Inner Destroyer

　He couldn't help frowning as he watched the maids butchering the chicken.

　"I don't understand. Isn't it because you are uneducated?"

　Suddenly, a sarcastic voice came from behind him.

　Even his spiritual senses were completely unable to detect the source of the sound, and it had even circled behind him without him noticing. Qi Xing immediately turned around, only to see something in the hall behind him that he hadn't seen since boarding the ship.

　a little girl.

　She stood on the grand staircase, overlooking the entire hall. She looked to be less than fourteen years old, wrapped in a pure black Gothic Lolita outfit, which, together with her long dark red hair, made her skin look even whiter.

　For some reason, although she looked like just a little girl, the smile on her face had a charm that was very inconsistent with her age. Her facial features were so beautiful that they didn't seem like real people in the world. She raised her little mouth like a generous cat.

　For some reason, even though Qi Xing could see her with his eyes and hear her with his ears, his spiritual perception and sixth sense told him that there was nothing there at all, as unreal as a dream.

　The common sense gained from traveling through time for ten years told Qi Xing that anything with such ability was extremely deadly.

　"Don't be so vigilant. I'm not your enemy."

　The little girl's smile became even more intense.

　"You want to go deeper into this 'inner world'? I can help you lead the way."

　008: He has a sheep's tail

　It may sound a bit abrupt, but this strange and inappropriate world that Qi Xing traveled to actually has no "official grade standards".

　In a world with superpowers, magic, cultivation, and transformations made by the black technology of super-ancient civilizations; with anti-demon ninjas, exorcist nuns, and Qi Xing, a half-immortal who beats up R-18 monsters every day, how can there be a unified level standard?

　This isn't a beast fight on Tieba. Everyone's upgrade paths and systems are extremely different, so it's really hard to make an objective and fair judgment.

　The Global Occult Council was established in conjunction with the United Nations after the Second World War. To smooth things over, the Council introduced a set of standards based on Hermeticism, the Rosicrucian tradition, and the Kabbalah's Tree of Life, which allowed for a makeshift hierarchy of levels of practice for global magical practitioners.

　This level standard consists of three rings and eleven levels.

　Pure mortals are at level [0=0].

　A small special mortal who possesses even the most basic supernatural tricks and can perform a few tricks is considered to be at level [1=10].

　从【1=10】开始，【2=9（学徒）】、【3=8（门徒）】、【4=7（代理导师）】这总共四个位阶，都被列入「第一环」，属于世上众多凡俗的魔法师。

　Elaine was a nun, and the mysteries of the Cross didn't apply to magicians. But if you had to calculate, she should be considered at the [4=7] level.

　From [5=6 (Mentor Level)] onwards, it is considered the "Second Ring," also known as the Inner Ring. A magician's training will gradually enter the realm of the superhuman.

　The magical girl Artemina is at least at level [5=6], and her upper limit may be [6=5 (Master)] level combat power. She can use her skin to block artillery shells, and her light arrows can melt tanks.

　As an Eastern cultivator, Qi Xing hardly fits into this makeshift rank system. However, the Association considers him at least rank 6=5. Furthermore, Qi Xing once slew a corrupted time mage of rank 7=4 (Grandmaster) in actual combat—a master who could accelerate, decelerate, and stop time for far longer than a few seconds; summon dinosaurs from the Jurassic period, call upon living ancient beings, and even rewind time within a tiny range, using these immense powers for his own sheer pleasure. Qi Xing had only managed to defeat him with great effort, completely crushing the corrupted master.

　He definitely didn't want to fight the time-stopping uncle again. Hypnotizing the uncle was much easier in comparison.

　In summary, this rating system is subjective and human, just like piano exams and martial arts grades—it's a designed rating system. It's not completely useless, but it's ultimately only a guide. In real combat, a second-degree karateka might not be invincible against a fifth-degree karateka, and a 6=5 might not be invincible against a 7=4. Given a favorable field, Elaine, a 4=7, could even defeat a master with a bit of luck.

　If that's the case, why emphasize this level? Because even at the lowest level, Qi Xing would still be at [6=5 (Master)]. However, the little girl before him, his naked eyes couldn't follow her movements, and his spiritual consciousness couldn't see her at all.

　This is very, very scary.

　In other words, this little girl is probably

20

　At least they were above the [7=4] level, entering the third ring, powerful beings beyond the mortal realm. For example, those fairy queens, immortals, the most powerful demons, or ancient spiritual creatures. Qi Xing had never faced such enemies before.

　What could she be? Look at the black wings extending from her back and the halo of thorns around her head—it's really hard to guess!

　"Don't be so nervous. I'm not here to eat you."

　The little girl walked down the grand staircase and swayed to Qi Xing's side with a movement that could not be followed by the naked eye and could not be seen by the spiritual consciousness. She sat on the sofa as if no one was around, shaking her legs.

　She is indeed so beautiful that it makes people tremble, because the level of her power is so terrifyingly high.

　"You want to enter the depths of this 'inner world', but you can't find the entrance. I can help you lead the way."

　As she spoke, she picked up a piece of chocolate from the candy basket placed in the hall to entertain guests and took a bite.

　"It's nice to have chocolate once in a while. Want some?"

　With that, she handed the chocolate to Qi Xing, grinning wickedly. She bit into the chocolate, leaving a clear tooth mark. No one had ever taught this little devil that "you shouldn't share half-eaten food."

　Qi Xing ignored her. He frowned, a look of both caution and thought.

　"What's the price?"

　he asks.

　"cost?"

　The little girl raised one eyebrow and covered her mouth with chocolate, looking surprised.

　"I just treated you to chocolate, why should there be a price?"

　"Don't try to insult my intelligence."

　"You have no sense of humor."

　The girl sighed softly and took another bite of the chocolate. The dark brown chocolate crumbled between her lips, much like dried blood.

　"That 'professor' stole something from me, something that's my legal property. He doesn't know how to use it and is misusing it. I want it back, that's all."

　This answer was not unexpected to Qi Xing.

　Elaine had previously said that Professor Vanstra had stolen the Vatican's most precious ancient relic, the tip of the Lance of Longinus. Qi Xing had initially assumed the professor intended to use the Lance to summon some evil god or demon. But now it seemed that wasn't the case; instead, he was performing a ritual to resurrect the dead.

　Now the evil god and demon is coming here in person?

　But which evil god or demon could be related to the Holy Spear?

　"Why don't you go down and grab it yourself?"

　"I can't. I'm just a shadow here. I have no power."

　The little girl said it lightly, shaking her head and swaying her legs.

　"How's it going, cultivator? Deal?"

　That actually sounds pretty good.

　Qi Xing rubbed his chin, thinking the whole thing over in his mind. This deal wasn't complicated, but it might have been more complicated if he had to deal with a contract. This evil god had offered a very neat and simple condition, as neat as a piece of chocolate.

　In other words, Qi Xing would be an idiot if he didn't carefully check whether the chocolate was drugged.

　First, he didn't care if the evil god took the Vatican's holy relics. His job was to save people, not to help the Vatican recover lost treasures and stuff them back into the safe. Treasures that weren't used were worth less than a kiba.

　Secondly, according to the Association's regulations, ordinary civilians sucked into the shallow layer of the "Inner World" might go insane, but they can still be rescued and treated. Civilians sucked into the deeper layer, if they haven't been there for more than 24 hours, generally have a chance of being saved. There are over 2,000 people on this cruise ship, all of whom have been hypnotized in the shallow layer. The number of civilians dragged into the deeper layer is probably only a few dozen or a few hundred. Even if many men are mutilated in the shallow layer, as long as they survive, they still have a future.

　The deeper layers of the "Inner World" couldn't be destroyed from the real world. Even if Qi Xing used his thunder fist to sink the cruise ship now, he would only kill the two thousand or so civilians trapped in the shallows. Since the hypnotist was already hiding in the deeper layers, he had to go down and kill him personally.

　Finally—unable to enter the deeper levels of the "Inner Realm," unable to reunite with his teammates, this was awful. If this scenario had truly occurred in Butter, the nun would have been drunken into a puff pastry. Qi Xing had to reunite with her as soon as possible. He couldn't even handle this kind of situation in a game, let alone in real life.

　Trading with ancient, god-level creatures that transcend the mortal realm is generally bad—but at least this is only bad for Qi Xing himself.

　And Qi Xing is very strong.

　Qi Xing, after examining his conscience, felt that sacrificing his own potentially devastating future in exchange for saving his teammates from a perverted existence was acceptable. Making a deal with the devil only to discover his mistake was better than watching his teammates get killed.

　At worst, after rescuing everyone and killing the hypnotic uncle, I can have a fierce battle with this powerful man!

　How can a strong person not have this kind of confidence?

　"Okay," he said. "Deal."

　"make a deal."

　The little girl cutely narrowed her golden eyes with pupils standing up like dragons, and curved her lips like a little animal.

　"My name is Samael. What's yours?"

　Samael.

　Qi Xing had actually heard of this name.

　He is a fallen angel recorded in the Talmud. He is considered to be another name for Satan, the commander of the dark angels, the angels of sin, the angels of death, and the angels of destruction. He has his own dark throne in the highest heaven and is the supreme of the fallen angels.

　"My name is Qi Xing."

　Now he is really making a deal with Satan.

　But for some reason, Qi Xing didn't feel any danger at all.

　After traveling through this perverted world for ten years, he has no idea about malice, murderous intent,

21

　Evil desires were already incredibly sensitive. Qi Xing would instantly detect any such emotion nearby. Even if they didn't, they would subconsciously go into battle alert... However, the aura projected by this great demon, while frightening, held no real malice.

　"Wake up, wake up."

　Samael licked the name carefully as if it were candy, then smiled happily: "Okay, wake up. I will tell you now why you can't enter the depths of this "inner world"."

　"Because you're not perverted enough, and you're not learned."

　"--ah?"

　"The core of each 'inner world' originates from the creator's deepest subconscious and desires."

　Samael ignored Qi Xing's strange noise and continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

　"The image and operation of each 'inner realm' originate from the myths and legends in humanity's collective unconscious, from the elements and archetypes in humanity's historical super-memory."

　"You either have to be perverted enough to understand the perverted mind of the creator, or you have to be knowledgeable enough to understand the workings of the mythological elements of the 'Inner World'. As long as you are in sync with the creator, you can enter the depths of the 'Inner World'. It's actually not that difficult."

　If this were true, Qi Xing could understand why—the common sense of this world certainly wasn't the same as the common sense of Qi Xing, the time traveler. By this world's standards, his values ​​were probably too unnatural to fit in, making him seem out of place even at the shallow end, and even more difficult to enter the deeper layers.

　"I don't want to become as perverted as the hypnotist uncle just to solve the mystery."

　"Then why didn't you get a PhD in mythology or religious studies?"

　Tsk.

　Qi Xing couldn't argue with her. Perhaps it was because Elaine already knew all this, and Qi Xing had been busy training and improving his combat effectiveness for the past ten years. The world was so chaotic, who had time for ordinary culture?

　"So, I'm here to tutor you on mythology now."

　Samael smiled slyly.

　"To understand what's really going on here, you have to know the story of Osiris."

　Osiris.

　Qi Xing had certainly heard of this name. He was the god of the underworld in ancient Egyptian mythology, one of the most important deities in ancient Egypt. There were also some memes about him in the early Yu-Gi-Oh games. But Qi Xing wasn't very clear about the more specific details.

　In a flash, Samael stretched out a finger and gently pressed it against Qi Xing's forehead.

　"During his lifetime, Osiris was the pharaoh who ruled over Egypt. Just as Shennong Yandi invented agriculture in ancient Eastern mythology, Osiris was also the ancient emperor who invented agriculture in ancient Egypt and taught the people to reclaim wasteland and grow wheat. Therefore, he is the god of plants and fertility."

　With just one poke, she actually managed to inject a vast amount of knowledge into Qi Xing's mind! Instantly, a green mummy with a beard, holding a crooked staff and a flail, and wearing a crown, emerged in Qi Xing's mind.

　Why is Osiris the green god? Because his green skin symbolizes the vitality of plants.

　"The god of fertility and harvest is often associated with intense sexual desire. Osiris committed adultery with his brother Set's wife, Nephthys, and fathered Anubis. Set, resentful of his brother's infidelity, drowned him in a coffin, cut his body into fifteen pieces, and scattered them in the Nile."

　"Osiris's own wife, Isis, the goddess of magic and love, didn't mind her husband's infidelity with her sister. She found his broken body parts and stitched them together to create the world's first mummy. She then slept with the mummy and resurrected her husband. Osiris was resurrected thanks to Isis's magic. However, because his chicken was eaten by a crocodile, Isis used magic to create a replacement chicken, which only kept Osiris alive for one night. He and Isis then gave birth to a son - the next pharaoh, Horus."

　Qi Xing began to imagine a tall, beautiful, graceful Egyptian woman with dark hair and dark skin. She wore an extremely ornate headdress made of ox horns and was covered in rings, bracelets, armlets, and earrings. These accessories were symbols of her profound magical powers. She was the Egyptian goddess of magic.

　To her followers, she is the goddess of life and death, possessing the power of healing and the power to decide the throne, as her husband is the king of the underworld and her son is the pharaoh of the human world.

　By the way, the replacement is made of gold. The ancient Egyptians were quite particular about hygiene.

　Ancient Egyptians believed that the annual Nile floods were caused by Osiris drowning in the river. In New Kingdom Egypt, people held annual rituals to recreate Osiris' death and rebirth.

　Qi Xing now understood the cruise ship rituals and the mythological elements of this "inner world." However, he still had one question he didn't understand.

　"Why did Professor Vanstra perform this resurrection ceremony? His hangings were also cut off?"

　"That's it."

　Samael shrugged his shoulders without comment.

　"He was originally just an ordinary professor, without any such powerful magic. But one day, he picked up a fragment of my power and used it to hypnotize people everywhere, build a harem, hold parties, make money, gain power, and get anything he wanted."