Chapter 10

Special Restrictions: To ensure fairness in the mission world and prevent the exploitation of indigenous people for score manipulation, the carrying of all firearms into the mission world is strictly prohibited.

Mission begins... Teleporting...

"Eh? Ah! Big brother, wait for me!" Tōng'ēn, holding a giant rabbit plushie, called out anxiously when she noticed Li Mo had vanished first.

Soon, her body also began to fade, but the pistol and a pile of grenades remained on the floor of the Cycle Hall, not following her into the void.

"Eh? Eh eh eh!!! My magic gun! My Sealed Fireball Spell!" Tōng'ēn waved her small hands frantically, trying to grab her grenades, but to no avail, only catching air.

...

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the court faced internal and external threats. To the north were the Liao and the rising Jurchens; to the west, the Tibetan and Western Xia kingdoms were eyeing the land hungrily; in the south, the Zoroastrian sects were causing unrest, and the Nanzhao kingdom was watching from the outside. Domestically, illegal civilian armed forces were rampant, Buddhist temples were aggressively annexing land, and wandering knights roamed the land, committing crimes with impunity. Organized beggar gangs, which did not engage in production and disrupted public order, were also widespread.

One day, a group of fantastical beings from a parallel universe descended upon this troubled nation, beginning a legendary journey.

...

"Where are we?"

A voice of confusion echoed in his ears. Li Mo opened his eyes to see a world that was both familiar and strange. Before him was an ancient town with a classical Chinese style. His clothes had been replaced by the Cycle Hall with a traditional Chinese robe.

Li Mo was unsure of his current appearance, but he certainly did not have Victor's typical Western face. Andy and the Drow elf had also transformed into handsome Eastern faces. However, the Drow elf's skin was not pale but a healthy tan, not the black of a Kunlun slave.

"Big brother!" Tōng'ēn, now with an Eastern face, called out happily, "Why has everyone changed? Is this a human transformation spell?"

Li Mo turned back to see that the girl was still as adorable as ever, with facial features similar to her previous self. However, what made his eyebrows shoot up was the mountain bike, which clearly did not fit the era!

Although the pistol and grenades had been confiscated by the Cycle Hall, how did the bike manage to come along? Li Mo silently took out the phone he had recently exchanged for and pressed the power button. When it responded, he felt a sense of relief.

The Cycle Hall was indeed not like the God Space, which had unreasonable restrictions on high-tech items. The Cycle Hall could only prohibit items that were brought into the mission world. If someone could create a nuclear bomb in the plot world, its power would likely be no less than the real thing.

"Ho, where are we? An alternate world? I can't sense any magical energy in the air; this is a primitive and backward plane!"

Andy clearly did not adapt to the classical Chinese style of the world, feeling a sense of fear at being in an unknown place. When he realized the energy level of this world was terrifyingly low, he became even more vigilant and uneasy.

"This world seems familiar, like something I saw in a 'Fantasy of Another World' art exhibition in the Underdark!" the Drow elf, Lus, said.

The history of the 'Sithaheim' multiverse was long, lasting at least fifteen years, with an unknown number of Cycle participants. It was quite normal for someone to depict the scenery of this Eastern world under the guise of a fantasy.

Unlike the magic plane natives who were amazed by even a ox cart, Li Mo, though excited, remained composed.

Although he was unsure of the dynasty, location, or whether it was a fictional setting, seeing the familiar black hair and yellow skin gave him a sense of being home.

In just one day, he had experienced two transferences, and now he was in a world dominated by Eastern civilization, giving him a sense of the passage of time and the shifting of eras.

However, most of the things he had prepared would be useful, making this mission relatively easy. Indeed, it was wise to be prepared, and his decision to make a big purchase was correct.

"Cough, cough, what should we do now, my lords?" The goblin, still in a small and shabby form, wearing patched clothes, with a sharp, monkey-like face, asked.

The half-orc, now transformed into a tall and imposing man, had a fierce appearance. Compared to the goblin's repulsive face, he was more intimidating, like a fearsome deity, exuding an aura of authority and ugliness.

A handsome young man, a slightly tanned beauty, a teenage boy with an eleven or twelve-year-old girl, and two strange figures, one tall and one short, one strong and one thin, along with a mountain bike and a super plushie.

Such an odd group on the road immediately drew the attention of passersby. Many women carrying vegetables to the market stared at them curiously, as if watching a city monkey show.

"This feels a bit awkward!" Li Mo thought, seeing Tōng'ēn, dressed in ancient clothing, carrying a modern plushie and a mountain bike, gave him a sense of temporal dissonance.

"Let's go to the nearby town to gather information and understand this plane!" Andy, feeling superior, suggested.

Now that they were in a new place, unfamiliar with the surroundings, though their personalities clashed, no one wanted to leave early. Being from the same world, they felt safer together.

"Remember to speak less and avoid giving away our cover. Although the elemental concentration in this plane is low, we can't rule out the possibility of a master of psychic abilities who might be able to probe our memories," Lus warned.

Li Mo rolled his eyes silently, not bothering to argue, and instead took out the hunting list given to each Cycle participant by the Cycle Hall. Perhaps he could... What the hell?!

Li Mo suddenly widened his eyes, staring in horror at the first target on the hunting list: Shaolin Temple's Sweeping Monk (3000 points)!

Looking further down: Heavenly Mountain Child (2500), Li Qiushui of Western Xia (2300), Murong Bo of Gusu (2200), Xiao Yuanshan of the Liao (2100), Wu Yazi the Living Dead (1500)... Lower on the list were Qiao Feng, the leader of the Beggar Gang (1500), Ding Chunqiu of the Xingxiu Sea (1100), Duanmofan the Great Wheel Mingwang of Tibet (1300), Xuan Ci, the abbot of Shaolin Temple (1200), and Murong Fu of Gusu (800)...

Hmm, why are you so cheap, Murong Fu? And where are Xuzhu and Duan Yu? Has the plot not started yet? This means I have a chance to obtain the *Beiming Divine Skill* and the *Lingbo Microstep*? These two skills are not cheap, with the former being able to cultivate to the innate level.

No need to gather more information; Li Mo already knew where he was: *Demons and Gods*!

...

The Sithaheim Crystal Wall System's alternate universe travel group, the *Demons and Gods* luxury three-month tour, is now open for registration! Welcome all main world time travelers to sign up...

...

Due to Tōng'ēn's unique 'giant rabbit plushie' and the stylish, eye-catching silver-gray mountain bike, along with Lus's alluring and beautiful figure, Li Mo's group stood out like a sore thumb, drawing the attention of passersby.

...

"Victor, you must be a thief. Go gather information. I want to know about the people on the hunting list. See if you can find out more."

In a tavern, Andy commanded matter-of-factly.

"Eh?"

Li Mo was taken aback. It was the first time in his life he had been treated so condescendingly, and a surge of anger rose within him. However, from Victor's memories, this seemed to be the norm.

Sithaheim was not as egalitarian as Earth; the hierarchy was strict. In the eyes of nobles like Andy, commoners like Victor were no different from ants. The conflicting feelings within him made his expression change constantly.

Lus, noticing Li Mo's discomfort, interjected, "Gathering information is something I'm good at. Let me handle it."

Andy did not object but looked at Li Mo with increasing hostility. Without strength and unwilling to obey, such a burden would only slow the group down. However, it was not the right time to kick him out; the priority was to understand the power levels of this plane.

Andy's hostile gaze also angered the little girl. Tōng'ēn slapped the table, staring at Andy with wide, fierce eyes, trying to emit a menacing aura. She even squeezed the plushie's neck, bending its head, trying to look fierce, but it was ineffective.

"Stop fooling around, I'll go gather information too." Finally adjusting his mindset, Li Mo patted the little girl's head, took a pot of wine from the table, and walked over to a group of sword-wielding martial artists.

He had many questions to ask and could avoid these 'fellow travelers' from another world, avoiding suspicion.

Li Mo's sudden arrival naturally made the group of drinkers wary. However, Li Mo smiled and shook his wine cup, indicating he meant no harm.

"Brothers, how about a drink? I'll pay."

...

Soon, Lus, who had charmed the group of martial artists, returned with a smile, bringing back not only valuable information but also some silver coins.

Not long after, Li Mo also returned with the information he needed, his expression somber.

The people he spoke to were minor figures in the martial world, with limited influence and not much valuable information. He only knew that they were in the Jiangnan region, and the plot of the apricot grove had not yet occurred. However, there were rumors of experts dying by their own famous techniques, causing a stir. Additionally, the Great Wheel Mingwang seemed to have already broken into the Tianlong Temple.

Calculating the situation, the *Beiming Divine Skill* and the *Lingbo Microstep* were likely out of reach. So, what should he do next?

He knew the plot and had a significant advantage, but he lacked strength. How could he kill one expert after another in the next three months? Moreover, he had to help Tōng'ēn complete her mission.

Additionally, what were the strengths of his teammates? How did they compare to martial experts? Did they have any special abilities? Who could be trusted? It was a tangled mess.

"Big brother Victor, you're back! Come, come! Have some candy, drink some soda."

The little girl eagerly welcomed Li Mo, taking out various snacks and a black drink in a red package from her backpack.

Seeing Li Mo skillfully open the cola and drink it, the little girl smiled happily. Andy, however, was stunned. Could they drink that black liquid? Weren't they afraid of poisoning?

"Stop wasting time, speak up!" The half-orc, disguised as a strong man, finished a cup of wine and complained, "What kind of wine is this? It has no taste!"

"I'll start. If I miss anything, Victor, you can add to it," Lus said. "This plane is large but not very advanced. The continent we are on has five countries: the Song, the small kingdom of Nanzhao to the southwest, the large kingdom of Liao to the north, the Tibetan kingdom to the west, and the Western Xia to the northwest. The first target on the hunting list is almost unknown, except for Murong Bo, who is already dead, though he might be faking it. The strongest in the second tier is Qiao Feng, the leader of the 'Beggar Gang,' which is similar to a thieves' guild, with members being either thieves or beggars..."

Lus shared all the information she had gathered, but her interpretation of the *Demons and Gods* background was far from accurate, giving it a third-rate fantasy novel feel.

"Victor, do you have anything to add?" Andy asked Li Mo.

"Um, Lus's information is detailed, but I need to mention that the power system in this plane is based on 'martial arts.' The place with the most martial arts manuals is a temple called 'Shaolin Temple.' This temple is home to many ascetic monks, and there is a hall called the Sutra Hall, which houses seventy-two supreme martial arts, each costing no less than 600 points in the Cycle Hall. Some skills, like the Golden Bell Cover, the Indestructible Body of the Buddha, and the Finger of the Flower, cost thousands of points! Obtaining one of these manuals would be more profitable than hunting dangerous targets," Li Mo began to guide the others.

"Whoa!" The half-orc, Old Five, sucked in a breath. Comparing his own Iron Shirt and Five Tigers Breaking the Gate techniques, he felt ashamed.

"I suspect that this Shaolin Temple is one of the most powerful forces in this plane," Li Mo said half-truthfully.

"If it's a temple, does that mean there are gods in this world?" Andy asked nervously. The natives of Sithaheim knew how terrifying gods could be.

"There were, but it has been many years since any divine decrees were issued. It seems the gods have abandoned this world."

"Is that so? Very good, you did an excellent job. This information is crucial."