"So you've been interning at the Ghost Messenger training center these past few days... That's why I didn't see you," a mechanical ball mumbled as Xu Nan emerged from the hall.
Xu Nan looked at it and chuckled, "Want to go together?"
The mechanical ball shook its head repeatedly, "No, no, I'm not a work-soul."
Its goal was to become a pampered pet. A pampered pet... could that be considered a profession?
Then it could earn pocket money and upgrade itself.
That would be wonderful.
As for the more distant future?
Why think so far ahead?
It was just a mechanical ball.
"Haha... a work-soul, indeed," Xu Nan said, amused.
Workers, work-souls.
Whether in the mortal world or the underworld, work was indispensable.
But if there were no jobs in the world, would civilized society continue to function?
Where there is civilization, there is work.
In uncivilized places... survival was probably all that remained.
"Keep up the good work, new generation work-soul."
After cheering Xu Nan on, the mechanical ball watched him leave.
It was about to slip away to find its friends.
Before it could even exit the courtyard of the Eighteenth Hall,
it heard a voice from inside the hall behind it:
"Mechanical ball, come in."
The mechanical ball: "...?"
...
For the past few days, Jiang Lin had been contemplating the underworld network.
Without a doubt, if the underworld network were successful, it would bring immense convenience and improve the efficiency of ghost messengers.
For example:
If team members encountered something on duty, or had an idea,
they could communicate anytime with just a phone call.
This would not only save time and effort but also reduce unnecessary sacrifices and increase the survival rate of ghosts.
When Jiang Lin was at the ghost messenger training center,
he had heard many stories of ghost messengers sacrificing themselves due to inconvenient communication and outdated information.
Even during his own centuries in the underworld, he had sometimes felt the inconvenience.
The West Hall's research into this was not without reason.
The other three halls were also conducting research, but not as in-depth as the West Hall.
Furthermore,
the network could also provide more entertainment options for the residents of the ghost market, helping them regulate their emotions.
This way, when Ghost Festival arrived, many ghosts wouldn't act like they had been locked up for eight hundred years, with their primary goal being to scare people.
However, the network would also bring a series of troubles.
Ghosts who caused trouble would be able to connect more easily, there would be ghosts who specialized in exploiting network loopholes, and there would also be online scams.
But,
these were not Jiang Lin's primary concerns.
Whether to build the network or ensure the underworld's safety... these were matters for higher authorities to consider.
Jiang Lin's concern was the mechanical ball's safety.
Firstly, if the news got out, the mechanical ball would become too conspicuous.
Secondly, if the network were truly built, it would surely be used in all parts of the underworld.
But if the inventor possessed the technology to crack the network at any time and spy on their information...
Jiang Lin didn't know how the higher-ups would accept this situation or how they would arrange it.
For this reason, Jiang Lin specifically sought out the Southern Yama King.
They had already agreed to a fight, so meeting each other was relatively easy.
However,
Jiang Lin didn't state his concerns directly. Instead, he used a simple example.
Nan Ming stretched his wrists and, after listening, said without hesitation, "This kind of highly skilled technical genius must be kept."
Jiang Lin: "Aren't you afraid of it causing trouble?"
Nan Ming: "Highly skilled geniuses usually have their quirks. As long as they aren't too excessive, there's no need to interfere."
Just like Zhong Kui, who constantly mumbled about money, money, money. Did Nan Ming say anything?
No.
Let professionals do their professional jobs. Nan Ming only needed to place them in suitable positions.
"That makes sense..." Jiang Lin murmured.
He pondered his wording and asked, "What if this genius's skills are so advanced that they might affect your status or privacy in some way?"
Nan Ming stopped what he was doing and looked at him, "Do you know why I asked you to fight?"
Before Jiang Lin could answer,
Nan Ming continued, "Because this world allows for the existence of the strong."
"It's the same principle: specialization. Just like gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, each has its strengths and can also restrain each other."
"You just need to look at its character and its actions
to know
whether you will become enemies, friends, or... a respectable opponent."
Like the ghost child focused on speed, Shen Luo focused on sealing, Zhong Kui focused on researching ghost hunting...
Perhaps in the future, they would become top experts in their fields.
At that time,
if they could continue to work together, that would be ideal.
If not, as long as they didn't do anything that harmed this world,
why worry so much?
He is strong, let him be strong.
If you are not content, then challenge him.
"Being invincible would be very boring."
Nan Ming said with deep experience,
"Knowing that there are even stronger existences, even stronger paths, that's what makes it interesting."
So, if that guy dared to pry into his privacy and leak it,
he would just beat him up.
If one beating wasn't enough, then two.
"..."
Jiang Lin nodded thoughtfully.
The Southern Yama King was warlike.
In his opinion, as long as he himself was strong enough,
all other problems were minor.
With the capital of the four halls' combat strength saying so, there were no issues.
...
Afterward, Jiang Lin visited the West Hall again.
He had a chat with Bao Yan, a senior artifact refiner who had previously helped him forge the arena.
He used the same example,
saying something like: I have a friend.
Bao Yan turned his head from the pile of parts on the table and said matter-of-factly, "Such a talented technical person must be cherished!"
"Even the Yama Kings have to speak to them politely."
"They can be of great help in transforming the underworld and improving the lives of the ghost citizens."
"There's a saying in the mortal world: 'An elder at home is like a treasure.'"
"How could you push away a treasure you've acquired?"
The four halls would definitely compete to have them.
Of course, if they were pests,
the four halls would definitely join forces to drive them out.
Jiang Lin: "But with such advanced technology, wouldn't people be wary? Wouldn't they fear their privacy being seen?"
Bao Yan continued working on the parts, muttering, "A little wariness is good. Look, who isn't afraid of Lord Yama's anger?"
"Isn't that because he has the ability?"
"If there were no apprehension, who would obey him? Wouldn't those who cause trouble turn the underworld upside down?"
"As for privacy, if he wants to see, let him see. If Lord Yama wanted to see our lives, wouldn't it be a matter of minutes?"
With a sweep of his perception, wouldn't he know everything?
But it was precisely because of this that there were fewer troublemakers in the underworld.
Even if there were, they would only act stealthily.
"Besides, would such a strong person have so much free time to constantly check if you pooped today or if you've eaten?"
"Don't you think so?"
"..."
At the guest table nearby, the little fan Ah Rui was serving tea and snacks to Jiang Lin.
Hearing her master's words, her eyebrows twitched.
Why bring up such vulgar things while drinking tea?
Also,
Master, is it really okay to criticize Lord Yama like this?
...