American comics: Praising the sun, starting from Gotham!

Before Xiu En could fully recover from the burning pain in his lungs, the system panel on his retina vibrated again.

The system flashed, and a new task prompt popped up.

[Main Quest Update: White Emperor's Sacrifice]

[Description: Autumn begins in three days. Autumn is associated with metal, which governs killing and warfare.]

The text jumped to this point and suddenly paused.

The originally cold and impersonal font has been transformed into the powerful and elegant Yan style calligraphy.

"What's going on? Is the system infected?"

Xiuen leaned against the wall.

They stared wide-eyed at this strange scene.

Though you are wandering in barbarian lands, and dwell in the mire, your bloodline must not be broken.

[The Autumn Equinox is approaching, and the White Emperor of the West is in charge of the autumn's killing influence. You should fast for three days, purify your mind and reduce desires, in order to welcome the autumn's energy.]

[Required: White amber (or white jade), unfermented plain wine, and white sacrificial animal. At the beginning of autumn, an altar is set up in the western suburbs to perform the sacrificial ceremony.]

[Note: If a large ox is unavailable, a small sheep will suffice. If a small sheep is also unavailable... well, you'd better figure it out yourself. Sincerity is key; don't disgrace your ancestors.]

"Fasting? Sacrificing?"

Xiu En pointed to the alleyway filled with trash and needles, and almost laughed in anger.

"In Gotham, where even God wears a bulletproof vest, you expect me to engage in feudal superstition? And you want me to find white cattle? Where am I supposed to find them? Wayne Manor's dairy farm?"

He looked down at the still-dripping switchblade in his hand, then at the imposing calligraphy on the panel.

"White amber? Should I rob it from a museum or steal it from an antique shop? Vegetarian sake? Does the sweet rice wine from the supermarket count?"

The system clearly heard his complaint; the text on the panel flickered and added a line of smaller text.

[System Prompt: Given the host's extremely harsh current living environment, the standards for offerings can be appropriately relaxed. The key points are "whiteness" and "sincerity."]

[Reward Preview: Minor Awakening of Shao Hao's Bloodline / Geng Metal Qi (Greatly Increases Lethality) / Lifespan.]

Upon seeing the word "lifespan," Xiu En swallowed back all his complaints.

"Lifespan! And that Geng metal energy that sounds so powerful..."

Xiu En licked his chapped lips.

"It's just fasting, it's just looking for white things."

He straightened up and patted the dirty water off his buttocks.

"Okay, I'll take the job. I'd even do it if it meant painting Batman white."

Although he spoke lightly, Xiu En knew in his heart that this task would not be easy.

Fasting for three days means abstaining from meat and fish, and also requires preparing an altar and offerings. Most importantly, there is not even enough time left to last three days.

"First we need to find a decent place... the western suburbs? Gotham's western side seems to be around Arkham Asylum, or some abandoned industrial area."

Xiu En stroked his chin, his mind racing with calculations.

He pulled his collar tighter, covering half his face, and walked out of the alley.

The rain had lessened slightly, but the gloom of Gotham still hung over the city.

Xiu En walked into a grocery store on the street corner.

The shop owner behind the counter was wiping a bottle that looked like a human organ specimen with a greasy rag.

When Xiu En entered, his eyes merely flickered slightly.

"I need a bag."

Xiu En's voice was weak, and the dull pain in his lungs reminded him that he was still a patient.

Five cents.

The boss didn't even look up.

"I want a large one, the woven kind. And it has to be white."

Xiu En added that he scanned the store to make sure there were no security cameras.

Or rather, the probe would have been broken long ago.

The boss finally stopped what he was doing and looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at a freak.

"Are you going to transport a body?"

"More or less."

Xiu En shrugged.

"Transport some big stuff."

The shopkeeper snorted, pulled a yellowed white woven bag from under the counter, and threw it on the table.

"This thing is sturdy; it can hold a hundred pounds or so without any problem. Fifty cents."

Xiu En didn't haggle, dropped in a coin, picked up the bag and shook it.

Although it has a yellowish tint, in Gotham, this is considered pure white.

As soon as I stepped out of the store, the antique-style system interface popped up impatiently.

[Key item detected: White woven bag (of poor quality).]

[Evaluation: Though crudely made, this object, used to hold weapons of war, is still white in color and subtly suggests concealed sharpness... Hmm... well, I am well aware of your poverty. I'll reluctantly classify it as one of the ritual objects.]

"Ah, thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty."

Xiu En folded the bag and stuffed it into his arms.

Next came the offerings.

Hugh turned into the more chaotic flea market area.

Most of the stalls here are run by homeless people pushing supermarket carts or drug addicts spreading their goods on the ground.

He stopped in front of a stall selling bootleggings.

"This thing?"

Shuen pointed to the murky liquid in the unlabeled plastic bucket.

"What was it made of?"

The stall owner, an old man missing two front teeth, grinned, revealing a set of blackened teeth: "Rice, and a little... special seasoning. What's up, brother, looking for some fun?"

"I want the purest kind, the kind without any additives. And the kind that isn't fully fermented," Xiu En emphasized.

"Tch, that thing's no fun. Here, take it, two dollars for you."

The old man was a little disappointed and pulled out a small, dusty bottle from the corner.

Xiu En paid the money and took the bottle of "plain wine" that looked like rice water. The progress bar on the system panel jumped slightly, which was considered as his approval.

Finally, there's fruit.

Fruit is a luxury in the slums, and fresh fruit is only available in the uptown.

Xiu En wandered around for a long time before finally finding a box of pears that were about to rot in a corner.

"How much are these pears?"

"Four for one dollar."

"I'll take these."

Xiu En picked out a few pears that, although they had some spots on their skin, should still look good after peeling.

Finding a secluded corner, Xiu En stuffed the pears and wine into the large white woven bag, looking at this shabby "sacrifice outfit".

I find it funny myself.

"This is what is called the preparation for the White Emperor Festival... a bag of rotten pears, a bottle of homemade rice wine, and a tattered bag to be used to hold guns."

He leaned against the graffiti-covered wall, looking at the system panel.

[Prerequisite Quest Progress Update:]

[1. Fasting: In progress (0/3 days)]

2. Offerings preparation: vegetarian wine (prepared/inferior quality), fruit (prepared/inferior quality), serving dishes (prepared/unbelievable).

3. Altar Site Selection: Incomplete.

[4. Time Lock: 71 hours and 42 minutes until the Beginning of Autumn.]

[Note: Rotten wood...rotten wood cannot be carved! But considering your...uh, your sincere heart, let it be for now. Remember, at the beginning of autumn, the killing intent is the catalyst; without a decent offering, it may be difficult to activate the Geng metal energy.]

"understood."

Xiu En patted the bag, his eyes gradually hardening.

"Killery aura... in Gotham, that stuff is much cheaper than a pear."

Just then, a gust of cold wind blew by, stirring up the newspapers on the ground.

Xiu En glanced at the sky; dark clouds loomed overhead, and it seemed another downpour was imminent.

Damn it, can't we just have a sunny day?!

I need to go back to the hotel to get that Remington, then quickly find a place to hide these things, and also get through these three days of fasting.