Chapter 3: Just a Gatekeeper After All

In a world experiencing a resurgence of spiritual energy, a "Useless Prophet," who had been brimming with confidence while preparing to reveal the future of the new arrival, turned solemn upon reading the newcomer’s self-introduction.

"Heavenly Court? Mount Ling? The Six Realms? The Four Great Continents..."

"Judging by this description, why does it sound like the world of *Journey to the West*?"

"A guard stationed at the Southern Heaven Gate in *Journey to the West*... Could the newcomer be one of the Four Heavenly Kings: Dhrtarastra of the East, Virudhaka of the South, Virupaksa of the West, or Vaisravana of the North?"

"Hiss..."

The Useless Prophet gasped. Could the newcomer truly be one of the Four Heavenly Kings? That would make him a massive golden thigh to cling to! A chance to be embraced! Her beautiful eyes sparkled.

Just as she was about to enter the chat group to reply, a second thought struck her: this wasn't right. If the newcomer really were one of the Four Heavenly Kings, it would be difficult. She had no idea what their life trajectories were. Apart from their brief appearances during the *Investiture of the Gods*, they rarely showed up. Even if there were records, they would be buried in Taoist scriptures or folklore. Before she transmigrated, she never had the time to study such things.

It’s all over.

The Useless Prophet’s face fell. The persona of a "prophet" she had painstakingly built in the Dimensional Chat Group was about to shatter in an instant. Thinking of her own environment—where, without the help of the group members, her future would likely be dire—she paused for a moment before making a decision.

She would bluff! She would make it up! After all, the other group members had no way of knowing if what she said was true or false.

...

After waiting for a long time, the Useless Prophet remained silent, leading Jiang Wang to suspect that she had gone off to frantically search for information. After all, his introduction had been highly suggestive. This transmigrator, who claimed to be a prophet, would surely not believe he was merely a common heavenly soldier and would inevitably let her imagination wander. For instance, to the Four Heavenly Kings who guard the Southern Heaven Gate.

In truth, Jiang Wang had been transmigrated for quite a while and had never actually seen the Four Heavenly Kings at the Southern Heaven Gate. They were famous heavenly deities; they wouldn't actually stand guard at the gate. Unless it was a major event, like the Queen Mother’s Peach Banquet, they would never show up just to put on a show.

Just as Jiang Wang was preparing to show his cards, the Useless Prophet finally surfaced in the Dimensional Chat Group.

Useless Prophet: "@Southern Heaven Gate Guard, I am on my knees apologizing to you, great one! I was wrong. I will never dare to swindle again. Please, Immortal, spare this lowly one this time! I was wrong... *sob sob sob*."

Old Heavenly Master: "..."

Snake Queen: "What is this? You don't know the newcomer's future? Aren't you a prophet?"

The Mosquito's Nemesis: "@Useless Prophet, are you saying the Friday half-price sale is actually fake?! Ah? Don't do this to me!"

Little Spider: "Ha! I knew it. Everything you said before was a lie."

Useless Prophet: "@Little Spider, don't misunderstand, Parker. Your future is indeed true; I didn't lie to you. Your daddy Tony really was killed by the purple potato man. Oh... sorry, I almost forgot, you had already turned to dust before Tony died."

Little Spider: "Damn it, I won't trust you ever again."

Southern Heaven Gate Guard: "@Useless Prophet, why are you kneeling and apologizing? I was waiting for my future to be told. Tell me about it."

Useless Prophet: "Newcomer, great one, I was truly wrong! Please forgive me just this once. I’ll kowtow to you. I was just bluffing to get some benefits; I never meant to... do anything bad!"

The Useless Prophet was numb. She had worked so hard to establish the image of a "prophet" in the group, and before she could even enjoy it for a few days, it was stripped away by the newcomer. She was no prophet at all—she had merely used the anime and novels she had seen in her past life to feign omniscience, enough to fool the characters she knew.

Southern Heaven Gate Guard: "Is that so? That's a pity."

Jiang Wang sat on his meditation cushion and couldn't help but laugh out loud. This transmigrator clearly hadn't expected another transmigrator to exist. The "prophet" clothes she had put on were stripped clean.

Old Heavenly Master: "The prophet's identity is fake?! I am shocked. Thinking about it now, I feel like I lost out by trading several secret arts of the Heavenly Master Mansion for a fake future."

Snake Queen: "@Useless Prophet, you had better give me an explanation! Otherwise, I should have the right to take back my gifts, right?"

Jiang Wang said nothing, silently watching the show. So, this "Useless Prophet" had really been swindling the group members out of their respective secret arts.

Useless Prophet: "I was wrong! I will tell the truth."

In the world of spiritual energy resurgence, the Useless Prophet let out a sigh of relief. It seemed she had done the right thing. By playing the victim and admitting her fault, she hadn't caused the group members to hold too much animosity toward her.

Useless Prophet: "Actually, you are all characters from films, anime, and novels that I have seen before. It is precisely because I have seen these works that I know your origins and futures."

Useless Prophet: "I swear, I truly have no malicious intent! Because I transmigrated into a world where spiritual energy is resurging and I am facing a major crisis, I had to bluff, hoping to gain your help. Please, you must believe me. I will never dare to do this again."

Snake Queen: "A transmigrator? A major crisis? Had to bluff? Fine, I'll believe you this once."

Old Heavenly Master: "I see. Then your actions are somewhat understandable. What I don't understand is, is the newcomer not a character from the films, anime, or novels you spoke of?"

Southern Heaven Gate Guard: "+1, I'd like to know too!"

Useless Prophet: "@Old Heavenly Master, the newcomer is likely a legendary figure with no detailed records, which is why I am unaware of his origins."

The Mosquito's Nemesis: "Hearing you say that, my long-dormant heart has ignited with some passion again!"

Little Spider: "I am actually a character from films, anime, and novels? Are we all fake?"

Useless Prophet: "Peter, you are the normal one, hey! Old Heavenly Master, Queen, and Teacher Saitama, are you not surprised? I thought you would be distressed to find out you were characters from films, anime, and novels."

Snake Queen: "Why should I be surprised? Whether real or fake, I am who I am. I can clearly feel my own existence. What is there to be distressed about? I only want to gain great power now to change the future you spoke of. If I ever encounter that fire-playing boy, I will crush him!"

Old Heavenly Master: "I have lived for over a hundred years; do I not know the difference between truth and falsehood? As for me, I only wish to reach a higher level."

The Mosquito's Nemesis: "Ah? Instead of worrying about that, I'd rather know if the supermarket will have a sale this Friday!"

Little Spider: "So I'm the only one doubting the meaning of life, then."

Useless Prophet: "Peter, from now on, add a prefix to your name: call yourself 'Useless Little Spider'."

Snake Queen: "Enough of this nonsense. I only want to know who the newcomer is. We are all characters from those films, anime, and novels, so what is the deal with the newcomer? Are legendary figures different from us?"

Old Heavenly Master: "The newcomer seems to be an immortal from heaven; it is only natural that he is different from us."

The Mosquito's Nemesis: "What is an immortal? Is it a branch of monsters?"

Useless Prophet: "@The Mosquito's Nemesis, Teacher Saitama, do not speak nonsense. Immortals are transcendent beings. The monsters you speak of... even the strongest among them cannot compare to an immortal, especially a legitimate deity like the newcomer."

Snake Queen: "Enough talk, can you give me a straight answer? How strong is he? @Southern Heaven Gate Guard."

Southern Heaven Gate Guard: "Ah? Me?"

Jiang Wang was stunned when the Snake Queen suddenly addressed him. He wondered how he should introduce himself.

Snake Queen: "Yes!"

Southern Heaven Gate Guard: "I... I am just a gatekeeper at the bottom of the Heavenly Court's hierarchy, with a lifespan of only ten *yuanhui*."