Supernatural Brokers Rampaging in the Human World

The public revelation of supernatural ability users caused an enormous uproar. Even by March, the internet was still buzzing with topics related to them. Some perceptive individuals had already started planning shows centered around supernatural abilities. Celebrities jumped on the bandwagon, revealing their own supernatural identities or claiming their pets might have developed such powers, with countless variations on the theme.

This frenzy inspired quick-thinking variety show producers to devise related programs. Shows like “Supernatural Showdown” and “Psychic Battle” sprouted like mushrooms after a rainstorm. Meanwhile, government departments could finally establish proper offices, no longer needing to operate in secrecy like spies meeting in hidden corners.

Take Enok’s Mage Guild, for example. It used to be tucked away in the basement of a small tavern, well-hidden. But as the trend of public acknowledgment of supernatural abilities began, they started constructing a grand Gothic-style building in the busiest commercial district. Even before it was completed, it had already captured the public’s attention. Initially, people speculated it might be a themed bar owned by some big shot. But just days after January 2nd, a sign with elegant English script was hung up, reading “Mage Guild.”

Besides the Mage Guild, related industries like potion shops began to open legitimate storefronts. For those few days, Enok felt like he had stepped into a fantasy story. With Enok leading the way, countries around the world followed suit. Perhaps because these elements had long existed in novels, the architectural styles leaned towards the retro or futuristic aesthetics favored in fiction.

For instance, official entities like the Special Division adopted a more streamlined and sharp architectural style. In contrast, non-official organizations like the Cultivator Alliance and the Alchemist Guild opted for traditional pavilion-style buildings. It seemed as though humanity was caught up in a grand celebration, with everyone, supernatural or not, rejoicing in the same event. Even the Heavenly Path, which couldn’t clearly see the Lower Realm, took notice.

Su Yang and Chen Zhao were well aware of this attention, but they no longer feared it. If the Heavenly Path wanted to promote the Human Realm, so be it. However, they intended to transform it into a realm dominated by supernatural ability users. The restoration of Spiritual Qi was accelerating, and many original cultivators could distinctly sense this change.

Among them, some old cultivator aristocratic families, like the Mu Family, began to stir. The Mu Family was among the first to learn about the public acknowledgment of supernatural abilities. Information within The Ten Families Alliance was largely shared, so their awareness wasn’t surprising. From the moment they found out, they not only set their sights on Su Yang but also contemplated how to restore their family’s former glory from a thousand years ago. Establishing sects and recruiting disciples was the norm back then.

The Mu Family originated from the “Linshan Sect,” a mid-sized sect during the cultivation era. It became the enduring Mu Family due to a stroke of fortune. Otherwise, it might have vanished in the tides of history like many other sects. If the Mu Family wanted to establish a sect, they certainly had the foundation. Their extensive library of tens of thousands of books was unmatched by other families. Yet, their greed led them to covet Su Yang, believing her presence would bring them even greater benefits.

Regardless, various sects began to rise, each with a distinct modern flair. They all had social media accounts and personal pages, embracing “soft culture.” Netizens soon noticed something peculiar in their social media feeds-ads like “Baiyun Temple Recruiting Cultivators” and “Lingling Sect Seeking Talents.” Some sects even employed professional marketing strategies for their promotional content.

This situation provided temporary havens for supernatural ability users but also stirred feelings of imbalance among many ordinary people. After nearly two months of celebration, a subtle yet growing realization emerged: ordinary people, seemingly lacking any special abilities, might eventually be cast aside by history.

Modern technology had already replaced many jobs that didn’t require human intelligence with robots. People with below-average intelligence had been gradually marginalized over the past few decades, relegated to the lowest rungs of society. Scientists had already noted that the average human IQ had risen over the past twenty years, indicating that people’s cognitive abilities were expanding as the environment evolved.

In this context, the harsh law of survival of the fittest became evident. Those with below-average intelligence faced diminishing opportunities for reproduction. The emergence of supernatural ability users only reinforced this trend. As the environment changed, humanity evolved. Those who stagnated faced inevitable obsolescence.

Some individuals, lacking supernatural abilities and hovering around the average IQ level, couldn’t help but feel a sense of crisis. Could it be that in twenty or even ten years, they would be rendered obsolete? The future was uncertain, but online discussions on the topic had already begun. The fate of ordinary people might become a pressing issue for sociologists to ponder in the coming decades.

In this context, the term “ordinary person” might no longer apply. As supernatural abilities became more widespread, today’s ordinary individuals could become tomorrow’s “obsolete ones,” a prospect no one wanted to face.

In reality, twenty years later, when the number of habitable planets reached the hundreds, the role of “ordinary people” became clear. They became volunteers, though it was more like being semi-forced into it due to lack of options. In later history, these individuals earned a new title: “Exiles.”

These Exiles, with no better career prospects, were left with the task of exploring new habitable planets. As for their fate in the next twenty years, who could say?

The rapid development of industries related to supernatural abilities surprised everyone. Perhaps they had been laying the groundwork for a long time. The first supernatural-themed variety show aired just six months after the Supernatural Abilities Day.

Su Yang’s previous side project studio even received an invitation, which she promptly ignored. This variety show included segments like ghost hunting and truth-seeking, generating significant anticipation during its promotional phase. It marked a significant moment for “ghosts” entering the public consciousness.

Ghosts weren’t rare in this world. The likelihood of someone becoming a wandering spirit after death was high. Lingering grievances, unfulfilled life goals, or even simple tasks like feeding a pet could cause them to miss the opening of the Ghost Gate, leaving them stranded in the human realm.

With so many deceased souls, it seemed natural that the Netherworld couldn’t accommodate them all. As a result, the Netherworld rarely bothered to track down insignificant spirits. If they missed their chance to cross the Naihe Bridge for reincarnation, so be it. The Netherworld had long been overpopulated.

While Earth could find new planets for its surplus population, the Netherworld had no such option. They could only wait for their unreliable Realm Lord to return and expand their territory. But the Lord of the Netherworld hadn’t returned for thousands of years! At times like these, they couldn’t help but envy the Western netherworld. The Western Nether King diligently expanded his domain whenever he had the chance, unlike their own unreliable Lord.

Of course, Su Yang wouldn’t hear the complaints of these Netherworld bureaucrats, and even if she did, her current cultivation level wouldn’t allow her to expand the Netherworld’s territory.

These lingering spirits provided excellent material for the variety show. The producers and directors meticulously selected twelve cases to create a three-month-long season of the show.