Chapter 59: Forbidden Filter

Chapter 59: Forbidden Filter

Through Duan Xing’s account, Zhou Xiao roughly grasped his origins.

The Guide had described a world backdrop where the Imperial Omen fell, retreating into slumber beneath Dizhong Village. As inheritors of the Imperial Omen’s power, players were tasked with helping it reclaim its lost Primordial essence to combat the terrifying Black Tide.

As for what transpired during the millennia following the Omen’s fall, the Guide offered no details—such mysteries were left for players to uncover independently.

However, from Duan Xing, Zhou Xiao gleaned additional lore.

The Abyssal Tide Legion was a faction established on the Pale Continent after the Imperial Omen’s demise. It rapidly grew into one of Monster World’s most formidable powers.

During its rise, the Legion consolidated numerous races that once served the Imperial Omen. Duan Xing’s Celestial Rune Kin were among these, now pledged to the Abyssal Tide Legion.

Unseen but ever-present, Qi Sheng naturally overheard their conversation. The Legion intrigued him.

It was certain that Reversal Tide, the self-proclaimed deity, must have once been among the gods who served the Imperial Omen.

Through teachings from the Four Sovereigns, Qi Sheng learned that before dissolving, the Imperial Omen established a World Surveillance Agency in Monster World, structured into five tiers. Each tier wielded powers far surpassing mortal limits.

The strongest beneath the Omen were the Four Gods, masters of cosmic truths capable of reshaping the world’s fundamental laws. These were the architects of the Challenger System—now loyal to Qi Sheng: the Guide, Nine Shadows, Yan Ming, and Hyperdimension.

Beneath them ranked the Eight Pole Gods. Qi Sheng suspected that the "Reversal Tide" deity belonged to this group, though he couldn’t pinpoint which.

As for Frostblade, the being who left the Eon-Spanning Gift, it wasn’t part of the World Regulators. It was merely a Demigod-tier regional overlord with a fiefdom—Monster World’s strongest mortal, possessing the raw power to challenge fifth-tier Regulators.

Considering this, Qi Sheng turned to the floating Guide, asking with a smirk:

“From what Di Nian mentioned regarding the Malevolent Spirits and the Evil Eye’s discussion, the Abyssal Tide Legion appears exceptionally powerful—allegedly defeating high-tier Black Tide abominations time and again. They’ve clearly flourished far more successfully than your group. As one of the former Four Gods, what’s your perspective on this?”

The Guide sighed wearily:

[“Back when the Black Tide raged fiercest, we four held the frontlines. Our sacrifices bought other factions time to grow. I suspect the Abyssal Tide Legion rose during that era. They’ve certainly prospered, amassing countless races under their banner. But their success rests on our shoulders.”]

“How did you four get along with the Eight Pole Gods?”

[“Not well. While our world-administering authority ranked higher, the Eight Pole Gods answered only to the Imperial Omen. Mutual disdain, really. Still, our governed races often cooperated. Many practiced polytheism—worshipping both us Four Gods and the Eight Pole Gods. We’d occasionally exchange energies harvested from non-territorial races.”]

“Energy Exchange Ritual? Not following.”

The Guide’s water orb glowed as it elaborated:

[“The Imperial Omen wielded Sacrificial Power—essence-refinement energy that could transmute all matter. Lower gods managed secondary energies. Racial tributes sustained us, but energy conversion losses were inevitable. To minimize waste, we’d trade harvested energies from non-territorial races.”]

The orb paused, then offered:

[“Simplified: Imagine Buddha gaining worship abroad. That ‘foreign revenue’ sustains him, but converting it costs energy. To save losses, he might trade currencies directly with Jesus.”]

Qi Sheng chuckled at the analogy, yet it starkly illustrated Monster World’s power dynamics.

Beneath the Imperial Omen, gods governed distinct realms. Though hierarchies existed, no direct subordination did—only situational authority.

Receiving no details on Reversal Tide, Qi Sheng shifted focus back to Zhou Xiao.

…

“Your Dimensional Shuttle was almost certainly sacrificed to the Imperial Omen. Give up on retrieving it.”

Zhou Xiao patted Duan Xing’s shoulder with a regretful expression.

Duan Xing, however, blinked blankly: “What did you just say?”

“I said—once something’s in a player’s pocket, forget reclaiming it. Especially items sacrificed to the Imperial Omen. Unless you storm Dizhong Village to demand it back from the Omen itself, or the Lunar Eclipse Clan miraculously resurrects decomposed artifacts. Neither’s happening.”

As Zhou Xiao uttered “Dizhong Village,” his image before Duan Xing abruptly sealed his lips mid-sentence. The words vanished mid-sentence.

Qi Sheng’s safeguards had activated—a forbidden filter shielding Dizhong Village’s secrets. The Challenger System had scrubbed Zhou Xiao’s utterance.

To Duan Xing, the statement now felt disjointed, a crucial chunk missing.

Repeated prodding yielded only fragmented replies. Duan Xing soon gave up, bewildered.

“Lord Fortune, are you unwell? My meaning’s clear, isn’t it? Need me to repeat it thrice?”

Duan Xing silenced Zhou Xiao with a blank stare, then shifted gears:

“The Imperial Omen dissolved. The Four Gods who sought its power are gone. Your struggle’s meaningless. But players still have a better path… Join the Abyssal Tide Legion.”

“What’s in it for us?”

“Joining grants Reversal Tide’s protection—no fear of the Black Tide. Countless Reversal Tide warriors will shield your kin. Exceptional players may even become Abyssal Tide Legion warriors, wielding unparalleled might.”

“Tangible gains. How about that Violet Soul Ore in your hand?”

Duan Xing: …

Zhou Xiao’s reply left him speechless.

He realized these self-proclaimed “players” prattled about Imperial Omen faith yet fixated solely on profit and loss. They weren’t even on the same wavelength.

Sighing, Duan Xing retrieved a green Memory Shard from his bracer, handing it to Zhou Xiao:

“A token of our chance encounter. This Memory Shard records a Basic Combat Art of my Celestial Rune Kin. Its crystallized energy can alter your physique, aiding mastery of our battle techniques. It’s yours.”

As Zhou Xiao accepted the shard, Duan Xing soared skyward in a streak of light, leaving Zhou Xiao puzzled, staring at the gift.

[Memory Shard]

Special Tier: Rare

Item Description: A storage device recording fragmented memories. Use to access internal memory data.

[Challenger Prompt: Use Memory Shard? This is a one-time consumable—using it will destroy the item.]

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end