"Let's just call you Old Su then."

In the Valley Bar, Chen Xiang smiled and raised his beer glass again. "I'm actually quite interested in mysterious history, but despite looking through many materials, there's very little information..."

He was speaking the truth; whether in the Giant Academy's mysterious history class or in the library's books, the records of mysterious history could only be traced back to around the year 1000 of the Divine Calendar...

Old Su, quite familiar with himself, poured himself a glass of beer, took a delightful sip, and said with a smile, "Liking history is a good thing; people who love history are usually decent. In ancient Donghong, there was a saying: ‘Learn from history to know the rise and fall.'"

Wei Qingqiu showed some interest and glanced over, while several students listened quietly.

Chen Xiang asked with a smile, "So, do you know about the history before the Divine Calendar? I mean, the mysterious history."

Mysterious history, also known as ‘hidden history' or ‘extraordinary history,' refers to the true history related to gods and the extraordinary.

Old Su snorted and proudly raised his head. "Kid, you're underestimating me. Don't even mention the history before the Divine Calendar; I know the origins of the Divine Calendar very well!"

Chen Xiang's eyes lit up. "I'd love to hear more!"

"You're dreaming!" Old Su laughed and scolded, "It's better to know less about mysterious history; the more you know, the quicker you'll die!"

He paused, shaking his head. "Knowledge is a gift, but knowing too much can become a disaster... Take the White Star Country, which worships the Master of Knowledge. Every year, a large number of people die in the Church of the Knowledge Hall, all because they know too much! Not to mention, you're not even extraordinary."

Chen Xiang squinted slightly, realizing this old man was no simple character; he was definitely a being from the extraordinary realm. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. "I don't quite understand."

Old Su stretched lazily. "Gods are too high for us; a mortal who glimpses a true god will perish, let alone the Outer Gods. No one knows the true names of the Outer Gods; they are all referred to by code names because knowing their true names means death... There's just too much forbidden knowledge."

Chen Xiang furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment, and asked, "But I've heard that the Old Council once proclaimed the true name of their greatest being: Emperor Titan."

Old Su's lazy demeanor vanished, replaced by an unprecedented seriousness.

Beside him, Guan Xue hesitated and interjected, "Doesn't that indirectly prove the Old Council's claims are false? If it were true, we should all be dead..."

"Quite the opposite," Old Su said in a deep voice. "Whether you believe it or not, Emperor Titan truly exists; He is an indispensable part of real history, or rather, He is the entirety of ancient history."

Everyone froze, and Chen Xiang and Wei Qingqiu's pupils constricted, while Man Mu stood up warily. "Old man, who are you? Promoting the Old Council... are you a cultist?"

Old Su replied calmly, "You can report me if you want."

Man Mu took two steps back.

"Alright," Chen Xiang frowned and said, "Let's keep this a private conversation; no need to escalate."

Man Mu shrank his neck, awkwardly sitting down.

Chen Xiang narrowed his eyes; this old man was definitely not simple, seemingly very knowledgeable about mysterious history...

Surname Su?

He recalled the invitation Lin Yulang had given him and immediately asked, "Could you be... Professor Su Luo?"

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At this, everyone gasped.

The old man didn't deny it, smiling as he stood up. "That's me."

The students gasped in surprise.

The name Su Luo was known throughout the field of mysticism!

The reason was simple. Over seventy percent of textbooks and books on mysterious history were authored by someone named Su Luo.

He truly was the number one historian among ‘humans'.

The two chubby boys seemed disbelieving, thinking it impossible to encounter such a legendary figure in a small bar in the Ninth Ring.

Guan Xue and the others were also skeptical, sizing up the old man, while Chen Xiang asked softly, "Professor Su, may I ask you some historical questions?"

"I already told you, the more you know, the quicker you die," Su Luo sighed wistfully. "Young man, don't let your curiosity run too wild; a thirst for knowledge isn't always a good thing."

As he spoke, he seemed ready to leave but suddenly paused, pulling out a pen and a small piece of paper. He wrote down ‘Su Luo' and handed it to Chen Xiang. "Fate brought us together; I'll be giving a lecture on history in the Eighth Ring in two days... You can use this note to attend."

Chen Xiang nodded, seriously accepting it, then asked, "After the lecture, can I ask you questions?"

He needed to understand enough mysterious history to uncover what was happening to another version of himself...

Surprisingly, Su Luo didn't refuse this time; he just said meaningfully, "After the lecture, you can ask me any questions, and I will answer them, provided that..."

He let out a soft sigh, his expression serene, leaving the remaining words unspoken. Lowering his eyelids, he turned and walked away.

Before departing, Su Luo offered a warning: "By the way, there seems to be an aura of evil in this bar. You'd best leave before nightfall."

Watching the old man leave the bar, Zhong Sizhe swallowed hard. "Is he really Professor Su Luo?"

Yuan Wanli sniffled. "He should be... We actually met a character from the books here!"

They all felt a surge of excitement; this was undoubtedly excellent fodder for future conversations—meeting a big name who authored over seventy percent of the mysterious history books!

At that moment, Wei Qingqiu suddenly spoke up. "Teacher Li, are you alright?"

Everyone turned to the corner where Li Xiaotong was, only to find her drenched in sweat, even her back was wet.

"I'm fine; I just need to go to the restroom..."

Li Xiaotong's lips trembled slightly as she waved her hand, struggling to rise and stagger toward the nearby restroom.

Chen Xiang thought for a moment and felt a stirring in his heart. "I'll go too."

………………

In Area One, at the Apex Hotel.

This was the tallest building in Area One, shining brilliantly in the glow of the setting sun.

At this moment, on the top floor of the hotel.

"Madam." A subordinate appeared extremely respectful, bowing his head. "The young lady is fine and is currently tracking their movements... it should be soon."

The woman referred to as ‘Madam' held a glass of red wine, watching surveillance footage of two giants on a screen.

"Is Old Jiu dead?"

"He was severely injured by the Blood Tiger but is alive and has been rescued."

"Good... What about the information on this young man?"

"It's been found. His name is Chen Xiang, a colleague of the young lady. Based on the analysis, he is an extraordinary individual, but his combat power clearly exceeds normal limits..."

Suddenly, there was a hurried sound of footsteps from outside, and someone rushed in, looking anxious.

"Madam! This isn't good; the young lady and the others have gone to a bar!"

Madam furrowed her brow slightly. "A bar is just a bar... Hmm? Which bar?"

As she spoke, her expression tightened.

"Valley Bar!" the newcomer panted.

Madam glanced at the sunset outside, her expression changing drastically. She suddenly stood up and put on her coat.

"Let's go!"

………………

In the restroom.

Li Xiaotong turned on the faucet, splashing water onto her face, vigorously rubbing her cold cheeks, but the cold sweat on her forehead continued to pour out.

She leaned her hands on the sink, gasping for breath, feeling her heart rate exceed 180, and her vision began to blur...

Suddenly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Li Xiaotong caught sight of a wisp of black flame. She turned around abruptly, fear gripping her as she stared at the terrifying figure shrouded in black flames, flickering between reality and illusion. Trembling, she spoke, "You... this is the ladies' room..."

The terrifying figure smiled. "I'm just so curious."

Saying this, the figure casually closed the restroom door and leaned against it, calmly asking, "What did you see in me?"

Li Xiaotong trembled slightly, remaining silent for a moment before speaking with a hint of a cry in her voice. "I saw black flames burning fiercely, saw you shifting between the illusory and the real, and... and..."

She couldn't help but glance at the terrifying figure's wrist, swallowing hard. "I also saw a vague scene—a large mirror, within which floated a world filled with countless wandering souls..."

The terrifying figure remained silent for a long time, not immediately asking why; he simply gazed at Li Xiaotong. "You seem very afraid of Professor Su Luo... What did you see in him?"

Li Xiaotong's body shook uncontrollably as she gasped for air, her face reflecting horror as she murmured almost deliriously, "I only dared to glance at him once. I saw an ancient altar spinning around him..."

"I saw a chaotic and devastated world atop that altar..."

"I saw seven great figures; I saw the one who is sleeping, the indescribable one. He is everything: the sky, the earth, existence, the real, the beginning of the universe..."

"He is everything."

Li Xiaotong's left eye socket bizarrely pulsed and rolled, as if tentacles were trying to emerge from beneath her eyelids, vanishing in an instant.