, feeling its warmth, and walking down the street with her hands in her pockets, Ciri was finally able to take a good look at what the world she would be living in for the foreseeable future would be like.

How should I put it... just like Geralt said, although they look completely different, they are actually not that different.

"What are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing." Hearing Ron's question, Ciri paused for a moment and then quietly replied:

"When I was searching for Geralt, I passed through a very strange world. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, it still left a deep impression on me."

"The technology there is much more advanced than this. The streets are full of pedestrians with steel machinery embedded in their bodies. Ordinary people would even look out of place there."

"What was it called again? Oh right, I think it was called Night City..."

"Night City?" Ron became interested.

Night City originates from Cyberpunk 2077. It was originally a board game, later adapted into a video game by CD Projekt Red. Because The Witcher 3 is also CD Projekt Red's most famous work, Night City and The Witcher 3 share some subtle connections.

For example, Ciri once vaguely described traveling to a technologically advanced era, and in the 2077 game storyline, if you choose to start as a corporate dog, you'll find a game magazine with Ciri on the cover in your drawer.

However, the magazine didn't feature Ciri's photo; it was a promotional image for the game, and the magazine itself was an archaeological publication about old games from 2077.

In a game, this would just be an Easter egg. But it's different now. Because of Ciri's act of opening the world gate, a large number of worlds have completed their celestial convergence in the Junk Universe. The worlds she saw are floating above Earth.

Thinking about it, Ron asked, "Did you gain anything?"

"I wouldn't call it a gain, just some insights."

Ciri sighed and said, "I read books in my spare time, and I know this world is developing very quickly, with productivity far exceeding that of my original world. Living in such a peaceful and prosperous world should be comfortable..."

"I got up early tonight and chatted with that guy named Steve. Then I realized that no matter when, when the focus is on an ordinary person, no matter how much the productivity of society changes, these ordinary people seem to have already done their best to make a living."

"The so-called progress in productivity does not seem to have freed people from labor."

"Just focus on yourself and don't overthink it." Ron seemed completely indifferent, not taking it to heart at all.

"Go ask anyone on the street, and you might find someone who dreams of going back in time for a forbidden love affair between a plantation girl and a slave owner's son."

Upon hearing this, Ciri instinctively wanted to say something, but after thinking about the people and things she had encountered, she could only sigh in the end.

"Although it's hard to admit, quite a few people can't distinguish between fantasy and reality..."

As Ron approached his father's antique shop, he glanced at the New York sky.

The planets in the sky have disappeared.

The sky was clear and cold, but the countless planets that had formed a chain above the Earth last night, like an apocalyptic scene, had now vanished.

According to Ron's guess, this should be the work of the Ancient One.

Each Sorcerer Supreme born at this cosmic juncture of Earth has spared no effort in reinforcing this seemingly insignificant world. In this context, it wouldn't have been difficult for the Ancient One to erase the reflection of the world at the celestial juncture using a spell that covered the entire planet.

But the cost is definitely not low.

Ron is no longer the novice he once was. After studying with Frigga about arcane powers and dimensional daemons, Ron knows very well that the Ancient One's power largely stems from the power between the many dimensions.

But what puzzled Ron was that the Ancient One seemed completely unaffected by the curse of the dimensional demons...

Even if the Ancient One possessed the power to forcibly settle accounts, the dimensional demons also had the corresponding right to overturn the table, such as severing all connections between all dimensions and Earth's sorcerers. Maintaining a tacit understanding and a bottom line on debt is beneficial for both sides.

but now……

Having erased so many reflections of the physical universe, could it be that the Ancient One has gone to join the Eternals ahead of time? No way, I was hoping to see what kind of fun his group system was having…

You can't blame Ron for thinking that way. You see, once such a large-scale spell is activated, the consumption is absolutely staggering. For example, on Warhammer's side, the big golden man sitting on the Golden Throne suffers, but he's just barely hanging on. But if you put someone else on it, regardless of whether they're the strongest or not, they'll be drained dry in no time.

Mobilizing all the ancient magical techniques of the entire planet—the sheer cost of that alone sent chills down Ron's spine. Moreover, properly utilizing the energy of these multiple dimensions was no easy task; they conflicted with each other…

While pondering, Ron also pushed open the door of his father's antique shop.

Just like in the animation, it's a small shop with an antique feel, but also a cluttered mess of various items piled together. These antiques include genuine and fake pieces, some from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and others new arrivals from last Monday.

Among the items individually covered by dust cabinets, Ron also spotted several with unique arcane energy fluctuations. While they couldn't compare to the treasures of the Sorcerer Supremes that Doctor Strange encountered in the artifact display room, they were still quite remarkable for an ordinary sorcerer.

But even among this huge pile of magical artifacts and treasures, the old man still stubbornly used dried pufferfish and dried lizards.

Sitting before him was an old woman, who appeared to be possessed by a small evil spirit that had arrived in this world with the Wild Hunt. To help with the exorcism, the old man waved his hands wildly, chanting, "Demons and monsters, leave! Demons and monsters, leave!"

The Witcher series has a Chinese version, so Ciri could understand what her father was saying. But precisely because she understood, Ciri's expression was somewhat strange.

"Actually, I've been wanting to ask this since yesterday: are all air magic incantations this strange? They seem... a bit too simple, don't they?"

"That's because you can understand Chinese," Ron said nonchalantly.

"If you translate the convoluted spells of other arcane mages, you'll find that they all mean roughly the same thing. The more powerful ones are requests, pleas, or commands to demons of different dimensions. The weaker ones are commands or requests to lesser evil spirits."

"Like a lowly shaman, who, when casting a spell, cries out, 'Noble fire elemental spirit, transform into a dragon and burn my enemies to ashes' before attacking. A noble mage, on the other hand, shouts, 'Humble fire elemental servant, burn my enemies to death!'"

"I acknowledge the Dean's scholarship," Ciri sighed, "but I feel you must be harboring strong personal emotions and prejudices..."

"Fortunately, I've been applying double standards for a long time."

As he spoke, Ron walked to the counter and called out, "Good morning, Dad! I've come to visit!"

"Oh, it's Ron. Welcome. I also have some questions I'd like to ask you."

As he spoke, the old man also looked to the side and called out to Jackie Chan, who was sweeping dust with a feather duster:

"Jackie Chan! Hot tea! Don't keep the guests waiting!"

As he spoke, the green light on the old man's hands slowly dissipated, and he looked at the old woman and said:

"Alright, the evil spirit issue has basically been resolved. Just sprinkle some salt and glutinous rice in the house when you get home and everything will be fine."

"Okay, thank you, Dad."

The old woman nodded, then got up and left.

After finishing his work, Dad beckoned Ron to the side, poured him two cups of hot tea, and said helplessly in his distinctive, melodious tone:

"Before, you might only have one customer a week coming to you for a problem, but since those ghost riders yesterday, you haven't had a break at all. It feels like there are suddenly so many evil spirits in New York. Do you have any clues?"

"No, I have no idea." Ron shook his head.

Compared to Ron's straightforwardness, Ciri lowered her head in shame.

Fortunately, Dad didn't dwell on the matter too much. He then asked, "Speaking of which, do you remember what happened to the planets last night? I was planning to investigate them during the day, but after taking a nap and going to the bathroom, I found that the planets had disappeared."

"Although the spellcaster is highly skilled, Dad isn't someone to be trifled with either; he can still detect the traces of these spells. And within the lingering aura of these spells... I seem to sense a peculiar aura mediating and harmonizing them..."

"Based on the description, it should be the Ancient One and the Tiger Talisman in his hand."

As they were talking, Ron suddenly fell silent. While his father was still wondering why Ron had suddenly fallen silent, Ron said with a displeased expression, "Except for spying on Sima Yi."

"You noticed that? It seems your perception of the spacetime domain is indeed more acute than I thought."

A cynical voice echoed from within, and a golden portal appeared beside Ron. Then, the old man, the Ancient One, dressed in a tan monk's robe, slowly emerged and addressed his father:

"You must be Master Feng's disciple, Lao Haha? This is our first meeting. My name is Gu Yi, you can just call me Master Gu Yi."

Upon hearing Gu Yi's words, Old Man seemed somewhat surprised and uncertain—Old Haha was Old Man's name, and because his name was strange, he always subconsciously used other words to refer to himself.

As for his master, Master Ah Feng, his father never revealed a single word about him. Even his nephew, Jackie Chan, only knew that such a person existed and knew nothing else about him.

And now...

Although the Ancient One gave off a very gentle demeanor, the old man still said seriously, "You come from..."

"I come from Kamar-Taj, and my ancestral home is in Tibet. Does this remind you of anything?"

Upon hearing this, the old man recalled for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly, "I heard my master mention that Kamar-Taj is said to be the secluded abode of the Sorcerer Supreme, the leader of all sorcerers on Earth, and protects the Earth from the dimensional demons."

"However, I didn't go to Kamar-Taj later because I had to manage my family's antique shop. Do you know my teacher?"

"Of course, he's my grand-disciple."

As she spoke, the Ancient One glanced at Ron beside her and added, "In this world."

Although he didn't know what the last sentence meant, upon hearing the Ancient One's words, the old man's mouth dropped open in surprise. Looking at the Ancient One in front of him, he asked with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief, "But my teacher is over a hundred years old, you...?"

"I won't die before my mission is over. In fact, I'd love to die sooner." With a sigh, the Ancient One pointed to the sky and said:

"I was supposed to be able to retire honorably in a few years. But who would have thought that a whole bunch of universes would suddenly be forced into our world. There was nothing I could do but seal these things away myself to prevent potential celestial disasters and panic. Sigh, with so many things happening, my retirement will probably have to be postponed again."

Meanwhile, Ron asked, "Speaking of which, how did you manage to regulate the energy of so many dimensional demons? Such a massive energy aggregation, even if you're the Sorcerer Supreme, it's unlikely you could handle it, right?"

"The Tiger Talisman!"

Just as Ron had expected, the Ancient One took out the Tiger Talisman and demonstrated it, saying:

"Although the Holy Lord's power is not among the top of the dimensional demons, he was once the Sorcerer Supreme in his previous life. Although it is unknown why he fell into becoming a dimensional demon after death, the knowledge he possessed is still very useful."

The Ancient One said, "The arcane magic within the Tiger Talisman can balance the energy conflicts of most dimensional demons. This talisman has been in my possession for over a hundred years, and through my in-depth development, it can now control the power of most dimensional demons without suffering any backlash."

"What's the price? Even if we can use it, it requires borrowing the power of so many dimensional demons at the same time..."

"Then you'll have to ask the Holy Lord," Ancient One shrugged, looking completely unfazed.

"Those demons only recognize auras, not people. I made a deal with those dimensional demons using the Tiger Talisman as a medium. To find them, I can only follow the aura of the Tiger Talisman to the Holy Lord. However, the Holy Lord is sealed now, so I probably won't be able to find him for a while."

"..."

Ron fell into a brief silence as he gazed quietly at the Ancient One before him.

For some reason, Ron felt a strange pity for the Holy Lord he had never met.

Not only was he sealed away, but his bank card and ID were also stolen and fraudulently used by scoundrels...

The Holy Lord was still desperately trying to figure out how to escape his predicament. And what happened? Who knew that when he finally escaped, what awaited him wasn't freedom, but rather creditors who had been waiting for him for hundreds of years.

Thinking to himself, Ron asked, "Do you have a cell phone?"

"Yes, why?"

"Give it to me."

Ron took the Ancient One's phone and discovered that she not only had a phone, but it was the latest iPhone. After unlocking it with Face ID, Ron searched through it, and when he found nothing he was looking for, a look of seriousness appeared in his eyes.

Afterwards, he clicked on the app store to download Genshin Impact, installed it, and registered it. Only then did Ron breathe a sigh of relief.

"Okay, that explains it... Using someone else's ID to take out online loans, you really deserve to die!"

"What kind of lame joke is this now...?"

Shaking her head helplessly, Gu Yi seemed to remember something, opened her system panel, and took out a cloth bag from her backpack, handing it to Ron.

"This is?"

"A local specialty from the Demon Slayer world," the Ancient One said. "You left in a hurry and didn't take this with you. Tanjiro entrusted me to give it to you after he finished collecting them. However, I was a bit busy recently and forgot about it."

"Oh, this."

Upon hearing this, Ron also opened the bag and took a look.

Unsurprisingly, the room was filled with bottles and jars of blood.

It's safe to say that Tanjiro put a lot of effort into it. The bottle containing the blood was completely sealed, and there was ice around it to keep it fresh.

In the past, Ron might have been very interested. However, after studying Nakime, Ron had gained a thorough understanding of the "demons" in the Demon Slayer world.

The rare blood from the Wind Pillar Sanemi Shinazugawa is quite interesting. The mere smell of blood is enough to drive incomplete, flawed, arcane beings like demons into a frenzy, even to the point of intoxication and death.

Understanding the principles might allow one to more quickly digest and integrate the Blood Echoes.

While the destructive power and expressiveness of the Demon Slayer worldview are weak, knowledge has no distinction of high or low, noble or base; any knowledge that can be used is good knowledge.

While Ron was still thinking, the Ancient One continued, "Besides that, there's one more thing I need your help with."

"What is it?"

"The celestial bodies converged, and the system crashed."

Ciri's value is still rising!

(End of this chapter)