This man appeared without warning, like a trace erased from a drawing board reappearing after being pressed with the undo button. No one was aware of his presence until he made a sound.

He is worthy of being the owner of the law of soul.

Bai Ling thought so in his heart again.

The most dangerous guy he had met so far was undoubtedly the old man in front of him, who looked hunched over and seemed harmless.

Even the ferryman, with his powerful strength, would probably be played like a chess piece in front of Hermes.

For the sake of an illusory ideal, it has been hiding in human society for thousands and tens of thousands of years. With its extraordinary willpower and terrifying self-control, it has been engraved in the history and mythology of mankind like a signpost or a mark, omnipresent and elusive...

Extremely dangerous.

In fact, not only Bai Ling thought so, but the other three people also thought so.

Qi Guang rested his hands on the wheelchair and looked at Hermes deeply.

After a long while, he raised his head and said, "It seems that this is the 'guest' you mentioned."

Bai Ling nodded slightly: "Yes."

"Let me introduce you: the main god from ancient mythology, the god of messengers, the protector of thieves, the god of roads, and also the ultimate original symbol of the alchemical trinity, an ambitious man hiding in the dark side of human history... Hermes."

Bai Ling said calmly: "This is my next 'companion'."

Listening to Bering's introduction, Hermes just smiled.

He bent over and sat on the stone beside him, tapping the ground with his cane: "It's over, it's over. I'm not as complicated as you said, nor as legendary as you said."

"In the final analysis, myths are nothing more than psychological suggestions that ignorant humans forcibly generalize with spiritual concepts because they do not understand nature and science. In the final analysis, they are the reflection of the spirit on objective facts," said Hermes. "In fact, many years ago, I was far less famous than I am now, and Mount Olympus was just a small hill."

"But because human consciousness has evolved over thousands and tens of thousands of years, the mapping that once existed in the human brain was recorded and compiled, and then a lot of subjective conjecture was added, and the final result was 'myth'."

Hermes spread his hands. "Just like thousands of years ago, I didn't even have any records about 'alchemy'. But in order to form a set of systematic norms, alchemists in the future forcibly attached alchemy to me. They even constructed the specialness of the Trinity for me, and then I became what I am now."

Xun Mo frowned as he listened to Hermes' words.

"That's impossible," he said. "What you're saying has absolutely no practical value."

"The birth of alien species should have been destined from the beginning. No alien species can evolve beyond its own legend. It's like installing an environment on a computer. It must be restarted before the effect can be displayed. If humans really add some legends to alien species, those new things will not be able to stand out on you old guys."

Xun Mo changed his previous laziness and looked sharp: "If it is true that you appeared a long time ago as you said, then you definitely cannot have a new 'concept' added to you as you said. You know, even an alien species like 'The Impaler' has experienced two different forms. One is the real historical prototype, and the other is the 'Dracula' added later."

"So what you said is totally inconsistent with the current mainstream understanding of alien species, and it also does not conform to the normal evolution process. Otherwise, there should be very few alien species in this world, far from as many as there are now."

This is a point that Xun Mo has always been suspicious about after listening to Bai Ling's narration.

In fact, thanks to the increasingly developed cultural exchanges in later generations, the myths and legends of many regions have shown a trend of "blending".

For example, many legends were spread to other places due to trade between countries, and then formed new myths in the contemporary era. For example, the "demon god" mentioned in the classics of the largest religion today, its prototype is the gods of various regions in the primitive era. And these gods were the primitive worship of nature by the local people a long time ago.

If Hermes's "patch" statement is true, then all the legends and myths in the world should be classified as "natural" derivatives. After all, primitive humans have similar ideas. Although their languages ​​and traditions are slightly different, what they see and feel are similar. The myths and legends that were born from this also have similarities.

For example, the great flood recorded in myths all over the world is a description of the same disaster from different perspectives by primitive humans.

So, if Hermes is right, then these disasters should be individual, how could they be "a hundred flowers blooming" like now? Listening to Xun Mo's doubts, Hermes smiled.

He pointed at himself and said casually: "Of course it's because... I'm special."

"As for the special place, you ordinary people can't understand it. Only those who stand at the same level as me, the only 'he' in this world, can truly understand this reason."

As he spoke, Hermes looked towards Bering.

The others also turned their eyes to Bai Ling.

Bearing so much realization, Bai Ling sighed.

"'Soul'," he said, unwilling to elaborate, "is a very complicated thing."

Perhaps Hermes was still a traditional Greek mythology long ago, but as the patron saint of thieves, he had some power to steal. Thanks to this power, he successfully stole some of the laws about "soul" from the abyss.

With the Law of Soul, Hermes may have made his origin produce laws similar to human metabolism.

As human consciousness continues to build him, he can also gain many abilities that did not originally belong to him. For example, alchemy or the Trinity are manifestations of this situation.

However, Bai Ling was actually a little curious.

That is, Hermes clearly has the ability to bind to human consciousness, just like updating software, so why doesn't he take the initiative to create a new image of "Hermes"?

For example, you can create some invincible images for yourself, and then use the renewed power of your soul laws to make yourself stronger and stronger.

Of course, he quickly put an end to this curiosity.

Because in the foreknowledge of the future, Hermes gave Bering the answer.

It used to be “can’t do it”, now it’s “impossible”.

In the past, due to the limitation of technology, even if Hermes wanted to create an image of himself as omnipotent, it could only be spread in some places around him. Moreover, the world situation at that time was much more barbaric and harsh than it is now, and Hermes was not without enemies. Moreover, he relied on the method of "leaning over" humans, and his body was very fragile. If he publicized it with great fanfare, he would easily be found by some guys with grudges.

The reason why it is "impossible" now is that in the era of information explosion, Hermes seems unable to rely on religion to cover himself with a cloak of divinity as he did before.

After all, people nowadays are not stupid.

Well, although this reason is a bit ridiculous, it is at least reasonable.

Anyway, Bering just wanted to see if Hermes had any other cards up his sleeve, so he was just a little curious.

Thinking of this, he looked at Hermes and pursed his lips slightly.

Facing Bering's gaze, Hermes couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Although he didn't know what Bering saw in the prediction of the future, he was sure that just now, Bering probably had a deeper understanding of himself.

It is not a good thing to let a prophet know more about oneself...

Thinking of this, Hermes, who had originally planned to have a brief chat with these younger generations of "Kunlun", stopped talking about sex.

"So, Prophet," he said, rising from the stone, "is it time to go?"

"Or do you have something else to deal with? Of course, you can stay, but it would be a pity if you can't catch up. After all, this may be your only chance of a lifetime."

As he spoke, Hermes lowered the brim of his hat, with a half-smile on his face beneath the shadow.

And Bai Ling also withdrew his gaze.

"I was ready, and there wasn't much I needed to rely on from the beginning."

Bai Ling stood up and said, "Then let me see what form the 'Heavenly Abyss' you mentioned actually takes."

As Bai Ling's words fell.

Soon, the door at the back of his base opened.

The people from "Ming Zhou" walked out of the base one after another and stood behind Bai Ling.

Thanks to the ample time they had to prepare, their equipment was much more luxurious than when they first started. Not only did they have a variety of high-tech props, they even had some famous weapons.

For example, Wang Weizhen’s knife is now held in Song Qingci’s hand and placed together with the fang of the Yamata no Orochi.

This is one of the few things the Countermeasures Bureau can do to help Bai Ling and his team.

Anyway, Wang Weizhen’s current strength is no longer limited to so-called "weapons". Even if he has nothing in his hands, he can tear the aliens apart with just a pair of fists.

In addition to Wang Weizheng, Xun Mo's sniper rifle was also lent to Li Jingwen.

As for Qi Guang...

He actually wanted to lend his wheelchair to Bering.

But because this thing was really unlucky, Bering flatly refused it.

It's impossible for him to let Red Spider carry him in a wheelchair and run around in the abyss like he did in Tartarus, right?

So in the end, Qi Guang could only express his care and thoughts...

Standing in front of everyone, Bering glanced at Hermes.

Hermes smiled.

Soon, he straightened up.

The body that was originally hunched over like an old man suddenly straightened up miraculously. Bai Ling, who was close to him, even heard the sound of bones "cracking", as if they were breaking.

"Then let's go."

Hermes tapped the ground lightly with the cane in his hand.

Next second.

Along with the crisp sound of the crutch tapping the ground, a black halo suddenly appeared from the center of the crutch, like a black spot hidden in the sun, rapidly expanding at a speed visible to the human eye, instantly engulfing the entire ground.

Soon, some new changes appeared throughout the venue.

Countless skeletal hands emerged from the ground, with their hands gently clasped together, leaning against each other and swaying, like flowers swaying in the wind.

These bony hands extended in all directions and soon surrounded the entire venue.

Looking at this scene, Bai Ling couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

Three months ago, when he met the witch for the second time, she opened the gate of Tartarus in the same way.

Now, almost four months later, I saw a similar scene again in Hermes...

Fate is something that really makes people sigh.

Hermes had no idea what Bering was thinking; he just kept tapping the ground with his cane.

Soon, the gate that once frightened Bai Ling but now made him not care at all reappeared in front of everyone.

Standing in front of the black door, Hermes leaned on his crutches and said, "Then I'll go in first."

"There are people waiting for me inside. I need to go and meet them first," he said. "If you don't regret it, then come in as well."

"I think you probably don't need a guide or navigation. After all, some of you should be very familiar with that place."

After saying this, Hermes smiled and nodded at Bering.

Then he stepped into the black door.

In everyone's eyes, his figure was gradually swallowed up by the black gate.

Watching Hermes disappear into the world behind the door, Bai Ling groaned, then turned to his companions and said, "Then let's go in too."

If his guess was correct, then Hermes was probably now going to look for the people from the Nine-Headed Cult.

That old guy must have known that the people from the Countermeasures Bureau would be guarding Bai Ling's door today, so he didn't bring the people from the Nine-Headed Divine Cult in, but sent them into the abyss in advance.

Moreover, he knew the witch very well. He knew that the witch was very familiar with the abyss and could find the way to the lower level, so he just opened the gate of Tartarus and left it to Bering and the others.

Everything is really planned out.

With a sigh, Bai Ling nodded slightly to Wang Weizheng and others beside him.

Wang Weizheng and the others also nodded towards Bai Ling.

Wang Weizheng patted him on the shoulder, said nothing, and just looked at them silently.

Under the gaze of these three people.

Bai Ling and others slowly walked into the black gate.

A month later, Bai Ling stepped into the abyss again.

Only this time, the place he was going to was a world deeper and more treacherous than Tartarus.