RAAS Chapter 96: Origin World (3)

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Shi Qing’s mouth twitched—whatever he tried to avoid always seemed to come straight at him.

He studied the group before him. The purple robes draped over them like cloaks, their uniform attire indicating that they belonged to the same organization. Their actions were not impulsive but rather part of an established routine.

Dozens had crossed the Gate of Rebirth alongside Shi Qing and Qin Mo, yet fewer than twenty had made it to the Mercenary Guild. Almost all of them had been stopped by the purple-robed individuals, who uniformly demanded an assessment of their system qualifications.

Shi Qing was still contemplating his next move when a dispute broke out behind him, to his left.

“Who are you people? What gives you the right to assess me? I know my own abilities—I don’t need your interference!”

The voice was loud, drawing the attention of those nearby. Many turned to watch.

The purple-robed man facing the youth revealed a fleeting hint of impatience in his eyes but maintained a gentle smile as he spoke in a soft voice. “Newcomer, this is for your own good. Registering with the Order Keepers’ Association will ensure your protection, preventing attacks from poachers. It’s a matter of your survival.”

The young man was a complete newcomer, utterly unfamiliar with what was being said. His face was full of wariness. “What Order Keepers? What poachers? I’ve never even heard of them!”

The purple-robed man chuckled. “How naive.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and a floating screen appeared beside him. The images it displayed left all the newcomers in shock.

Shi Qing took one glance and immediately turned away.

Qin Mo, however, watched from start to finish with an expression of calm indifference.

The footage depicted a gruesome massacre—the frenzied expressions of poachers, their bloodthirsty demeanor, and their ruthless, vicious methods. They used brutal means to torture and kill the original hosts, forcibly extracting the systems from their bodies. Then, with mouths wide open, they devoured those fragile souls, their hunger and savagery chillingly real.

The three-dimensional projection was disturbingly lifelike, filling the scene with an atmosphere of sheer terror and despair. The tragic deaths of the hosts and the merciless devouring of their systems made it feel as though the horror was unfolding right beside them. The final shot zoomed in on a poacher’s face—his gaping mouth and insatiable greed turning him into a repulsive predator.

The sight provoked different reactions among the newcomers.

The young man who had been indignant just moments ago was now scowling deeply.

Noticing their responses, the purple-robed man’s lips curled in satisfaction. He withdrew the projection, and after a brief silence, he spoke again, his voice laced with anger.

“Poachers are deranged lunatics—madmen without reason or restraint. Their sole purpose is to consume systems, disrupting the balance of the Origin World and plunging it into unprecedented chaos. They are criminals who will inevitably face justice!”

After a slight pause, his tone softened, becoming gentle and reassuring.

“The Order Keepers are the enforcers appointed by the Supreme God. Our mission is to maintain the stability of the Origin World, safeguard countless smaller worlds, and, most importantly, protect all systems and their hosts. Poachers are our sworn enemies—villains that we will not rest until we eradicate!”

As these words were spoken, the surrounding newcomers were already somewhat moved.

The man in purple observed their expressions, a peaceful smile on his face as his voice grew even gentler:

"Bringing you to the Orderly Association for registration is to ensure that you receive the benefits you deserve. The Source World is built upon the system and its hosts, and it is through your hard work that countless small worlds maintain their balance and development. You should be protected, and we are the ones who protect you!"

The initial young man still had doubts in his expression, though he was no longer as self-righteous as before.

"But why do we need to have our system qualifications assessed? Isn't registration enough? What's the point of this assessment? Is it really necessary?"

The man in purple became even more amicable. He looked at the young man and explained seriously:

"The main purpose of assessing system qualifications is for your own benefit."

The young man furrowed his brows but remained silent, merely looking at the man in purple.

The man's voice was not low, clearly meant for many to hear:

"Every system has different abilities—some are strong, some relatively weaker, but all have their own unique features and uses. Our free assessment helps you better understand your system’s capabilities, and it also serves to activate certain systems that have yet to fully develop."

Everyone knew that system abilities varied; that much was covered in the introduction when they entered the Source World. However, the latter part of what he said made the newcomers perk up their ears.

Did this mean... a system’s abilities weren’t fixed? That they could be further activated through other means?

Seeing that he had piqued their interest, the man in purple continued:

"Although the Orderly Association takes on the responsibility of protecting you, every system and host is also a warrior. It’s best if you can gain greater strength to protect yourselves and even fight against poachers! After years of research, the Orderly Association has developed a mature system activation program. Any system with potential will be activated unconditionally! That’s why we need your cooperation in the assessment."

At the end, he emphasized again,

"Our goal is to grow stronger together—our shared objective is to fight against the poachers!"

Another man in purple spoke up, his voice lower and hoarser, making him sound more steady and reliable:

"The results of the system assessment will not be disclosed; only the individual in question will know."

With this reassurance, most of the newcomers were tempted.

The Mercenary Guild was far from being a desolate place. On the contrary, it was one of the busiest locations in the Source World, with countless systems and hosts coming and going. The fact that the Orderly Association’s actions weren’t being questioned, and that none of the long-settled systems or hosts voiced opposition, spoke volumes.

It meant that this was the norm, that the Orderly Association was indeed an official, authoritative entity—one worthy of trust.

Shi Qing had been listening the entire time. He had firsthand experience of how ruthless poachers could be, so he felt this matter more deeply than most. However, he wasn’t one to blindly trust the Orderly Association.

The man in purple spoke in grand terms, full of selflessness and righteousness, but his actions made Shi Qing uncomfortable.

Especially when the second man in purple was speaking, Shi Qing noticed that the one in front of him briefly flashed a mocking, derisive look in his eyes. Though fleeting and barely perceptible, Shi Qing saw it clearly.

The other newcomers, however, were not as alert.

One by one, they followed the Orderly Association members away. The Orderly officer in front of Shi Qing lazily lifted his eyes and spoke in the same laid-back tone:

"Let’s go, newcomer."

Shi Qing didn’t move. Instead, he turned and grasped Qin Mo’s hand.

The Orderly officer looked at them.

Qin Mo responded by holding Shi Qing’s hand in return, then strode forward confidently. The Orderly officer sneered and turned to lead the way.

But before he could take a step, the two of them simply walked past him, heading directly toward the Mercenary Guild.

The Orderly officer was momentarily stunned—had he just been ignored? His anger flared instantly, and he shouted:

"You! You there! Stop!"

Qin Mo didn’t even pause, continuing forward. He was tall, with long legs, walking with an elegant and confident posture. In Shi Qing’s words—he looked incredibly cool!

This Orderly officer’s name was He Xin. He had originally been promoted to vice-captain but, for some unknown reason, had recently been suppressed and demoted. This year, he was even assigned the tedious job of assessing newcomers. He was already frustrated, and now, encountering such arrogant newcomers made his temper boil over!

He Xin strode forward, deliberately blocking Qin Mo and Shi Qing’s path.

Qin Mo lowered his eyes slightly, glancing at him.

His expression was calm, his dark eyes undisturbed. It was just a simple look, yet it made He Xin pause for a moment.

For some reason, he felt nervous. It was a feeling similar to when he had recently visited the Lingyin Grand Hall and met Lord Xia Zhe—an instinctive fear stemming from a vast difference in status and power.

But he quickly shook his head—what a joke. This was just a mere level-fifty newcomer. How could he possibly compare to Lord Xia Zhe? Ridiculous!

He Xin regained his composure, lifted his chin slightly (though he was shorter), and forced himself to meet Qin Mo’s gaze, trying his best to act superior:

"Stop wasting time and come with me to register!"

“No.” A simple, straightforward word—a direct refusal without a shred of courtesy.

He Xin’s face grew increasingly stiff. His voice had been loud enough just now to attract attention.

All the newcomers had been taken away, except for the one under his charge. The mercenary guild was bustling with people, and many were already watching the scene with schadenfreude.

He Xin knew at least to maintain his image. He held back his anger, lowered his voice, and said, “You all heard what I said just now—it’s for your own good. Come on, hurry up and follow me.” At the end of his sentence, he couldn’t help but add some weight to his tone.

“No need.”

He Xin felt he had already been more than kind. Some people just wouldn’t know their place unless they got a taste of suffering!

His expression darkened. With a swift motion, he pulled out his weapon and lowered his voice in a threatening tone: “If you refuse a toast, you’ll have to drink a forfeit. Don’t blame me for being rude!”

As he spoke, he lunged forward. He specialized in external martial arts, and his long blade moved with formidable power. While he wasn’t among the top elites of the Orderly Ones, he was already over level 60 and had successfully completed a B-rank bounty mission. His skills were not to be underestimated, and dealing with a mere newcomer should have been effortless.

But today, he kicked an iron plate.

Before he could even complete a single move, he heard a crisp crack. It was the sound of metal shattering. When he looked up, his profound steel blade had turned into silver powder, drifting down like mocking snowflakes onto his face.

Across from him, Qin Mo stood motionless, his hands still by his sides, not having shifted in the slightest. He Xin didn’t even know what had just happened.

A circle of onlookers had gathered, and someone chuckled softly. That laughter was like a catalyst, utterly driving He Xin mad.

Fine. Everyone was laughing at him. Fine. Everyone was looking down on him. Fine! If he couldn’t even handle a single newcomer, then what was the point of his existence?!

He Xin’s expression twisted with rage, and he launched a deadly strike at Qin Mo’s chest. His fingernails rapidly extended, glowing with a sinister purple light, radiating a deadly toxin—he was aiming to kill!

Qin Mo frowned slightly, a flash of disgust appearing in his eyes. He lifted his hand, and a sharp wind, as solid as a blade, shot toward He Xin with precision. It struck him in the head, knocking him unconscious in an instant.

One move. A one-hit KO.

Among the crowd were many skilled fighters, yet gasps and murmurs of shock still rippled through the audience.

Shi Qing peeked out, glanced at He Xin, then looked at Qin Mo and hesitantly asked, “Uh… um… he’s not dead, right?” Although He Xin was disgusting, killing him outright in such a public setting… didn’t seem great.

Qin Mo held Shi Qing’s hand, looked at him seriously, and asked in return, “Would I casually take a life?”

Shi Qing: “…” You don’t do it casually, but when you do, it’s not very… human…

Of course, he wouldn’t dare say that. Instead, he chuckled awkwardly and looked at Qin Mo with a fawning smile.

Qin Mo seemed satisfied, his mood improving. He pulled Shi Qing along and said, “Come with me. There’s a mission you might be interested in.”

The two of them walked away as if no one else existed. It was only after they had disappeared inside that a sudden scream erupted outside:

“Ahhh! That newcomer! That’s him! That’s the one! The one who single-handedly killed Li Mi and Suoya!”

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