Lord Shenxiu

Several months later.

Tianxing City.

"I'm off to work."

Sun Yuan put on a cheap suit, held a piece of bread in his mouth, and dashed out of the dorm, ready to catch the subway.

He's now an intern at a cultural-creative company, waking up earlier than a rooster, sleeping later than a dog, doing more work than an ox, and enduring the scheming of a foolish boss and a bunch of colleagues.

All of this is for the excellent evaluation at the end of his internship, and a formal contract, to become a glorious corporate drone and food enthusiast.

In reality, with his academic performance and professional knowledge, he wouldn't need to be a clerk at such a small company.

He could completely apply for a job related to his major, where the benefits would be much better.

But Sun Yuan had been frightened.

He even rejected all work related to history and archaeology, just wanting to be an ordinary person.

After experiencing so many life-and-death situations, he finally realized that even being a corporate drone was better than being extraordinary and gambling one's life with a bunch of cultists!

Of course, the main reason Sun Yuan made this choice was that he had confirmed that he was thoroughly ruined...

After several months of recovery, there was no movement in his spiritual power or the "Classic of Mountains and Seas."

He had completely returned to being an ordinary person as he once was.

With a briefcase in hand, Sun Yuan walked past the cafeteria, and with a casual glance, he saw the large television with the eloquent female host broadcasting the morning news.

[Xiane, cooperating with multiple countries, announced that the 'Longevity Sect' is an illegal organization involved in illegal detention, intentional harm, illegal financing, and multiple charges. Its leaders have been arrested and face numerous lawsuits...]

[The Panjila archaeological team has made a significant discovery...]

[Pork and fuel prices continue to rise...]

...

"The Longevity Sect is finally done for..."

Actually, Sun Yuan anticipated this right after defeating Taiyi.

The previous "Longevity Sect" was merely a playful pursuit of immortality, but once it gained spell powers, it completely changed, absolutely attracting the high attention of Xiane.

Then, with the loss of its leader and a bunch of spellcasters, it was destined to be caught and wiped out in one fell swoop.

"Professor Xiang seemed to resign earlier and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the 'Longevity Sect'... Alas, he boarded a sinking ship in haste; hopefully, he's okay..."

Sun Yuan quietly mourned for Professor Xiang in his mind, walked out of the campus, and prepared to enter the subway station.

At this moment, a fashionable woman approached him.

She was wearing branded fur and carrying the latest style handbag. Upon seeing Sun Yuan, her expression froze: "Sun Yuan!"

"Xia Fanxing."

Sun Yuan felt a pang in his heart, nodded slightly as a greeting, and was about to merge into the crowd.

"Wait!"

But Xia Fanxing suddenly spoke up: "I have something to discuss with you!"

"I'm very busy, rushing to work!"

Sun Yuan didn't want to talk, but Xia Fanxing had already grabbed his arm, leaving him no choice but to follow her into a convenience store.

Sitting on a chair by the window, Xia Fanxing slowly said: "When you disappeared that time, what were you doing? I and your classmates were very worried about you... And ever since you returned, you've seemed like a different person."

"People change..."

Sun Yuan sighed.

"I went to see Hua Peng; his condition is not good... Dazed, photophobic, anxious, irritable... The doctors said he may have post-traumatic stress disorder."

Xia Fanxing said.

Sun Yuan felt a pang in his heart upon hearing this.

His best friend's symptoms were the aftereffects of spell-related trauma.

If he were his complete self, perhaps he could think of a way, but as he was now, he was powerless.

This was also one of the reasons why Sun Yuan had become somewhat 'downtrodden' over the past few months.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

Sun Yuan spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Do you... believe in the existence of supernatural powers? Hua Peng's situation, Professor Xiang's situation, prompted me to keep pursuing leads, and I've made some discoveries."

Xia Fanxing said excitedly.

"Shut up, that's enough!"

Sun Yuan suddenly stood up, startling Xia Fanxing into being at a loss.

"If you still trust me, stop pursuing it..." Sun Yuan grabbed his briefcase: "Isn't being an ordinary person good enough?"

He had deeply engaged with the world of spells and knew well their terrifying nature.

The scene of Taiyi turning into a monster haunted him, lingering in his midnight nightmares...

Sun Yuan ran out of the convenience store, entered the subway station, still panting heavily: "Why... Why... I clearly left, yet it's still bothering me!"

Though the power of spells was great, it seemed to carry a curse.

Not only did it affect the spellcasters themselves, but even those around them were easily implicated.

Ordinary people were exceptionally vulnerable against spells.

Even a mere brush would leave severe aftereffects, just like Hua Peng.

Professor Xiang was actually relatively fortunate, receiving treatment from the 'Longevity Sect.'

Many thoughts wandered in Sun Yuan's mind.

Suddenly, he clutched his head and collapsed onto the ground, crying out in pain.

The crowd scattered instantly.

Many office workers eyed the young laborer on the ground with horrified looks, his face twisted and his eyes bloodshot.

Some had already begun dialing for emergency services.

Large beads of sweat rolled down Sun Yuan's forehead.

In his consciousness, the bamboo slips of the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" resurfaced, the text blurring and hard to read.

Even so, it brought him immense pain.

'Taiyi! Taiyi!'

In his mind, a chant resonated and screamed...

This was the aftereffect of the evil spirit's fall from the "Taiyi Scripture" into his consciousness!

'Taiyi! Taiyi!'

The murmurs of countless elders, women, and children merged into a mad symphony.

Gradually, that voice blurred, as if howling another name.

Taiyi!

East Emperor Taiyi!

Also... East King!

Just recalling this name buried behind the historical curtain, seemingly representing an ancient secret and infinite dread, Sun Yuan suddenly felt a sense of relief from his discomfort.

He got up, declined a bottled water handed to him by a nearby aunt, and stepped into the public restroom beside him.

Whoosh!

Countless tap water splashed onto his face, bringing cooling and clarity.

Sun Yuan looked up at himself in the mirror, his expression cold with a tinge of ferocity: "Still unwilling to let me go..."

He already knew that the East Emperor Taiyi, or the East King, was a top divine being from prehistoric civilization.

Such existence surpassed even Immortals, not something mortals could even mention.

But now, the voice echoing in his mind was practically forcing him down this doomed path.

At this time, Sun Yuan's pupils shrunk.

He saw himself in the mirror, giving him a strange smile...