"Spirit Domain?"
Hearing the name, Bai Jue immediately searched his memory.
The Spirit Domain was one of the spatial gates near Tiankui City. It led to the remnants of another civilization—one that no longer existed.
Not destroyed by humanity.
But wiped out long ago.
The entire spatial gate was nothing but ruins.
Even so, after that civilization's fall, countless beings had transformed into undead, wandering the domain endlessly. Their numbers were enormous, and many of them were far from weak. According to rumors, there were even existences above Rank Five within the Spirit Domain.
Naturally, danger came hand in hand with opportunity.
The Spirit Domain contained innumerable treasures and hidden chances. Many ancient ruins lay scattered throughout—some already explored, others still waiting to be discovered.
After thinking for a moment, Bai Jue asked,
"Isn't the Spirit Domain sealed off most of the time? I can actually enter it?"
"Of course."
Sikong Xi nodded.
"You're a Night Watcher. Even sealed zones are accessible to you. Besides, the Spirit Domain opens once every month—it's just that you were an ordinary person before, so you didn't know."
"The people who usually enter are descendants of major families in Tiankui City."
"And coincidentally," she smiled,
"the opening is tomorrow."
Bai Jue nodded in understanding.
At that moment, Sikong Xi's phone rang.
She answered briefly, then hung up and stood.
"Let's go. The combat instructor I arranged for you has arrived."
"Tomorrow, you'll be entering the Spirit Domain together with her."
As they walked, Sikong Xi added with a teasing smile,
"And just like you—your instructor also awakened a Ghost Festival."
"A Ghost Festival?"
Bai Jue nodded slightly.
Zhongyuan wasn't the only Ghost Festival. Besides it, there were Cold Clothes Festival, Qingming, and Shangsi.
As for Halloween, it technically counted too—though in this world, it was often referred to as the Evil Spirit Festival.
They exited the office, entered the elevator, and arrived at another floor.
This level was clearly used for training.
Bai Jue immediately noticed two figures—one resting, the other training.
Sikong Xi pointed casually.
"This is the training area. You can come here whenever you have time."
"That guy over there is a Night Watcher named Meng Qiwei. Don't worry about him—you won't be dealing with him much. You're destined for the main cities sooner or later. He'll probably spend his whole life in Tiankui City."
"Hey, hey, boss,"
Meng Qiwei's mouth twitched helplessly.
"That was way too hurtful, wasn't it?"
He walked over and extended his hand toward Bai Jue.
"You're the new guy who awakened Zhongyuan, right? Impressive. I'm Meng Qiwei—Festival: Journalist's Day."
"Journalist's Day?"
Bai Jue paused, then shook his hand politely.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Bai Jue."
Journalist's Day was a support-oriented Festival, specializing in reconnaissance and information gathering.
"Alright, get lost."
Sikong Xi waved him off dismissively, then turned toward the other person.
And—
A loli.
Bai Jue had already noticed her the moment he walked in. His gaze had drifted toward her more than once, a strange feeling forming in his heart.
…Don't tell me.
She's my combat instructor?
Unfortunately—
That was exactly the case.
Sikong Xi introduced her calmly.
"Di Yao. Rank Four Festival Envoy."
"Festivals: Cold Clothes Festival and Loli Festival."
Then she looked at the small girl with a grin.
"So, Yao-yao, got any plans yet?"
"Tch."
Di Yao crossed her arms. Dressed in jeans and a denim jacket, twin ponytails swaying as she rolled her eyes.
"I just rushed all the way here from Niu City. I literally just arrived. What plans could I possibly have?"
"Fair enough."
Sikong Xi nodded, then turned to Bai Jue.
"I'm handing him over to you. Zhongyuan Festival—you know exactly what that means. Train him properly."
She added casually,
"Don't let her appearance fool you. Yao-yao is actually twenty-seven years old. She's like this because she awakened the Loli Festival."
"Bullshit!"
Di Yao exploded instantly.
"Sikong Xi, don't slander me! I've always been twelve! Twelve, okay?! Not twenty-seven!"
Her reaction was fierce—
But admittedly, pretty adorable.
Meanwhile, Bai Jue's thoughts drifted toward what he knew about the Cold Clothes Festival.
Cold Clothes Festival was also a Ghost Festival.
But unlike Zhongyuan, it could not subdue or command ghosts.
Instead, it allowed ghosts to possess the user, granting them the ghosts' abilities in battle. These possessions could stack—though there was a strict limit to how many times.
Additionally, Envoys of the Cold Clothes Festival possessed abnormally high physical strength.
The festival originated from pre-Qin winter rituals and was closely tied to the legend of Meng Jiangnü.
According to legend, her husband Fan Qiliang was taken to build the Great Wall and died there. Meng Jiangnü traveled thousands of miles to deliver winter clothes, only to learn of his death. She wept day and night, her grief shaking heaven and earth, eventually causing the Great Wall to collapse and reveal her husband's remains.
Thus, Cold Clothes Festival Envoys also possessed a passive trait—
Once they fell in love, they would remain absolutely loyal.
The festival also included rituals honoring the Ox King, originating in the Spring and Autumn period. Qin Duke Wen once ordered a catalpa tree cut down—only for it to transform into an ox upon falling. The ox fled into a river and never returned, leading to the creation of a shrine to worship the Ox God.
This was the source of the tremendous strength possessed by Cold Clothes Festival Envoys.
No wonder Di Yao was chosen as his combat instructor.
Her Festival alone made her perfectly suited for close-quarters combat.
Still…
Being taught by a loli felt… strange.
And just a tiny bit—
Exciting?
After all, strictly speaking, she was twenty-seven.
A legally certified loli—
Cough.
Just as Bai Jue was lost in thought, Di Yao spoke up.
She crossed her arms, looked him over, and asked,
"Hey. Bai Jue, right?"
"First question."
"Do you plan on training with weapons?"
"Yes," Bai Jue nodded.
"What weapon?"
"A scythe."
"…A scythe?"
Di Yao stared at him in confusion. Even Sikong Xi looked surprised.
Scythes were not exactly common weapons.
Without another word, Bai Jue raised his right hand and reached into the air.
Black mist surged.
A scythe overflowing with Yin chill and blood-soaked malice appeared in his grasp.
Dark mist coiled around him.
Holding the scythe, Bai Jue looked—
Like death itself.
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